Tag Archives: Hope

At A Dead End?

30 Apr

 

For the past 2 years, my husband and I have been embroiled in a complicated and frustrating battle regarding a real estate issue. It’s truly a current day David and Goliath scenario, and we’re little David. Day by day, it’s up and down emotionally as the lawyers go back and forth.

So we decided that whenever our minds drift into the “what if’s” and the figuring out, we would turn our thoughts to scripture, specifically Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

This discipline has kept our minds fixed on truth instead of faulty thinking. Last week, we received a call from our lawyer saying that we were at a dead-end. I felt my stomach flop, but my husband (normally the worry-er) was strangely at peace. Then he shared with me an email he read moments before the lawyer’s phone call. It was from our friend, Pastor Chuck:

 

“‘What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’” (Mark 9:23 NLT)

 God will build your faith by planting a dream within you. But that dream will require a decision of faith, and then God will stretch your faith as you face delays, difficulties, and dead ends.

It is then that God comes in and delivers. God does a miracle. God provides a solution. For instance:

·   In Moses’ case, God parted the Red Sea. 

·   In Abraham’s case, he and Sarah miraculously conceived a child. 

·   In Joseph’s case, all of a sudden his dream came true, and he found himself no longer imprisoned in a dungeon; instead, he was the second in command in Egypt. 

 And Jesus was resurrected! God can even turn a crucifixion into resurrection, and that means he has the power to transform your dead ends into deliverance. He builds your faith through delays, difficulties, and dead ends, so that when he delivers you, God gets all the credit!

 When faced with a dead end, the best response is to expect God to act. What are you expecting God to do in your life? Jesus says, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29b NIV).

 When you wait for deliverance, then God gets the credit. And you can look back to see how God led you through a path of faith, expanding and increasing your trust of him with every step. Your faith is stronger, and now you can say with confidence, “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me …” (Psalm 27:13 LB).

Reading that email moments before the phone call gave my husband the wisdom to know how to respond. We’ll wait for the Lord, and we’ll wait with the expectation that He will be glorified when this issue is resolved. Already, we have seen God work, and soon the lawyers and town officials and many others will too.

Are you facing a difficult circumstance? One which seems impossible? Leave a comment so I can pray for you, and you can pray for me too. Together we will see God do the impossible! 

Susan

www.eternitycafe.blogspot.com

www.susanpanzica.com

The Gift of Hope

26 Apr

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Copyright iStockphoto

How often have I used the word hope like it’s a lucky charm? “Oh, I hope it works out.” “I hope she gets better.” “I hope I get to go.”
Hope is not a wish sent off on the wings of an angel to some ethereal plane, nor is it pie in the sky positive thinking. Hope is anticipation, confidence, security.
Many times I hope for change–change in people’s lives, hearts, actions, direction. It means I anticipate with confidence that change can take place because I know my all powerful, all knowing God is more than capable of producing that change.
I see it in how He changes the seasons. After a long harsh winter I hope for spring. That doesn’t mean I wring my hands and say, “Oh, I hope God decides to change the season!” God has already ordained the times and seasons. Believing that, I look forward with yearning and longing for that change, in full confidence it will happen.
Does everything I hope for come into being? If my hope is in seeing His will be done, yes. But what if the person I’m praying for never changes? What if the sick never get well? How does that effect my hope?
I’ve grappled with those questions, and many others regarding hope. I asked Him to fill me with hope, to give me the gift of hope. Here’s how He responded to my questions.
I understand, My child,
when you are uncertain about My will,
when you cry out
in the lonely moments of your despair
for the life of a loved one,
for physical healing,
healing of relationships
that have gone awry like sprung coils;
Dear one, do not lose heart,
do not lose hope.
I am Hope.
I give you more than future glory,
I am your present glory.
I do hear you;
I do answer you.
My ears are not closed to your requests
and your fervent prayers,
but you must have hope.
Trust Me!
I know your heart, I hear you,
but My will cannot be flip flopped like a fish on the sand.
I cannot change
because you fast, or plead,
or because you insist you know more than I.
Allow My written Word,
which throbs with the power of hope,
to enter your mind and body
like fresh blood in your veins,
new life in your thoughts.
Your hope of glory is in My Son,
the One who works on building your mansion daily.
But how will you love His holy hammer
without the hope of eternal life
that I promised ages ago (and I cannot lie)?
And how will you be recognized
if you are not wearing your helmet of hope?
And how will your soul relax
in the trials of life
if you do not perceive in the far reaches
of your mind
that I give you more
than miracles?
When you have My mind,
My wisdom,
My knowledge,
My understanding,
you will not panic
at the threat of death.
Instead you will march through it
as if it were only a valley,
because I am with you.
Do not be afraid, My child.
Caress the sister of love,
which is My gift of hope,
and bravely come through
the darkness.
His Word spoke to me of hope through these verses: Romans 15:4; Colossians 1:27; John 14:2,6;Colossians 1:23; 1:5; Romans 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 1:2; Psalm 23:4

The Perfect Substitute

26 Mar

Substitute

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
(Romans 3:23-26 ESV emphasis mine)

Several weeks ago I wanted to substitute my well-trusted detergent with a cheaper one. I believed the promise of the commercial that it would do just a great job as the other, more expensive ones. I should have known better. I fell into the trap of promises made by an ad campaign.

Many fall into a different trap; the trap of salvation. “All religions lead to heaven” they are being told; you just have to be good enough, do enough good works, and the pearly gates of heaven will open for you.

It took me many years to realize that I never can be good enough to make it on my own to heaven. I listened to the world: “Do good and all will end well”.

I love Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man recorded in Matthew 19:

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
(Matthew 19:16-22 ESV ~ emphasis mine)

There is always something that I lack on a daily basis. Mostly that I do not love my neighbor as myself. Sometimes I have a hard time loving the unlovable, the difficult people in my life…

I am thankful that God gave me a way to spend eternity with Him. He sent His Son as my Substitute. He paid my penalty of death (Romans 6:23). The greatest thing about the Substitute is that is is not just for me but for all who put their trust in Jesus.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You sent Your Son to be our substitute in order for us to spend eternity in heaven with You and those who went before us. Lord, give us the words to share this incredible story with those we come in contact with. Help us to love the unlovable so that they may see You in us. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

Photo & Content Copyright © Iris Nelson

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