Posts with the tag “hope”

Have you ever been so sad and confused over something that you found it hard to move forward another day? Some of us may feel that way because of the issues COVID-19 has brought. Some of us may feel that way because we’ve had a defining life event that was so hurtful. Some of us may identify because we’ve lost something or someone so suddenly.Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the da...  Read More

Ready to put life’s troubles in their place? Tired of the weariness of the pandemic? Ready to send the enemy where he belongs—out of your life? Then get off this mountain! We’ve been sitting on this mountain long enough. It’s time to get up and take control and authority over our lives just the way Jesus told us to do. We are not defeated and we aren’t losers!The Lord even told that to the Israeli...  Read More

It’s Spring and old man Winter is being pushed aside slowly but surely. The earth is preparing for a new season of planting and growth. Isn’t it amazing how our outlook changes with the seasons too? We begin to feel light hearted and we excitedly look forward to getting outside and enjoying the outdoors after being cooped up for so long. There’s only one thing:  we need the spring—rain.While rain ...  Read More

We are weary of the pandemic and all the worries of the world. It’s so tempting to put our heads in the sand and pray it passes over us somehow. This is not the time to give up or to run away. It’s time to double down and invite the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and every situation. It’s time to push through and pray for the revival we need to get past it all. It’s time we allow the Holy Spir...  Read More

How do you see Jesus? Is He your 911 call when you’ve exhausted all options? Is He your quick fix at the moment? Or is He your “go to” for life whether you are in the midst of the good or the bad? How you see Jesus actually determines what shape your heart is in.You can tell what shape your heart is in by the words that come out of your mouth. Those words connect with your actions. Unfortunately, ...  Read More

If I asked you where you live, I’m sure you’d give me a city and a state, maybe even a neighborhood. We tend to think of zones in terms of geographical areas. You’d give me a great description of what it looks like and what it means to live there since zones tend to be distinct areas. You might say, however, “I’m in a happy zone, today.” Or “I’m in my comfort zone.” But those are earthly zones.The...  Read More

This past weekend, we sprung forward with time. Spring will officially be here later this month, too. Already, I’m getting that spring cleaning fever to start whisking away the winter dust. What is it about sunshine, warm air and even gentle rains, that just excite us to move; to throw open the windows, plant flowers and a garden; to trade in our heavy coats and boots for a light and carefree atti...  Read More

When we were kids, we loved a big downpour of rain in the summer because after the storm, we could run out and jump in the puddles. It was even more fun to walk along the curb in the water as it rushed down the street. Because I was Miss Don’t Want To Get Dirty, I would put my old sneakers on instead of going barefoot. Once we were done, I would walk home with squishy shoes, water just teeming out...  Read More

We need to stay healthy, especially under stress. Over the past year, we’ve experienced just that as we’ve adjusted to the impact of COVID-19. Many of us take extra care to bolster our immune systems to improve our physical health. Taking vitamins like B, C, D, and zinc each day help. Our mental and spiritual health, however, are important too.Maintaining a healthy attitude and mental state increa...  Read More

Do you remember the story of the Invisible Man? He could walk through a room and unless he had on a piece of clothing, you wouldn’t know he was there. He used his invisible ability to do good and solve mysteries. Unless you knew him, you found it highly impossible to believe anyone could be invisible. It’s hard to believe in what you can’t see.Many go through life demanding an explanation for thin...  Read More

“Delight,” a word that isn’t used much today. What does it mean to be delighted with someone or something? I get delighted when I see my granddaughter singing and dancing. I am delighted when I receive a gift from someone. To be delighted means to take great pleasure or keen enjoyment; to be greatly pleased.The best living example of someone who is delighted is to watch a baby. When a baby is deli...  Read More

Are you a disciple maker? Do you see the vast harvest just waiting for us to fill the boats with fish, fish ready to taste and see Jesus? Our hope is in Him and the work He commissions us to do. His disciples were no different from us. They had their worries and their doubts, especially after His death and resurrection. But they pushed through. He gave them abundance and hope, just like He does fo...  Read More

Where do you get your information to make life decisions? From the internet, Instagram, Facebook, social media, Tik Tok? It’s amazing the many outlets we have that are easily searched and easy to post information.I was speaking to a young woman the other day and she began to tell me about a philosophy circulating in her age group that they shouldn’t bring children into this world. She quoted sever...  Read More

Reading my one year Bible, I came across the story of Moses’ encounters with God on Mount Sinai when the Israelites were heading to the Promised Land. What is so beautiful about this story is to hear straight from the lips of the Lord how much He loves us, even when we don’t  deserve it. This story reveals His heart toward His people.Moses made two famous trips up Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord...  Read More

Yesterday, we talked about our need to get moving if we want to see change and the move of the Lord in our lives. We have to break out of our comfort zones and awaken the fire we have down in our bones for Jesus. In that fire and passion for Him, we will find a joy and peace that will overcome every crazy twist and turn of life.Does your soul burn for Jesus or has your faith and passion been reduc...  Read More

There’s a game I just loved to play called, “The Game of Life.” It’s a board game with little cars that you put stick people in and you go around the board of life. You may pick up a kid or two, a house and more, but the game is supposed to be fun as you go through the ups and downs of life. My favorite part was yelling, “Your move!” because I wanted to play the game fast and win.The game takes yo...  Read More

We’ve talked about the many blessings the Lord has showered on us, but today I want to talk about the blessings we can shower on others. You may be thinking, “But I don’t have that much. I can hardly make it myself. How can I be a blessing to someone else?” Well, let me tell you how a simple act of kindness can turn into a blessing for someone. There is so much hope in the blessing process.The oth...  Read More

When we are ready to go somewhere, and especially if you use a GPS, you have a choice to go the most direct, fastest way or you can go the shortest or you can go round about. Most of us like the fastest way. We want to get where we want to go. Sometimes, however, it may be to our advantage to go the roundabout way, even if it does take longer. That requires patience.In our town, they have establis...  Read More

What are you up to at this moment? What kind of day are you having? My hope is that you’ve had some space to pull away and take a deep breath. Busy moms and dads managing households, jobs, and helping the kids with virtual school. Searching people, looking for new jobs, new opportunities to make ends meet. Lonely people, hoping for a call or a word of encouragement. Anxious people, praying for uni...  Read More

When you look into the future, what do you see? Are you afraid to look out too far? After last year, most of us are pretty cautious about thinking ahead. COVID lurks around every corner and disruption and dissension permeate the air. Most of us keep our heads down and hope whatever craziness is going on, will pass us by. We’ve lost our beacon of hope and our desire to dream.That’s a dangerous plac...  Read More

There’s a saying, “Desperate times require desperate measures.” It originated hundreds of years ago from an ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates. Basically, it means that actions you might not have considered in the past become the best choices under adverse circumstances. We are in just such times, and if ever we needed to take desperate measures, it’s now.We’ve been in desperate times for a year...  Read More

We’ve had a rough past year and as we’ve entered 2021, the enemy has not let up on his attack. As I thought about the global, national and personal crises we face, I was struck by the uncanny deceit of Satan. Picture him throwing everything he has at the world, at us, so fast that we can’t catch our breath. It’s like one wave after another. Maybe you feel that way too sometimes.Have you ever seen ...  Read More

Covid-19 is still racing through our nation and our families. In its wake, it leaves destruction including loss of loved ones and friends, loss of jobs and housing, and even lack of food to eat for some. The division within has also reached new levels leaving us anxious and in disbelief. Our only hope is Jesus and we pray this week that the world and our nation will listen to the call of the Holy ...  Read More

We are facing two great dilemmas in our nation and each day both are front and center in our minds: the relentless rise of COVID and the ever widening division of our people. One issue alone would be overwhelming, but both at the same time is exhausting. All of us have been impacted directly or indirectly by both. And both issues keep us apart.Let’s call a duck a duck. This is the work of the enem...  Read More

My brother is so special to me. Growing up as kids, he wanted to follow me everywhere I went and as I got older, that became an issue. (You older siblings know what I mean.) But let someone bother him, and I’d jump in the middle, ready to  intercede, whether it was with our parents or others.Maybe you’ve interceded for someone in a mediation case or in a court of law. You played the role of someon...  Read More

It can be so easy to feel broken by all the unrest, sickness and death surrounding us right now. We are walking in unprecedented times and we need unprecedented solutions. Those can only come through the Hope of our salvation, Jesus. In the midst of it all, His victory is our victory. But to be victorious, we must not walk in fear, but in confidence knowing that He is with us. This week, join us a...  Read More

It’s been quite a week! Coronavirus rising and the number of deaths climbing. We watched uncontrolled anger and frustration turn into an assault on our Capital. We witnessed government officials rise above the chaos to keep our republic moving smoothly. We continued to feel the impact of the virus on our finances, our minds, and our ability to live normally. And we are dealing with everyday trials...  Read More

The Star Wars series is classic. I’m sure you have your favorite movie and character. There are many lessons we can learn from this series that are appropriate for us today. The original film is called “A New Hope.” Isn’t that what we seek today given our current circumstances? The overall  story is about what happens in the galaxy where humans and aliens co-exist with robots, and space travel bet...  Read More

We’ve been on a roller coaster of change for months and the roller coaster hasn’t stopped yet. We’ve gone from joyful highs, large and small, to some steep dips that seem like they have no bottom. Our emotions have been trying to keep up with the hope, the fears, the doubts and the faith. It’s been tough to hang on sometimes because just when we get used to one change, another one just happens.Do ...  Read More

Praise and worship were the first actions taken when Jesus was born. Imagine how the Israelites felt. They had waited for hundreds of years. It took fourteen generations from Abraham to the birth of the Messiah. They waited for Immanuel, “God with us.”This tiny baby would save His people from sin, a heavy burden placed on the shoulders of a child. The night Jesus was born, the stars were shining s...  Read More

This is the time of year when Christmas lists are made, hints are dropped and commercials never seem to end. If you have kids or grandkids, they can’t wait to give you their lists of what they just can’t do without. But this is 2020 and for the first time, we will experience Christmas during a pandemic. How different the lists may be this year. What’s on your Christmas list?If you’re having troubl...  Read More

Why do we send Christmas cards each year? Most of us send cards because that’s tradition, and some of us send cards because someone sent us one. The Christmas card was actually invented by a very wealthy Englisman who was too busy to reach out to all of his family and friends. So he developed a postcard with just a few words to wish them a merry Christmas. Somehow the idea caught on and the Hall b...  Read More

We are entering our second week of Advent and our focus is on Peace. You know, in order to have peace, you have to be still. Being still can be a challenge, though, for many of us. Our culture rewards busyness and multitasking. The spinning plate syndrome receives accolades: the more plates you can spin, the more successful you are. But Jesus actually taught something very different, be still, pea...  Read More

Our first week of Advent is coming to a close. Our focus for this week has been Hope, and Hope has a name. That name is so powerful, that it can heal, save and give eternal life. That name can break chains and demolish walls. And we have full access to that name.As we close out this week, let’s remember why we are hopeful and in whom we put our trust and faith. His birth is the best promise ever f...  Read More

The world Jesus was born into wasn’t too different from ours. There was a crisis and a meltdown, both politically and socially. There were revolutionary ideas and great divisions among the people. The Roman Empire ruled over the Jews at this time, and the Jews wanted a Messiah to come and bring order to the chaos.God didn’t send an army of angels to take over, nor did He send a full grown Jesus to...  Read More

All of us have waited for something: a job, a home or someone to love. Waiting isn’t hard when what we desire comes quickly. Having patience to wait beyond our expectations can be much harder. Many prayers have included the question, “How long?”Waiting can test our patience, and we can often get discouraged thinking the Lord isn’t hearing our cry. We live in a 30 minute culture. Nothing should tak...  Read More

Many Christians observe Advent, the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The word “advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus which  means “coming.” Not just any kind of coming, but a significant event that is anticipated with great expectation. We are living between two events: the incarnation of Christ (when God came to earth in human form) and the expectation of His second coming...  Read More

“A voice came from  the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.’”Luke 9:35Have you ever wondered why God gave us two ears and one mouth? Perhaps He was trying to tell us something—listening is more important than talking. There is an art to listening. You actually have to choose to listen and that means paying attention. That means you can’t talk and listen at the same t...  Read More

With the uptick of people infected by COVID-19 and the predictions scientists and the CDC are making about the near future, it is easy to see we’re headed into rough water again. We have all prayed for deliverance from the pandemic and we have waited patiently for a cure. For some of us, we feel a bit defeated because we hoped we would be in a better place. What do we do with disappointment especi...  Read More