Category: Hope

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I Was Lost…

and now I’m found!

What a day. It was a normal day until we heard the message come across our walkie-talkies. Little boy in one of our campsites was missing!

Our hearts sank as we requested more information – name, age, what was he wearing. Any pertinent medical issues. As we were waiting for the answers we had already begun to walk toward the forest behind his campsite and above the lake.

It seemed as if the entire campground had moved into action. We were scrambling over boulders and through the trees, calling his name. Hoping to hear a reply. Praying for his safety and a quick discovery as to his where abouts.

And after what seemed an eternity of searching, the call came, “He’s been found!” And he’s ok.

Thank you Lord!!

When the search began, my friend and I had talked to his mom. She asked, “are you looking for my little boy”. She was so anxious. When he had been found we talked to his grandmother. She brought her grandson around to show us all he was ok and to thank us for our search. She said, “I knew the Lord was watching over him”.

The emotion, the concerted effort of the campers and the successful end of the search reminded me of the way our heavenly Father is always searching for His lost children.

“Then Jesus told them this story: 4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep. You will continue to search for it until you find it. 5 And when you find it, you will be very happy. You will carry it 6 home, go to your friends and neighbors and say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner decides to change.” Luke 15:3-7 ERV

The Father is full of compassion; He makes a way so that no one needs to be lost. He sends those who search for the lost – they may be your neighbors, a family member, friends or perhaps strangers in a campground.

“Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. 10  The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” Luke 19:9-10 CEV

Zacchaeus went to a parade and ended up with Jesus coming to his home for lunch and this changed his entire life.

There is no moment so dark that the light of God’s love cannot penetrate it; there is no forest so dense that presence of the Father can’t provide a way out. There is no mind so entangled in depression and anxiety that the peace of God cannot restore it.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost! Let the words of the old hymn encourage you today. Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I was once lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.

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Perseverance

Never give up!

Around Christmas time a friend gave me a book by Samuel Rodriguez, “Persevere with Power”. It sat on my shelf until a couple weeks ago. It is such an encouraging read.

Pastor Rodriguez uses examples from the life of Elijah and Elisha on staying the course, regardless of the circumstances and opposition. Most of his examples are lessons I have taught on about the faithfulness and provision of God. Yet, his personal perspective has given those examples fresh insight.

I would like to share some of what I was reading last night:

“You may have grown tired of waiting on God, but He will never give up on you. You may have let go of God, but He has never let go of you. You may even have stopped believing in God, but God has never stopped believing in you! He has equipped you for times such as these. Right now, you are about to receive a new outpouring of His Spirit that will sustain you for the next race to be run.

Yes, others will try and stop you. As we have seen, the devil will try to derail you and deride you and destroy you. But what heaven has launched, hell can never halt. Even if it appears foolhardy to enter the race, to tuck and run, to expect anything other than second place, it is time to trust God and run. I love the way Peter coaches us to keep going no matter how many obstacles we may face:

 ‘Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.’ I Peter 5:8-11 MSG

When you run the good race to the full extent of the divine power bequeathed to you, then you can leave the results to God…”

Tempted to quit?

I have been many times. I’ve even sidelined myself and felt I was no longer fit to be used even though I knew the Father had a message for me to bring – a message of hope and encouragement.

Persevere! Trust the Holy Spirit to give you the strength you need to run the race God has called you too.

Don’t quit!

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The Trees Will Clap

It has been a windy May and now that we are in June it is starting to subside. I’m glad for that. However, yesterday afternoon’s breeze became my teacher.

“The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours.
    Your ways are not like mine.
9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways,
    and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky
    and don’t return until they have watered the ground.
Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow,
    and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for people to eat.
11 In the same way, my words leave my mouth,
    and they don’t come back without results.
My words make the things happen that I want to happen.
    They succeed in doing what I send them to do.

12 “So you will go out from there with joy.
    You will be led out in peace.
When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing.
    All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:8-12 ERV

The trees in the fields will clap their hands. I heard the trees clapping yesterday afternoon as the breeze lightly rustled their boughs. I stopped to listen, without complaint, and wondered who the Lord was bringing out of their place of captivity.

That’s what these verses tell us. The Israelites had been held captive and the Lord said “you will go out with joy and peace”. They were coming home and they would hear the mountains singing and the trees clapping at their deliverance.

Was it you the trees were clapping for?

Has sickness or depression held you as a captive? Did the Lord reveal something to you from His word that set you free? In the midst of your circumstance did you experience the joy and peace of being released?

The Lord’s thoughts are higher than ours. When we see only captivity, He sees release. When all we are focused on is the problem, He is formulating the answer. If we say “there is no way out of this”, He is making a way where there seems no way.

And He does is all with His word.

In the same way that the rain and snow moisten the earth and cause the seeds to grow and produce, God sends His word into our lives to soften our hearts, bringing life-giving water to our souls and a change that will nourish us. A change that delivers joy and peace.

Do you understand why I love God’s word as much as I do? His thoughts and ways are higher, much higher than mine, so He sends His Word to change my circumstances and bring me to a better way of life.

Listen carefully. Do you hear the trees clapping for you?

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Don’t Lose Hope!

Have you ever been in the middle of an adverse situation? Do you begin to think, “how long can this go on”; “I don’t think I can take much more”, “I just can’t do this any longer”? “How do I make a change in my situation”? Well, I have good news for you today!

In II Kings 6 & 7 the king of Aram had brought his army against the Israelites and they had surrounded Samaria and cut off all the food supply to the city. The situation became so bad that the people in the city were eating animal dung and even reports of cannibalism were recorded. They were in a desparate place – hope was all but gone.

There were 4 lepers who were outside the city wall and they asked a question, “Why are we sitting here waiting to die? 4 There is no food in Samaria. If we go into the city, we will die there. If we stay here, we will also die. So let’s go to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we will live. If they kill us, we will just die.” II Kings 6:3-4

How long will we sit here, until we die?

It was time to do something even if it meant that they might die. They couldn’t go into the city because there was famine in the city, if they stayed where they were they would starve to death and if they went to the enemy camp they also faced the possibly of death but they had to do something. So they went. I’ve faced some difficult situations but none have been this serious, how about you?

When they got to the enemy camp they found that the Arameans had fled and left all of their food, clothing, horses, tents and gold.

“So that evening the four lepers went to the Aramean camp. When they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! 6 The Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. So the soldiers said to each other, “The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to come against us.”

7 The Arameans ran away early that evening. They left everything behind. They left their tents, horses, and donkeys and ran for their lives. 8 When these lepers came to where the camp began, they went into one tent. They ate and drank. Then they carried silver, gold, and clothes out of the camp and hid them…9 Then they said to each other, “We are doing wrong! Today we have good news, but we are silent… Now let’s go and tell the people who live in the king’s palace.” II Kings 7:5-9

Through these 4 lepers, the outcasts of society, God provided not only for them but for the whole city.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Your desperate situation isn’t desperate to God. He knows how to provide.

“Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14

Trust God today and follow what He calls you to do. Don’t lose hope – He will provide!

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You Understand!

This morning I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer. My heart is aching because I have been praying for those who are going through such tremendous seasons of hurting or failure.

I found myself saying, “You understand what it’s like to see Your children go through such trying times. You understand what it is to weep over those You dearly love. You understand…”

Oh my, dear reader, He does understand.

“ We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

Not only does He understand, He is there to help us with every need and every weakness.

Some of you are experiencing the loss of a loved one while others are plagued by debilitating fear. Financial set back and even bankruptcy looms large on the horizon for some families and businesses. Physical health issues are threatening fatally while some face the darkness of dementia. Perhaps your family is fractured by separation or divorce.

The hurt, the grief, the hopelessness are real. He understands!

He cried over the loss of a loved one, He was misunderstood and publicly ridiculed and maligned. He felt lonely and used.

He understands!

Bring your weariness, your heart ache, your pain – bring them to Jesus. Let Him comfort and console. Let Him bathe you in peace and joy unspeakable. Receive hope, hope that was gone.

“ Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me]to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives
recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NKJV

“ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Dear friend, never forget that He understands and He is always willing to help!

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Moving On

Today is a moving day. We’ve been at the racetrack campground for the last week and we’ll head home this morning.

When your home is on wheels there is a lot of planning and coordinated effort that goes into pulling out for the next location. Inside and outside. Things have to be stowed away to keep them from shifting or getting damaged in the move. Outside the tires must be checked, lights, leveling systems, propane, etc. The list goes on.

But don’t think I’m complaining. I’m not, I love our lifestyle. After you’ve done it a while it becomes routine, and you follow the list so nothing is forgotten. You take some new things with you like memories, smiles and suntans.

Some things you leave behind – the trash.

Isn’t that just like life?

Each day gives an opportunity to move on. We can leave behind those things that would hold us back – temper, bitterness, low self-esteem, heart ache. One of the verses I used yesterday said:

“…We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.” Hebrews 12:1 ERV

Move on past those things, put them out in the trash. The Lord promises to direct our steps, we just need to listen.

“ Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV

Today, you might be like me – making a move. Leave the trash behind and move forward with excitement and anticipation of where the Lord is leading and what will happen next.

Happy Trails!

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Hope for Living

Last night Dave and I were visiting and listening to the radio. We’re not big radio listeners – never have been but the last few days, here at the racetrack, it’s something we’ve started. What station? Glad you asked, KLOVE.

What a great way to start and end each day; one song after another filled with the power of God’s promises and the encouragement of praise.

Without Jesus, we really have no hope. I know what that’s like and being on the other side of that now, I can tell you I never want to go back to that prison again.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death.” I Peter 1:3 ERV

As Dave and I talked we were reminded of where we’ve been. There have been times that we were desperate – almost hopeless. He was working 100+ hours a week, we had a toddler and a baby on the way. Things were bleak. Another time we had to close the door on our business.

With our heart’s cry of desperation, we said “Lord, we need You. We need You to show us the way out, the way forward. We need Your direction. We need help!”

The Lord gave us two verses back then.

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

“ Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16 ERV

We’ve had other times when we either forgot to ask the Lord for His leading or have just ventured out to do things on our own and have faced failure and hopelessness, but God has been faithful to pick us up, help us through and bring us to a good place.

“But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. 16 But answer them in a gentle way with respect…” I Peter 3:15-16 ERV

A song came on the radio right before we were heading to bed. What a powerful message of hope! “In Jesus Name” by Katy Nichole

I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name ’cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven
And pray this for you

[Chorus]
I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
In Jesus name

This is my prayer for you – I speak the name of Jesus over you, over every circumstance, over every fear. I pray that you will have a living hope!

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What’s Wrong Here?

I enjoy doing brain teaser puzzles and games, Word Search, Hidden Objects, Picture Differences, What’s Wrong. I think they help keep my mind and observation skills sharper.

The “what’s missing”, Picture Differences, puzzles can be the most challenging to me.

The other afternoon I was watching a news program and I saw it as a real life what’s-wrong here challenge. People were rude, uncaring, selfish, threatening, angry, and mean spirited. The commentator was expressing their disbelief over the rampant decline in this particular geographic location.

Buildings were being vandalized, garbage filled the streets, and the crime rate was higher than it had ever been. What’s wrong here?

I couldn’t help but wonder…

  • Thou shalt not kill
  • Thou shalt not steal
  • Thou shalt not bear false witness
  • Thou shalt not covet
  • Honor thy father and mother

For years some of the more liberal thinkers of our land have expressed the sentiment that the Bible and godly living is antiquated and too restrictive, so they fought to remove its influence and now, I believer, we are dealing with the consequences.

“People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. 6 If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 CEV

A line from one of my favorite cowboy movies goes like this: “Huey, actions have con – see – quences”.

That is so true! If our actions are God-directed we will have life and peace.

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. 25 We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.” Galatians 5:19-25 ERV

“There is no law against these kinds of things”. There are a lot of laws to control wrong behavior, but God makes changes in our hearts that don’t need to be legislated.

I have been challenged by God’s word, challenged to live more intentional. To allow my life to make good consequences. The world around us doesn’t need more laws; it needs lives that are intentionally focused on Christ and His love.

Lives like that bring life and peace!

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Roaring Oceans

For the last couple of days, I have shared with you the Scriptures that keep me on a solid footing each day. In my 68, almost 69, years there have been days with roaring waves and those of calm seas. What I’ve learned in my relationship with the Father is He wants me to be at peace regardless of what I see around me.

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

Sadly, I admit, I haven’t always enjoyed being alone with just my thoughts. My heart would become anxious. Maybe you’re like that. But it’s in this quiet that God reassures us of His presence.

“God is our protection and source of strength. He is always ready to help us in times of trouble. 2 So we are not afraid when the earth quakes and the mountains fall into the sea. 3 We are not afraid when the seas become rough and dark and the mountains tremble. Selah …He is there to help even before sunrise. 6 Nations will shake with fear and kingdoms will fall when God shouts and makes the earth move. 7 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah 8 Look at the powerful things the Lord has done. See the awesome things he has done on earth…10 God says, ‘Stop fighting and know that I am God! I am the one who defeats the nations; I am the one who controls the world.’ 11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah” Psalm 46 ERV

The Psalmist recognizes that there will be earthquakes, raging seas and rough times but it also says God is there to help us even before the sun rises. We are told to stop fighting. I think that refers to fighting our own fears and anxiousness because it goes on to say, “I am the one who controls the world; I am the place of safety”. The Psalm ends with the word Selah which means to pause, reflect, and take time to let what you just heard sink in.

I used to hate being alone with my thoughts, focusing on the quiet of my own heart. It told me I was unworthy, I was alone, I wouldn’t amount to anything. It pointed out all my failures and my shortcomings. But that wasn’t really my heart talking that was my mind. I never measured up so why did I want a quiet time to reflect on all that was wrong with me?

It was in that quiet time of reading, learning and applying God’s word that I found peace, true peace. It provided me with my firm foundation.

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

When I come to the Father’s throne, in the quiet of the morning, I find grace, mercy, kindness and help. I find Jesus!

This time before the sun rises is where I find help for when the oceans roar!

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Casa de Esperanza

The last few homes Dave and I have lived in we have named. The atmosphere of our homes has been a testimony to the Lord. We had people tell us that our home in Montana was so peaceful and it was. Nothing but prairie and mountain vistas as far as the eye could see.

When we came to Southern Arizona and moved into our Spanish style home, we named it Casa de Paz, or house of peace. When we poured the patio slab, we inscribed it with the words, Casa de Paz. Visitors told us of how well they slept; they were able to relax and just let the stress of everyday living go. It was a joy to hear – we felt God’s presence and it was good to know that others sensed that peace as well.

Now, we have a new home. And although there is no fresh concrete to write a name in, we have agreed that this should be Casa de Esperanza, house of hope. For truly, we hoped for a home like this – it was the desire of our heart – and without God it wouldn’t have been possible.

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

There are so many today who are lacking both hope and peace. They struggle to find purpose and once they find it there is a struggle to see it fulfilled. Without our confidence and trust in the Lord, we would be living that way too.

“So, brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you when we were there and by letter. 16-17 We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father will comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. God loved us and gave us through his grace a wonderful hope and comfort that has no end.” II Thessalonians 2:15-17 ERV

One of God’s gifts to us is hope. His grace, blessing us when we are undeserving, is the conduit through which hope flows. Many lack hope because they feel God is mad at them and is looking for an opportunity to punish them. Quite the opposite is true – He loves us and is looking for opportunity to bless us and give us hope.

“ Do not give me over to the desire of those who hate me. For people who tell lies about me rise against me, and breathe a desire to hurt me. 13 I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:12-14 NLV

We have no idea where the Lord will take us in this journey but we are excited about the trip. We look forward to bringing hope to those who are hurting as we travel down the road in our Casa de Esperanza.

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