My Favorite Four-Letter Word

I hear this word five days a week at the end of *Allen Jackson NOW. This is a new half-hour program where Pastor Jackson of Murfreesboro, TN handles pertinent topics with interviews, then ends with a pastoral perspective. He closes by saying, “I believe we have more reasons for hope than despair.”

Love used to be my favorite word, but it varies from the mundane to the sublime. I love lemon pie, I love going on vacation I love my husband, I love God and God loves me.

Levels of love seem to vary, depending on other people; however, hope is a personal choice.

Job is one of the best examples of hope. His wife had no patience with his suffering. She said, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

To Job’s credit, he let her negativity float on by. Hope was his choice, and he would not give it up. He said she was speaking foolishly and concluded with this: “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” (**Job 2:9-10)

When three well-meaning but non-comforting friends came by, Job had an even stronger answer: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” (Job 13:15). His hope gave him the strength to stay focused on his faith.

Hope results in joy. Characteristics of believers are to include being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and persistent in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures to help us develop these three things in our lives.

If you have not read the book of Job lately, now would be a great time to do so.

Job’s story is one of personal patience, perseverance, and his choice to endure. The way I see it, hope might have been Job’s favorite four-letter word, too.

*Allen Jackson NOW is available on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) Monday through Friday. I watch on DISH, but if you prefer streaming look for their app at tbn.org.

**All scriptures are from the Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), Published by Bible Hub, Pittsburg, PA, USA, Copyright 2022, Used by Permission.

Pixabay Illustration: I pulled this one years ago for my picture file. That was before I knew I was to credit someone. 

A Good Break

I’ve just enjoyed a good break. It was better than the one in March when I needed a partial hip replacement. But I’m happy to say, “Praise the Lord.  I’ve come a long way in my recovery.”

I took a break from writing my weekly blog and did a lot of reading instead. I enjoy writing my blog, but my challenge is to make a meaningful point in less than 400 words. The reason is that many people read on their cell phones and do not enjoy long articles. I’m one of them.

Writers are always on the lookout for golden nuggets.  These ideas can be further developed in time, and mine are usually jotted down on sticky notes or handy scraps of paper.

Life has routines, but breaks are important. Anyone who works eight or more hours a day will tell you even fifteen minutes away from tasks is refreshing. During our forty years of ministry, my husband and I enjoyed our assignments, but we looked forward to our weekly refreshing day off.  

God Himself took a break. In Genesis chapter one we read of His day-by-day creation of the heavens, skies, and seas, plus everything in them. But chapter two breaks from chapter one by saying on the seventh day God rested from all His labor. He also blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (*Genesis 2:1-3).

That blessing showed up again. When God gave Moses ten basic commandments for a healthy society, number four was:  Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, do no work (Exodus 20:8-11). “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word “shabbat,” meaning to cease or desist.

Jesus always worshiped on the Sabbath, but He rebuked the finger-pointing legalists by saying He was Lord of the Sabbath and He desired mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 12:1-14). He also declared that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).

After Jesus’ resurrection, His followers started worshiping on the first day of the week. But God’s plan for a weekly break was never pulled back. The fulfillment is up to us. If you’ve thought it wasn’t important, please think again.

*All Scriptures from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), Published by Bible Hub, Pittsburg, PA, USA, Copyright 2022; Used by Permission.

Pixabay Illustration: Paper, Pen, Notebook; Ivan_Digon.  

Break Time

My next inspirational blog will be Sunday, September 22, 2024.

I’ve been re-reading the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. She usually gives credit to the creators of her inspirational quotes. But this week I read one that she didn’t know who to credit. I wrote it in my journal. Yes, it's simple but so worthy of serious consideration.

Fear knocked on the door;

*Faith Answered.

No one was there.

*For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 

2 Timothy 1:7 (BSB)

I’ll be looking forward to connecting with you again in 3 weeks!

*All Scriptures from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), Published by Bible Hub, Pittsburg, PA, USA, Copyright 2022; Used by permission.

Pixabay Illustraton: Break, Time Out.