The Name of Hope

The Name of Hope

by | Nov 18, 2023 | Faith, Hope, Loss, Trust, Worry

I woke up to the lyrics of a song playing in my head.

I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That’s why I trust Him. That’s why I trust in God my Savior. The one who will never fail. He will never fail. . .  He will never fail. . .

Couldn’t get it off my mind. It played over and over while I lay in bed that morning.

So, I went to church and guess what? The praise band sang — yes, that’s right — they sang the very same song.

Then the next day while I was worrying about a situation, that song, Trust in God by Elevation Music, came on the radio at just that moment. Now, it’s a popular song so maybe that doesn’t sound that unusual. But I have spent a week singing those lyrics in my head. They just pop up all the time.  Do you think God is trying to tell me something?

He will never fail. He could never fail.

A song of hope

There is another song that has captured my attention. I’ve only heard it once, but it brought me to tears.

Tear Off The Roof by Brandon Lake presents a compelling message. There is power in the presence, power in the blood, power in the name of Jesus.

Have you heard it? Friends tore off a roof and dropped their paralyzed friend into a crowded room to get him to Jesus. (Luke 5:17-26)

What was he thinking as he was being lowered? I think the song probably has it right – just get me to Jesus, I don’t care how, so tear off the roof.

His faith was great. His friends demonstrated faith and went to great lengths to get him in front of Jesus.

Their reward? They saw a life-changing, grave-shaking, dead-raising power in the room.

Yes, there is power in the presence. There is power in the blood. There is power in the name of Jesus.

A journey of hope

Others showed great faith and went to great lengths to see Jesus as well. Strangers from a distant land demonstrated spiritual diligence — and traveled many weary miles — to get to Him.

While a star pronounced His birth, calling people to come and worship, the wise men’s remarkable example of faith honored Christ, even when they had never seen him. They believed in Him even when the Pharisees and Scribes did not.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11 NIV)

Your story of hope

What is your story of hope? In desperation or diligence, have you called on Jesus?

  • When your day seems out of control. . . He will never fail.
  • When we get the “dreaded news” . . . He will never fail.
  • When our loss and pain seem too big to carry, He will never fail.

The paralyzed man’s friends called on Him. The Magi called on Him. We can call on Him and find hope and peace today.

My friend, Jesus is the name of hope, and He will never fail.

______________________

 

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

______________________

(Blog posts and pages may contain affiliate links. I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made using any affiliate link. My main affiliate program is Amazon.com, but I may add more in the future.)

The Delight of My Heart

The Delight of My Heart

by | Nov 10, 2023 | Joy, Love, Redeemed

I love weddings. Attending my niece’s wedding recently brought fond memories and happy times. Also, she touched my heart when she included her Uncle Matthew’s photo in a memorial display at the reception.

With weddings — and human nature — hiccups surface here and there. Usually, they’re insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

However, some weddings have a story to tell. Like my sister’s.

Two hours before the ceremony, her wedding dress caught on fire. Yes, you read that correctly. Minutes before marrying the love of her life, the wedding dress caught on fire. Typical of the late 80s, candles filled the stage and big hoop dresses were the thing. A LOT of candles and a WHOLE LOT of dress marked that day.

The photographer asked her to move closer to the candlelight. Which she did. He then asked her to step forward. And in that moment, the lace in the big hoop of her skirt caught the wick of a votive candle on the altar. Flames shot up. It was such a large hoop that she did not immediately notice it.

Fortunately, someone else did and began yelling and waving her arms, saying “Lisa!” “Lisa!” “Lisa!”

The photographer beat the flames out with his hand while he and my sister had a moment of pure shock thinking “did that really just happen”? Then the photographer asks… “who’s the best seamstress we can get”? That seamstress was our mom.

Mom and the pastor’s wife came to the rescue with thread and white shoe polish. And no one who wasn’t witness to it saw the hole from that near disaster. Amazingly, my sister held it together, and did not fall apart.

Was God with her that day? You’d better believe it. If not for the hoop in her skirt, the flame would have touched her skin and been much, much worse.

But we have God to thank (and a hoop) and a story to tell.

Love and adoration

Thankfully, there were no disasters like that at my niece’s wedding! However, I am sure there were things that didn’t go exactly as planned. But nothing could take away the pure joy on their faces.

I think that there is a moment when the busyness, the stress of all the preparation, the last-minute mishaps — and sometimes disasters — fall away when standing face-to-face reciting vows. At that point, it’s just the bride and her groom, completely immersed in love and adoration for each other, making their commitments and beginning a new life together.

I especially love seeing the moment the groom sees his bride for the first time. His expression speaks volumes.

Face-to-face

Here’s something to think about. The Bible tells us that one day soon Jesus will come for his bride, the church. That bride and groom moment will be reversed on the day we see Jesus face-to-face. We will look on Him with complete love and adoration. He alone will be our reward.

Friends, the King of the World has chosen us and wants a relationship with us. As believers, He is our redeemer.

He has redeemed us from:

  • Shame and guilt of the past
  • Feelings of failure
  • Low self-esteem, low self-value
  • Our mistakes, and the resulting regret
  • Our pride
  • And a host of other things.

Don’t let mistakes or mishaps or “near disasters” take your joy from the one who loves you with an everlasting love. You CAN

  • Find joy in the Lord.
  • Find joy in the word of the Lord. The principles we find in scripture are truly life-changing.
  • Find joy in the opportunities for new beginnings. Let Him become the delight of your heart.
  • Find joy and praise Him for His protection when challenges or disasters come our way.

Let’s be completely immersed in love and adoration for Jesus, our King of the World.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 ESV

 __________________

 

Don’t know Jesus, our Redeemer? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

__________________

Written in collaboration with Lisa Mencer.

__________________

(Blog posts and pages may contain affiliate links. I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made using any affiliate link. My main affiliate program is Amazon.com, but I may add more in the future.)

 

The Answer in Front of Us

The Answer in Front of Us

by | Nov 3, 2023 | Determination, Worry

As I walked the grounds of the Louisiana Book Festival to set up my booth, the early morning fog completely hid the Louisiana State Capitol from view. Not familiar with the layout of the city, I didn’t even know it was there.

A few minutes later, I could see the base of the 34-story building. And as the sun burned off the remaining fog, the entire building appeared.

Many times, an answer is right in front of us, but we can’t see it. Kind of like a brain fog — that feeling of confusion, the inability to focus or put your thoughts into words.

Years ago, my family and I toured that building after I competed at the State Social Studies Fair during my junior high years. I’ll never forget those 50 steps leading to the entrance. Everyone in the family had gone up and walked the tour, except my dad. I was so excited that after the tour, I came back and talked him into walking up with us. With two prosthetic legs, walking up 50 steps on crutches was not so easy.

But for him, the answer was clear. No distraction would keep him from walking up. We wanted him there and he did it! With grit and the determination to not disappoint, he made it to the top and completed the tour. (There are many other obstacles my dad has conquered, but those are stories for another day.)

What are you “not seeing?”

What is the thing that you cannot see? Is there an obstacle facing you right now? A distraction? Is there an answer you’re seeking but a fog keeps you from seeing it? Are you unable to focus?

In the well-known story of Mary and Martha, Martha was worried about many things. When the answer to those “many things” was standing right in front of her. Jesus.

Jesus just wanted her to rest at his feet. I wonder how many times I’ve missed something because I was distracted with my “many things?”

Can you rest today?

The song Breathe by Johnny Diaz comes to my mind. It reminds us to stop for a moment to breathe and rest at Jesus’ feet. When the day is wild and chaos calls, all we need is just to breathe and let our weary spirits rest in Him.

Maybe that’s what we need to do today. Look beyond the fog. Step away from the distractions and see the goodness, experience the peace and find rest in Jesus.

 

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

 ________

Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

Find out more here.

 

 

(Blog posts and pages may contain affiliate links. I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made using any affiliate link. My main affiliate program is Amazon.com, but I may add more in the future.)

 

Photo credit: Unsplash

 

 

Uncontainable Power and Love

Uncontainable Power and Love

by | Oct 27, 2023 | Disappointment, God, Prayer

My mom used to say that when we keep our eyes on others, we’ll always be disappointed. However, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will never fail us.

God convicted me on this over the last few days.

In reading a chapter in Jesus and Women by Kristi McLelland, I was reminded how important it is to focus my mind and heart on God.

“When we stare at our lives and glance at God, the troubles and problems in our lives can begin to look huge. If we’re not careful, our problems take up most of the space in our thoughts and consequently govern our hearts and emotions.

When we intentionally focus our minds and hearts on God, our troubles take on their proper perspective. God helps us to see them in light of His generous justice, His generous lifting up in our lives.”

Kristi McLelland, Session Six, Jesus and Women

Where is our focus?

The question is . . . is our focus on God or ourselves?

Many times, we try to fight our battles in our own way – instead of placing focus on Jesus and allowing Him to work.

When the King of Assyria’s field commander camped outside Jerusalem taunting the people of Judah, the people were silent (as they had been commanded by King Hezekiah). After Assyria’s attempts at manipulation, Hezekiah’s ambassadors came to him with torn clothes and the words from Assyria.

As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the House of the Lord. 2 Kings 19:1

I love that after Hezekiah hears the word from Assyria, he goes to God. He doesn’t respond to the enemy’s threat. His first stop in the middle of his despair is to go to the Lord.

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it: and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD. 2 Kings 19: 14-15a (Read the full story in 2 Kings 19)

Praying for help

So what will we do

  • When we’re accused?
  • When we’re ridiculed?
  • When we’re tempted?
  • When we question whether the Lord is enough?

Will we lay it before the Lord and pray for help?

Let’s follow Hezekiah’s lead and go to God first. Let’s place our focus on who God is and His uncontainable power and love.

 

God completes what He starts

As I have thought on this, I also came across scripture that reminded me that he didn’t start something in me only to fail to finish it.

One of the most familiar verses in scripture, Philippians 1:6, reminds us that God completes what He starts. Jesus didn’t do all He’s done just to leave us alone. His love is beyond comprehension. His power is uncontainable.

God has a word for us. Set our eyes on Him. Place our focus on Him.

I like how bestselling author David Platt says it.

“Don’t lose heart. Don’t give up. Don’t doubt the passion and ability of God to fulfill the plans of God for you and for the world.  – David Platt

 

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

 

 

 

(Blog posts and pages may contain affiliate links. I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made using any affiliate link. My main affiliate program is Amazon.com, but I may add more in the future.)

Simply Trust

Simply Trust

by | Oct 14, 2023 | Faith, Forgiveness, Trust

“Have you tried checking the breaker?” My friend said over the phone.  “No, I answered” as I realized my oversight. While enduring the heat and humidity — and mosquitos — in the outdoor storage room of my son’s college house, we attempted to fix his dryer by repeating the same steps. Take the electrical cord off. Put it on again. And repeat.

The famous one-liner — insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results — summed up our efforts.

Frustrated and out of ideas, I called my electrician friend. Guess what? Once we flipped the breaker, the dryer worked perfectly.

Some things are just that simple. Although the process to get there may be difficult.

Like trust. Jesus asks us simply to trust.

There are many people in the Bible who demonstrated trust and great faith, even in difficult or trying circumstances.

Demonstrating trust and great faith

Moses’ trust in God led him to escort the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Daniel’s complete trust and faith in God equipped him with the strength and confidence to enter the lion’s den and to walk out unscathed.

David’s unshakable faith in God gave him the boldness to challenge a nine-foot giant.

Esther’s trust in God prompted her to risk her life to save her people.

Stephen’s trust in Jesus supplied him with the courage to share his faith and forgive his accusers.

There are many more. We also know friends and family who exemplify trust.

My friend Laurie spent 214 days in and out of several hospitals. At one point, her family was told she would not survive. But while stuck in a hospital during Covid without family and distractions, she met God. And that changed everything. Her newfound trust in the Lord gave her the courage to forgive and find joy and love again. It gave her the confidence to walk away from lies and hate to truth and the goodness of God.

Flipping the electrical breaker

God can be trusted.

It is simple, but sometimes we make it difficult. We certainly live in a time where we need to place our trust in the Lord. Instead, we often put our trust in ourselves, thinking we alone can solve the problem, fix the issue or change the situation.

Do you need to flip the electrical breaker in your life? Do you need to say no to the lies that bog you down? Do you need a measure of trust for that pending decision? Do you need to trust God for an event in your life? Do you need to let go of a solution that’s getting you nowhere?

The answer is simple.

Trust. Let’s do just that and allow the energy and power that comes from the Lord fuel our days and nights.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

 

;