Fresh Hope Each Day

When I became a caregiver for my father, I thanked the Lord for fresh hope each day. Upon waking, my first words were, “Thank you, Lord, for new mercies today.”

I was familiar with Lamentations 3:22-23 long before that, but now it was a life verse:

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD, we are not consumed,

for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

I took care of Dad for about two and a half years before he passed away. A few years later, I became a caregiver for my husband. I never knew what to expect from day to day, so once again, Lamentations 3:22-23 became my fresh hope.

Even now, it’s my wake-up prayer, though I’m no longer a caregiver. Why am I writing about this now? Because I had a refreshing look at God’s mercies in a Bible study this week, in Psalms.

Psalm 106:43-45 caught my attention. It was talking about the children of Israel, how God delivered them many times, yet they continued to rebel. They’re not the only ones. I’ve seen plenty of that in our day.

I stopped to meditate on Psalm 106:44-45. God chose to continue helping them whenever He heard their cry. He remembered His covenant with them and relented, or had compassion on them, according to the multitude of His mercies.  

I read about “Mercy” in my *Bible dictionary.  I started writing down thoughts of God’s mercies. Here’s my list, but you might think of more:

Answered Prayer/Salvation/Healing

Deliverance from Trouble

Provision, as needed

Love/Kindness/Compassion

Justice/Action on our behalf

Truth/Taught in Scripture

Fellowship/Eternal Life

No prejudice--Salvation for ALL

Restoration, as needed

Protection/Our Good Shepherd

Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”

Psalm 100:4 reminds us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.

Maybe these ideas will get you started.

*Mercy, pp. 1106-1108, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN, Copyright 2003.

Pixabay: Tree. Sunrise, Field image; rperucho.                                                                                                    

Who Started Communion and Sunday Worship?

COMMUNION.

The Passover meal had been celebrated from the time of Israel’s EXODUS out of Egypt. Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover just before His betrayal (Luke 22:7-23). It was at this meal (known also as The Last Supper) that Jesus created a new celebration with only two elements.

First, He took the Passover non-yeast, cracker-like bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is My body broken for you.” He knew He would suffer terrible abuse before He was even crucified (Matthew 27:24-26; 27:27-31).

Next, he took the cup and said, “This is my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28; John 3:16).

But, get this! He also said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29; Paul’s follow-up, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

His disciples received confirmation of this message after the Resurrection, as Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:10-11). I’m looking forward to His return, are you?

SUNDAY WORSHIP

The Old Testament commanded a holy Sabbath, every seven days (Exodus 20:8-11). Sunday Worship requires a three-day timeline to explain:

1.       Friday afternoon, Jesus died on a Roman cross (Matthew 27:45—46). As Evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea (a rich man and secret follower of Jesus) asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Nicodemus (another secret follower) brought burial spices, and together they prepared Jesus’ body and laid it in Joseph’s tomb (John 19:38-42).    

 2.       Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath.

 3.       Sunday, at dawn on the first day of the week, certain women went to the tomb where they were shocked! The tomb was open, and they saw an angel who said, “He is not here. He is risen . . . go quickly, tell His disciples . . . He is going ahead of you to Galilee” (Matthew 28:1-7).

Early Christians then started worshiping on the first day of the week, calling it “The Lord’s Day.” First-day worship was also mentioned in Paul’s day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

 I’m thankful to celebrate these two ancient Christian traditions in my spiritual life. How about you?

Pixabay:

The Wordless Book

When I’m running errands, I often thank God for colors like white clouds, blue sky, green trees in a variety of shades, and houses, too.

My mind often turns to the Wordless Book with its colorful message.

I learned it in a neighborhood Bible club, but its truth is for people of all ages, an illustration of John 3:16:  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God loved the world! My husband and I once worked at a very large church that I called “world-class.” On the front of our church, up high, were large white letters that read like the old King James: “Whosoever Will May Come.” And come they did!

We had a diverse range of people groups, economic and educational levels, and all ages, from babies to senior citizens. It was an exciting place to be!

THE WORDLESS BOOK IS SIMPLE 

Four Colors - - - Four Truths

PAGE ONE:  Sin has darkened our hearts; the darkest primary color is BLACK.

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones who chose to disobey God. Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way.”

PAGE TWO:  Jesus shed his blood on the cross as a sacrifice to remove sin; that’s RED.

Because of that, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  

PAGE THREE: Christ’s blood removes our sin; we are pure, WHITE as snow.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will become like wool” (Isaiah1:18).  

PAGE FOUR: Eternal life in heaven includes streets of GOLD.

Revelation 21:21 says, “The main street of the city was pure gold as clear as glass.” Won’t that be something to see!

It’s a wonderful new day when our sins are washed away.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. 

Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Believe it! The message of The Wordless Book is for each of us---fresh hope and a fresh start!

Pixabay: watercolor box; stux.

The Choice is Yours

Have you ever thanked God for the ability to think and make choices? Many daily choices seem routine. But there was a time we had thought about them and made a choice.

From the beginning, God gave humans a choice, and from Genesis to Revelation, His will is made clear. However, the choice is ours: (1) Will we believe His word, and (2) will we obey His word?  

Psalm Chapter One is a favorite. Six powerful little verses contrast the righteous with the wicked. People in our day tend to downplay the meaning of wicked, but God’s word is eternal.

What do the righteous DO? They delight in the law of the Lord and choose to keep it in mind day and night. The Psalm calls this meditation.

What do the righteous NOT DO? By focusing on God’s word, they don’t: (1) walk in wicked or ungodly counsel, (2) follow the way of sinners, nor (3) sit with mockers.

In our modern day, we need to apply this to our entertainment and social media choices. But mockery doesn’t have to be outright ridicule of God. We can also mock by simply brushing Him off with our choices and actions as if He doesn’t matter.

How’s this for contrast? Psalm One says the righteous are blessed, but not so the wicked. The righteous are rooted and bear fruit, but the wicked are blown away like chaff (Psalm 1: 1-3, 4-5).  

Have you heard of the broad way and the narrow way? Jesus said there’s a broad way that leads to destruction. It’s full of people who want big and easy.

On the other hand, there’s a narrow gate and a narrow way that leads to life, but compared to the broad way, only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

There’s an old joke that says, ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” But the reality is that choices matter.

The choice is yours. God’s way or your way? The broad way or the narrow way?

It takes more effort to stay on a narrow path, but with eternal values in view, it’s worth the effort!

Pixabay: Decision, Choice, Path; Waldryana.

  

You Can Hold A Miracle

Some of you do this every day. I started doing it at about age ten, following a summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) whose theme was God’s Word, A Treasure.

I googled “amazing facts about the Bible,” and here’s what I read: (1) 66 distinct books, (2) 40 authors, (3) written across 1500 years, (4) three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, (5) still the world’s best-seller, and (6) the first book off Gutenberg’s printing press.

Church history shows three major councils, or meetings of church leaders, whose purpose was to determine which early writings were inspired. I first heard of this in a Christian University.

In more modern times, the Dead Sea Scrolls, mostly fragments, found between 1947 and 1956, have verified scripture.

The Bible is a library of books. Old Testament Books are listed on some charts as The Law, History, Wisdom, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. New Testament books include The Gospels, Paul’s Letters to the Churches, Paul’s Letters to Friends, and General Letters.

I’m always interested in Jesus’ use of scripture. At the beginning of His ministry, after He was baptized in the Jordan, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

Three times the devil tempted Him, and three times He quoted scriptures from Deuteronomy to refute the temptation. We have both the Old and New Testaments, and can quote from them when needed, if we have them in our hearts as Jesus did.

How can we learn the Bible? It requires more than Sunday services, small group studies, or TV and social media. We must study God’s word daily.

I enjoy my *Life Application Study Bible, NIV (LASB, New International Version). I have other versions, but I ordered this as a hardcover, large-print edition, easy to read.

It has footnotes, book introductions, charts, maps, a concordance, and more. It’s heavy, but I consider it worth its weight in gold.

What’s so important about the Bible?

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Thank God for His gift to us, a miracle we can hold in our hands and hide in our hearts.                       

*You can find Life Application Study Bibles (LASB) wherever books are sold; however, I usually check christianbooks.com (the largest online Christian bookseller). The Life Application Study Bible, NIV (LASB, New International Version) is published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, and Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL.

Pixabay: Read, Book, Blank Book; Tilixia-Summer.

Wanted: Personal Peace

I need cataract surgery this year. I met the surgeon and his assistant, and I was told to call her with any questions.

After calling her two days in a row and leaving the required details, there was no reply. After my third try, I decided to let it go. I read their information packet, listed my questions, and made the required appointments with my primary care, EKG, and labs.

Friday night, I shared my anxiety with my local Goddaughter.  Even positive reports from those who had experienced it did nothing to calm my fears.

After we watched a DVD, I talked about surgery again. She said, “You’re worrying and not trusting God.” The next thing I knew, she was praying, asking God to calm my fears and give me peace.

God answered that prayer in three different ways:

(1)    Later that night, she sent a scripture. It was *Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in you.

(2)    The next morning, I opened my Bible, and a colorful scripture card fell face up. John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

 (3)    Sunday, I listened to a favorite TV Bible teacher. His text was Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing . . . present your requests to God. And the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

I received a call from the head of the surgery center a few days later. She was very pleasant and answered all my questions. I started to feel better about this up close and personal eye surgery! But God, in His love, had one more message of peace!

In a weekly study, the verse for the week was Psalm 56:3-4: When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God whose word I praise . . . I will not be afraid . . .    

I finally got the message! “Lord, I trust Your word, and I trust in You!” I don’t have surgery dates yet, but it doesn’t matter. I now have God's peace.

*All scriptures are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB, Copyright 2022 by Bible Hub, Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Pixabay: Woman, Girl, Freedom Image; JillWellington.

Be Wise, Not Foolish

I don’t know anyone who wants to be considered a fool. Even the least among us wants to be known for something positive.

Paul advises Christians about spiritual life. We are not to live “as unwise,” but “wise,” redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).  Being alert and aiming to do good would be one way to redeem evil days.  

He also advised us not to be foolish, but to understand the Lord’s will (Ephesians 5:17). There are many places in the Bible where we are told how God wants us to live; however, when in doubt, we can ask, and God will answer (James 1:5).  

We get a few practical guidelines in Ephesians 5:18-20. We’re not to get drunk, lose our good sense, and act rashly or recklessly. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who will help us do good and positive things, pleasing to God.

With psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we can sing to the Lord and/or encourage each other. And we must always remember to give thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is seated at the Father’s right hand, always ready to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

At the beginning of Creation, there was only darkness. The first thing God did was bring in light (Genesis 1:3-4). Jesus said people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20).  

He also declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Why be foolish and stumble away from God in the darkness, when He has offered light so we can clearly see how to live in His presence?

The result of living to please yourself will be destruction. The result of living to please the Spirit will be eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Will you be foolish or wise? You don’t have to be a genius to know the difference, and the choice is yours!

Pixabay: signpost, waypoint, sign; succo.

 

What Faith Does

Faith makes life possible in both natural and spiritual ways. For example, by faith we pursue education or training, believing it will help us get a job.

By faith, I pursued a relationship with the man I would marry, believing him to be trustworthy. He proposed, I accepted, and he proved true in fifty-two years of marriage.

Faith is a basic requirement. By faith, we believe God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

People of faith are steady, not flighty. They’re focused on fulfilling a desire or goal. We’ll look at examples in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11).

Faith can help us do three things: 1) Persevere, 2) Endure, and 3) Never Give Up.

Perhaps because I’ve lived in the Southwest desert, I admire Noah and his three sons for building a huge ark in a barren land. There was no water in sight, and rain was unheard of (Genesis 6:5-9:29). What an example of perseverance (Hebrews 11:7).

Mankind was so wicked, God was sorry He had created them. Yet, Noah was recorded as a blameless and righteous man who walked with God (Genesis 6:5-9). He was a misfit!

When you’re swimming against the current of wickedness, continue to persevere. God sees you, too. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous . . . (Psalm 34:15).

From childhood to old age, Moses is an example of endurance. His life was full of challenge and change (Hebrews 11:23-29). He wrote the first five books of the Bible, so we learn about his life there.

David was the man who never gave up. As a young shepherd, he was anointed to be King (1 Samuel 16). It was years before this happened, and often he was running for his life. As king, he had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and even had Uriah murdered (2 Samuel 11-12).

But when God sent the Prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin, he humbled himself and asked God for forgiveness. Read his prayer in Psalm 51.

By faith, choose to persevere, endure, and never give up. That kind of faith will be rewarded on Judgement Day when we will be judged for our deeds (Revelation 20:11-15).

Pixabay:

How To Help Your Faith Grow

Growth is an important part of our lives, both natural and spiritual. Healthy things grow and are a source of joy. Just ask any dedicated gardener.

God has given to each person a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Jesus said even faith the size of a mustard seed is important (Luke 17:5-6).

Jude 20 tells us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, the basis of our spiritual life. But how? Let’s look at three possible ways:

ONE:  Know and Believe God’s Word:  God’s word is forever settled in heaven, and His faithfulness endures to all generations (Psalm 119:89-90).

We must hear the Word (Romans 10:17). It’s wonderful to get to attend church or hear God’s word taught over the airwaves, but we must also get into God’s word on our own (Psalm 119:105, 130, 133).

Knowing God’s word helps us to obey His will. That’s how we show our love for and our faith in Him (John 14:15).

TWO:  Be Encouraged by Testimonies of God’s Goodness:  Not only is God an ever-present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), but faith in God brings about marvelous accomplishments. Be encouraged as you read testimonies in God’s “Hall of Faith,” Hebrews Chapter Eleven.

Testimonies are just personal stories of how God has worked in someone’s life. As we share, we build up one another’s faith and provide comfort where needed (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Even the great Apostle Paul was encouraged by reports of the steadfast faith of believers in the places He had ministered (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8).

THREE:  Review How God Has Worked in Your Life:  First of all, be thankful for your salvation (John 3:16-19). What a marvelous gift. We don’t have to work for it; however, after we are saved, the good works we do are to bring glory to Him, not us (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Personally, I’m thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the One who leads us into all truth (John 14:16-17, 16:13-15).

I also thank God for every good thing He has brought into my life over the years. I don’t believe in luck, fate, good karma, or horoscopes. Scripture says every good and perfect gift comes from God our Father above (James 1:16-17).

Read your Bible and mark verses that speak to you. We’re not cookie-cutter Christians. God works with us individually. How awesome is that!

Pixabay: Soil, Seed, Seedling image: Plnatbest.

How To Know True Love

I’d say most people think of love as an emotion. February 14^th is Valentine’s Day in the USA. Restaurants, chocolate shops, florists, and card shops do great sales in honor of the day.

These things are enjoyable, but not long-lasting. True love means taking action toward the best for someone other than ourselves, not one day a year, but every day!

True love is important. True things are genuine, not false. They can be trusted. True friends, for example, are faithful and loyal at all times. So-called “fair-weather friends” tend to fade away when challenges arise.

Colossians 3:12-17 lists some characteristics of love. It’s encouraging to know that Christians have Christ to help them live with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

To “forgive as the Lord forgave you” (verse 13) clearly leaves no room for resentment or vindictiveness. If you want peace, forgiveness is one way to get it (verse 13-15).

I love reading my Bible. No matter how many times I re-read scripture, it always seems fresh and new. This week, that was Romans 12:9-18 as I considered “what is true love?”

It begins by saying love must be sincere (verse 9). That matches the description of true love above (in paragraph four). Living in harmony with one another (verse 16) leaves no room for pride, conceit, or a haughty spirit (verse 16).

As much as possible on our part, we are to live at peace with everyone (verse 18). Isn’t it nice to know we are not held responsible for rough times if others choose not to respond to our efforts of forgiveness or reconciliation?

Please read First Corinthians 13:4-8 for yourself. It’s a classic section on love that begins with love IS and continues with what love IS NOT. The conclusion is that “(true) love never fails” (verse 8).

This kind of love is what makes marriages last for decades and childhood friendships endure into adulthood.

Please, enjoy the emotions of love, but look for the actions of true love if you want something that lasts.

Pixabay: Hearts, Red Hearts, Background; MissMilly.

  

One Way to Deal With Depression

Did you know King David did not write the entire Book of Psalms? Let’s look at a couple of encouraging things written by the sons of Korah.

First, Korah was a Levite and spiritual leader who led a rebellion against Moses. When Moses sought God for an answer, that rebellion did not have a happy ending. (If curious, read about it in Numbers 16:1-35.)

In David’s time, he appointed men from Korah’s clan to serve as choir leaders. That line of temple musicians continued for hundreds of years (1 Chronicles 6:31-38; 2 Chronicles 20:18-19).

To me, that shows you can choose to serve God, whether your forefathers did or not.

Next, let’s consider depression and discouragement. These emotions are nothing new.

When my piano students used to get frustrated at making a mistake, I’d say, “It’s good to know you made a mistake. Now you can correct it.”

We may not always know why we feel discouraged or depressed, but it’s OK to ask, “Why?” It means you’d like to make a change

The psalmist asks: (1) “Why am I downcast, (2) Why am I uneasy, and (3) Why has God forgotten me?” (Psalm 42:5, 9, 11). But he doesn’t stop there. He remembers previous days when God seemed near, and he enjoyed going to church and praising God.

He declares he’s thirsty for the living God (Verse 2). Physical dehydration is serious, and spiritual dehydration isn’t any healthier. Physical dryness is improved by drinking water. Spiritual dehydration can also be helped.

It’s good to be honest with yourself. The psalmist asked hard questions, but then he decided to move in a positive direction: (1) He remembered the good things God had done (verse 6-8), and (2) He encouraged himself to put his hope in God (verse 5, 11).  

Paul also encouraged us to move forward and find peace: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7).

Like the psalmist said, “*Put your hope in God.”

*Remember, if you try the psalmist’s approach, but are not able to deal with depression or discouragement on your own, talk to a spiritual leader or professional counselor. We are put on this earth to help one another.

Pixabay: Rain, Nature, Window; RichardsDrawings.

Personal but Pertinent

A friend and I attend a weekly non-denominational international Bible study. It’s called *CBS, or Community Bible Study. I had heard of it for years, but I was always busy in ministry with my husband.

We begin and end in a large group, with breakout groups in between. Discussions are based on the workbook lessons we have answered by reading the scripture references; however, sometimes questions require personal answers.

Here’s a personal question I enjoyed:  **Christianity is sometimes criticized as being exclusive…how would you respond to that criticism?

There are two sides to every story, so my first answer is no, then yes. Many scriptures could be shared, but my space is limited:

SIDE ONE:  I do not believe Christianity is exclusive because God Himself extends an invitation. John 3:16-17:  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Jesus gave His disciples an assignment: Matthew 28:19-20: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.

SIDE TWO:  Invitations require a response. John 3:18: Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Jesus issued a personal invitation. Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

If we choose to receive God’s gift of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins: (1) We are cleansed from our sins (1 John 1:9), (2) begin a new spiritual life (2 Corinthians 5:17), and (3) become members together in the Body of Christ (Colossians 3:15).

Any group with membership has its own requirements, values, and loyalty. Christian commitment means knowing and doing what Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20).

That requires daily reading your Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand how to apply it to your life (John 14:15-17).   

*www.communitybiblestudy.org

**CBS: The Book of Psalms: Volume Two; Lesson 16: God’s Kingdom Expands; Day 5, Question 20; p. 6.

Pixabay: Bible, Christian; charlotte_202003.