Hope in Times of Uncertainty

Epesians 1:18 – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
There is no doubt that in some ways we are living in one of our worst moments this generation has experienced. We have been hit with the ugliest fight in politics that I have ever seen. There are enormously heavy hidden things coming out that are often too much for the mind to absorb. We have had unprecidented natural desasters, wild fires, and hard hits in the economy (again).
Not to mention the required isolation during COVID-19, and an increase in major depression and suicide.

There is so much on the shoulders of mankind in 2020. So how can we walk in hope with the weight that is baring down on us?

We must stir our hope up!

We stir up hope by walking in an expectation for a positive future. We stir up the truth that we will see the victory. We rejoice. We declare and walk with our head on what we are expecting rather than what we are having thrown at us.

We must not look at these times, and sit back with hands thrown up declaring it is hopeless. It is not hopeless!!!
There is so much in these situations to learn and grow. Businesses are being birthed as people are home and needing to redesign their income. People at home are becoming more creative, getting things accomplished that before they had no time available for. Families are valuing their time together in new ways. We are now longing for true connection, that without COVID-19 we allowed to go dormant. Communities are coming together to help those that have faced loss and disaster.

It is important to remember that in our waiting God is there. We are not forgotten. We have a purpose and in this time some of us are just now awakening to what that purpose is.

HOPE– Let us pursue with expectation God hears us and meets us where we are at.
Jeremiah 29:12- Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

HOPE-Let us pursue with expectation we DO have a purpose in all this. We have been created for such a time as this. Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

HOPE– Let us pursue with expectation the kind of person that we want to be on the other side of this weighty and heavy time in history.
Colossians 3:14- And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

HOPE – Let us pursue with expectation that there is a victory ahead of us. We will overcome and be stronger because of what we have grown through.
1 Peter 5:10-  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Hope moves us forward. It pushes into our next. When we are feeling all is lost or we are miserable in our situation, it is up to us to look to where our HOPE comes from. We cannot afford to stay dormant and hide. Others need us and we will not function in our best if we hang our head down and walk in hopelessness.
Psalm 121:1- I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

One way to generate hope is to invest in others. With Covid-19 this may mean some creativity. I have seen all kinds of online support groups and opportunities to connect.
Book clubs, bible studies, hobby interests and ministry pages. There is opportunity even at home to socialize and take the time to instil hope into others. Stirring hope for others stirs hope within our own hearts. Ask yourself if you are called to contribute in a new way to a social outlet. Perhaps start something that has been on your heart for some time. Now is the time to go after it!

God is a God of HOPE. He genertes hope within us as we give thanksgiving.
Start today, thanking for that which you expect and want to see.

I just know we will begin to see great things!

Who am I, really ?

 I was reflecting today on the many different persona’s and faces that we as individuals take on. 

I remember in one high school I was outgoing and energetic and happy, and then the other high school, because the atmosphere was different and the people were harsh, I went into a shell of sorts. I allowed my atmosphere to change my persona. I put on a different face and I had changed. I still was the same inside, but I was not letting those around me know who I truly was.

I then started reflecting on when a child grows in a Christian home there is a point that they have to decide on their own relationship with Jesus… they can not walk in their parents relationship with Jesus forever. There is a time of ownership and transformation of Jesus personally being a part of that child’s life.

This is a difficult season because it is often when you are discovering that people are opinionated and hurtful at times. It is these opportunities of self doubt that  people will use to destroy what God wants to do with you, if you will let them. . 

There have been seasons that I have allowed others opinions of me,  to change who I was. I would not want to put myself out for everyone to see and hurt me over and over again. But I was hiding the light that God had put in me. I had to renew my mind and not allow the world to conform me into what the world wanted me to be. 

The enemy can use all kinds of lies to make me believe it is okay to be ‘self preserving’. But the problem with this statement is… SELF. I can not do the work of God if I am focusing on my self. my limitations, or what I want. I must instead focus on what the word says about me, and what I am called to do and be and not allow anything to get in the way of that.

I would hope as I have grown in the Lord (and in years) that I no longer would allow others to tear me down, put me in a box, or push me to hide in my shell. As I mature in the Lord and who I am in Christ, I walk boldly with my head held high and draw closer to Him.

I hope I am strong enough to say; ” God doesn’t make mistakes, He grows me, cultivates me, and His work is good!” 

I will NOT conform to the world around me.

Challenge this day my friend: Take a moment with the Lord and ask Him. Who am I, really? 

He knows what He desires for you, who better to know you than your creator? Do not listen to the opinions of everyone around you or follow the steps that the ‘world’ is taking, take a moment to find the Truth!

Romans 12:2-

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

( NAS)

 

 

 

 

Teenite: Thank YOU!

The event:  Teen night … A time where we encourage the teens to minister one to another and make a difference in each others lives and our schools.

Object Lesson: Lemon Jello was fed to each other by hand while wearing blindfolds.

( the teens pointed out spoons could be painful)

With each ‘attempt’ of getting Jello into their teammates mouth, the receiving teen had to say thank you, weather the Jello made it’s mark or not.

Message:

There are times in our lives when we ‘think’ we know how God is going to deliver something to us. We may have thought it through so many times, we know exactly how we will receive it and what it will taste like. THEN we get a wammy and how we thought things would be is not how they are at all.

It can still be good, it is still him, but it is different and we are to give thanks always.

In this same manner, life can throw us curve balls that we never expected, we can be hurt, bruised, torn down and stomped on and even in those times we are to give thanks to the LORD.

The Lord is ALWAYS good regardless of our circumstances. He will ALWAYS meet us, and see us through.

Scripture Reference:

1 Thesselonians 5:8-

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Challenge this day my friend:

Reflect back on how God has STILL been good regardless. Think on His goodness and GIVE THANKS. In every situation, in every trial, in every joy, give Him thanks!

Philippians 4:6-

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to the Lord.

I am ALIVE RIGHT NOW

A dear friend of ours has been told that he only pumps ten percent of oxygen into his blood that his body needs. He is going through the process of discussing life options with hospice, planning where he wants to be when he dies.

I LOVE his heart and attitude. He knows that even though He is not technically well, that GOD has a plan for him and our friend knows he WILL LIVE every one of those days the Lord has planned.

Our friend has taught me to be a life-giver to those around me, to bring joy into the worlds depressing situations. He reminds me anew that the situation around us does not matter.

He always has a smile to greet us, his words to me a few days ago ministered to me deeply,

” I am not dying tomorrow, and I am alive right now!”

He was not spending our whole visit focusing on his death, or that one day he will die, maybe even soon…. he wants to live in his life in the moment of NOW.

He knows he is ready  to die, whenever the time may come, and he may flesh out and have a moment of doubt and frustration, but he doesn’t STAY there.

Fear is NOT an option. We have so much before us that if we stand and live in fear of our death or our health or our ‘what ifs’ we will be miserable!

I walked away from that moment of my technically dying friend, BLESSED!

He has decided NOT to live in a pity party, oh he has his moments but is not living in fret, working at not being angry, but to rejoice, and just love on the ones he has opportunity to love on all the days he has left. What a wonderful way to LIVE!

Challenge this day my friend: No matter what we are going through, we can rejoice that there is LIFE in us. The LIVING GOD has breathed new life into His children. We are not the old, we are not the same, we can have FULL victory over death and the darkness. Say to yourself… ” I AM ALIVE RIGHT NOW!”

Colossians 2:13

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

Finish the RACE

I just watched a very moving video where a teen helped carry a fallen competitor over the finish line of the state track meet. The ending was the most profound and I will be posting the link at the end of the blog for you all to see it and be blessed.

The actions of support for the one team member got me to thinking of the race in my own life.

I am called to complete and finish ALL that the Lord has for me to do. I am to stand in my faith and not waver. Often I get bogged down by my limits or life circumstances that can be dizzying, and want to give up, but God promises to be my strength and to be my aid as I finish what He has before me. When I am burdened He carries those burdens for me.

There are times I have put things on the shelf to refuel and that can be healthy, but never my faith in the moments of rest, always trusting that He will accomplish what He sets out to complete in me. I can not listen to the lies that bombard my mind that I won’t get there. I have had definite times that I just wanted to give up and not keep striving for that goal, but then He sends a reminder and I am lifted and ready to go on.

I want to reach the destination He has for me. I desire to touch the lives He has for my harvest. I want to remember to STAND in FAITH always and I want that moment when I can give a collective sigh and say;

” YES, I MADE IT! ”

Challenge this day my friends: Evaluate the races in your life that you are meant to complete but desire to give up on and remember, you are NEVER alone!

2 Timothy 4:7-

have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Psalm 68:19-

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah

The LINK I promised 🙂 Blessings!!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/ohio-runner-stops-state-final-aid-fallen-opponent-100722161.html

Beware…sweet doesn’t always mean good!

The recent stint of food poisoning for my friend from food that was absolutely wonderful tasting, led me to a lesson for the youth kids at my home.

We used marshmallows, soft, white, sweet marshmallows to represent sin. ( I wanted to use bubblegum but didn’t have that on hand)
Then we had to keep placing marshmallows in our mouths and try to say, Jesus is Lord. As each sin was crammed into the mouth, it was harder and harder to say Jesus is Lord.

Sometimes sin in our lives can seem so right, and be sweet for the moment: we can gossip with the excuse that we are lifting a sister in prayer, or we can serve the church ministry while neglecting our family at home, or we can shout praises in church and then slander our boss or family member because they made us mad, and we can call it righteous indignation.

We can mistakenly place sin in our mouth over and over and our walk becomes messy and sticky. The bitterness settles in and what once tasted sweet, no longer is. The more that the bitterness, and the root of sin buries in our heart, the harder it is to walk in Joy or sing the praises of Jesus. We can get in the trap without realizing it, but when conviction stirs in our hearts we need to recognize it and turn it over to the Lord. When sin is left in the heart, our life and walk reflect it. The word says we will be known by our fruit.

People notice when you gossip, people notice when you slander. It may not be apparent right away but will make you sick in the end spiritually if you keep walking in it.

We all sin and every one falls short of the glory of God. There is grace that covers that sin as we repent and turn away we have the VICTORY over that sin. As we walk closer to the father, the sin won’t seem so sweet anymore but foul or even off as it is on our lips, the conviction will come and we will hopefully pursue truly good things, that are ALL HIM.

Challenge this day my friend: Self examination; is there an area you may have felt conviction and you have slowly still ate from the wrong food? It is time to give it up and walk in your true victory in pursuit of Him.

Romans 6:13-14

 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Childhood joys

The sun shines bright. My spirit perks up a bit just to have the glorious light beam across my face and the warmth hits deep!

I am taken back to childhood days. Days that were complete bliss in the midst of the most simplest moments. Memories flood back  of blowing sticky bubbles, drawing in sand with my fingers,

drawing in Sand with my son

picking dandelions as a prize for my mommy, imagining I am the princess dancing in the kingdom, running in green grass with bare feet and how the grass stained the bottom of my toes, and moments of laying on the ground in fits of giggles when my friends and I were exhausted from the games.

This is the kind of pure simple joy that I am trusting for daily. My joys do not come from my circumstances or the amount of money I put into an experience, but just by having the experience. Joys that come from simply living. Joys from spending time with the one that loves me most and encourages me to have the heart of a child.

To have joy, simply because I have the right to. I can still dance, sing, clap, laugh, be silly and simply just be me.

I AM a princess. I AM a daughter of a king. One that does not have to give up the childlike presence in my heart. I am encouraged to be as a child. To laugh and have joy, to look at all the blessings as sweet gifts. To look at a bird flying in the blue skies with awe anew. I have the ability to look at the awesome gifts the creator has given me with fresh eyes and wonderment. I can stop taking the world around me for granted. He has given me a beautiful picture to wake up to daily…. life.

Challenge this day my friends: When struggling with walking in joy, stop and look at things in your life with wonderment. Have that childlike faith that the things you need to change will. That you still CAN be anything He created you to be! Walk with you eyes forward and face what you must, but remember, there is joy in simple things!

Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

(NLT)

Trust

 

Trust: RELIANCE on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

My husband is the kind of person that will trust anybody. He always believes the best of people until they prove themselves otherwise and even then he will often make excuses for them, giving the benefit of the doubt. I don’t allow him to watch any infomercials, or he will be convinced we need the latest gadget because someone said it was amazing. He is loyal to the end and he believes the best in people.

I most often am on the complete opposite spectrum. I don’t believe in anyone until they prove themselves. I feel everyone selling something exaggerates their cause, therefore I must try before I believe in a product. I am loyal until I am hurt and then I will not let the offender back in my life (very often).

I have learned from my husbands example to allow myself to trust more. I find his faith in people has also spread to his faith in the Lord and that is inspiring. He KNOWS and has confidence in the fact that the Lord will do all that His word says He will do.

I am learning from my husband, to open my heart more. To apply His trust in the Lord and to use his childlike faith as a lesson on my own life. I see great fruit in the very things my husband had trusted the Lord for. Having a wife full of joy is one thing my husband has seen fruit in.

My husband has learned from me that full trust, belongs only to the Lord. That man can let you down, but God never will. I have taught him to seek the Lord first on the decisions we are to make together.

Through our differences I find we balance each other out perfectly and are truly each others help mates.

Challenge this day my friends: Take the time to find areas you are not trusting the Lord in. Lean on His strength, His goodness, His character and ability with a confidence that He is true to His word.

Proverbs 3:5-

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

(NIV)