Tag Archives: hope

Why?

I Am Not Alone In My Loneliness

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I cannot believe it has been almost a year since my last post. I also cannot believe that I had the incredible blessing last year of sharing with others endurance through suffering. That my last post would be so important to me in my own life at this time. God’s merciful grace, through preparing His beloved, is so awe-inspiring that no words can describe. Only tears of joy can show how truly grateful I am for that study last year.

As I work through loss in my life, I find myself clinging to the Lord Jesus and His Word ever so much more. I am reminded that suffering is expected, suffering will come, and suffering can be overcome if we remember the only one we can count on for clarity, comfort, peace, wisdom and resolution is the Lord God Almighty. If we are faithful to taking all of our concerns to Him, we will not be disappointed.

All of us live in a fallen world of brokenness, of which we are not immune from. We wrestle with the loneliness that comes from relationship loss, abandonment, and physical bodily death. We wrestle with the wrongs that come against us in times when we think we are doing good, we wrestle with accusations made against us that are unwarranted and we wrestle with crushing name calling by others. We do not have to wrestle with however, the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by a creator who has chosen us out of this broken world to do good works in serving Him to the best of our ability. Born into sin and saved by grace to a life filled with hope. Sharing that hope in all that we do with joy, kindness, love, patience and prayer. So that others will see in us the light of majesty in our Lord.

Satan is working overtime right now against God’s beloved and we have to pray for our brothers and sisters asking for God’s providential care to prepare the way for sight in seeing truth, to heal broken hearts, to sweeten taste of bitterness and to protect those who are yet to be called to Him. We need to be praying for the sins of those who know better, pray for those that hold judgmental thoughts against others, and for all of those who cannot control the temptation to demean others for their own self preservation.

There are so many things we fear in this broken world, and yet we do not need to fear if we have the Lord Jesus as our savior. Our sacrifices in this life are nothing compared to the sacrifices He has made for us. No matter what we do on this earth for the good of others is not even close to what He has done for others. We need to uphold the standards that He set with humility, love, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. Doing what is right in the sight of God for those who need to be encouraged. That includes ourselves. If we take on the burdens that others try to heap upon our feeble bodies, we are not serving God. We serve ourselves. God is the only one who can change hearts. God is the only one who can lighten the load of heavy burdens. God is the only one who can move mountains that stubbornly hold their ground. God is the only one who can transform evil into good. God is the only one who can save out of death and can give life. God is the only one who can remind us that we are starving for spiritual truth more than we are starving for food. We need to have the humility to admit that we are not strong enough to do it ourselves. We need to call upon the Holy Spirit to give us clarity and wisdom to know best how to serve in humility in all that comes before us. That we would not stand proud over our accomplishments, yet that we would give Him glory for the blessings He has provided. Oh how this broken world tries to control that which is not controllable.

We have to rely on a Holy God who can take away the pain for us, who can give us strength in the most impossible situations and who can comfort us in our mourning. God be with you friends as you endure another hour, day, month and year. Till I write again….. goodnight.

Let's Have Some Serious Conversations, Why?

Let’s Have Some Serious Conversations

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Colossians 1:14

[14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

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In the stormy seas of life, many will often times forget to look at the beauty that surrounds them. The focus is on the here and now and it is forgotten that nothing happens without cause and reason. Excuses for bad behavior are given, white lies are told, walking away without explanations are common and the waves overtake the whole being so that one drowns in the sinfulness of darkness without reaching the light that is within grasping hands.

Have you found yourself being in this situation? Have you sat alone pondering to yourself “what just happened”? I challenge you today, to understand that you are not feeling anything other than what every other person has felt at one time or another in their life. I am not talking about in just today’s time or in just this century. I am talking about any time in life since Christ died on that cross. The verse today sums up the message of the gospel in such a short half sentence that reading it makes ones head swell with awe.

Let’s take a look at just one word for a moment. Redemption is a noun yet it has a verb twist as it’s an action of sorts. Redemption in the dictionary says its the release of; the saving of sins. The biblical meaning of redemption says it this way; (Greek: apolutrosis) refers to the deliverance of Christians from sin. It assumes an important position in salvation because the transgressions in question form part of a great system against which human power is helpless. (Wikipedia). Did you catch that last part? If not read it again…. “a great system against which human power is helpless.”

There are many religions throughout the world that would teach and have their followers believe that there is always something you can do to for yourself to calm the storm and deliver oneself from sin. That if you just trust enough, if you just do enough, if you are a kind person, etc. Redemption doesn’t work that way, it’s something that no one can do for themselves. Do you remember the biblical testimony of the calming of the sea? Writing this made me think of that. Let’s take a look shall we?

Jesus Calms a Storm

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

Jesus is the gospel truth. He is the one who restores from a life of sin to a life worthy of salvation. He saves because he loves. There is nothing anyone can do for themselves. One cannot calm the seas around them, one cannot steer the boat to safety when the waves are crashing around the uneven rocking sides, and one cannot just call out for deliverance without their own sacrifice. Turning toward the Word of God, and putting faith in Jesus Christ who withstood death and was raised to sit at the right hand of the Father to judge the wicked is the way in which one survives.

Easy it is not. Who after all likes to admit they were wrong in action and deed? Who likes to admit that they’ve stood before others in deception? Redemption has happened to save those whom are called to serve and worship Him. Repenting and asking for forgiveness to those whom have been wronged is necessary. It’s the one requirement in which then leads to a life of having faith in that which is unseen yet felt. A calmness from the storm that rages around trying to sink the boat. A calmness felt without fear. A calmness that sits before fear and locks in a life that will never feel death.

You notice from the verse quoted above that even Jesus’ own disciples had fear. The walked with the prophesied Messiah, they knew him and yet they had fear. Many in the Old Testament sinned. Repentance and faith in God and what knowing what was yet to come is what saved them. Walking away from a life of sin is not always easy. There are definitely challenges and there are always slip ups. Everyone is a sinner, that’s human nature. What is done in one’s life to prevent sin and actions taken to rectify a sinful act is the important part of surviving the storm around and seeing the beauty of the calm that is available. The beauty of a life given for a life to be saved.

The forgiveness of sins is what Jesus came to this earth to accomplish with His death on the cross. This, is the calm within the storm. Won’t you consider joining others in this joyous new birth in faith?

Let's Have Some Serious Conversations, Why?

Let’s Have Some Serious Conversations

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Colossians 1:13

[13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

This time of year we see that the weather has taken on a more subdued stance and we enjoy the warmth of the sun as the snow melts. We see the grass is becoming greener and the trees are budding. The spring florals are popping up out of the ground with force as they bring color to our colorless scenery of the last four to five months. It’s a time for the birth or hatching of the animals that have spent the winter months nesting just waiting for the younglings to care for to make their appearance. With all of the newness of life have you ever considered that it is also a great time for the renewal of life for us as well?

When you read the above passage did you realize that the gift the Lord has given us through the death of His son Jesus Christ is a gift that is reflective of a new birth? A new birth that is unmatched on this earth.

Each year, as we celebrate this gift, we are given the opportunity to reach out to others to share in this gift of life. A renewal and new birth of an individual who is lost in sin and lost to death. If you are asking as so many do, how can one go through a new birth? Let’s take a look at what scripture says and what the Lord has taught us about this very topic.

John 3:1-15

You Must Be Born Again

[1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” [3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

[9] Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” [10] Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? [11] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. [12] If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? [13] No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Understanding that the Lord our God through his Son Jesus Christ has saved sinners from that which they have been born into, is not for the faint of heart. It was not a beautiful sight for those who were present in seeing the bloody and gory death of Jesus, yet the burden he took on for sinners was glorious. Only a holy almighty God could do such a thing.

God saw His creation and being all knowing, knew that we needed a savior to lead mankind out of death and into an eternal life with Him.

John 3:16-21

For God So Loved the World

[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Full of hope and full of love for one another, God’s flock has an opportunity to turn away from the evil of this world and turn toward Him. The opportunity to help lead others out of darkness to a life of everlasting eternal life in a kingdom of grace with our savior. Is there anything more glorious at this time of year than knowing that new life could mean a life saved for eternity?

I challenge each of you to consider the blessing and incredible gift that we have been given, and share the good news of the gospel truth with those who need a renewed life. A rebirth from darkness of the world to the kingdom of light.

Perhaps also be reminded that believers also need to be encouraged and what a more perfect time to do so. While the earth renews with life in spring, let us renew our faith and share it’s beauty with others.

God be with you all friends.

Let's Have Some Serious Conversations

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Colossians 1:5-8

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.[b] He is a faithful minister of Christ on your[c] behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

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Dear friends, what do you see when you read this? Do you consider some of the key words and thoughts that go along with this passage? What does it mean when he writes “word of truth”, or “bearing fruit” or even “Grace of God”? Why should we consider these things and what does it all mean for us? These my friends are today’s considerations.

Have you ever attended a group setting whether it be in church or elsewhere, when someone hears another say “they are blessed” and eye balls roll? Or pride in self is made known through name calling? I know I have. In fact, I have even witnessed one of the members of a group I was with, yell at a woman on the street when she tried to hand him a tract, and he then called her a “stupid bible freak”. Ouch! Even though he knew my faith was very important to me, he still decided that this woman deserved to be called names, in front of me. He did not get it. Even though I know he came from a family that attended church. He did not understand what means to Love the Lord.

Matthew 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Many do not understand the full extent of what Jesus Christ has done through the will of a loving Father. They may hear the words in church and listen to sermons, yet they themselves do not actually believe or understand what “truth” actually is. They seek, they search, they read, they study, yet God has not opened their hearts to receive. For some, the truth of the word has been kept out of their reach. Kept from them, in silence. They are not yet ready to understand. We don’t always understand why this is, meaning, we know it’s God’s will yet we don’t always understand why our words are going on deaf ears. Often times we go above and beyond trying to pursue their salvation for them with information overload. Did you catch my italicizing we and their? We like to think that it’s up to us. Oh, we know better, yet we continue to hold on to that part of our human side called pride. We are the ones that will save another soul. We have it all together and we now what they need. Hmmm…. ever been there?

On the flip side, sometimes we shut down completely and walk away, ignoring the need. Does knowing they don’t get it mean that our conversations should stop? Does this mean that we keep what we know to ourselves? No! Absolutely not! The gift of understanding and salvation is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, and is nothing that we can will upon a person. That being said, we can and oftentimes are used as vessels to witness to others our joy in faithfulness to God. We are often dropping seeds that may or may not be nurtured at that time. They may fall upon hard soil, or they may germinate. Sometimes the germination may take time to produce worthy fruit, yet God knows the timing He will take to make it happen. It may or may not be their time to hear with an open heart, yet it is our job to continue to glorify God with His truth. This my friends is what Paul means above when he says “bearing fruit and increasing”.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Haven’t we been going through love, faith and hope the last few weeks? Don’t we understand that those things are not meant to be kept to ourselves? We love others. We have joy in our lives and are thankful to to God for Jesus and the sacrifice He made for our salvation, covering our sins with His blood. We are thankful to Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which helps us to experience patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. We have self control through prayer and thankfulness to a righteous God which we bow before and think more highly of than ourselves. The blessing of knowing truth of the gospel, the whole word of God as well as the good news of Jesus Christ is the tool that will bring more followers into the Kingdom of God. Bearing and sharing the fruit of the Spirit with those who do not know the gospel truth. Even if it is not their time to know the whole truth.

I appreciated and pondered what Matthew Henry said in his commentary on this passage: “Wherever the gospel comes, it will bring forth fruit to the honor and glory of God: it bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you. We mistake, if we think to monopolize the comforts and benefits of the gospel to ourselves. Does the gospel bring forth fruit in us? So it does in others.

Just as Paul writes to the Colossians, thanking God for them, he is encouraging them to go forth in their helping to increase the kingdom of God. He lets them know that they are in good hands with the instruction they are getting through Epaphras. That God is laying blessings upon them for their love to Him. Paul is comforting them with reassurance. Is that why you follow me friends? Do you find comfort in the truths shared here? Do you feel reassured as a servant for the Lord? I sure hope so.

I want to close in saying that the gent above who called the lady names that tried to hand him a track, has since, several years later married a wonderful, God loving, God fearing woman who loves the Lord and they both serve with great joy. God has used someone else to bring him into the fold. I am sure the seeds of both my faithful living to a holy God and the work of that young gal that day helped that young man see love and joy in the work to glorify God. It just wasn’t his time to understand. Do not take any opportunity for granted. Continue on in your sharing, understanding that it is God’s will. It is God’s will whether or not the seeds dropped will germinate on good soil or rocky, sandy soil. It is by the grace of God we have the gospel truth to lead and by His mercy we are given salvation rather than death.

At the end of Spurgeons sermon called The Hope Laid Up In Heaven Col. 1:5, he wrote addressing the thankfulness of a servant who bears good fruit for the kingdom of God:

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” I have been following the evident track of the apostle’s thoughts. The Lord gives us a hope of glory, and then He gives us a meetness for it, and that meetness is largely wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of our hope. Cultivate, then, your hope, dear breathren. Make it to shine so plainly in you that your minister may hear of your hopefulness and joy; of heaven, and act as though you really expected to go there. Make the world know that you have a hope of heaven: make worldlings feel that you are a believer in eternal glory, and that you hope to be where Jesus is. Often surprise them as they see what they call your simplicity, but what is in truth only your sincerity, while you treat as matter of fact the hope laid up for you in heaven . The Lord grant it for Jesus Christs sake. Amen”

Give Thanks! Make it shine plainly! Make the world know!

Let's Have Some Serious Conversations

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Colossians 1:1-3

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

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 A few weeks ago during our Sunday service, our pastor read from Colossians and I could not get the passage out of my mind. For days I prayed on it and was feeling very convicted that I needed to write about it. Interestingly enough, as I continued to pray over and read and study Colossians, I realized that it was not just one passage that needed to be considered.

Looking around at our world today we see so much chaos. We don’t know who to trust, who to believe, and where to find truth. We wander around day by day with echos of “trust me” rattling around in our heads. Not unlike the wandering of a stray dog. Seeking comfort, truth, and knowledge all seem to be at a distance and the destination is never arrived. Many times questions of “how did we get here” or “what do we do with all of this information? ” or “how do we know what to believe” consume us daily. Studying Colossians, I learned that this is the exact reason that Paul wrote to the Colossians. Let’s take a look at some history to understand what was going on and why the study of Pauls letter to those in the church in Colossae was so important to them back them as much as it is to us today.

Colossae was a city that was located east of Ephesus, on a major trade route along the Lycus River. Paul himself had not visited Colossae nor did he start the church there. It is believed through history and studying the time of his letter to the Colossians that this letter was written approximately around A.D. 62 while Paul was in a Roman prison. He was visited by Epaphras (vs. 7) who is believed to have started the church after visiting and hearing Pauls preaching in Ephesus during the three years he was there. Historical archeological surveys have shown that there was a combination of Roman, Jewish and pagan cults in Colossae.

When Epaphras went to visit Paul in prison, he needed encouragement and support as there was heresy seeping into the church and attempting to unsurp the gospel truths that Paul had preached and Epaphras was sharing. It’s not entirely clear exactly what was going on however, as we continue to dive into Colossians we will begin to get a glimpse of what their conversation may have looked like and the struggles that were going on.

In understanding even this much of the history of the church in Colossae, my heart was leaping in joy at the parallel we face today and the fact that the gospel truths have answers. Paul shares God’s holy word to offer comfort, strength and encouragement. If you are wondering why I say “parallel”, I ask you to consider our communities, social circles, worldly views and what we and our brethren face on a daily basis that goes against christian living and the word of God. We have false teachers and leaders not just on the TV or in our government, we have them in our churches, work places, neighborhoods and with the growing social media outlets, also in our homes. We even see bumper stickers on cars that tell us to “coexist”. How do we keep our focus on biblical truths when we are surrounded by heresy? The answers are in Pauls letter to the Colossians. In the study section of my ESV bible it said that Colossians is one of the most Christ-centered books of the Bible. With the object of believers faith being Christ Jesus, and giving a treasure of knowledge, and glory to a triune God, the book of Colossians reminds believers that they are predestined to a life outside of this world and not to put too much focus on the things of this world.

John 15:19 If you wereof the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

Romans 8:29-30.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called healso justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

One of the things that really stuck out to me in studying this is that Epaphras was not a trained preacher and was not someone of known status. He was a hearer of the gospels truths and began to share those truths with others. Epaphras was from what we gather the founder of the church in Colossae and he was being used by God without pomp and circumstance. Matthew Henry said “God is sometimes pleased to make use of the ministry of those who are less of note, and lower gifts, for doing great service to his church. God uses what hands he pleases and is not tied to those of note, that the excellence of power may appear to be of god and not of men. “

2 Corinthians 4:7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongsto God and not to us.

Epaphras is not the only teacher that we are surprised to see in the gospel who helped to grow God’s church. Let’s consider Paul himself. Paul was a terror to followers of Christ, yet God took ahold of him and he was not only then, yet is also today in his writing a trusted mentor and teacher for the Lord in support of His holy Word. We’ve read of Timothy. A young man who had obvious adversity in his life, who was young and dealt with fears, doubts, weakness and self doubting. Yet, with council and encouraging words from Paul, his life was not forsaken nor forgotten by the Lord and he was also used in the ministry of God’s gospel truth. Sinclair Ferguson said in Grow In Grace “Timothy had grown so firm and strong in his witness that he had been willing to suffer even imprisonment for the sake of Christ. If, as we suggested earlier spiritual growth is measured not only by external indications but by the amount of opposition which has to be overcome in order to express them – then Timothy had grown greatly in grace. ”

We read of the importance of Epaphras’ ministry (Paul calls Epaphras “beloved fellow servant”) as we see Pauls greeting to the Colossians when he wrote “To the Saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.” Paul considered the believers in Colossae to be his brethren in faith. Paul loved them and had enough concern for their well being as he would any other church that he himself had started. Matthew Henry wrote “Pauls example of loving the church in Colossae as much as any church he himself planted should remind us of the blessing to care for and water what others have planted.” Think of it this way, God is the master builder, Christ is the foundation and the Word is the structure of which the saints glorify the holy creator.

1 Corinthians 1:2 – To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Paul knew that the church of Colossae was struggling and yet he addressed the church with praises of thanksgiving to God, letting them know that it is His affection upon them that Paul is grateful for.

Thanking God, Paul gives recognition that He is the father of Jesus Christ. That He deserves all praises and glory, no one else. This is the theme throughout the whole letter to the Colossians, that Christ is the ONLY and ALL sufficient Savior. We will continue to see this throughout Colossians.

Colossians 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.

Do you understand why my heart was joyful? This letter can help those who are feeling the pull to believe that there is “something” or “someone” else who is “all sufficient” for their problems other than Christ. It’s a reminder to the saints that NO ONE is sufficient outside of Christ. There is not one prophet, deity, modern religion, world leader, new age book, new age belief, idol or anything/anyone else that can fill the void of hopelessness. The blood shed of our Lord Jesus Christ and the empty cross, of which he once hung, is the one and only consideration and answer when it comes to all sufficiency in this world for everything.

The book of Colossians is a book that we read today to remind ourselves that no matter what people call “truths”, if they are counteractive to the gospel truth and the Word, then we need to turn away and walk the other direction. We need to turn off the buzz in out homes whether it be TV, social media outlets, or even unbelieving family and friends. Its a book to give courage to the meek, strength to the week and hope for those who are struggling.

I look forward to going through Colossians with you. Next week, my hope is to go through vs. 4-8. There is SO much to talk about.

If you have any questions about our study please write them in the comments section.

Following in Faith, Why?

Let’s Talk And Get Real For A Moment

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Currently, we have been isolated and in our homes, for nearly 5 months and our lives as we once knew it have been changed. We are looking around at our world, seeing things that we never thought we would see in our life time. Our friends and family members have differing opinions about the reason for our isolation, they have differing opinions about the agenda of the politics, they have differing opinions about societies response to the sinful natures of man, they have differing opinions about the economy and they have differing opinions about just about everything. At least that’s how we see it when we are confronted with one another. What in the world has happened? How did we get here? Why is it as such and what are we to do about it? So many questions with only one answer. Sin!

Sin has our society creating devices to injure one another, creating chaos where there once was peace, creating barriers where once there was freedom, creating falsehoods where there once was truths and creating situations of disorganization where there once was order. Sin has brother attacking brother, sons and daughters arguing with parents, families waging war against one another, friends unfriending one another on social media, youth dissension turning against and destroying historical remembrances, and moral degradation against the elderly.

What is sin? Sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. (Dictionary definition). Where did sin come from? Sin came from the fall of man through Adam and his act against Gods divine rule of law in the Garden of Eden. What does the Bible say about sin and how do we deal with the sinful nature of our brethren, family, friends, neighbors, and leaders? Let me quote some scripture verses to help you understand what we are dealing with today and what you can do about it. I will do it all with scripture.

Who sins?

  • Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  • James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
  • 1John 3:4 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What should we do about sin?

  • James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  • 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • John 3:16-17 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
  • 1Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
  • Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How shall we handle those around us who continue to sin?

  • Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
  • Matthew 15:17-20 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
  • 1Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
  • 2Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
  • Proverbs 13:15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
  • Galations 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.   For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

How do we overcome the fear of the present day?

  • Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  • 1Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
  • Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
  • Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
  • Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

What about our earthly state leaders? Our Government?

  • Romans 13:1-14 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
  • Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

I hope that at this time, you have considered the above and realized that the Bible holds so much truth, comfort, wisdom, answers and worthy information that we do not have to subject ourselves to worldly insecurities. We can have hope in the future when we have the Lord Jesus Christ guiding us through His word.

No matter what happens within our families, within our neighborhoods, within our countries, and within our governments, we know that God shall have the final say. He shall have guidance over all that is yet to come and His plan is greater than anything we can plan out ourselves. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Word. Trust in a saving Grace.

Blessings to you my friends, may you have a wonderful day with no worries. 🙂

Have hope in the Glory of the Lord. That all shall be made new in His site.
Lymes

Looking Back and Seeing Blessings

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When I was first diagnosed with Lyme disease, EBV, co-infections, mycoplasma pneumonia, etc. etc. I wondered how I would survive and how I would get my life back. I’ve shared my story and I’ve shared my journey through Lyme and yet I am still in awe that I have been blessed with healing and have come so far. The Lord has given me strength when I thought I had none, he gave me hope when it was far reaching, he gave me His Word when I needed it the most.

I was asked a year ago, if antibiotics work, why don’t people hear about it and why aren’t those who are healed talking? Well, I responded with the fact that those who have been given a second chance at life are living it. They don’t want to relive the horror of Lyme. The exceptions are people like me who carry on trying to bring awareness and share with others so that they too can be educated on symptoms. Lyme is considered the great imitator for a reason. So many of todays throw in groups of diagnosis, when there is not an answer to “why”, can be and very likely may be Lyme disease or one of the co-infections. The testing is flawed on so many levels and doctors do not have the resources they need to diagnose.

I am one of the “lucky ones” you could say. I say I am blessed beyond measure. So are many others. They are sharing their stories in incredible ways. One such couple, I’ve been following since my journey began. This was one of the first videos I found on Lyme disease. I was heartbroken, and my adrenals went haywire with the emotional rollercoaster of this video, however, it gave me hope. Hope when I needed it the most, when the pain was excruciatingly bad, and when in most people’s eyes there shouldn’t be.

This video is still flourishing around and although its content is difficult to watch, I have to share with you before you watch it, that Justin and Christa now have 3 beautiful children and they are living normal lives. Christas journey is not unlike that of so many others that have followed in her journey since 2004. I am hoping that if you are watching this, you will remember that hope is something to hold onto, a mental place set in the mind when you need it the most. Pray about it and cling to it.

Be educated dear follower, Lyme and co-infections are the most widely spread vector borne illness in the country and in many parts of the world. Over 400,000 upward of 1 million are affected each year. Most of which are undiagnosed and or misdiagnosed. Putting that into perspective, Breast cancer has 264,000 new patient diagnosis each year. Hence you see the problem.

Here is Christa and Justins story:

http://www.justinandchrista.ca
Following in Faith

An Old Journey Revisited, A Continuing Story of Hope

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I write this in hopes that it will help others on this journey we call Lyme.

I started this blogging when I was so ill, trying to find a connection to others like me and to journal my thoughts moving through the Lyme healing. It’s been 6 years and I am happy to report that I am doing pretty well yet I am not completely healed. I will never be cured, however, I am working toward a remission state of healing.

My journey over the last 6 years has taken me through not just a journey of pain and healing, but a journey of growth and understanding. When I was at my worst, I never complained to God, I never sat back and felt sorry for myself, and I never turned away from my faith. I knew that the pain, which was 100 fold worse than childbirth (and that was really bad for me…), would be used for something, I didn’t know what, but I knew it had to. I knew that my memory issues, when I couldn’t remember names of people or words, would eventually resolve. I knew that one way or another, one day, I would wake up and live again. You are likely asking yourself how I could be so reassured when I was in such a bad state. Faith. I prayed that should “God Choose” to heal my broken body, then I asked him to allow me to help others so they didn’t feel alone or afraid and lose hope. I prayed asking that all of my own suffering be used and not wasted on just a memory. I prayed that if I should not survive this torment that was going on in my body, that I show grace through the journey of it and that I keep my faith strong as an example to others. As I write this, it sounds as thought I was not afraid at all. Quite the opposite, I had fear. I feared that my life on this earth was coming to an end and that my children would no longer have their mom around. I feared leaving my husband and not growing old together. Fear was there, I just didn’t dwell on the fear and I did not let it overcome my faith in God and my walk with Jesus Christ.

As it turns out, God did choose to carry me through that time and get me to a place of healing, and I found the strength to help others. My healing is not yet complete, and let’s be real, never will be until my body is in fact in the grave and I am with my savior.

But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”Luke 8:50

Walking through the eye of the storm, I can see that there is hope for so many. I see the Lord opening windows and doors for others who are suffering. It’s a slow opening, yet it is opening all the same.

As I continue on the journey of healing, I have decided to take another leap of faith and try a new drug that doctors are starting to see improvement with when it comes to Lyme. This particular drug has been around over 70 years and has been used for one specific use, while other uses have also been proving to be successful. There is a lot to understand about it, it is still in clinical trials, and only a doctor who knows what to do with a patient on this drug should be prescribing. That being said, I have spent the last week and a half preparing my body for administration of this new treatment. I am hoping that anyone else out there, trying this, or wanting to try this, will stay following me and come along on this journey with me, sending support and encouragement. (Not financial support, I mean support to uplift.)

To begin, I have researched the heck out of this. I even have pages printed of things that interact with this particular drug, from medications to everyday household products to female toiletries including makeup and creams. I have watched researchers talk about the drug, been on the facebook support groups hearing stories of those gone before me and have been preparing my body.

I want to share what I have done in preparing myself for this so that anyone else can perhaps use it as an example of the things to do or not do. To start, I spent one week going through all of my supplements, herbs, tinctures etc. and boxed up what I am not going to be able to take. Since I am not allowed to eat, drink or use anything with an alcohol carrier, this is anything but easy. Many of my tinctures include some sort of alcohol carrier. Including vanilla extract. Vinegars and anything fermented are off all menu options. No caffeine either. So where does one go from there? I mean, I am already vegan because I have inflammation and pain with any and all animal protein. Well, let me share with you what else I have done and am doing.

The first week, last week:

  1. Cleared out all cupboards of supplements that are not allowed.
  2. Spent last week drinking only one cup of coffee each day to alleviate any sort of caffeine withdrawal.
  3. Stopped using all vinegars. I found instead flavored Olive Oils from Oro Oils. I have one that is infused with dill, one with sage and mushrooms, one with lime, and one with a buttery flavor.
  4. Gave up all alcohol. Finished my summer wines and did our October wine tasting at Cooper’s hawk and now I am done until I am done with this protocol.
  5. Got a baseline in my bloodwork so that my two doctors can watch my liver enzyme levels and my thyroid.
  6. Research Research Research!!!

So that was last week. This week, I am:

  1. Writing this blog post for others to follow and be encouraged through my journey and learning from what I have taken on. (Yay!)
  2. Stopped drinking all coffee. Rather I am drinking a home-brewed tea out of herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs in CO. It’s a special kidney, liver cleansing combination. I brew it till it steeps and then strain it. I then boil it down until it is half. I have been drinking 1-2 TBL. in hot water with a lemon slice each morning. Saving the extra in a glass jar for the next day.
  3. Ordering a medical bracelet or necklace so that if there is any emergency situation that needs attention, medical personnel are aware of what I am taking.
  4. Putting together a schedule of all of my supplements and medications, their times of day that I am taking them and how much.
  5. Finding recipes that are healthy whole food recipes that I can make with little fuss or minimal at that.
  6. I am going through my calendar and making sure that I have down days to rest.
  7. I have asked people to start praying for me and for my health. That this be the final step in getting my body into a remission state.
  8. Sitting in the Sauna M,W, F. Detoxing with Activated Charcoal and clay. I will also be doing Epsom Salt and Baking soda Baths on the opposite days once I start the new drug.

We are going out this weekend to meet with some friends we have not seen in a very long time. Meeting in the city. I want to be able to enjoy my time without making any mistakes that will affect my starting this next week. So I am:

  1. Packing little herbs containers with my favorite herbs to sprinkle on salads or on my veggies.
  2. Making my own dressings and placing them in little containers so that I can carry them without any issues in my purse.
  3. Packing my own snacks just in case. As well as some of my favorite sparkling water.
  4. We have planned out and made reservations at a few places that we know I can eat at safely. So planning ahead is always key.

You can see that I am likely going way over above and beyond what I need to do, yet for me, safety for my body and preparedness is important. If something that you put in your body takes 2 weeks minimal to get back out of your body, what about the preliminary intake of foods that will interact with the drug. That is why I have taken two weeks prior to beginning. I will be using this blog as a journal of sorts to share. So if you know someone with Lyme disease and who is considering Disulfiram, please have them follow along. I hope to help many more.

Next update will likely be next week after first day of my taking it.

Following in Faith

Eternal Life

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John 3 (ESV)

You Must Be Born Again

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you  do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.  14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Eternal life.  Can it be imagined? With the difficulties on this earth it seems at times unhealthy to consider eternal life.   Who wants to continue living with such sorrows and desperate situations.  Who would want to live an eternity?

Well, with the Lord Jesus Christ we have in Him the desire to want more.  More than this life on earth.  There is a desire to live a life serving a most holy God.  The eternity Christ is talking about is not like that which we observe today, it’s quite the opposite.

Revelation 21 (ESV)

The New Heaven and the New Earth

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place  of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,  and God himself will be with them as their God.  4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”…….

Revelation 22 (ESV)

The River of Life

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever……

We get a glimpse of what is yet to come in Revelation.  Just a tad bit of info to wet the soul of his saints, to cling to his Word, wanting more, wanting that eternal life with Him.  Very different than that which we have today.  Something more.  Something not yet seen.

Dear friends, it pains me to know that so many do not yet call upon His name.   Please know that there is so much more.  So much more to this world.  Knowing God and seeing his providential care over your life gathers strength to get through the sorrows and the difficulties.  Without Him beside us, we wither away into a depressive state of wandering.  Wandering through the thicket of a forest which encapsulates it’s visitor, not allowing for an exit.  Only through He that gives life does one find a way out.  Only through time studying His word does one find hope.

It is with great prayer that this finds you well with your soul. If not, I pray that you may be inspired to learn more about the almighty who gave you life and who offers so much more.

Following in Faith

Finding Hope in the midst of Fear and Despair

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It seems that the world is falling apart.  People are rioting in the streets due to the freedom of an election, there is death for the lost, friends that are ill, persecution of the saints and it’s getting colder with winter on it’s way.  I know that last part isn’t a reflection of the world falling apart, yet it reflects the desperation of my prayers.  For warmth and for my hope to become attainable!   Warmth in the kindness people could show one another, warmth in healing, warmth in the sun and warmth in the gentle arms of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Hope  in the protection of His wing when the wind blows fierce enough to try to knock me or those whom I love over.

Finding hope in a lost world can be a daunting task.  Looking around, there is so much more to be in despair about.  Hope seems to be something one has to convince himself/herself of,  not knowing if  hope is that which is to be attained.   Hope in healing, hope in kindness, hope in warmth, hope in love and hope in freedom.  Is it to be?  How can one be sure that  hope is going to become  reality?  Truth of the matter is one cannot be sure of a great deal.   For many, uncertainty becomes an unknown reality of which doesn’t deserve the time or effort of hope.   Hope seems too far in the reaching in a world which thrives in strife.   Sometimes it seems that by getting  hopes up, one will only have a dashed spirit when the outcome is not what was hoped for.  Completely understandable since disappointment is the human natural reaction to a  crushing blow .   Yet, for a Christian, this thought process seems unacceptable or improbable.   Is it really?  Unacceptable?  Improbable?  That sounds a bit irrational!   After all, human nature and the human spirit do not differentiate between that of a Christian and non Christian.   Right?

Wrong!  The definition of human nature tells us it’s the nature of humans; especially : the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans  (Websters).  Yet, for a Christian, there is something else to consider.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, hence the reaction of the human spirit.  The human spirit that experiences a knowledge in which human nature cannot compete with.  It’s the truth and knowledge that there is something much greater than ourselves at work.  Something revealed by the grace of the Lord which  is more powerful than that of human nature.  For a Christian, this knowledge is the understanding and acceptance that the will of man and the will of God are not always in sync.  That God always has a plan, that His will is perfect and that His timing is exactly that…His!  Knowing that although we are living in a world of continual unholy drama, we have trust and faith in that which we cannot control.  During illness, a Christian has hope that healing will come.  If healing is not to come, a Christian has the hope of eternal salvation that is yet to come.  If persecuted, a Christian knows that God’s plan is perfect and there is hope in knowing that all things work for His Glory!   In watching the destruction of the fallen world, a Christian has the knowledge that this is not the end, only the beginning.

(I need to pause here with a sidebar…I stopped at this point to take care of some family needs.  While I was waiting at an appointment I was unable to find my phone, which I usually take a look at during such times, so I picked up the book I had also brought.  It was my book that was to be finished by tonights book study with a friend.  As I was reading, I was once again struck with praise to the Lord for His care over my spiritual life.  Here I was, writing my blog prior to leaving the house and then I was reading the chapter that fit so well with the above.  I did not know this was going to be the case when I started writing, God knew.  He knew I would not need my phone as much as I needed to read that next chapter before continuing on.   Praises of Thanksgiving!)

Does this mean that we as Christians just have hope and go along in our daily lives not worrying about anything or doing anything about concerns that creep up?  Not at all.  What we do however,  through the grace of the Holy Spirit, is become driven to find resolve in the Word and through prayer.  We don’t sit by and say “there’s so much more, God has this covered, I just need to sit by and watch”.  Christians actively seek out and try to stay focused.  It’s not an easy thing for many.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

I mentioned how my reading of my book study was so compelling as an argument for what I’m trying to say here, that I just have to share the following notes from the book.  (Book: The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung; my notes and some of the quotes below are in italics.)

A question in the book asks, “how does the spirit work in us to make us to make us holy?”  Through various paragraphs my notes are such:

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,   (Ephesians 3:14-16 ESV)

Wisdom from the Spirit

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  ( 1 Cor. 2:6-16)

The Spirit is power and light!  

We can try to say all the right things to ourselves about how it will work out, yet are we going further to directly and actively seek the gospel truth in order to obtain the hope needed in persecution, illness, and fear?  

“But in the pursuit of holiness we need to look at  more than the past acts of redemption.  We have to look forward and trust in future grace.”

Because of the future promises of blessings, our passion for hope is fueled by the power and light of the Holy spirit.  

In closing, I may look crazy, sound like I’m not a realist (which happens quite often) , yet I am hopeful for a future blessing amongst the chaos that goes on around me.  I am not always happy, I am not always positive, yet I strive to do my best in such times of despair to seek the council of the Lord and to trust in the wisdom that He chooses to impart my way.  Am I always naturally secure in my hope?  In all honesty no.  However, that being said, my hope does not come through my own power of will, but through that of the Holy Spirit which gives me the strength to be secure.  To locate the hope of the future blessings that He has yet to reveal.  I pray that any and all adversities that I experience will be used for the greater good of sharing the gospel truth with those who may be in need.  In closing, the book mentioned a quote from Martyn Lloyd -Jones which I want to share:

The New Testament calls upon us to take action; it does not tell us that the work of sanctification is going to be done for us…We are in the ‘good fight of faith’, and we have to do the fighting.  But, thank God, we are enabled to do it; for the moment we believed and are justified by faith, and are born again of the Spirit of God, we have the ability.  So the New Testament method of sanctification is to remind us of that; and having reminded us of it, it says, ‘Now then, go and do it’.   (Marty Lloyd-Jones, Romans: Exposition of Chapter 6: The new Man)

Be well dear reader and go forth seeking hope for that which is yet to come.