Category: Hope

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Needing Water?

Living in the desert I have learned to be observant of the cacti. They stress when they go too long without rain. Prickly Pear start to droop. Even the giant saguaros become thinner.

Heat! Dry heat!

Everything now is waiting for the summer monsoons to come so that they are refreshed. It’s amazing what a little water does to restore life in the desert.

Those of you in the mid-West and the East might have high temperatures but it is also accompanied with high humidity. I’ve been in Iowa when it was 95 degrees with 95% humidity. WOW! That will take your breath away but it’s great for growing corn and soy beans.

Growth requires both warmth and moisture.

We are a lot like that. Have you felt like you were going through a “desert summer” season in life? Everything around you seems to be drying up – scorched, dry, cracked. Is there any relief in sight?

There is!

“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Israel, don’t be terrified. You are my chosen servant, my very favorite. 3 I will bless the thirsty land by sending streams of water; I will bless your descendants by giving them my Spirit. 4 They will spring up like grass or like willow trees near flowing streams. 5 They will worship me and become my people. They will write my name on the back of their hands. 6 I am the Lord All-Powerful, the first and the last, the one and only God. Israel, I have rescued you! I am your King.” Isaiah 44:2-6 CEV

Jesus made this comment:

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

When we are thirsty for the Father and all of His goodness, we will be filled, just like the desert landscape that drinks in the moisture after a rain. We are refreshed and we blossom.

“Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. 2 But he finds joy in the Law of the Lord and thinks about His Law day and night. 3 This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him.” Psalm 1:1-3 NLV

It’s amazing how often we can find references to dryness and be refreshed in Scripture if we look for it.

“He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2 NLV

If you’re feeling dry and thirsty today ask the Lord to refresh you with the Living Water that only He can give!

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Sound the Alarm

What do a beeping smoke alarm and the early morning hours have in common? Nothing good!!!

Why is it that smoke detectors always seem to wait until the wee hours to chirp or in this case beep intermittently? Trying to tell us it’s time to change the battery but it’s unsettling to say the least…

Isn’t that the way it is with “warning” devices? They interrupt the normal flow – they come with annoying sounds that set us on edge and that is their purpose. A warning has to be something loud or out of the ordinary so that we stop, look and listen!

The same is true in spiritual things. God gives warnings.

He sent Moses to the pharaoh; Noah preached to the world before the flood; Daniel’s dream foretold the fall of the Medo-Persian empire; Jesus came preaching salvation and the end of the age!

“Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him in private and asked, ‘When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?’

4 Jesus answered: Don’t let anyone fool you. 5 Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people. 6 You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end. 7 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. 8 But this is just the beginning of troubles.

9 You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. 10 Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people. 12 Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. 13 But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. 14 When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14 ERV

“The Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe. They will obey spirits that tell lies. And they will follow the teachings of demons. 2 Those teachings come through people who tell lies and trick others. These evil people cannot see what is right and what is wrong. It is like their conscience has been destroyed with a hot iron.” I Timothy 4:1-2 ERV

Things are happening all around us; things around the world and even in our own country and states are alarming. However, we have no need to fear or be in distress.

“Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid. Know that it is almost time for God to free you!” Luke 21:27-28 ERV

The good news is this. The warning signs are given so we won’t lose hope, so we won’t give up. The alarms are sounding. It’s time to look up, the day of His coming is soon!

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Wonderful World

I don’t know why my mind goes the places that it does sometimes but when it does, I take the time to ask the Lord what He is showing me and what He wants me to share with others. Today’s it a song from the 1960’s, sung by Louis Armstrong. What A Wonderful World.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands sayin’ how do you do
They’re really sayin’ I love you

The colors that the Father has infused into creation are amazing!

How many different hues do we see in nature, in the birds, the fish, the flowers and the sky? From the beginning of time, they are how God created them to be.

“God said, ‘I command the earth to produce all kinds of plants, including fruit trees and grain.’ And that’s what happened. 12 The earth produced all kinds of vegetation. God looked at what he had done, and it was good. 13 Evening came, then morning—that was the third day…God said, ‘I command the earth to give life to all kinds of tame animals, wild animals, and reptiles.’ And that’s what happened. 25 God made every one of them. Then he looked at what he had done, and it was good. 26  God said, ‘Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.’” Genesis 1;11-26 CEV

He created the world to be filled with beauty.

“The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made.
2 Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power. 3 You cannot hear them say anything. They don’t make any sound we can hear.
4 But their message goes throughout the world. Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.” Psalm 19:1-4 ERV

The message that nature declares is that of God’s greatness! He is worthy to be praised.

Some think of God as being boring or old fashioned. Hardly. There is nothing boring about the beauty of a sunset or a field of wildflowers in bloom. There is nothing passe about the majesty of a waterfall or the brilliance of the Milky Way.

The colors of nature are as timeless and a constant reminder of God’s unconditional love.

“ When I look and see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the agreement that continues forever. I will remember the agreement between me and every living thing on the earth. 17 So God said to Noah, ‘This rainbow is proof of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth.’” Genesis 9:16-17 ERV

The colors of the rainbow are a sign of promise. A promise from God that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood. A brilliant, beautiful promise of God’s faithfulness and love.

If the rainbow were only gray and white it wouldn’t make the statement God intended it too. It would be easy to overlook on a rainy day but since it is so brightly colored it stands out in the sky. It draws attention, causing us to look up, take notice – it is declaring God’s message.

What a wonderful world!

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Building Hope

I am happy to report that I am back this morning, coffee cup in hand, and ready to share what the Lord has put on my heart.

Hope.

As situations and circumstances seem to get more intense, the hopes of good people seem to be waning. For some, discouragement and complacency have replaced optimism and high expectations.

Hope will fade if it isn’t placed in the right source. There’s an old hymn that I used to sing in Sunday night service and it goes like this: “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Building Hope.

This song was written in 1834 by a man who was born into a life of poverty in London. His situation seemed hopeless. No expectations for a future any greater than that of his parents but then someone introduced him to Jesus and things changed.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Misplaced hope crumbles but as the words of the song say, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”. Those were Jesus’ very words to his disciples. He was teaching them where to place their hope.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

Hope is built on the Rock!

Building hope is like constructing a home, one brick upon another. Let me share just a few verses, building blocks, from Psalms.

“May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:21 NLT

“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” Psalm 31:24 NLT

“We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20 NLT

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7 NLT

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:5 NLT

The author of the hymn, The Solid Rock, Edward Mote was confident of the hope found in Christ alone. King David, who wrote most of the book of Psalms, knew to hope in God. The Apostle Paul, who delivered God’s message of grace and unconditional love, built his hope on the foundation of God’s promises.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT

That’s my prayer for you. In building hope, we find joy and peace!

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Uncontestable

We all learn through repetition. This morning I was reminded of a lesson the Lord has taught me throughout the years and it bears repeating.

Years ago, a movie came out that I watched a number of times, A Knight’s Tale. There was a lesson in that movie that has stuck with me. A knight dies and one of his servants takes his place in the jousting tournaments. He has to produce papers of nobility in order to compete. His papers are forged. As the story goes, this knight begins winning many of the events and advances to the final games. He is discovered as a fraud and about to be beheaded when a man steps from the crowd to validate his standing as a true knight. The man removes his hooded cloak and declares

“I am the king and as such my words are uncontestable.”

Boy, that phrase burned in me like a fire!

As someone who struggled with low self-esteem words like these gave me hope and affirmation. Father God and Jesus Christ, King of Kings, attest to my heritage. What they say about me, trumps anything else. Their word is uncontestable!

“The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. 15 The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen children. And with that Spirit we cry out, “ Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.” Romans 8:31

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20 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 that Christ could make us acceptable to God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21

Satan is referred to as the “accuser of the brethren” in Revelation 12 however what God says about us supersedes any accusations that he may bring.

Walk free from accusation. Walk in who the King says you are – it is without contestation.

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Great Expectations

As I’m sitting here this morning it’s not yet dawn. The early morning sky is still dark – stars and the moon give light but there is no glow of dawn.

I put myself with the women who are preparing to go to the tomb. They are anxiously waiting. This is the one last act of love they can do for the Messiah, their friend.

As they place the cloth and the spices needed for burial in a basket there are muffled sobs. Tears still flow freely, only to be wiped away with the brush of the hand. The apostles, Peter and John are there also.

Now, it’s while it’s still dark they are off to tend to the Master’s body. On the way they discuss how they will move the stone away from the opening. I’m not sure if they knew the religious leaders had stationed soldiers at the tomb or not.

“It was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been pushed away from the grave. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other follower whom Jesus loved. She said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the grave. We do not know where they have put Him.’ 3 Then Peter and the other follower went to the grave.” John 20:1-3 NLV

What they had expected to find that morning wasn’t there. Jesus’ body was gone! Had it been stolen? Peter and John left, leaving Mary alone at the tomb with her grief. Everything she expected to do that morning was no longer valid – her last act of love was incomplete.

She sobs!

Then she tells her heartbreaking story to the angels. “He’s been taken away and I don’t know where they have taken Him”. She also repeats it to the man standing in the garden.

What happens next shakes me to my core every time I read it.

“She said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned around and said to Him, ‘Teacher!'” John 20:15-16 NLV

Jesus called her by name. And when she heard him said it, she knew immediately he was Jesus! 

No longer was she experiencing unfulfilled expectations – no, she was filled with a living hope.

“Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, ‘I saw the Lord!'” John 20:18 ERV

In our time of heartache, when all our great expectations have fallen away, we will hear the voice of the Savior, speaking out our name.

There’s no need to stand crying at a tomb of empty dreams. We have a living Savior who calls us by name!

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The Day Was Silent

If you had been a follower of Christ at the time of the crucifixion this day would have been silent.

There was no familiar greeting of friends, no smiles, possibly hugs and sobs and the questions – those haunting questions.

Could I have done something to stop the terrible beating and crucifixion? Are they coming for me next? I’ve spent the last three years following a man who is dead and gone? Where do I go, what do I do?

We know they weren’t prepared for the possibly of a resurrection. In fact, the women were preparing the spices which were a part of a proper burial. They had plans of going to the tomb the next morning.

These were apostles, disciples, family and friends in mourning. The day was silent!

But not so for the religious leaders who had been responsible for Jesus’ arrest, beating and crucifixion.

“The next day, the day after Jesus was killed, the head religious leaders and the proud religious law-keepers gathered together in front of Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember what that Man Who fooled people said when He was living, ‘After three days I am to rise from the dead.’ 64 Speak the word to have the grave watched for three days. Then His followers cannot come at night and take Him away and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last mistake would be worse than the first.” Matthew 27:62-64 NLV

In their fear, they sent soldiers to the tomb to seal it and guard it. At the tomb there was silence.

In hell there was a battle raging.

“When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. 14 We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross. 15 God took away the power of the leaders of this world and the powers of darkness. He showed them to the world. The battle was won over them through Christ.” Colossians 2:13-15 NLV

Christ fought to free us from the power of sin. He fought for our redemption. He defeated the powers of hell!

“The Law could not make me free from the power of sin and death. It was weak because it had to work with weak human beings. But God sent His own Son. He came to earth in a body of flesh which could be tempted to sin as we in our bodies can be. He gave Himself to take away sin. By doing that, He took away the power sin had over us.” Romans 8:3 NLV

In the silence of that day all hope seemed lost but in reality hope for the salvation of all the world was birthed.

The angels had heralded His birth. The silence reverenced His death.

Let’s take time today to be silent, not in fear, but in gratitude for our great gift of salvation.

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Troubled Times

You may think that I am going to share some rich insight this morning on the situations and circumstances that we are facing in our nation and our world today but that isn’t my focus.

Each generation and millennia have had their own share of crises, disasters and unrest.

Jesus lived in a troubled world. The governmental rule was anti-God. The Romans, who ruled over the nation of Israel, preached Caesar as god and his word as infallible. They were living in political slavery when Jesus was born.

I find it interesting that God the Father didn’t use Jesus to rescue the Jews from the Romans in a similar way that he used Moses to rescue the Jews from the Egyptians. Jesus didn’t come to save just one nation. He came to bring reconciliation, peace and freedom to all who would believe.

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about God’s kingdom. He healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. 36 Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. 37 Jesus said to his followers, ‘There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. 38 God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers to help gather his harvest.’” Matthew 9:35 – 38 ERV

Jesus was about His Father’s business – a worldwide harvest.

But the corruption of the government was always on Jesus disciples’ minds. They heard Jesus preach; they saw the miracles. In fact, they did miracles themselves but still they wondered when Jesus would take control and change things. Here are Jesus’ last words to his disciples.

“While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?’ 7Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.'” Acts 1:6-8 ERV

Today, many are asking the same thing. When Lord are you going to do something about political unrest and corruption? Things are not good that is for certain.

Jesus’ answer to us is the same one He gave the disciples. Don’t worry about the political situation and those in power. Leave that up to the Father. Instead, take the message of my salvation to those in your world.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

In troubled times we can run to the Father, we can put our hope in Him.

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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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