Tag Archives: hope

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Book Review for “Jesus Himself”-Christian Inspriational Non Fiction

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I love anything by Andrew Murray. This one though is one of my favorites. Jesus Himself is a call to rely on Him alone, to allow Him to dwell in us, use us, and to surrender all to Him. Easy reading, this book reads like you are hearing him preach/teach. I tend to read fiction super fast, and have to purposely make myself slow down for these types of books. Read it a bit at a time as a devotional or read right through, either way you will be blessed. Good for all ages, the language is outdated, but I think most of us can understand what he is saying. I give it five solid stars.

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Book Review for “Red River”- YA Dystopian

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I was given a copy of “Red River” by the author, Kelly Van Hull, in exchange for an honest review. I have to first say that I love YA dystopian. They don’t seem to be quite as dark as adult dystopian, and these books by Kelly do not disappoint. I enjoyed both “Tent City” and this second book as well. I can recommend them for ages Jr. High and up. Good fiction writing, the main characters are teens and Kelly represents them well. The characters are well rounded. The setting is in the Bad Lands. A religious fanatic is in charge of the US and things are going downhill fast. A group of people are trying to stay alive in remote country. There are enough twists in the plot to keep you on your toes. I read this almost straight through. No swearing, the only sexual content is implied, there is fighting. I give it five stars. I loved the series. Red River finishes up (I think), the story line. I am looking forward to what else will be coming from this author

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I Will Let Your Spirit Guide Me

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Dear Father, Thank You for this day! That Your Holy Spirit Guides me, and that I can go in Your love, joy, and strength. Thank You for peace and rest. The peace You give me is not like the peace of this world. Your rest is a calm assurance that You are for me and not against me. You never give me more than I can handle if I lean on Your strong arm, so whatever comes my way today, I will confidently stand on Your word and seek Your will in each situation. You are the one who will complete what You have begun in me. I will listen and obey, and if I need wisdom, I will ask You for it. I choose this day to live from Heaven and not from this earth cursed system. I will not fear anything that bombards my natural senses, but will instead rely and trust my spiritual eyes and ears. I will rely wholly on the Holy Spirit who speaks to me in many ways. Today will be a prosperous day, for me and for Your Kingdom.

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I Won’t Be Moved!

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Psalm 125:1 (NAS), “A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the LORD Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.”

We all go through stuff, from a “bad day,” to acute trauma. Its part of the human experience, part of the earth cursed system. We live in Satan’s domain, right in his territory. He doesn’t like us born-again-believers. He fights us tooth and nail, (that’s a metaphor, because Jesus has pulled his teeth, he can only roar). So, life can be hard. Loved ones pass away, jobs are lost, and sometimes we just make very bad choices with uncomfortable consequences. However, if we belong to God, if we name Jesus as Lord and Savior, we don’t have to let all that shaking dislodge us!

Proverbs 10:25 (NASB), “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”

We all go through it, saved and unsaved. The difference, and it is a huge one, is that we don’t get blown away. Our foundation is everlasting. We are like the wise man who builds his house on the rocks.

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV), “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

God doesn’t bring the storm. I have to make that clear. Storms aren’t a “punishment” from God. He doesn’t bring sickness, poverty, troubles, or trials. Jesus said being in this world we would have trouble, but to be of good cheer, He overcame the world. (John 16:33). This world fell, and is falling. If you haven’t noticed it gets darker and uglier by the day. People say all the time, “What’s this world coming to?” I think the answer is clear, “the end.” This time more than ever we need to stand on God’s word and His promises. Do what He says to do. I love the way the Amplified Bible says “the uncompromisingly righteous.” We can’t compromise. We can’t try to keep one foot in the world and one in Heaven. There is no dual citizenship for those who are Children of God. We can’t serve two masters.

The great news is that if we serve Him, without being double minded, those storms pass us by. Sure there may be a few broken branches, maybe a shingle in the yard, but our house will not be moved! We can’t be shaken. In these last days God said that He would shake everything.

Haggai 2:6 (NIV), “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

Joel 3:14-16 (NIV), “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is ear in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”

This shaking will be for the unsaved, those trying to straddle the fence. Those who teeter on that dangerous high wire, they will fall on one side or the other. The final choice will be made.

I want to live on a firm foundation, not a slippery slope. I want to know and be confident that God’s ways are good and perfect. I want to stay rooted and grounded in His Love and remain steadfast, unmoving.

I may shake and tremble at times. I may stand afraid, but I will stand, and I will not be moved!

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No Longer An Enemy

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Titus 3:3-7 (NIV), “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

We look at the world and think, “Oh, my…,” but it wasn’t that long ago that we were just like them. In fact, not only were we deceived and foolish, disobedient and enslaved, God says we were His enemies.

Romans 5:10 (KJB), “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.”

The Good News, for us and them, is that while we were still His enemy, He loved us so much that He paid the price to reconcile us to Him. The New Living translation says we were “restored.” That’s a big deal. Our sin separated us from God. Nothing else can.

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV), “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus became sin, so that we could bridge that gap that our own sin put between us and our Father. Then God, in His love and mercy, went a step further. He made us brand new. That old us has passed away, if we have truly accepted Jesus as our Lord. Now instead of His enemies, we are His children. We are no longer slaves to sin, we are free in the family of God. We are heirs and joint heirs with Christ! We can do what He did while on this earth, and according to John 14:12, even greater things. At Christ’s death and resurrection, He ascended to Heaven and left us the Holy Spirit. Now with His help, the Holy Spirit’s, we can do even greater works.
We just have to believe. Most of us have no problem believing that Jesus did miracles. Our issue is not belief in His power, or ability, it is unbelief in who we really are. We think we are still His enemy, still a slave to sin, still captive in this world, but we are not. We are no longer an enemy to God. As His dearly loved children, He has given us authority! Miracles should be happening where ever God’s children are! We should be seeing salvations, (the greatest miracle of all), blind seeing, deaf hearing, lame walking, addicted delivered, and lives transformed.

It teaches and preaches easier than it is walked out. I know. However, even though I haven’t reached that place yet, I am walking in the right direction. My steps may be baby steps, but they are forward. I am not standing still. Truthfully, the only way to get confident in our place is to listen to what God has to say through His word, through preaching and teaching, and through His Holy Spirit speaking into our lives. Then we stand on it, step out in faith, sure our knees may knock and our stomach may contain a few butterflies, but we do it. One pastor said it this way, “So what if you are scared. You still have to do it. Do is scared!”

I have done so many things scared! It is even comical to think about some of the things. But, I am growing stronger in the things of the Lord. I used to be shy and introverted (unless I was under the influence of a mood altering substance). I hated new schools, moving, meeting new people or anything that took me out of my comfort zone. I hated all forms of confrontation, even the good, healthy kind. Now, I am not shy. I love meeting new people. I can talk to anyone with ease. I may still get a little shaky if I have to get up in front of a lot of people, but even then, after the initial few minutes, the ease comes. I know that I am doing what pleased God, how can we not be confident in that place?

Don’t you think the rest of the world should know that they don’t have to stay His enemy?

Jesus, thank You for reconciling, and restoring us to our Father. Whenever I feel small, unworthy, or lost, I will remember that I am His child, that He loves me dearly, and that You left me Your Spirit to guide me.

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His Word is Settled

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Matthew 24:35 (KJB), “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

I am so glad that I have the Written Word of God!

The more I read and study His word, the closer I get to Him, the more I find out about who He is and how He sees me. His word is a plum line for my life. If I hear any voice that doesn’t line up with His word, I ignore it, or rebuke it.

A good Pastor or Teacher uses His word, without watering it down, or changing it. They do not leave out parts and skip over others, never taking it out of context to make a point that is their own doctrine and not the doctrine of the Lord.

His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, (Psalm 119:105). It is sweet! (Psalm 119:103). His word is true and they stand forever, (Psalm 119:160).

One of the greatest aspects of His word is that it is settled in Heaven.

Psalm 119:89 (NAS), “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.”
(NIV), “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
(International Standard Version), “Your word is forever, LORD; it is firmly established in heaven.”
(ESV), “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

No matter what translation of the Bible you read Psalm 119:89, it just gets clearer and more concrete. God’s word is fixed, stands firm, is firmly established, it is settled. Have you ever heard someone say, “That settles it!” What they mean is there is no more questioning, no more argument, no more reasoning, studying, putting up with something less. We can’t argue with His word, can’t change it, can’t shift or shake it. The only thing we can do is ignore it, but it is still there. Ignore the mosquitoes and see how well that works for you.

For me, this is a promise of God that I can stand on. No matter what the circumstances, no matter the situation, His word is firmly established. That’s why we can confidently stand on His word. That’s why at His word things change! They have to.

Jesus told us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”(Matthew 6:10)

Why? Because His word is His will. Nothing less than His will is done in Heaven. That’s the plan for earth as well. However, we ignore, pollute, and poison His word. Some so called Christians even use it for harm instead of good. They use it to beat people up instead of building them up. They in fact cause people to turn from God, instead of run into His loving arms. What we should be doing is looking to His Kingdom, into heaven and asking ourselves, “What is allowed in heaven?” If it isn’t allowed there, why would we ever allow it here? Stand on His word. Declare what He has to say.

It’s settled!

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What Kind of Father Do You Want?

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We all have a father.

Someone who contributed their DNA, who’s genes make up part of who we are. For some people, that is as far as it goes. They have an “absent father.” For others, their father is a part of their life. He may or may not contribute financially, emotionally, and relationally. Then there are those who have active, loving, and caring fathers who provide for their needs on all of those levels. But even the best father has his flaws, faults, and failings. There isn’t a perfect one.

So, if we got a choice in the matter, we definitely would choose the third father, the one who does his best to be there. We can see the mess the world is in due to the lack of Fathering. There are some pretty ugly statistics about it. So a good father is important. A less than perfect father is far better than an absent father.

God calls Himself our Father.

II Corinthians 6:18 (KJV), “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Romans 8:16 (NAS), “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,”

How then, do we see God? Do we see him as that absent father? Or the father who is present in the vaguest sense, one who doesn’t have time for us, fails to provide any security? Do we see him as a loving father that just can’t seem to get it right every time? Are we looking for faults and judging him by what we have seen in our own fathers? Maybe we think he is like our Daddy, who just can’t say “no” to us, and can’t find it in himself to discipline us.

That would be unjust. We would be deceiving ourselves if we allowed ourselves to think He is like our earthly fathers.

Isaiah 55:8 “”My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.” And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

He isn’t like our earthly fathers! If our father loves, He is more loving. If our father is wise, He is wiser. God, our Heavenly Father, will always love, always discipline rightly, always be there for us, never leave us, never fail us, never forget us, always put us first, always steer us on the right path, will encourage, and build us up! Sound perfect right? Well He is The Perfect Father.

I know that is so hard for us to imagine, but try! Think about it, meditate on it. Talk about it. If you are a father, try to model it. And if you mess up, apologize and point them to the Perfect Father.

I loved my Dad. He passed away this year. My earthly father had issues, some that came from the issues that his father had. I am thankful for all the good he brought into my life. But if I had to choose…I want a Father like God. God is my Father. I only have one now. Even if your earthly father is still living, you still have a Father who is better. You don’t have to deny one to love the other. You can have both! We love and accept our earthly fathers, but we put our trust, our hope, and our faith in Him who calls Himself our “Abba,” Daddy God.

Father’s Love