Category: Hope

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No Greater Love

I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression “Take one for the team”. This can be used in the context of sports, military, family relationships, business experiences – in just about every walk of life. And nowhere is it more applicable than in our spiritual lives.

The very purpose of Jesus coming to earth was to take one for the team. Without his selfless sacrifice there would be no eternal life for any of us. He left heaven to live a heavenly example on earth. He became sin when dying on the cross so that we could live redeemed from sin. He took our sickness, our anxiety, our depression, our death so that we, through Him, could walk free!

Thank God for His marvelous provision through Jesus.

” 4 The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. 5 But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain.” Isaiah 53: 4-5 ERV

It’s impossible to look at the severity of the crucifixion and not see the love of God.

“We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. 21 Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God.” II Corinthians 5:20-21 CEV

His death brings us life. His anguish was for our peace. His stripes are for our healing. His darkness moment of separation from the Father, brought us to the throne room where we find help in time of need.

“ 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 4:15-16 CEV

There’s an old hymn we used to sing. “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow”.

“ The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.” John 15:13 CEV

There is no greater love than this!

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Needed Support

There’s an interesting story about Moses that has been going through my mind for the past several days. It’s the story of a battle, persistence and helpful companions.

“When the Israelites were at Rephidim, they were attacked by the Amalekites. 9 So Moses told Joshua, “Have some men ready to attack the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on a hilltop, holding this walking stick that has the power of God.”

10 Joshua led the attack as Moses had commanded, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur stood on the hilltop. 11 The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms, but they started losing whenever he lowered them. 12 After a while, his arms were so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset. 13 That’s how Joshua defeated the Amalekites” Exodus 17:8-13 CEV

As the Israelites were going through the wilderness on their way to the land of promise they faced enemies and had battles to fight. From the beginning of this journey God promised to lead them and fight for them. Moses had a shepherd’s rod or walking stick when God first spoke to him. He was to be God’s voice to the pharaoh and His deliverer for the people.

“Moses asked the Lord, ‘Suppose everyone refuses to listen to my message, and no one believes that you really appeared to me?’ 2 The Lord answered, ‘What’s that in your hand?’

‘A walking stick,’ Moses replied… 5 the Lord said, “and the Israelites will believe that you have seen me, the God who was worshiped by their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Exodus 4:1-5 CEV

Moses’ walking stick became a sign of God’s power and that’s what he took to the battle against the Amalekites that day. As long as Moses held the rod in the air, Joshua was victorious in battle. But when his arms grew tired and he lowered the rod circumstances changed.

Moses’ two companions, Aaron and Hur, got Moses a rock to sit on. The battle worn on, Moses’ arms got tired, so Aaron and Hur held up his arms and the battle was won.

I prayed “Lord, make me a friend that will hold up weary arms in a battle”.

This morning the Lord put together a few more Scriptures for me.

“Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand.” Psalm 145:13-14 CEV

“Make the weak arms strong again. Strengthen the weak knees. 4 People are afraid and confused. Say to them, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid!” Look, your God will come and punish your enemies. He will come and give you your reward. He will save you.” Isaiah 35:3-4 ERV

“ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 ERV

The rock that Moses sat on was a physical boulder but the rock we stand upon is God’s indestructible word.

“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 ERV

If you are in a battle and you feel weary, I pray that you have friends who have you sit on God’s word and help lift your arms to heaven. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Lift your hands to Him.

“ So put away all pride from yourselves. You are standing under the powerful hand of God. At the right time He will lift you up. 7 Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 NLV

Just know that each morning when I complete this blog, I pray for each and every one who will read it. I pray that God will make His word, this word, real in your lives.

Lift up your hands. Let God’s word be your firm foundation and find your victory in Him.

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Filled With Song

You all know that I am a fan of songs – hymns, praise, country, classic, jazz, old rock, musicals. Music fills my soul. I guess that’s why I love the psalms and also love the early mornings when the birds start their chorus.

Music brings healing and peace. Composers have an amazing God-given talent. He is the One who gave each bird their voice, unique and distinct and He also fills man’s heart with song.

I did a search on singing birds this morning and it produced many individual images but what surprised me was how many hour-plus long videos of birds singing were a part of the result.

“ Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of a man, who cannot save us. 4 When his spirit leaves, he returns to the earth. His thoughts end on that day. 5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, and whose hope is in the Lord his God. 6 The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He is faithful forever. 7 He helps those who have a bad power over them. He gives food to the hungry. And He sets those in prison free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are brought down. The Lord loves those who are right and good. 9 The Lord keeps the strangers safe. He takes care of the children who have no father and the woman whose husband has died. But He destroys the way of the sinful. 10 The Lord will rule forever. Your God, O Zion, will rule over all people for all time. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146 NLV

I will sing as long as I live because the Lord loves me!

“But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble. 17 I will sing your praises! You are my mighty fortress, and you love me.” Psalm 59:16-17 CEV

Do you remember seeing the 1980’s movie Sister Act? Those kids’ lives were changed when they realized that God loved their songs, contemporary and traditional. Unconventional to some but pleasing to God.

An old hymn they featured goes something like this:

“Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for Heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy

I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.”

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

Being in God’s presence is a place of safety and a place of joy. Fill your life with song!

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Surrounded By Love

I hope you are finding strength, joy, comfort and peace in our morning times together, as we explore the depths of God’s goodness.

Each morning the Lord reminds me of His love, girds me with strength, fills my heart with joy and infuses me with confidence that my trust and hope in Him is never in vain.

“Many are saying of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ 3 But You, O Lord, are a covering around me, my shining-greatness, and the One Who lifts my head. 4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice. And He answered me from His holy mountain. 5 I lay down and slept, and I woke up again, for the Lord keeps me safe… 8 It is You Who saves, O Lord. May You bring happiness to Your people.” Psalm 3:2-4,8 NLV

This Psalm was written by King David when he was running from his son Absolom who wanted to kill him and take his throne.

Talk about discouragement and hopelessness – this was it.

Your own son and some of your closest advisors and confidants joined together to kill you. If you stand and fight, lives will be lost, probably the life of your son. It seems to be a no-win situation. But then…you turn to God and He provides the safety and protection that you need.

I doubt any of us has ever faced such a situation, but we have all faced weariness and the enemy of hopelessness.

How do we survive? The enemy seems too large to fight any longer.

“ I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your feet go out from under you. He Who watches over you will not sleep. 4 Listen, He Who watches over Israel will not close his eyes or sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you. The Lord is your safe cover at your right hand. 6 The sun will not hurt you during the day and the moon will not hurt you during the night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all that is sinful. He will watch over your soul. 8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going, now and forever.” Psalm 121 NLV

The Father’s watchful care will not cease, He promises it now and forever. We are His beloved children, and He is our loving Father. He is ALWAYS faithful to His word.

“ Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 NLV

When worries come and they will, we have two choices. We can let them become embedded in our hearts and produce fear or we can give them over to the Father and let Him handle them while we rest in His peace.

“ When we have learned not to give up, it shows we have stood the test. When we have stood the test, it gives us hope. 5 Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” Romans 5:4-5 NLV

Take today’s worries and hand them over to the Father. Now, rest in His loving care!

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A Message of Hope

Watching old westerns on the movie channel, preachers are depicted the same way over and over again. Hell fire and brimstone – turn or burn – tellin’ folks that God’s judgin’ them and thar goin’ to hell. Boy, how many times have we see that not only on the silver screen but in our churches.

One thing I know for certain, you don’t have to tell a sinner he’s sinnin’ cuz he already knows that – the Holy Spirit will convict of sin. Paul put it this way in Romans 2.

“God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.” Romans 2:4 CEV

Paul was preaching the Gospel of Christ – gospel means the “good news, nearly too good to be true news”. Good news is that God loves you and sent someone else to take your place of punishment so that you could live in right relationship with Him and enjoy all of His blessings.

“ All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:23-24 ERV

I’ve had folks in the past tell me that I am always focusing on God’s love and his blessings and not making people responsible for their sin but I choose to focus on that because the sacrifice that Jesus made is so much greater.

Do we go on sinning – the Apostle Paul said “God forbid”. But if folks think that God’s mad at them and that “God’s gonna get ya for that” then why would they want to come to Him. When we’re focused on God’s great love, we aren’t going to want to do things that will shame Him.

“ So what should we do? Should we sin because we are under grace and not under law? Certainly not! ” Romans 6:15 ERV

“So I tell you, live the way the Spirit leads you. Then you will not do the evil things your sinful self wants.” Galatians 5:16 ERV

The people in our life don’t need to hear about their faults and shortcomings. They need to hear about God’s unconditional love – who am I kidding, I need to hear about God’s unconditional love.

That first sin of Adam in the garden brought sin into the world for all of us but Christ’s death on the cross brought us all into a place of grace – we simply need to receive it.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life. 19 One man disobeyed God and many became sinners. But in the same way, one man obeyed God and many will be made right.” Romans 5: 18-19 ERV

The Father wants relationship not rules, sons not slaves, grace not groveling.

“ For Christ is not only God-like, He is God in human flesh. 10 When you have Christ, you are complete. He is the head over all leaders and powers.” Colossians 2:9-10 NLV

Let God’s love be paramount in our lives and our actions today. Let’s bring a message of hope to our world!

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Keep Going

The year is almost over and maybe you are feeling disappointed or discouraged that you didn’t get more done.

You had goals and hopes that have not yet been accomplished, keep going!

Just because the calendar date is about to change it doesn’t mean that you have failed. As long as you are making progress you are succeeding. There are baby steps and giant leaps, both are forward progress.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

God has a plan for each of us, something that is designed for our personality and is for our benefit. Don’t give up.

If you are weary stop and rest but don’t quit.

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 ERV

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:1-3 ERV

Let the Lord restore you. His strength is sufficient in every situation. He knew how to rest in the midst of a storm.

A number of years ago we were hosts at a campground in the mountains. One day I saw an eagle across the valley, it was circling in the sky. There was a stiff wind. As the eagle circled it was soaring, without effort, on the air’s current. I must have watched for almost 30 minutes. The eagle continued to soar higher and higher until it was covered by the clouds.

“Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” Isaiah 40:30-31 CEV

Someone needs to be reminded to keep going. I just got reminded by the Holy Spirit and these verses.

It’s time to soar!

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Filled with Wonder

This past summer it seems that the whole world was sharing a marvelous experience. For nights the sky was filled with the beauty of the aurora borealis.

The pictures of the northern lights saturated social media, local and national news reports and other media outlets. The lights in the summer night sky were gorgeous, awe-inspiring.

Now imagine if when you saw those lights they were accompanied by an angelic choir. Can you place yourself with the shepherds outside of Bethlehem? Sheep resting peacefully on the grassy plain, a warm fire burning and the quiet. Aahhh, the quiet.

“That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9  All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

13 Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:

14 “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”

15 After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:8-15 CEV

A Savior was born for you!

This story…this miraculous birth is one I have heard and told for many years. Does its familiarity and tradition dull our senses? Do we lose the wonder of that connection between God and man? Have our souls been calloused to the fact that Jesus, Immanuel (God with us) changed the course for all the world?

I hope not.

May our hearts always be stirred, may hope always rise, may faith always increase and may we always be filled with wonder!

Merry Christmas to all.

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A Son is Given

It’s so hard to have your children or your grandchildren leave when they have been for a visit.

I can only imagine what the conversation must have been like when our Heavenly Father and Jesus spoke about His coming to earth. Coming in the form of a baby who would grow into a sinless man.

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 CEV

No parent likes to see their children leave. Those of us parents who have had children join the military or enter other “dangerous” occupations know the heart ache, the apprehension and even the worry of having our children go off into the unknown, into hostile and harmful circumstances.

But if you’re God…

You’re Son has been with you every moment from eternity past. You have created universes together; you have intervened in the lives of your creation in a powerful way. Never a cross word spoken, never a rebellious thought or action – your Son is your dearest friend, He’s a part of all you do and have ever done.

He’s leaving now – headed to earth. He will be loved by some, treated with ambivalence by most and hated by others and they will plot to kill Him. Although You know all this, You still choose to let Him go and even more than that You choose to let Him die so that He can provide reconciliation for all those who are incapable of providing for themselves.

“17 When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17

And all of this was not because of our great value or importance but because of His great love.

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person.But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9

“Unto to us a Son is given”!

Would you be willing to give your son? Aren’t you glad He did!!

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Face the Future with Hope

You know that I start each day with prayer. This morning is no different. Praying for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren is a large part of my morning prayer time.

I had a praying grandmother. She and my grandfather would spend hours in prayer. It was such an encouragement to know she was praying, daily and sometimes hourly, for me. When I had children of my own, that comforted me in a greater way.

Now I am the matriarch of our family, and I take my responsibility of prayer very serious. Life has changed tremendously over the last 70 plus years. Things my grandmother could never imagine have come into being and I wonder what the future will be like for my grands.

It doesn’t cause me to fear but it does keep me in prayer.

“ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will let you find me.’ This message is from the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV

Each generation has had their search for God. There are no spiritual grandchildren. Every person needs to have their own personal relationship with the Lord. The good news is that when we search for the Father, we find Him, and we find the hopeful future that He has planned for us.

“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. 4 Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty.” I Peter 1:3-4 ERV

In Christ, we have a living hope. It’s a hope that grows, giving us strength for each day. Great Is Thy Faithfulness, the favorite old hymn, puts it this way.

“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10,000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me”

The Apostle Paul and King David knew this hope long before these words were ever penned.

“ 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

“It may seem that those who are poor and needy have been forgotten, but God will not forget them. He will not leave them without hope.” Psalm 9:18 ERV

“These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he says something, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours. 19 This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe.” Hebrews 6:18-19 ERV

As I pray for my family, I also pray for you. I pray that God who gives hope will fill you with joy and peace as you face the future!

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A Light in the Dark

Have you ever been somewhere when it was completely dark? Without light we become uncertain, even, afraid.

But once there is a tiny flicker of light, we begin to have hope and as the light gets brighter confidence comes and peace comes with it. God’s first recorded action was creating light.

No one has a life with no dark moments. For some those moments may be serious, life-threatening illness, for others they may be an emotional depression or a catastrophic accident.

If you are in that place of darkness, I pray that these verses I share with you today will serve as the light of hope that you need.

“When the Lord Saves You from Death

1 I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers.
2 You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live.
3 Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, 4 I prayed and said, “Lord, please don’t let me die!”

5 You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. 6 You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me 7 and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore.

8 You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9 Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. 10 I was faithful to you when I was suffering, 11 though in my confusion I said, ‘I can’t trust anyone!’

12 What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? 13 I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. 14 I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. 15 You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16 I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. 17 I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. 18 I will keep my promise to you when your people 19 gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 116 CEV

Jesus knows how dark moments and situations can overwhelm us. He ministered to people in their darkest hours.

“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, ‘I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 CEV

Join with me and the writer of this psalm and shout a praise to the Lord for being your light in the darkness.

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