Tag Archives: HOPE

A Friday Boost!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #41

07 Friday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Confidence, Contentedness, Contentment, Courage, Encouragement

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A Friday Boost!!! A Word from THE WORD!!!  #41

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

I would like to share a Friday boost for our hearts and minds to end our workweek on a positive note.  No matter how stressed or tired—how many crises arose in our paths—how confused we may feel in our current situations—how many answers we are wrestling with—God still reigns!  He is ever there for us no matter what the world or those around us may say—again, and again, and again!  So, let’s just take a few and look up, walk right, and press on with Jesus today…every day!

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent

reigneth.”  Revelation 19:6

And some of my favorite reminders from the Psalms:

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see

if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

“Create in me

a clean heart,

O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.”   Psalm 51:10

How does God do this?  Only one way—through Jesus’ blood and righteousness!

“For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Paul said it so beautifully—all because of Jesus, we can be– right with our God—at peace with God—recipients of HIS love and redemption:

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also

we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:1-8

So, as we all know, even when it looks like HE is four days late—HE is always right on time.  Look up my friends—remember—We Win all because of JESUS!!!  Take heart for, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”, and HE will still be that “fourth man in the fire” with YOU TODAY!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

My Hope Is Secure??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 21

12 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Fear, Fearlessness, Holy Living, HOPE

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 21  My Hope Is Secure???

 

“As the hart panteth

after the water brooks,

so panteth my soul

after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God,

for the living God:

when shall I come

and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat

day and night,

while they continually say unto me,

Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things,

I pour out my soul in me:

for I had gone with the multitude,

I went with them to the house of God,

with the voice of joy

and praise,

with a multitude

that kept holyday.

5 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.

6 O my God,

my soul is cast down within me:

therefore will I remember thee

from the land of Jordan,

and of the Hermonites,

from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep

at the noise of thy waterspouts:

all thy waves and thy billows

are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness

in the daytime,

and in the night his song

shall be with me,

and my prayer

unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock,

Why hast thou forgotten me?

why go I mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones,

mine enemies reproach me;

while they say daily unto me,

Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down,

O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him,

who is the health of my countenance,

and my God.”  Psalm 42:1-11

As we consider many of the things going on around us, we can often become what the Psalmist describes as, “cast down, O my soul”……and our souls may become “disquieted in me”!  Yet, we can take heart and have the same confidence that the Psalmist had, and surely “hope thou in God”.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds”. Hebrews 12:1-3

Our call is to follow Jesus, keep our eyes on HIM, and to run the race that HE has set before us; all in the assurance that many have experienced the faithfulness of God before us—in believing the witnesses, laying aside sin and the weights of trials that surround us, running the persistent race, with our Lord and HIS Word in view!  We must recognize that the great “cloud of witnesses”, are not a stadium of spectators, but the faithful who have walked the journey of faith before us.  In fact, many of them gave testimony to God’s faithfulness in chapter 11—known as the faith chapter!  And as we experience more and more of God’s faithfulness we can truly learn to walk consistently by faith!  And oh, what a faithful GOD we serve!  Paul gave us great advise for pursuing excellence in following our God.

“Brethren,

I count not myself to have apprehended:

 but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore,

as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing

ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this

unto you.”  Philippians 3:13-15

As we pursue the prize of our calling in Jesus, may we truly learn to live the crucified life: crucified to self and alive unto Jesus our Lord and King in all our ways!

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless

I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

So, my friends, where is your hope placed?  Don’t let the enemy deceive you into hoping in yourself or the world, for God truly is our “very present help in trouble”!  And if there was ever a world in trouble, we’re living in it!  But don’t lose heart—we win because our GOD wins!!!

“Seeing then

that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast

our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points

tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Oh, what a God we serve!  Will you serve HIM with your whole heart?  Will you walk in confidence of HIS grace and mercy toward us!  May your week be full of blessings and grace!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

 and of love,

and of a sound mind…

…. 9 Who hath saved us,

and called us

with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,”   2 Timothy 1:7 & 9

Amen and Amen!!!

Faithful Even On 9-11!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #753

11 Saturday Sep 2021

Posted by in 9-11-01 20th Anniversary

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #753  Faithful Even On 9-11!!!

 

I just want to share a word of reflection and encouragement on this 20thanniversary of the disaster of September 11, 2001.  I want to make it simple but hopeful for all who might read this post, that GOD is still GOD, GOD is still good, and I still trust HIM!!!  YOU can too!

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,

This is the word of the LORD

unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”  Zechariah 4:6

And what God did, does, and will do to save those who will come unto HIM in repentance and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus for my/our sin!

“Moreover, brethren,

I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:”   1 Corinthians 15:1-4

And as Paul so aptly reminds us of in his letter to the church at Rome, may we remember that “we love HIM because HE first loved us” (emphasis mine, see 1 John 4:19)!

“For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”   Romans 5:7-11

All because HE loves you and me—no matter the crises!

“Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”  Titus 3:5

Hope And Help Among Us!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #717

26 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by in Eyes that SEE HIM, Faithful, Good News, Grace, HOPE

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #717  Hope And Help Among Us!!!

 

I just want to share a brief word of encouragement that I pray will help you today and brighten your way.

“Two are better than one;

because they have a good reward

for their labour.

10 For if they fall,

the one will lift up his fellow:

but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;

for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together,

then they have heat:

but how can one be warm

alone?

12 And if one prevail against him,

two shall withstand him;

and a threefold cord

is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I’m not talking about “safety in numbers”, but rather the benefit of encouraging words that show caring for one another!  Our kind words can be a help, a blessing and often a spark of hope that someone may need more than we can see!

“Iron sharpeneth

iron;

so a man sharpeneth

the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

I got just a such a note this morning and I don’t think we can understand the power of our words when we use them to lift up one another.  I pray that this simple post will encourage each of us to be an encourager each day! Amen!

Because HE Left The Manger??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #697

20 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Amazing Grace, Christmas, Christmas IS?, Grief, Holy Spirit, HOPE, What's In Your Heart?, Worship Him!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #697  Because HE Left The Manger???

 

As we approach Christmas this week, I just want to share a post from last year about this time.  In fact, I’d like to share with you the post that I wrote one year ago today—the morning after the murder of my daughter.  It’s been a long year, but thanks to Jesus, who didn’t stay in the manger, but grew to be a man who redeemed my soul, my daughter’s soul, and HE has and will continue to redeem all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

And as the Apostle John recorded in his Gospel, HE came to save us, and HE will save all who will believe and receive HIM!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

As much as I knew and received of HIS strength to go on a year ago, I know HE is the ONE who is carrying me today; and HE will carry YOU, whatever your need, pain or sorrow may be.  Yes, there have been difficult days!  Yes, there have been times of pain that I have no words to describe!  Yes, I am weary, tired and often so lonely for the sound of my dear Donna’s voice, laughter and to see her room-brightening smile that I ache!  But God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit have lifted me, calmed my fears, anger, frustration and eased the painful grief in my heart; even as Paul reminded us that grief is normal, but we have a Savior who has given us a life-giving, heart-lifting HOPE in our grief.

“And that ye study to be quiet,

and to do your own business,

and to work with your own hands,

as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly

toward them that are without,

and that ye may have lack of nothing.

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant,

brethren,

concerning them which are asleep,

that ye sorrow not,

even as others

which have no hope.

14 For if we believe

that Jesus died

and rose again,

even so them also

which sleep in Jesus

will God bring with him.”                                           1 Thessalonians 4:11-14 Amen!

I pray that God will use this post to heal, comfort, and lift the down-hearted during this time of rejoicing in the birth of our Savior; for it often brings much sadness to many because of our loss and grief.  But Jesus IS our hope and comfort!

Following is the post that wrote a year ago today, with a heart broken by loss, may it be used again today as it was a year ago!  God’s still God!  God’s still good!  And I still trust HIM!

“Bible Ballistics: BBs #612 Because HE Lives—I Can Walk On!

Christmas is many things to many people—some are filled with glee and joy, others think deeply on the meaning of the coming of This Newborn King, still others have difficult circumstances or memories that invade their celebration. But I’m here to let you know that regardless of what is going on around you/me, whether for us or against us, GOD is still GOD and we can trust HIM. I’m writing an article that I never expected to write, but it is one that I am compelled to write. I lost my only daughter under most tragic circumstances yesterday, and my heart is breaking but I have to share, for all who also have broken hearts, not just at Christmas time but anytime, that GOD IS ABLE!

As Jesus told a grieving Martha and Mary, HE is still reminding us today that He has the final word—in fact HE IS THE WORD!

“Martha saith unto him,

I know that he shall rise again

in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her,

I am

the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him,

Yea, Lord: I believe

that thou art the Christ,

the Son of God,

which should come into the world.”   John 11:24-27

It is totally because HE not only lived a perfect, sinless life, died a substitutionary, atoning sacrificial death, but my friends HE AROSE! And because HE lives—I can live another day; my daughter who had given her heart to him years ago is in HIS arms today! While our hearts are breaking, my heart is, at the very same time, full of gratitude for a Redeemer who loves me, and HE loves you—no matter the heartache that you may be experiencing today—whether new or old. Like David I can rejoice in the truth of God’s incredible sovereignty!

“Then said his servants unto him,

What thing is this that thou hast done?

thou didst fast and weep for the child,

while it was alive;

but when the child was dead,

thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he said,

While the child was yet alive,

I fasted

and wept:

for I said,

 Who can tell

whether GOD will

be gracious to me,

that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead,

wherefore should I fast?

can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him,

but he shall not return to me.”    2 Kings 12:21-23

As the old song says, “We shall behold HIM…” (Written by Dottie Rambo). My eyes are filled with tears, but my confidence is fully in my Lord Jesus Christ and His promise that He is coming for me (and you who have come to Him in repentance and faith)!

At this precious Christmas time, I rejoice in the truth that God keeps HIS promises!

“For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government

shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Jesus IS the source of the peace that I feel right now, and I pray that you will rest in that peace yourself. If you don’t know Him, you can!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus came to be our sacrifice and coming to Him gives us not only the “peace of God” but also “peace with God”.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory

of God.” Romans 5:1-2

I don’t know why the events of yesterday took my loved one, but I do know that the God who does know, loves my daughter, He loves me, and HE has a plan that I am resting in, even in the pain of my heart, and through the tears in my eyes. And I’ll simply leave you with some passages of confidence and assurance in this ONE who gave Himself for you and me.

“Therefore we are always confident,

knowing that,

whilst we are at home in the body,

we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith,

not by sight:)

8 We are confident, I say,

and willing rather

to be absent from the body,

and to be present

with the Lord.”.   2 Corinthians 5:6-8

And as Peter reminds us:

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

And Jesus word for each of us:

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30. Amen!”

May you have a blessed and joyous Christmas, and I’ll be back next week, as I’m taking this week off for some rest and refreshing myself!  God bless each of you!!

“The LORD bless thee,

and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance

upon thee,

and give thee peace.”   Numbers 6:24-26

Amen and Amen!!!  Merry Christmas.