Walking with God

Prayer

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“When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.”

Romans 12:12 NIRV

“Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him.”

Philippians 4:6 NIRV

It is not about saying certain words or performing for others…prayer is about having an honest and sincere communication with God.  It is walking with God for every aspect of your life, the big things and the little things.  It is about being open and vulnerable with our Creator and trusting in Him and His way.  Come near to God and He will come near to you.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

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“Never stop praying.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIRV

(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Jesus Christ

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me.”

John 14:1 NIV

Believe in Him…learn about His life, His teachings…give thanks to Him for what He endured so that you can be reconciled with God.  He is the reason why your faith should be greater than your fear.  Amen.

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“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

1 Timothy 6:11-16 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Holy Spirit

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“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIV

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God.  Amen.

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“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[a]”

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Come Near To God

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“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Hebrews 4:8 NIV

“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18 NIV

Take time to sit alone with God…pickup His Word and read.  Acknowledge Him and give thanks to Him for where you have seen Him…give Him thanks for the blessings He has given you…they are there and you will see them if you look for them.  Spend time with your Savior, come near to Him and He will come near to you.  Amen.

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“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”

Psalm 91:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Surrender

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:7-10 NIV

Believe…put your trust in the Lord.  Spend time reading God’s Word, take time to get to know Him.  Turn away from self-centered living and begin to strive for God centered living.  He loves you…He is with you…He is for you.  Amen.

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:6-11 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Listen…Learn

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“My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry. 20 Human anger doesn’t produce the holy life God wants. 21 So get rid of everything that is sinful. Get rid of the evil that is all around us. Don’t be too proud to accept the word that is planted in you. It can save you.”

James 1:19-21 NIRV

“Lord, show me your ways.
    Teach me how to follow you.
5 Guide me in your truth. Teach me.
    You are God my Savior.
    I put my hope in you all day long.”

Psalm 25:4-5 NIRV

Wisdom is important in living…Wisdom comes from learning…learning comes from reading or listening to God’s Word…spend time with God, pray, be apart of worship in some way.  Put God first in your life…look for Him…listen for His guidance and learn how He wants you to live.  Amen.

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“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way.
    It is like a light that guides me.”

Psalm 119:105 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Today Is The Day

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“This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 NIV

Today is 3.16…take time to share the Good News of John 3:16 with someone today.  It could be just the thing they need to hear.  Today is the day, may the peace of God be with you.  Amen.

Today Is The Day by Lincoln Brewster

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

John 3:16 NIV

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

Follow Jesus

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

Commitment…dedication…devotion…faithfulness.  The faith journey is more than a one time decision to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and life…that is absolutely the right first step.  The journey continues and spiritual growth occurs with a daily giving of ourselves to the will of God for our lives.  It is prayer about everything, it is learning to let go of those things we cannot control.  It is about learning to accept the love and forgiveness of God in your heart and mind and then turning outward toward others to share that truth in service and kindness.  My prayer is for all of us to follow Jesus each day.  After all, He gave all He had of His life in this world to save us.  Amen.

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“Then he said to them all:  If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Luke 9:23 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at City Park in Winterset, Iowa)

Believe

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“When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]

Matthew 17:14-21 NIV

Believe in Jesus, confess your sins and seek to grow your relationship with Him.  He loves you; He is with you and He is for you.  Seek Him first every day and you will find joy and peace.  Amen.

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“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Arches National Park in Utah)

Plans…Purpose

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

If we try to do things our own way for our own purposes all the time we will find discouragement and frustration.  Our purpose comes from the Lord, our Creator.  His purpose is based on love and if we are willing to follow Him we will find everlasting joy and peace.  Amen.

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“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)