From Pity to Praise

Hope In God

Hope is essential to how we live our lives and exemplify a life of faith as believers. Knowing the truth and confidently living our identity in Christ requires eternal perspective, knowing the truth of God’s promises through His Word, a hope built on faith along with action.

It is this living hope that leads to a life of faith that sets believers apart from nonbelievers. We must place our hope back in Christ Jesus and align ourselves with the eternal perspective rather than the short-sighted or futile hope we sometimes succumb to.

There are four keys to hope,

1. Hope requires an eternal perspective

“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen“ – Hebrews 11:1

We need vision, without vision, hope is peril and we perish. When we have a hopeful faith partnership, we hope in things unseen and the truth aligns with His Word, abiding in His promises above present circumstances.

2. Hope is based on God’s promises

“For the creation was subjected to futility not willingly but because of Him who subjected it to hope” – Romans 8:20

Our hope is not futile, but alive. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. We as the children of God and co-heirs with Jesus, share in His sufferings so that we may also share in His glory. We have been given the Holy Spirit and a living relationship with God through Jesus. If God is for us who can be against us?

3. Hope is built on faith

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does then, I will liken him to a wise man, who builds his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it fell – and great was its fall” – Matthew 7:24-27

In this hope, we are saved. Hope that is not seen is not hope at all. Hope is built on faith and isn’t easily shaken or defeated. Our inventory in Jesus is rooted in who God is and who we are as children of God and Co-heirs.

4. Hope activates perseverance

“Through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in where we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope. And hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” – Romans 5:2-5

Patience is the fruit of hope. As we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Health And Well being

What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?

The strategies of maintaining good health and well-being are exercise, and eating well. I have to admit since my knee surgery I have failed on the exercise part due to complications. But I’m ready to start working towards my goals for this.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that our bodies are not our own, by belong to God. That we are called to honor God by taking care of our bodies. Along with eating healthy and exercising, we should do everything we can to avoid harm to our bodies. We need to remember that joy and happiness are important for our physical and mental health as well.

Trusting God In Uncertainty

It’s easy to trust God in times of peace and clarity. It is difficult to trust Him in confusing, uncertain times. God is our anchor and firm foundation when life in changing all around us. He is trustworthy even if nothing else is. It’s important to trust God in any circumstance, especially uncertain ones.

Constantly changing conditions exemplify the instability of this life. With everything going on in the world it’s impossible to prepare for what changes are about to be thrown our way. But there are several lessons in the Bible about trusting God in the middle of a chaotic world.

God is the only one who is worthy of all of our trust.

“Commit your deeds to the Lord, and your plans shall succeed“ – Proverbs 16:3

Even when thr world feels like it is upside down you can trust God to do as He says. Even though the world feels like it’s in chaos God is still in control.

Substitute Faith For Fear

One emotion that can undermine our faith like no other emotion is fear. When anxiety about the future or the present grips us it squeezes us right it can cause us to lose trust in God. Satan loves to use fear as a weapon against us but Paul says God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Express Your Doubts To God

When John the Baptist was in prison and waiting for execution John brought his doubts to Jesus, “Are you the true Messiah?” “Why aren’t you saving me?” Jesus didn’t act offended by the questioning, He gave John the answers in Matthew 11.

When I as growing up I often prayed that God would save me from the abuse. I never understood why He wouldn’t help me. But I know now why I had to go through the things I did. It was for me to become a strong person. I thank God that He was not threatened by my questions and that I am who I as today because of it.

Praise God

In the midst of great tragedy, we can praise God and in our praise, He is with us. When we praise God we can’t focus on the choas that surrounds us. When we praise God it’s difficult to look at our own situations and ignore what God’s trying to teach us.

In every situation we go through God teaches us something. God is our constant in this life. God doesn’t take a break from being God. The fact that God is still trustworthy even in the midst of chaos is worthy of praise.

Travel Plans

What are your future travel plans?

I have missed out on seeing my son for many years because of his work and him having to travel. He recently had an opportunity to move closer to where I live. He recently visited where I live it had been 5 years since I was able to see him face to face. But the visit was short.

So, my travel plans are to visit him for a few weeks in the very near future.

I am also planning a road trip with my daughter to see the beach, which has been a dream of mine for years. But because winter is so approaching it won’t be under next spring or summer.

Hard Times Create Strong People

Now more than ever we must pay attention to the instructions God gives us. Taking hold of God’s Word and refusing to let go is the only way we are going to get through these difficult times. We must be like it says to be in Psalm 119, using God’s Word and let His Word guide us,

“Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light to my path.”

Every day I feel like the wicked have set traps for us, but I for one will not be swayed, always letting God’s laws be my treasure, and my hearts delight.

It is not enough for us to just lie back and say, “if that’s God’s will for me to have victory I guess He will give it to me. If it’s His will to be healed, He will heal me.“ It is not His will for us to suffer.

We have to aggressively pursue it and get it in our hearts and mouths. We have to fight off every unbelieving demon, and every troublesome circumstance that comes our way. We must take God’s promises to heart. Our circumstances will pass away but God upholds all things by the Word of His power and that Word will come to pass in our lives.

Below are a few scriptures to stand on to build your faith in difficult times,

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” -Isaiah 41:10

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, I Lord, do not abandon those who search for you” -Psalm 9:9-10

“The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation” -Psalm 145:9

“I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” -John 16:33

“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” – Phillipians 4:6-7

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me“ – Philippians 4-13

What Would I Change About Modern Society

What would you change about modern society?

There is so much hate in the world right now. So many people calling out injustices. The world is filled with hurt.

There is so much information being shoved in our faces through the news, social media, and face-to-face interactions. So much false information and no way to comprehend or understand things.

If we spent time loving each other for our differences instead of hating each other for them, Imagine what we could do.

If the schools taught children to love, not hate and remember we all bleed the same color. No one is better than anyone else, because of skin color, political views, or ideas.

In modern society, I would change modern society’s views on how we feel, and act toward one another. I would remove the hate from modern society.

Our Words Are Seeds

“…Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” -Matthew 12:34

What we say is important. We need to speak words of life and light. Our talk should always rise to the level of the Word of God.

Our word have a creative power to bring order or chaos, to bring peace in the midst of the storm. Every time we speak our words are taking root, and growing.

“A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, those who love it will eats it fruit” – Proverbs 18: 20-21

We have a choice in the kinds of words we use. Our choice of words determines the fruit that develops. First, we plant the seed with our words, then we are the fruit that comes. We have a choice to plant seeds that produce poisonous fruit or life-giving fruit. What we choose will affect our future.

Words are not neutral. They shape and define our lives. They reveal the faith we have rooted in our hearts since they are indicative of what we actually believe on the inside.

Jesus explained it like this,

“A good man brings forth good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of“ -Luke 6:45

When we store God’s Word in our hearts, we are establishing a deep level of faith. Our tongues speak the overflow of the faith that is in our hearts.

Words reveal what we believe, Words plant seeds for our future.

Listen at Work

What do you listen to while you work?

When I’m working on something I usually listen to worship music. It is said to improve your memory, attention and concentration which can be a valuable tool for promoting mental health.

I usually listen to singers like Crowder, Jeremy Camp, Zach Willians, or the bands King and Country and Casting Crowns.

Spiritual Blessings

The definition of a blessing is “something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity.” Who doesn’t want that? God’s Word tells us in Ephesians 1:3, that God,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spirit blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.“

One of our spiritual blessings is righteousness,

“But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” – 1 Corinthians 1:30

When we understand more about our righteousness, we can see what we can do with this spiritual blessing.

Righteousness is the God-given justification a person has the right to stand in the presence of God without any consciousness of sin, guilt, or shortcomings. Righteousness is something, God imparts. It is something we receive when we are born again of God’s Spirit. The moment we confess with our mouths Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised His Son from death, we are saved -born again and made righteous. Romans 10:10-11 says,

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Some people feel like they are not worthy enough to receive anything from God. But they do not understand the spiritual blessing of righteousness. This righteousness is not something we earn, nor can we make ourselves worthy enough to receive it. God Himself makes us righteous by the accomplishments of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,

“For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus knew no sin, who lived righteously, and took our sins upon Himself so that we might be made righteous before God. This is something God did for us in Jesus. It is not something we can do.

“But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” -Romans 5:8

God loves us and because of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross, we can in with righteousness.

When we understand that God made us righteous, we can enjoy the blessings. All we have to do is accept Him and repent for our sins. We have an adversary, Satan that tries to talk us out of claiming our God-given righteousness at every turn. He accuses us and tries to convince us that God is not good, but the righteousness of God is given to every true believer.

“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” – Philippians 3:9

This spiritual blessing allows us to live freely without fear or condemnation. It allows us to live victoriously, claiming that we are who God says we are and that we have what God says we have. When we understand our righteousness, we do not have to be hindered by our mistakes -past, present, or future. No fear, worry, or guilt can frustrate or defeat us in our walk with Him. We no longer have to feel unworthy. Because God makes us worthy.

When we understand our righteousness we can change our thinking to recognize that God makes us in Jesus. Ephesians 4:24 tells us to,

“Put on the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

We can change our thinking to line up with the Word of God and act accordingly. God makes us righteous by His grace and love. When we put on “the new man,” we can renew our minds and be free. We can enjoy a loving relationship with our Father in heaven. We no longer have to wonder if we are good enough for His love and care. He hears our prayers and we can claim what He has made available to us, including abundance, and victory in life.

What a life we can live when we understand our spiritual blessing of righteousness.

The Lord Is My Help

In Church this week my Pastor asked us to pray Psalm 37. So I thought I would post what I am praying.

The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please Him.

“A man’s goings are established by the Lord. He delights in His way. Though he stumbled, he shall not fall, for the Lord holds him up with His hand” -Psalm 37:23-24

As human beings we will never be able to be able to understand everything in life.

We can use Psalm 34:4 as a deliverance to break free of fear.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

I admit I am fearful sometimes and know it is not good for me, but I’m working on that.

Psalm 37:7 helps us keep hope alive, we need to keep hope alive as long as we do God will come through for us.

There’s been a shift in our world, communities and sometimes even church’s. Instead of gathering together, we feel more conflicted as ever. But Jesus tells us,

“Look! Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the Lord’s house. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, Praise the Lord” – Psalm 134:1-2

I go to church to connect to and worship God, not to connect with others. I go to delight in the Lord.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart“ – Psalm 37:4

His Word encourages me not to worry or fret, even if my humanness and flesh it is hard sometimes. But with the help of the power of the Holy Spirit, I know that I can trust Him and worry less.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart“ Psalm 37:3-4

Comfort Foods

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Whether consciously or unconsciously I turn to mashed potatoes with charred corn mixed in. Ice cream is also my go-to comfort food. I don’t think it is food from my childhood memories. It’s just dang good.

Comfort foods activate dopamine in our brains which makes us feel good. Sweet and starchy foods help our bodies make serotonin which naturally makes us feel calmer and decreases the stress hormone cortisol.

Favorite Games

What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?

Game playing stimulates brain areas that can offset the risks of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia or soften the blow of the hit.

I’m not really into video games. I enjoy games like bingo, solitaire, and crossword puzzles.