Category: New Beginnings

Where are you placing your future? Is it done with Hope and Assurance?

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Do you have verses that are yours?  One of my life verses is Jeremiah 29:11.  I first connected with this verse when I was asked to choose a verse for my grandson at his baby dedication. God led me to Jeremiah 29:11 and I began to cling to the promises it holds.   The connection for today and every day is the hope contained with God’s Words. romans 8-28“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   This verse tells me God knows me and my future and He has good planned for me.  Those things He has planned are designed to give me hope and a positive future.  I am convinced that God loves me and wants the very best for me.  I am convinced that God is good,  desiring the best for me- for my good and His glory.  How can I not have hope?

Does this mean that everything will always be good, happy and fulfilling? No.  It means that whatever happens in my life, God can use it for my good.  Romans 8:28 confirms Jeremiah-29-11this, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”   Since I know and love Jesus, I am assured that He can and does use all things in my life for good.  In the hard times, it is difficult to be assured of this,  but looking back or looking at others suffering we can often get a glimpse of this truth.  This calls for our faith and trust in Him.

I cling to the truths of Jeremiah 29:11 when hard times come, when I see amazing things happen, when I look and plan for the future and seek to know what He would have me do.   I ask for His help and guidance as His will is perfect His direction is true.  Let Psalm 25:4-5 be your prayer as it is mine.                                                                                            psalm 25 5 “Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.

Linda

2020 A New Year, A New Decade- How will you survive?

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2020 Happy New YearYesterday I was in the look back mode,  but today January 1, 2020 I am looking forward.  Each year I have a habit of choosing a word to guide my year.  Last year God gave me the word Trust and Wow! did I see that word week after week.  I learned to lean upon God and trust Him in new, painful, scary and exciting situations.  It was amazing how Trust kept coming up again and again, reminding me of who I am and where my Trust needs to be placed.

This year God has given me the word Hope.  I have always loved writing and talking about the hope I have in Christ, but I feel His Hope will reach into all corners of my life.   So I thought it wise to spend a few weeks looking into HOPE and seeing how hope is described in God’s Word.  The verse I found to start with is Psalm 71:14 as it seemed to capture the hope I feel right now as I begin this new year. “But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.”  Psalm 71 was written by King David in his old age.  He reflects upon God, his dependence upon Him and God’s continuing faithfulness.  David resolves to continue praising God just as he has done since his youth. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.”  Psalm 71:5

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.  Psalm 71:13-15

David knows the ‘world’ will come against him, yet he knows God will deal with them.  He has his hope placed in God and will praise Him.  No matter what as he knows God is sovereign and in control of all things, people, and places.  He vows to continue to proclaim what God has done for him.

psalm-71-14-quote-lgThis is a challenge as we face a New Year.  We know for certain that things will come against us-as they always do.  What we know, like David, is that God is faithful and will stand with us.  We need to trust in His sovereignty and mercy and cling to Him in HOPE.  That is my answer to, How will I survive in 2020?  I will cling to Him in HOPE knowing with absolute faith that God is faithful, loving and merciful.  He will be gracious to me as I place my HOPE in Him.

Looking forward to 2020 with HOPE,

Linda

Looking forward with Hope, backward with Thanks 2020 here we come!

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2020 new year I always love December 31 because it means I am on the brink of a new beginning.  Those failures I’ve experienced during the year can end,  and I can start fresh and new.  Hope springs eternally in our hearts as we walk in faith and trust with our Lord and Savior Jesus.   In Psalms 42 and 43 David questions himself repeatedly with these words:     Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation.         

David wonders, and so do I, why I fret over failures, defeats, troubling circumstances, etc?  His answer,  and mine, is in trusting God alone.  His hope, and mine, is in God and the salvation He provides for eternity.  So as I end this year, I will reflect on what I achieved for Him, what God did in and through me, and look forward to the New Year with Hope.  I will look backward with thanksgiving in my heart as God has been 100% faithful in all things just as He promised.

Isaiah encourages us in 49:29-31 that the Lord knows the way, will provide and lead us isaiah-40-31 (1)in His way of hope.

He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

put-hope-1-627x376Will you join me in focusing on Hope and what God will bring your way in 2020?  Not only is it a New Year, it is also the beginning of a new decade.  Resolve to move Onward and upward with Christ alone!

Linda

A Struggler’s Confession

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I have struggled these first few weeks of January as it seems I can’t get things to run smoothly.  Yesterday I sought solace in God’s Word and Job 42:1-6 brought me comfort.  I was touched by the Message version.

42 1-6 Job answered God:

“I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.             I’m comforted by God’s 
Nothing and no one can upset your plans.                                              Sovereignty.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
    ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.            I’m talking and not 
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking.                                listening.
    Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!          I do know you!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!
    I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”

As I read this passage, I identified with Job.  I too question God’s wisdom and His perfect plan.  I forget that He alone is Sovereign.  I tend to run on about things and not take time to listen to Him in prayer and in the Word.  Thankfully, I do know Him and have experienced God first hand in my life.  I know He is truth and He will fill me with His love and mercy if I turn to Him.

Prayer:  Father, I do know you and trust in your plans for me.  I know who you are and of your love and grace.  You do not do to me what I deserve but shower me with grace and mercy.  Thank you Jesus for loving me and keeping me in the palm of your hand. You shield and comfort me in hard times.  You bring me joy and hope everlasting day after day.  Create in me a clean heart that is focused upon you and not the swirling world around me.  Help me, like Job, to cling to you and your truth with a repentant heart.  Amen.

job 42 2Have a blessed day living in the light provided and protected by Sovereign, Almighty God.

Linda

Live Like you Believe in God’s Love and Mercy

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The first few weeks of January I write about goals, motivation, change, etc.  This morning God has laid on my heart the idea of rising up and going.  That may sound weird,  but where do you get your get up and go?  What makes you want to get up in the morning and pursue your day?  For the believer, it is partly motivated by their understanding that God has a purpose for each day.  I love Lamentations 3:22-24 and here it is from the Message, which lamentation 3 22-24may bring new meaning to these verses for you,  “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.  They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).  He’s all I’ve got left.”  Knowing that God’s love and mercy are new each morning gives us hope and the ability to start a new day. 

Another motivation for the believer can be taken from Acts 3:6-8 when Peter healed the man that had been lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem.   But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”  Then look what happened in verse 8 “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”   How about you?  Has Jesus healed you in mind, body or spirit?  What is your life’s reaction to that healing?  Are you leaping and walking and praising God in your life?  Today is the day to begin!

rise up and walkEach day, each year are new opportunities for us to walk, talk and live praising God.  Let’s determine today to live that way.  Put a smile on your face and live like you mean it because you know that God loves you, has mercies ready for you and wants to hear your praise as you journey through this day.  

Walk with Him towards a day of blessing,

Linda

Unchanging God Holds us Steady

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How do you do with change?  Making resolutions for change are very common this time of year.   It is a hope within us that with a new year we can have a new beginning,  a redo, or a fresh start.  Psalm 102:25-28 came to mind as a place to reflect on change.     “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
psalm 102 2626 They will perish, but you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27     but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
    their offspring shall be established before you.”   

We can rest assured that God’s plans for you and me have not changed since the foundation of the world.  Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”   Our heart attitudes, desires, plans and schemes change from year to year but God is unchanging.  Knowing that God does not change His plans, love, mercy, compassion, guidance, help…in the ever changing world that surrounds us gives us hope.   

It is good to plan and try to incorporate change into our lives like spending more time in prayer, studying and reading God’s Word, exercising, eating healthy, spending more time with family, working on projects to help others, etc.   All of those can be good things to help us reach a world in great need of a Savior.  Ponder these words from Proverbs 19:20, 21 and 23 today as you pray about plans and change in the New Year.

Listen to advice and accept discipline,
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

god-has-a-plan-and-purpose-for-your-story.-trust-him-many-are-the-plans-in-a-persons-heart-but-it-is-the-lords-purpose-that-prevails.-proverbs-19-27May God bless you today with a renewed spirit of love and devotion to our unchanging God.

Linda

Praise and Thanksgiving on our lips today! Good-bye 2018!

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On this last day of 2018, we conclude with the final chorus of the Messiah.  The scene is the throne room of heaven in John’s vision and Jesus is being praised and worshiped.  Revelation 5:9-13

9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of worthy-is-the-lambthousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

They begin by singing a new song. In the Old Testament, a new song was sung to celebrate and act of divine deliverance or blessing.  Here the creatures and angels are praising Jesus, the Lamb, who delivered all mankind through his blood.  Jesus is worthy to receive all power, wealth, wisdom, honor and blessing because of the ransom He paid with His blood on the cross.  All heaven and earth will praise Him!  What a glorious scene this will be.  Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, is Worthy of all Praise!

1 Thess 5 18And so… what a fitting way to end our year.  Let us praise our Savior and Redeemer.  Let your lips utter praise today for all this last year has brought both good and bad.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”   Ponder the difficulties you’ve had in your life this year  in G-R-I-Tlight of James 1:2-4 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Let us take the adversity we experienced and the blessings we received and offer them up to Jesus today as and offering of praise and thanksgiving.

Linda

The Conclusion of the Messiah

Seeing with Fresh Eyes

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IMG_6001It has been a month since I posted my blogs to begin our New Year with HOPE. I pray you had a good beginning to 2018.  I had the privilege to travel to Thailand and Cambodia.  It was an amazing trip and God was faithful to teach me as I traveled.  I want to share a few reflections before we begin our Lenten journey on February 14th.

 

Psalm 34:1-3

I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together.

David’s words convict me today.  I am so blessed and need to constantly give glory to God for His blessings in my life.  I see the less fortunate around me and need to constantly give encouragement and hope to others both physically and spiritually by sharing Jesus’ love with those I meet.  I am blessed to have a church home and fellowship groups filled with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I need to have a heart for the lost and seek to support those who reach out beyond where I can physically go myself.

How about you?  Do David’s words speak to you today?  He tells us what He needs to do and what we can do together.  As you encounter others, do you speak with an attitude of praise towards God?  Do you give God praise for the big and little things He does for you each day?  Do you work with others to encourage those that are suffering and downtrodden with their lives?  Do you gather with others to praise God and lift His name on high?  David’s thoughts are convicting and encouraging as we seek to serve God right where we are.

IMG_5542
Lovely cultural dance performance in Siem Reap Cambodia

Visiting places in the world, outside of my familiar sphere, shake up my thoughts and help me to see others and their needs more clearly.  It helps me to see God’s love for the world in a new and fresh way.

 

Looking inward and outward in Christ,

Linda

 

 

 

 

Now let us turn our thoughts towards Lent, which begins on February 14th.  That will be a 6 week journey towards the cross and a time of repentance and reflection.

God’s Plan is my Hope

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Well, we have survived the first week of 2018!  I hope the promises I suggested to strengthen and uplift you gave you a needed jump start to begin the New Year with a positive and encouraging outlook!

Lamentations 3:21-23  God’s mercies are new each morning and we can count on His faithfulness.    Isaiah 40:28-31 God does not grow weary and we will be lifted up by Him.    Deuteronomy 31:6  God will never leave us nor forsake us.      Zephaniah 3:17  God saves, quiets us with His love and rejoices over us.    Galatians 6:9-10  Keep on doing good and working to build up others especially our brothers and sisters in faith.    Isaiah 41:10  God promises to strengthen, help and uphold us through Jesus.     James 1:2-5  Be positive about life’s trials knowing He is transforming us into someone who is more and more like Jesus.     Jeremiah 29:11 God has plans for our lives and they are good.

I will leave you with 2 more from Philippians today.  Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  God’s plan of action:  don’t worry, pray, thank Him  =  peace, protection for heart and mind.    Add to these thoughts Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  God promises that His resources are greater than any need we will have in 2018.  What a glorious hope and provision we have in Jesus!

God's PlanCling to these verses as you walk forward this year.  Claim their truths.  What God promises,  He delivers.  God is ever faithful.

Looking forward with Hope in Jesus,

Linda

 

Positivity and Purposeful Thinking

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James 1:2-5 is one of my favorite passages because it is filled with hope.  James wants us to realize that the things we face in our lives build and shape our character.  Facing the trials of life with hope and faith creates steadfastness within us making us more and more like Jesus.

james 1James 1:2-5 ”  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

How is this of any help as we begin a New Year?  It helps us look at life’s events with positivity so that we are looking for the change in our own character brought about by exercising our faith  in Jesus.  God promises that placing our faith in Him will hone and sharpen us to where it will seem we are lacking nothing.  He adds in verse 5 that if we find we are lacking wisdom, we only need to ask God and He will give us wisdom.

my-plan-gods-plan-his-plan-s-to-strengthen-10157505
This drawing shows us why God’s seemingly difficult way has greater purpose than ours!

Are you facing a difficult trial right now?  Consider it an opportunity for growth in faith and trust in Almighty God.  Cling to Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   God is good and has good things planned for you now and throughout eternity.  We don’t know the future but we know for sure who holds our future.  Commit to trusting Him today and you will see and feel the character of Jesus within you.  Adopt an attitude of gratitude even in suffering because you know for sure that God has good things planned for you, He is good and He is in the process of making you more and more like Jesus!

keep-calm-jeremiah-29-11-god-has-a-planRejoicing in suffering takes purposeful thinking and faith,

Linda