Without Hope

We don’t talk about hope when all is going well. When things are going along smoothly, there is no reason to. There is no expectation that things will take a nose dive. But eventually, they will.

I’m not trying to be fatalistic. It’s simply a fact. We live in a fallen world. as a result, at one time or another, our circumstances will stink.

That’s when we talk about hope. That’s when it counts. When things are not going well. Because we are hoping for something better, for a turn around. For things to improve.

People don’t look for hope when life is good. People look for hope when life stinks. That’s when it counts.

For those of us who put our faith in Jesus, we don’t have a “get out of jail free card“ when life hands us a crummy situation. Just because we are God’s children doesn’t mean we are immune from the tough stuff.

We have kids who struggle in school, who are intent on learning the hard way. We have disappointments. We get unwanted diagnoses. We experience tragic loss.

The difference is, we have hope. It’s not a hope that God will wave a magic wand and make the tough stuff disappear. That’s the earthly hope. A part of us certainly wants that, and we often pray that God will fix everything like new or mostly like new.

Biblical hope is different. It doesn’t focus on removing difficult circumstances. Biblical call hope is looking forward to a confident expectation. There is no confidence in earthly hope.

In those days when we were living apart from Jesus, we were excluded from citizenship, and we did not have the covenant promises of God made. We lived in the world -without hope and without hope.

In Ephesians 2:12, Paul wrote to the Gentile Christians. He explained that before they knew Christ Jesus, they were without hope. They did not know God. And since they did not know God, they had no deliverer. It is the same for unbeliever today. Paul told the Gentiles this,

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” –Ephesians 2:10

From the very beginning, God had a plan for them and us. He created us for a specific purpose, to do good things you planned for us to do. This is our hope.

For those who do not know, Jesus, it is tragic when they lose loved ones. It’s painful for believers too. But we have hope in the future. None of us are happy when a loved one is facing death. But we have to have confident expectation that we will see them again.

I may not be able to tell you what happened to believers who have died in the past. But if we believe in Christ Jesus we will not grieve like people who have no hope.

Since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with them the believers who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 tells us,

“Concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), so that you don’t worry like the rest and have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died in was again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

The human body can survive without food for 1 to 2 weeks depending on one’s health, hydration, body fat reserves. we can survive with without water about 3 to 4 days. And only 1 day without hope. While hope is not a physical necessity, like water or food, it is critical for mental and emotional survival. Without hope, people succumb to despair, which can lead to loss of life, especially in extreme circumstances.

The purpose of hope is to sustain us through unimaginable hardship.

While physical needs are essential, mental resilience -driven by hope is equal revival for survival. It’s less about literal timelines and more about the power of mindset.

Talking To Family

Who would you like to talk to soon?

I would like to talk to my niece. I haven’t spoken to her in years only became my family is I think weird. We are family but we don’t act like family. She moved away and unless she needs something we prefers to stay in her own bubble of life.

We used to be really close, but she has gotten on with her life and don’t want her family in it. Which is her choice of course. But I miss her and our talks.

A Judgmental Culture

Being Judgmental seems to be second nature to many of us, and these days it seems like through greater the judginess, the bigger the external reward, which makes resisting the urge even harder.

The judgier the post on social media or YouTube video, the more likes it seems to get. The Judgier the content the greater the viewership.

I think judginess is leading us to a cease pool of inactivity, bullying, polarization, and pain. Judginess has oozed out of all of us despite our best intentions.

I think understanding the other person’s perspective is essential to solving problems is key. We’ve gotten to the “if you disagree with me I hate you phase.” There is no growth in that just more judging. We have to be able to distinguish between judging actions and judging people.

We need to ask ourselves “What do I really know about the person I’m judging? We all have histories and baggage. We all have various levels of reactivity, apathy, hurt, denial, anger, and hypocrisy. We are all imperfect. We can consciously choose to cut the person some slack and still influence them to change their behaviors.

We’ve all been judged. We all know how it feels to be stung by judgment. Do we really want to add the suffering and pain of someone else? Unless the person has wronged you personally, chances are you don’t let this reflection temper your judgment.

We can see the impact of judginess all around us. Fighting in the streets, bombings, shootings. All by people who have believed someone else’s words of why they judge others. It’s become a ripple effect of judgment that leads to pain.

Things I Hold Dear

What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

The things I hold most dear are pictures of my ancestors in Hungary. My grandparents pictures show the struggle it took for my family to get where we’re at now.

I also cherish my father’s harmonica. He taught himself to play while at a hospital while they basically put his face back together from a war injury. He was there to get half of his face blown by a IED in war. I’m sure I will never be able to play. I still remember him playing when I was a little girl, it was the thing that made me smile and still do.

These things are irreplaceable to me.

Collectibles

Do you have any collections?

I have collected salt and pepper shakers for many years.

I began when I would see ones I thought were cute and unique. Through my travels I have picked up more and more. People now buy them as gifts.

Here a just a few of my favorite ones.

But there is more.

Living For God’s Glory

How does a person glorify God? Our main purpose is to glorify God. That’s what living is all about. It’s not about our desires, but His. We tend to focus on everything we want rather than what God wants.

Spiritual maturity is simply concentrating and focusing on God until we are caught up in His majesty and His glory.

Throughout my life, I have tried to fill the hole in my soul, with everything things but God. Alcohol, drugs, sex, and material things. It’s wasn’t until I used God to fill the hole that I felt whole.

Here are some steps to live for the glory of God:

  • Confess your sins

Confession of sin glorifies God, because if you excuse your sin, you absolve yourself and responsibility and blame God for letting you get into a mess.

Adam illustrates this in Genesis when God confronted him, he had an excuse

“This woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree” -Genesis 3:12

He was practically saying, “You did it, God. If You hadn’t given me this woman, none of this would have happened.”

To do that is to when God and to assign guilt to Him. But God is never at fault when we sin.  Implying that God is somehowresponsible maligns maligns His holiness. So when we try to sneak out from under the absolute responsibility for our own sin, we commit grievous sin against the glory of God.

1 John 1:9 says,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Greek word for “confess” is homologeo, meaning “to say the same thing.” to confess means to agree with God that sin is all our fault and repent. This act glorifies God. We don’t have to beg God for forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive as soon as we agree with Him.

Don’t think you have to ask for forgiveness for the same sin over and over. All it will do is bring us down, exactly what Satan wants to do.

Matthew 7:7-8 says,

“Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

  • Bear Fruit

In John 15:8 Jesus told His disciples,

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.”

Why? Because then the world can see the results of a Spirit-filled life. That is what we are here for -to put God on display to the world.

Colossians 1:10 says,

“Walk in a manner worthy to the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.”

Good works are fruit. While good works won’t save us, when we live a life of good works, the world will see that we glorify our Father in heaven.

  • Give Praise To God

Psalm 50:23 says,

“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.”

Praise honors God. One way to praise God is to give him credit for everything. In 2 Samuel 12:26-31, when Joan won the victory against Rabbah and got possession of the enemy’s crown, he sent for King David so he could present the crown to him. This is a good illustration how a believer should act towards God (our Master). We win the victory in our life, but we don’t wear the crown. We give it to the Lord, who has won the victory for us.

  • Be Content

We may be upset about our circumstances. But we have to remember who made us -God. He promised to supply all our needs. When we are content, with knowledge, God’s sovereignty in our lives, and that gives Him glory. If we are disoriented, it’s the same as questioning God’s wisdom. That doesn’t glorify Him.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul, testified,

“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Paul was confident that God would use all things -poverty, as well as abundance, comfort, as well as pain for Paul’s good and God‘s glory (Romans 8:28). He didn’t say, I’ll give glory in spite of my pain, he said I will give God glory because of it.

When we are upset for any reason, our job, our partner, our finances it is a terrible testimony about the goodness of God. What kind of God do we have? Is He really sovereign? Can He really be trusted? Glorifying God means that we praise Him with absolute contentment, knowing that our life is God‘s plan for us now.

  • Pray According to God’s Will

Jesus said in John 14:13,

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Jesus’s name signifies all that He is and all that He would want. Praying in Him name means pray in accordance to Him character and His will. And God likes to reveal His glory in answered prayer. That is why He commands us to pray -so He can show us His greatness and we can give Him the praise He’s worthy to receive.

  • Proclaim God’s Word

Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:1,

“Pray for us that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified in, just as it did also with you.”

How has the Word glorified through those believers? Because they heard it and believed. They trusted Jesus and we were born again, and God got the glory.

Presenting God’s Word clearly and accurately always gives Him glory. Every time a Sunday school teacher teaches a class, every time a Bible study leader opens the Word in someone’s living room, every time a parent sits down with their family and begins talking about the word of God, God is glorified. We honor Him by making His Word known and understood.

  • Lead others to Jesus

Call also good quarry when people are redeemed. He is glorified when Satan‘s prison is broke open and men and women are turned loose from the power of the evil one. People are saved from their sins in order to give God glory. so the more people who are brought to Jesus, the more thanksgiving is going on, and the more there are in the choir singing hallelujah (2 Corinthians 4:15).

When we lived to go off by God, He response by giving us overwhelming joy. If you say. When we have a tough life, we make it we don’t have any joy, but if we start glorifying, God, we will have joy.

Joy does not necessarily always make sorrow, discouragement, pain, and other failures go away, but as believers, we can experience supernatural joy, even in the midst of those tough things. When our joy begins to fade, it is a sure sign of encroaching sin or unbelief. It’s a sign. We need to confess the sin in our lives and pray like David,

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” -Psalm 51:12

Then we can yield to the Holy Spirit and our joy will return.

Legacy

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

I want to bring a legacy of love, hope, compassion, and optimism. I may not be able to leave material possessions. But a vision for a better future.

When God Shakes Things Up

When God shakes things up it usually means that His divine force is stirring change, disrupting the status quo, or bringing about unexpected events.

We see this in the Bible like in Genesis, where God resets creation due to human corruption, or in Hebrews, where God’s voice shakes the heavens and earth to remove what’s temporary and reveal what’s eternal.

When God shakes the world it profoundly disrupts human affairs, nature or history.

Here are a few perspectives that are found in the Bible,

“God declares, I will shake the heaven and the earth, the sea, and the dry land, and I will shake the nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts” -Haggai 2:6-7

This points to a future where God’s power upends worldly systems to establish divine glory. This is often linked to end time prophecy.

“See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused Him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven, whose voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens. This phrase, yet once more signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain” -Hebrews 12:25-27

These verses refer to God’s voice shaking the earth and heavens, removing what’s temporary to reveal the unshakable kingdom.

In Revelation events like earthquakes, cosmic disturbances, and plagues symbolize the world foundations.

Some people interpret disasters, wars, or societal upheavals as God’s shaking of the world to awaken people, correct injustice, or fulfill prophecy.

Cold weather

How do you feel about cold weather?

I would much rather be in hot weather than cold.

I have heard that living in cold environments improve heart health, boosts metabolism and enhance immune function and promote better sleep.

And hot weather improves joint and muscle health and enhances mood and boosts vitamin D.

Trusting God For Justice

In the world, so many things are not right, you don’t have to look far to find some kind of injustice. It’s easy to drive ourselves crazy trying to control every single aspect of our lives.

1 Peter 2:21-23 tells us Jesus was reviled and insulted, yet He didn’t revile or insult in return, while He suffered. He made no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to the one who judges fairly.

When we are being mistreated or enduring injustices in our lives it’s easy to want to take matters into our hands or seek vengeance. However, the best thing we can do is say, “God, I’m going to trust You to be my vindicator.

We trust God for a raise at work, for better health, or the next thing in our lives. But God wants us to trust Him through things when we are experiencing injustices. Trusting God allows us to enjoy our lives even when everything is not the way we want it to be.

We have choices to make when see injustices. We could choose to be angry and bitter toward the people involved and try and vindicate ourselves, or we could choose to trust God to make wrong things right. Knowing He could pay us back for any injustice that is done to us.

Throughout life, I have endured a lot of injustices that left me bitter, and resentful and left me constantly blaming others. However, I realized these choices only left me stressed out and physically sick. Leaving no joy in my life. There’s a quote that says “Bitterness is like drinking poison.” It hurts only us rather than hurting the person we are angry with.

When we are hurt or mistreated, it’s easy to have an attitude that says, “Someone owes me.” But God’s Word says He wants to vindicate us. Only He can restore everything we’ve lost through the injustices we have experienced.

Isaiah 61:7-8 says,

“Instead of your shame, you will have double. Instead of dishonor, you will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land, they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them. For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and iniquity. I will give them their reward in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

This tells us that if we trust God He will give us double, for our troubles,

No person can ever pay us back for what we’ve been through, but God can. When we trust God to be our vindicator get our eyes off everyone else and focus on Him it is truly amazing what He can do in our life.

Whatever is going on in your life, whatever you’ve endured, whatever doesn’t seem fair. You are not invisible to God, He cares about what you care about. He sees you and will deliver His vengeance at just the right time.

God is a God of justice and He can take every wrong and make it right.

Broken Bones

Have you ever broken a bone?

I didn’t break any bones until I was older. And of course it was a stupid circumstance I put myself into.

I was bringing too many groceries in the house because I didn’t want to take to trips to my car. Going up stairs on a hot July day and missed a step and of course was wearing sandals and hit my foot on the side of the cement.

I broke my foot and my ankle in 3 places. I was laid up for 12 weeks until everything healed.

The lesson: don’t play grocery store Tetris just because you think you can do it all.

Controlling Your Focus

If you can’t control your circumstances, control your focus. When we are faced with situations beyond our power to change, we can still exert influence by focusing on what we can change, such as our reaction, our attitude, and our actions. I have found that this reduces anxiety and increases a sense of agency in our lives.

We can acknowledge that certain things are simply out of reach, and trying to control them is futile. we may not be able to control the external world, but we can choose how to react to it. Our reactions are either positive or negative, and Susie to respond with calmness and acceptance can help us manage stress.

Well, we may not be able to change the circumstances we are in, we do still take action within our own sphere of influence. Focusing on our efforts and decisions, even the small ones, can lead to positive outcomes and a sense of accomplishment.

Our attitude can greatly impact how we experience situations. By focusing on the positive aspects of our lives, even in challenging times, we can cultivate a sense of optimism and resilience.

It’s important to stay grounded and focus on the present moment, reducing the impact of worries about what we can’t control. Focusing on what we can control.

When circumstances aren’t in our control, we can try to control them, and end up being hyper focused on certain things. It’s easy to stay catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or have a all or nothing mindset. This tends to cause us to have low self esteem, low confidence, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Trying to control everything ends up, making us feel more out of control, because the truth is, we can’t control everything.