A Remedy for Losing Hope

Would you be able to recognize the Lord if He passed by you in your storm?



But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.    Psalm 9:18 (NIV)

Still in the final weeks of the semester and three more tests...but I wanted to drop a note to say hi to everyone.   Sometimes when we're in the midst of our darkest times in life---storms or trials, it's comforting to know that the Lord will pass by us, just like He did with his disciples--who were in the little fishing boat, in the darkest of the night, while a storm was raging all around them.  The Lord passed by them, walking on the water, probably with the intention of them to recognize and call out TO Him.  However, they feared Him, thinking He was a ghost!   He had just calmed the seas not long before that, and earlier the day before had fed the multitudes of people....all while the disciples were there, handing out the baskets of food. (Mark 6:45-52)

Has the Lord brought you through a difficult time in the past and it strengthened your faith?  Certainly He has done this for me and my family!  However, why is it that when another storm rages, and the skies are darker than ever, we tend to "LOSE HOPE" ???   Ever had that sinking feeling?  I'm sure the disciples did too! 

I wrote those two words down the other night...and just looked at those letters....and that's when the Holy Spirit began to minister to my heart.    I hope to be able to share what He revealed to me in a clear way so that you too will receive a blessing.

L O S E   H O P E        What happens when we lose hope?  Actually what CAUSES us to lose hope?  Well....take the letters L and S from the word LOSE.    When we Look at our Situation with (and here's the O and E) Our Eyes----with Our Eyes!   Look at the Situation with Our Eyes, and we'll probably lose hope.

Look at the word HOPE now:     When we put Our Expectation in His Promises we receive HOPE.  Faith is Our Expectation in His Promises ~and this brings HOPE!  

No matter the circumstances we're going through, let's stop Looking at the Situation with Our Eyes, and place Our Expectation in His Promises!     I can guarantee that THIS will bring HOPE to any heart that has lost all hope. 




This storm you're in could be a test.  The Maker of all Creation is walking on the stormy sea! 
He's passing by---do you recognize Him and call out to Him for Help and HOPE? 

 Do we look at life with Our Eyes?  Or with Our Expectation in His Promises?  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)


I know that the letters aren't in any special order...but the lesson's there.  Maybe it's just like in life:  we can't always LOOK at it with our common-sense-eyes, but have a little faith that sooner or later He'll make GOOD SENSE out of ALL of this!  :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dear Father, forgive me for looking at our situation with my eyes.  I place my Expecation in Your Promises to take good care of us....thank You for teaching me these lessons, even when I feel the "situation" is far from the best.   Under the direction of Your Holy Spirit, Paul reminds us...urges us to give thanks, in everything... He was in prison...He didn't wait til You released him to give thanks, nor did he give up HOPE~for his expectation was in Your Promises!  And You Honor Your Word.  I believe that You ARE.   You stay true to Your Word, for this is Who You are!   Thank You for "passing by" me the other night, and wanting me to RECOGNIZE YOU in this storm.   I do!  And I call out to You, for my expectation is in You.

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

S.U.P. Success Under Pressure

When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 

Ruth 1:18

Surely you're familiar with the story of Ruth.  The sweet, courageous woman who portrays our need for a Redeemer.  Boaz is a picture of Christ--our Kinsman Redeemer.  Oh the book of Ruth is full of wonderful images of our Savior, with His redeeming love being intricately woven throughout its pages. 

Today I was in need of a Word of encouragement...maybe even some Comfort Food.   "Oh, Father, I come to You...I need to hear from You."  After breathing a short prayer for the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word to my heart, I opened the Bible and found my eyes staring at the book of Ruth. 

The courage in this woman's heart revealed something LACKING in my own.  She had the backbone to follow her faith--the faith that God had given her.   I'm sure Ruth respected Naomi.  But did you notice the DETERMINATION of Ruth NOT to turn around and go back, as Orpah did, at the urging of Naomi?  

Do you know what you want out of life?  What or Who are you DETERMINED to go after?   Let's say you are on the right track, following the Lord, but someone comes along and URGES you to GO BACK to your native land, your sinful ways.  Would you have the backbone to say "NO, I won't go back!"   ??   Sooner or later we'll be faced with a strong person, who's determined to turn us around, to get us off track.   They may even be unaware of what they're doing.  They may THINK they're urging us to do something that is "right in their own eyes." 

The key to "Success Under Pressure" is submission---submission to God and His will.  If you're totally sold out and determined to FOLLOW THE LORD, then no matter the temptation or "strong recommendations" by others to hop off track, you'll have the backbone to keep on the right track.  

Isn't it "neat" that the initials for "Success Under Pressure" are S.U.P.? Hmmmm...That reminds me of:  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will SUP with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20  (KJV)  We can be so determined to go our "own merry way," that we fail to hear our Savior knocking at our heart's door.  Just like when Naomi saw Ruth's determination and gave up "urging Ruth," our Lord will eventually do the same thing if we continually reject His invitation.   He is never pushy, or overbearing.   That's why it's important that we be VERY CAREFUL to respond to His gentle urging, and open our heart's door to Him....He will come in and "SUP" with us.  It's in that sweet fellowship with Him that we'll find the strength to be Successful Under Pressure!

Thank You Father for this wonderful truth to my heart.  Increase our courage and stamina---increase our ability to withstand the enemy's temptation to "go back."   I also pray for anyone who may be determined to "go their own way" by ignoring Your sweet invitation to come in and SUP with them.   Soften their hearts, Holy Spirit. Quiet the anxiety in their hearts so that they may hear the sound of Your gentle voice calling out to them. And for those of us who may be encountering some "static" from others, give us wisdom to hear YOUR signal--broadcast YOUR direction for our lives, and give us Holy Boldness to follow You, no matter what.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

When the Wind Stops Blowing

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  Mark 4:40-41

During my quiet time this morning, I read something interesting that applies to my particular situation, but thought I'd write about it, in case you find yourself "there" either today or one day too.

What I read was a Latin Proverb that says:  "If there is no wind, row."    But I felt compelled to write beside it: "But what if you have no oars?" 

I'm sure you're familiar with the old saying, "Put some feet to your prayers."  Or how 'bout this one:  "We must pray as if everything depended upon God, but work as if everything depended upon us." 

Well, it's true..."Faith without works is dead."    The Lord knows our situations.  Maybe this economy has proven to be too distressing and taken its toll on your family finances. . .and now you're faced with having to get a job...get a second job...or just "up and move."    So....the wind has stopped blowing.   Everything has come to a stand-still.  

How can we ROW, just to keep things moving along, especially when we don't seem to have any oars?    I guess the best thing to do is remember: "When all else fails, read the Instruction Book."  That's it.  The Bible.  Go to the Source of all information and guidance.   God has promised to provide us everything we need.  He has equipped us (pre-packed us) for the journey He intends for us to take...as long as we realize that journey is one of following Him, serving Him, growing more like Him.

So..today, Father....I ask if You've equipped me with "oars" or abilities to get this boat moving again because there is no wind.  There is no other way to get us moving.  I pray for Your Dear Holy Spirit to BREATHE new life into the sails of our vessel.   Move us where You would have us to go. . . and, as we look to Your Word for Guidance, we find to our amazement that WE NEED NO OARS!!   We have YOUR Word to guide us, to steer us...as long as we look to YOU, commit each day, and its problems to You, You will guide our thoughts and direct our steps along each and every wave, be it BIG or small.  Guide us Oh Thou Great Jehovah, for our eyes are on You.  We praise You for the fact that the WIND has stopped blowing and we feel stranded at sea!  For this gives us time to CHECK our vessel to make sure we are REALLY READY to move forward.  Check us, Master.  Are there any leaks in this vessel?  Thank You for Your infinite Wisdom.  We trust You even when the wind stops!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.