A place to find Hope

Tag: Christian (Page 1 of 2)

It Matters What We Focus on in Our Daily Lives

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Yes, it does matter what we focus on in our lives. Too many of us are hostage to our cell phones. We spend hours looking at junk. We get addicted.

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That may make us feel somewhat comfortable, but in the end it is destructive.

  1. We need to feel uncomfortable to really feel comfortable.
  2. Worshipping God makes us comfortable.
  3. Worship is a response.
  4. We need to focus on Jesus. He has all the comfort we need.
  5. Worship is the recognition of true value.

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If you want to be uncomfortable, become a Christian. 🙂 Being a Christian is not for sissies. You will be persecuted. There will be hard days, with many storms.

That is why we need to dedicate our lives to God. He is a warrior to help us fight off negative things in our lives. He knows our storms, and he will calm them.

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Be strong and fight all your storms with God at you side. He will win the battle for you.

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Remember:

You are never alone,

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Do You Seem to be Juggling Your Hectic Life?

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We all have faced hectic times. Everything seems to be pulling us down like a huge magnet. How can we avoid this?

  1. Live differently. We spend too much time trying to mold into what everyone else is doing. It is called the rat race.
  2. Recognize your status as a Christian in the world.
    • Abstain from powerful passions.
    • Display God’s glory by the way you live.
  3. We need to live like an alien on this earth. This is not our home.
  4. Live submissively.
  5. Live feely.

Followers of God see freedom, not as an opportunity to do as we please, but to serve as God wills.

Ask God for wisdom as to how to choose the right thing to do.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up.

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Thanks’ to All The Veterans Who Served Their Country.

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Today is Veteran’s Day. I am a veteran from waaaay back. I was in the service from 1959-1962. I am proud to say that I served, and I thank all of you who are serving, or have served. The sacrifice you did for your country is honorable.

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It seems like many people do not appreciate the military and what it does for us. I hate to think what our country would be like if we didn’t have a military. Can you speak German, or Japanese?

The great generation fought hard for our freedoms, and they won. I had three uncles who fought in WWII, against both the Germans, and the Japanese. Two earned the Purple Heart.

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It was hard for me to serve. I was a Christian and had feelings about being a conscientious objector. I was raised in a Quaker church that was against going to the military.

Because of me thinking my uncles were heroes, I overcame that feeling and enlisted anyway.

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Be sure to thank everyone you know that is a veteran. It will make them feel proud that they served.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up.

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Normal is not Coming Back, but Jesus is Coming Back

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A friend saw the title of this post on a T-shirt. I think I want one.

My Pastor started a new series this Sunday called, the end times. I thought, this could depressing. I was totally wrong.

The end times will end up being a wonderful time if you are a Christian. Think on this:

Everyone who believes will be pulled up into heaven all at once during the rapture. There will be no pain or agony during this moment.

Grace came to you through Jesus dying on the cross. It will come again during the rapture.

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If you are not sure if you will be sent during the rapture, do the following:

  1. Repent. Ask God to forgive you.
  2. Return to fellowship at your church, there is so much support for you there.
  3. Remember…no matter how old you are, God is not through with you yet.

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Jesus came in as the lamb and he will come back as a lion.

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Never think you are beyond being accepted during the rapture. God loves you as you are. Just confess your sins and enjoy the ride.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Are You a Drunkard, or a Law Abiding Christian Person?

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We had our home built. It was fun to watch it growling into a beautiful home. That was 22 years ago and we are still here. One thing that I noticed is how much the trees have grown. They were planted as little starts, and now they are 40 feet high.

That reminds me of our life. We are were little starts at one time, and grew up. It is what we grew up into that counts.

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You can grow up to be an outstanding citizen who achieved may things, or you can be a drunkard lying in the gutter. Pretty stark comparison, but it happens over and over again.

How do I make sure I am on the right path?

  1. I stay with the truth. God is real, and He is my guide.
  2. I never try to create a new doctrine. the bible is my doctrine.
  3. I could have been that guy drunk in the gutter, but I chose the right path, and I am very proud of the many things I have accomplished.

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How about you? Are you the drunkard, or do you like where you are at? If you do not like where you are at, it is never too late to change. God is always eager to open up to you. He will guide you the rest of the way.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Reach Out to your Neighbors, They Can be good Support

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Had a nice lunch with my neighbor across the street yesterday. He is new to the neighborhood, and I wanted to get to know him. I found out he was a Christian, and an author like me. We shared stories about our families, and I felt like I had found a new close friend.

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Do you know all your neighbors? Have to tried to get to know them? Yes, you have your own families to seek to see a lot, but what about your neighbors?

Here is what I have found that works in reaching out to neighbors:

  1. Take a real effort to get to know all your neighbors.
  2. Call them just to say hello.
  3. Email them often.
  4. And my favorite…meet them at the community mail box.

I can see the mail box out my window, and when I see someone getting their mail I haven’t talked to in a while I go out to talk to them. Easy Peasy. I hear back from some of them stating it is good to talk to me, and they look forward to getting their mail, because of it.

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Start your own crusade to reach out to your neighbors. You will put a smile on their face, and you will feel good about it as well.

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Are you struggling through your days? Do you feel you would want to stay in bed all day instead of getting up? Well, I have been there with you.

I look forward each day to be talking to God, and thanking Him for the new day He has given me. It gives me strength, and calmness.

Don’t let this unfriendly world pull you down like a huge magnet. Look to the light of Jesus, and walk away from the darkness.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Who Do We Trust in This Not So Friendly World?

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It is hard to know who to trust anymore. The news media have tons of fake news. The people in congress seem to be lying all the time. Is there no hope, because of that?

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Suicide rates are very high now, especially in the military. To let you know…we are dead without Jesus.

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Now on to positive thoughts:

  1. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower. We can run into it and be safe.
  2. Our hope is anchored in the past. Jesus rose again.
  3. Our hope remains in the present. Jesus lives.
  4. Our hope is completed in the future. Jesus is coming again.

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We do not need to panic. If you are a Christian you are not part of this not so friendly world. Never let the darkside over come you with lies. Leave the darkness and go to the light of Jesus.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Are You Tired of Going Round and Round in This World?

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It has been a quiet day today. (Sure need those from time to time.) I just finished my post at www.dougbolton.com. Go there to see my latest excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

If you or anyone you know are military. This is the site for you.

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Here is another excerpt from my first book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in This Unfriendly World.

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Chapter 1

Stop the World and Let Me Off. I’m Tired of Going ’Round and ’Round

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

I was out of control. The sobbing filled my eyes with tears. I couldn’t see the road ahead of me as I drove my Explorer.

Everything seemed to be going wrong in my life. I had quit two jobs because of guilt. I even failed at running my own business. I quit the two jobs because I had to sell something to customers and I had a hard time trying to force people to buy something they may not really need.

The business that failed was a cash flow venture that helped businesses have a better flow of money while they waited for their accounts receivables to come in. I left that venture because I again had to convince people to take part in something they may not have needed.

Depression, self doubt, fear, anxiety, and even hopelessness, overcame me until I was in the pit of despair. I was a happily married man with three children and several grandchildren. I had a wonderful 25-year teaching career. Why was I feeling so low? Why did I feel so unloved?

All I wanted to do was to stop the madness and check out of this wretched hotel called Earth! I pulled my SUV into a high school parking lot in a secluded area. I was ready to commit suicide. The date was March 31, 2001. The next day was April Fools Day. A very fitting time to have your life end, don’t you think?

I did have the common sense to call my wife Charlotte. She came quickly to where I was. She calmed me down enough to where I thought I could drive myself home. After she left, I sat there behind the steering wheel still crying, and then I yelled, “God, I can’t take this anymore!”

In a flash, there was calmness in me. It even felt different in the vehicle. The air was fresher and cooler. It was as if God were saying, “It’s about time you came back to Me. I have been waiting for you. Let Me carry you the rest of the way.”

My life changed that day. I gave my life back to God.

I had been a Christian since I was about 16. But I was the poster child for a lukewarm Christian.

Yes, I went to church and made sure my children went also, but I wouldn’t say I was a perfect example for them. I rose up in my church to where I was the Sunday school superintendent and on the important Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, but in my heart I didn’t put God first.

On Sundays, I stayed home if there was a good football game on. You didn’t have to go to church every Sunday, did you? God let me know I did. He also let me know of a new direction for me to go.

Why had I allowed myself to fall to such a low spot? Why had I drifted so far away from God?

The answer my friend is I was in a battle with many afflictions like self-doubt, anxiety, etc. Those aren’t fancy medical terms like cardiovascular disease or leukemia, but they are just as deadly. These demons of the mind can control your life to the point where you are not functional. It can cause you to hide from the world and let your life go on unnoticed until you die. It can push you to ending your own life.

This book is for those who want to discuss all the enemies of man like self-doubt, fear of failure, divorce, death in the family, and many others. I want to share with you how God used me to write this book, and how He pulled me out of the muck and mire.

The walls we put up in life can be caused by a loss of a loved one or extreme trauma. We can put them up because of sexual abuse, inappropriate or unclear expectations, divorce, poverty, violence in the family, family addiction or environment.

Do you often feel like you don’t want to go to work? Are there times when you feel like you would rather stay in bed and not face the world? Have you fallen into the pit of despair without even knowing why you did? Have you ever felt lost—and alone?

You are not alone! Close to 19 million American adults, or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, suffer from some kind of handicapping mental disorder in a given year.1

Now that I have totally broken you down—there is hope! There are treatments that can help you. See your doctor to find what treatment is best for you. Then go to where there is eternal treatment, and that is through your loving heavenly Father.

The first part of this book talks about putting on God’s armor and fighting against the many mental afflictions. This information is from the horse’s mouth. That would be me. I have gone through many battles of my own. I have felt lost, and I thought that there was nowhere to go. I lived that way for many years. I existed from day to day, struggling with my emotions. I found out that I didn’t need to go through the torture. I had places I could go for help. I found out what they were, and I invite you to find out too.

            Bare with me! There is a happy ending.

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

Isaiah 57:18–19

Further Adventures

You know how easy it is to let your emotions take over in your life. You’ve been there. It is too easy to let the little things grow from molehills to mountains. When each trial comes up, try to put it into perspective. Is it something that is going to be life-changing? Is it something you can’t handle yourself?

You could tell in this chapter that I couldn’t handle what was happening to me, and what happened next? I felt God was changing me.

Stop in the middle of your grief and say, “Why am I so out of control? What can I do to stop this madness?” The answer was easy for me. I ran to God like a long lost prodigal son, and He opened His arms and took me back in like any father would do with his own son. You should do the same: Run to God and let Him carry you the rest of the way through your life like He is doing for me.

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we let the smallest winds grow into a full-blown storm?

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I will be sharing more excerpts in the future so keep coming back. Better yet..go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox. You will glad you did.

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Battling the darkside? Things seem too scary for you right now?

FEAR NOT!

GOD IS IN CHARGE!!

He will not let you be tempted any more than you can handle. Lean on Him to be your fortress, and protector.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Don’t Fear Threats of Man, Rely On God For Comfort

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There are far too many threats in our country. People seem to be going crazy. A man drove his truck into a bunch of people walking in a parade. Killing five of them. WHY? He was caught and will spend the rest of his life in prison.

There are many incidents like this. It is spreading.

I am finding, and I am sure you are too, that the Christian life is not easy.

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The word Sovereign means, in complete control. God is sovereign. Why?

  1. He is the creator of all things.
  2. God makes Himself known.
  3. God decides what happens in this world.
  4. We send all of our pleas to a sovereign God.

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We need to let God use us, and we need to speak with boldness and courage. Will this get us persecuted? Yes, but it is God’s will.

We have our part to do, and God has His part.

I always talk to others about what God has done for me. I do not call them sinners, I just share my life.

One thing I have taken for granted all these years is the Holy Spirit. We all know of God and Jesus, but we forget the final part of the three. The Holy Spirit. When you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and helps you through the storms. He helps you to say the right things when needed.

The Holy Spirit is God’s presence.

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Cling to the hope of God and His love for you.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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It’s Easy to be Saved, But Can we be Sanctified?

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I was at a Christian Men’s Zoom call on Tuesday. It was very inspiring for me. Many things that were said gave me comfort and hope.

We can easily be saved, by the blood of Jesus, but can we be sanctified? That seemed to be the thoughts of all eight of us.

The dictionary says…….

Sanctify:

  1. To make holy; set apart as holy; consecrate.
  2. To be purified and free from sin.

That seems to be a problem with many of those who can’t asked to be saved. They don’t think that can be purified from sin for what they have done in the past.

God wants you to come as you are, but god doesn’t want you to stay that way. In other words, what ever you have done does not close the door on you.

Remember the other two men who were crucified with Jesus. Both of them deserved what they were getting. However, one of them asked Jesus to save him. Jesus did and said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

A criminal was saved and sanctified all in one day.

One of the Zoom guys mentioned that people need to come and see; go and be. Meaning we need to accept Christ into our heart, and then tell others.

As a Christian we should never think we are retired.

  1. We still a lot to learn from God.
  2. We are still a parent to our children, and we need to always lead by example.

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Are you thinking you are retired from the world? Do you feel you are done nurturing your children, family, and friends. God says otherwise. Never think you can sit back and let others save the world. God still has many plans for you no matter what your age is.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know about it.

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