Tag: HopeInGod

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Hope, Joy, Peace

I was looking for an image to use for this morning’s blog. When I did a search for hope, joy, and peace most of the results were images of Christmas cards. I thought that was interesting.

Is that the only time the world stops to think about these words which are so interconnected in Scripture?

We live in a society that is hurting. Without hope there is no joy or peace. This isn’t a seasonal message, it’s a message we should be living on a daily basis. But once again we can only give what we possess – if our hearts are filled with anxiety, fear, self-preservation and desperation we have nothing to give.

“ 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

When we embrace the promises of God and place our trust in His unconditional love His joy and peace will fill us and we will overflow with His hope.

“Remember that in the past you were without Christ… you did not know about the agreements with the promises that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. 13 Yes, at one time you were far away from God, but now in Christ Jesus, you are brought near to him. You are brought near to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ. 14 Christ is the reason we are now at peace.” Ephesians 2:12-14 ERV

Years ago, there was an evangelist by the name of Oral Roberts. Many, in Christian circles, were skeptical of his message. You see, he preached hope and the goodness of God. He preached the Gospel, the good news.

He would say to those who came to the stadiums and those who watched him on television “something good is going to happen to you today”. He believed it wholeheartedly and he brought this message of hope to everyone he could.

“‘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.'” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Something good. Something to hope for. Something to fill us with joy and peace.

These are the words Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah about Himself.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again.
He sent me to free those who have been treated badly 19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.” Luke 4:18-19 ERV

My prayer for each of us is that we are filled with hope, joy and peace and that we carry that to those in our sphere of influence, not just at Christmas but all year through.

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Keep Thirsty

I love watching the hummingbirds. Before we moved our backyard was filled with them, darting here and there. I would take the feeders down to refill them and as I carried them to the back door the hummingbirds would fly behind me, right up to the screen.

While I was in the kitchen I could hear their little wings racing just outside the window. They were thirsty, they were waiting for me to supply the sustenance of life. Hummingbirds have such a veracious appetite for sugar water. It’s all they long for.

This morning, I really felt the Lord wanted me to share Psalm 42 with you and as I read it, I thought of the hummingbirds and I knew the Lord was wanting me to be that thirsty for Him.

Be thirsty for God and follow Him. Wait on Him to fill us with hope and give us purpose.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm 42:5

When we get discouraged and “Cast down”, when things seem to be going wrong, we need to thirst for God and put our hope in Him. As we do, we will praise God and praising God will improve our countenance – both our inward and external appearance. He will quench our thirst, He will sustain us.

Are you thirsty for God?

“1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks
    from the creek;
I want to drink God,
    deep drafts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it—
    arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I’m on a diet of tears—
    tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
    people knock at my door,
Pestering,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

4 These are the things I go over and over,
    emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
    right out in front,
Leading them all,
    eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—
    celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!

5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,…

Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.

9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
    “Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
    harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these
    tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.” Psalm 42 MSG

Stay thirsty for the Lord!

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Good News!

Welcome to March. I hope you found some seeds of hope and peace to plant in your heart’s garden yesterday.

“ For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

God’s word is powerful! It is created to bring results of peace, joy, strength, forgiveness, healing, grace, and unconditional love. It represents the very heart of God to us, His children.

“The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without giving water to the earth. This makes plants grow on the earth, and gives seeds to the planter and bread to the eater. 11 So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well. 12 You will go out with joy, and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break out into sounds of joy before you. And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:10-12 NLV

God’s word is our good news, it brings joy and peace.

The last week or so I have been praying for several dear friends. The news they have received about circumstances in their lives has been less than encouraging. Fear has tried to get a foothold and replace their peace. That’s not from God.

“He will not be afraid of bad news. His heart is strong because he trusts in the Lord. 8 His heart will not be shaken. He will not be afraid and will watch those lose who fight against him.” Psalm 112:7-8 NLV

“Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 NLV

“ We have a great Religious Leader Who has made the way for man to go to God. He is Jesus, the Son of God, Who has gone to heaven to be with God. Let us keep our trust in Jesus Christ. 15 Our Religious Leader understands how weak we are. Christ was tempted in every way we are tempted, but He did not sin. 16 Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 NLV

There is nothing, NOTHING, that we can’t trust the Lord with. He promises to be our help whenever we need it, to strengthen our hearts, and to replace fear with peace.

Is it easy? No. It requires discipline, we need to stay focused on the promises of our Father instead of the bad report.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me also” John 14:1 NLV

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV

Fear isn’t from God. Let the Good News of God’s word be your source of strength, your hope and your confidence. God is your help – He’s got this.

Good News!

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The Gift of Hope

This morning was heart is filled with song!

I like it when my morning starts like that. The last few days have been kind of rough – we came home from vacation with a winter cold. You know the kind with sore throats, achy muscles, congestion and cough. Not quite the backdrop for starting the morning with a song but these are the words and melody that filled my heart:

“There Is Strength In The Name Of The Lord
There Is Power In The Name Of The Lord
There Is Hope In The Name Of The Lord
Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord”

Oh yes, what a glorious and wonderful way to start the day. When I feel weak the joy of the Lord is my strength!

“Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLV

God, our Father, the great gift giver, has so many promises that we leave untapped either through our ignorance or our thoughts of unworthiness.

I once heard a pastor give this example: We have been given a great inheritance, but many have been duped by the world’s greatest thief. They have believed a lie, the lie that God’s promises and blessings are for others – those more holy or kind. So they give up their hope.

As the verse above says, God gives us hope and fills us with joy and peace because we trust Him. The Holy Spirit helps our hope grow stronger and stronger.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” II Peter 1:3-4 NLT

God has given us everything we need for godly living. He has given us great and precious promises. These promises give us victory in this life! My, oh, my!

One thing about our Father is that He is a promise keeper; He has never lied yet.

There is not only hope in the name of the Lord, there is power, strength, joy, peace, provision, protection, forgiveness, healing, restoration, and eternal life.

“ The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

So many blessings, so many promises – open the gift of hope and let your lives be filled with joy and peace.

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Hold Fast

It’s been blowing, hard, for the last few hours. In fact, a couple of times I have gotten up to look out the window and make sure the patio furniture is still there. Yep, that hard.

I’m using my awake time productively – I’ve prayed, played a few hands of solitaire, but haven’t been able to sleep. Not yet, so, it’s time to write what the Lord has put on my heart.

Growing up in a traditional church, complete with pews, organ, choir and hymns books, we did a lot of singing. I am amazed how often the lyrics of those old songs come to mind. Tonight, I found myself singing…(On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand)

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.”

I’m very thankful for the anchor that God gives my life. When the wind blows hard and tries to topple my dreams, my anchor holds.

“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us.” Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT

Hope is our anchor. Not hope in ourselves, but hope in God. Our dreams and ambitions, our goals and our plans, are prompted by God. He has designed us to succeed.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see…6  And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Hebrews 11:1,6 NLt

The Father wants us to put our hope in Him, that’s why He gave us all of the instruction that we have in His word.

Sometimes storms blow through our lives, just like the wind that’s howling outside my window, but when we have our hope anchored in God and His word, we will be held secure.

“Whoever hears these words of Mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain came down. The water came up. The wind blew and hit the house. The house did not fall because it was built on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 NLV

It may seem like your life is being hit by gale force winds or that you’re about to be deluged by a hurricane but hold on, hold on to your hope, hold on to the anchor of your soul!

I feel it’s necessary to give you two more verses before I close. Two more cords to bind you securely to your anchor, your hope.

“Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will praise Him again for His help of being near me.” Psalm 42:5 NLV

“Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLV

Thank God for filling us with hope when the winds of life blow through!

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Encouragement & Hope

When I read the Bible, I look for God’s love and I find it in the life stories of its many characters. When I read the Bible looking for evidence of God’s love, I find it manifest to flawed humans who need encouragement and strength, just like the former leper in yesterday’s blog.

Today I would like to introduce you to another one of my Bible friends. His life has had many up’s and down’s. I share quotes from him all the time; he is a shepherd, a song writer, a refugee, a father of wayward children, a husband, an adulterer, a hero, a king and a man who has a heart for God.

His name is David. A man like us with human weaknesses, disappointments and facing tragic circumstances.

“All the men in the army were sad and angry because their sons and daughters were taken as prisoners. The men were talking about killing David with stones. This upset David very much, but he found strength in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 ERV

David’s wife and children had been stolen along with the wives and children of his men. His men were so distraught they were considering killing David because they felt it was “all his fault”. David needed someone to encourage him but there was no one so he encouraged himself.

Maybe that’s how you feel today. Maybe all seems lost. When David had no one else to count on, no one to encourage him, he found strength and courage in the Lord.

If you need to encourage yourself today start with these verses. Look in the mirror and read them to yourself.

“You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! 15 You could see my bones grow as my body took shape, hidden in my mother’s womb. 16 You could see my body grow each passing day. You listed all my parts, and not one of them was missing. 17 Your thoughts are beyond my understanding. They cannot be measured! 18 If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. But when I finished, I would have just begun” Psalm 139:13-18 ERV

This should put a smile on your face and hope in your heart!

God formed you and He saw to it that nothing was missing in your development. He is still with you promising to never leave you or abandon you! You’re not alone!

After David spent time with the Lord, He was able to encourage his men. They went out and defeat the army that had stolen their families and their goods. They recovered all.

“David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing. They found all the children and old people, all their sons and daughters, and all their valuables. They got back everything the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back.” I Samuel 30:18-19 ERV

Let’s learn from David. Take what the Lord has done for us and give hope to others. It’s wonderful to know that we can be used even in our toughest moments!

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A Safety Line

Four years ago, Dave and I were on the way from our home in Rio Rico to Las Vegas. From Las Vegas we would fly to Chicago and then drive on to Indianapolis for the big Indy 500. This was a bucket list item for Dave.

But on our drive, we were met with a delay. We heard a helicopter whirling overhead and as we made the next bend in the road we saw why.

There, suspended in a safety harness, was a workman who was securing lines on an electrical tower. He seemed to be working confidently as the helicopter pilot held him in place. Attached to the safety harness was a steel cable keeping him tethered to the helicopter.

The helicopter pilot had to adjust to wind currents and the like, holding the workman secure.

We have a safety line from the Father. It’s called an anchor of hope.

“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. It goes behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has already entered there and opened the way for us. He has become the high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:18-20 ERV

Since God cannot lie His promises hold true. They are an anchor for us, an anchor of hope. Jesus is like that helicopter pilot. He is in heaven holding the line that keeps us secure.

Sometimes the winds of life blow fiercely; the earth beneath our feet starts to quake and our knees give way. Flooding torrents of opposition try to swamp us and take us under. But never forget our Father and Jesus, our Savior, hold the lines of our safety.

“God saves me and honors me. He is that mighty rock where I find safety.8 Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each of your concerns. God is our place of safety.” Psalm 62:7-8 CEV

“You are my Lord and God, and I look to you for safety. Don’t let me be harmed.” Psalm 141:8 CEV

Our God knew Daniel would face a lions’ den; He knew that Noah would need an ark. He knew that the widow only had a small cruse of oil and a little flour; He knew the disciples would be on the sea in a storm.

He knew!

And He said: “Descendants of Jacob, I, the Lord, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don’t be afraid. I have rescued you, I have called you by name; now you belong to me. 2 When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown. When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames. 3 I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, the God who saves you.” Isaiah 43:1-3 CEV

Everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus is a descendant of Jacob and these verses were written for us.

God’s word is our safety line and Jesus, Himself, is holding us secure!

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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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What To Choose?

Yesterday afternoon we stopped by the grocery store on our way home from town. It was a day of running errands.

The last stop was the grocery store. I had gone to the deli counter and taken a number, waiting my place in line. I spoke with one woman about the number of different meats on display. When I was a girl lunch meat was limited to salmi, bologna, liverwurst, ham, pastrami and roast beef. Cheeses were cheddar, sharp cheddar, muenster, jack, provolone and Swiss. Easy choices.

My how things have changed.

I then began a conversation with another woman who was remarking on the same thing. The choices…My heart was stirred, and I felt my throat begin to tighten. For the next few minutes our conversation centered on how blessed we were. There are mothers all around the world who would love to shop freely for their families. No danger, no fear of soldiers or bombs, no threat of death or destruction of home.

We talked of the resolve of the Ukrainian people and our determination to pray for them. How blessed we are to live where we live! Are there things we don’t like? Yes. Are there things we don’t agree with? Certainly.

Is our hope and trust in our government – any government? No. Our hope and trust have got to be founded in God’s love for us and His promise to never leave us.

“I must calm down and turn to God; only he can rescue me. 2 He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me. 3 How long will you people attack me? Do you all want to kill me? I am like a leaning wall, like a fence ready to fall. 4 You want only to destroy me, to bring me down from my important position. It makes you happy to tell lies about me. In public, you say nice things, but in private, you curse me. Selah

5 I must calm down and turn to God; he is my only hope. 6 He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me. 7 My victory and honor come from God. He is the mighty Rock, where I am safe.8 People, always put your trust in God! Tell him all your problems. God is our place of safety. Selah

9 People cannot really help. You cannot depend on them. Compared to God, they are nothing— no more than a gentle puff of air! 10 Don’t trust in your power to take things by force. Don’t think you will gain anything by stealing. And if you become wealthy, don’t put your trust in riches. 11 God says there is one thing you can really depend on, and I believe it:
“Strength comes from God!”

12 My Lord, your love is real. You reward all people for what they do.” Psalm 62 ERV

My choice, my dependence, my confidence comes from this “Strength comes from God”!

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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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