A place to find Hope

Tag: alone (Page 15 of 39)

If Pain and Suffering Comes Knocking at Your Door, Turn to God.

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I tore a muscle in my chest. My doctor said that because of my age, it will take much longer to heal. Lovely!

I am living with the pain, and taking Tylenol. It seems to help a little.

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Have you had sudden things happen to you caused you physical and mental pain?

There are many of us like that.

I have some thoughts on how to face the world with this happening to us:

  1. Pain only last for a while, and then it is gone.
  2. Suffering is a part of a Christians life. I am not saying we should suffer as a Christian, but God knows we are suffering and He is writing it down in our book.
  3. Use your pain to help others who are suffering. Helping others helps you with your pain.

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The situation in Ukraine is pulling me down like a huge magnate. If I was able, I would be going there to help the people fight.

Many civilians are dying from direct bombing of their homes. This is not an accident. Many are Christians or Jews. Sounds like WWII all over again. Putin has been called the new Hitler and rightfully so.

Please pray daily for peace and protection for all the suffering Ukrainians.

We also need to pray for our own country. We are at a pivotal spot. New decisions by the supreme court can change our country.

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If you are battling depression and anxiety from everything that is happening, be strong in knowing God is with you if you are a Christian. He knows your situation. He knows your pains. Pray for His promises, and love.

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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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Where Do We Find Our Hope to Survive?

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We often forget where we find hope in this not so friendly world. Here are some ideas about hope:

  1. Our hope is a command from God.
  2. Our hope is a certainty through God.
  3. Our hope is full when we learn what God has done for us.
  4. Our hope is full when we live to be like God.

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You have heard of the old commercial that says, “I want to be like Mike.” The Nike commercial for Michael Jorden’s tennis shoes? Well, we Need to think, “I want to be like God.”

Be imitators of God!

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Angels are not made in the image of God. Animals are not made in the image of God. Only you are are made in the image of God. That is how much He loves us.

To find out more about this we need to focus on the Bible. It is full of God’s love for us.

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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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One Step Forward, and Two Steps Backwards is Hard

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What a day so far! Had to get my car fixed so I was playing phone tag on the phone to get the appointment. Made an appointment at our favorite restaurant for May 7th. Our 34th wedding anniversary. Hunted for almost an hour to find the owners manual for our dryer. So I am very late in starting today.

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Have you had hectic days where it seems like you are taking one step forward and two steps backwards? I have been there with you!

What I learned from this:

  1. Make a list in the morning as to what needs to be done and what order it needs to be done.
  2. Only work on the list. No side exits.
  3. Be patient!
  4. Distractions are a given, but try to avoid them.
  5. Have a beer when you accomplished your list for the day. 🙂

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Speaking of distractions. We have so many in our lives right now.

  1. The war in Ukraine.
  2. The pandemic.
  3. Inflation.
  4. High gas prices.
  5. The southern border.

There are many more distractions you and I face each day.

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We need to lean on God to help us be calm and in charge. Knowing His promises always calms my spirit. If you are a Christian you are not part of this world and will be with God someday. That is an overwhelming sigh of relief right there. Really…we are only on this earth for a New York minute, and then spend the rest of eternity in heaven.

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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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You will have tribulations. So Cling to God’s Promises.

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We have so much turmoil in our lives these Days. Nothing we can’t handle right? Maybe!

We live by not seeing, but trusting and hearing.

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  • Things happening in our world today are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
  • Light Affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond any comparison.
  • We all have hope, joy, and faith.

You will have tribulations in this world.

  1. Our trials are temporary.
  2. God will protect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.
  3. Our trials refines us.

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Where do pain and suffering come from?

  • Some comes from our own decisions.
  • Some comes from living in a fallen world.
  • Some comes from the discipline from God who loves us.
  • All this is the ultimate strengthening of faith.

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Cling to all of the promises of God. Be Strong and resist the darkside.

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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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Murphy Law Says, What Could Go Wrong Probably Will.

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What is there to talk about? I should say what isn’t there to talk about?

There is so much happening in our world today, it is hard to keep up.

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  1. Inflation is eating up our pocket books. Inflation has risen higher this year than since 1980.
  2. Gas prices are also eating up our pocket books. Biden is blaming it on Putin, and yet the prices were way up before the war even started.
  3. The pandemic doesn’t seem to want to go away.
  4. The war in Ukraine is devastating with hundreds of thousands of civilians dead.

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It is hard, at best, to face our world today. We need to hunker down, and depend on God to see us through this storm.

Yes, He is allowing it to happen, because He gave man free choice way back to the garden of Eden. People who just want tons of power are causing much of what is going on.

I understand how hard it is. I hear your pleas. We just need to pray, and pray without ceasing. God listens.

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Don’t be discouraged. Stand strong in the promises of God and He will see you through the muck and mire.

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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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Our God Accepts All Knee Mails. He Loves to Talk.

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Here is another excerpt from my Award winning book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Surivive in an Unfriendly World.

Chapter 17

God Accepts Knee Mail

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

In this day of modern technology, we can “talk” with someone in Africa in an instant. We can send e-mails faster than we can even say, “snail mail.” Instant and text messaging through our computers or cell phones make it so we can talk back and forth as easily as if we were sitting in the same room conversing. Isn’t that amazing? What wonderful advancements the world has made!

You know what is coming next, don’t you? God can answer prayers that fast. You don’t even need a computer to do it, and it is like He is right in the room with you conversing. God is watching right now as you read this chapter. Think about it, He knows every hair on your head. (I know—for some of us that’s not hard.) He knows when you are sad. He knows when you are happy. He knows when you are in danger. Psalm 139 tells us He knows all about us.

If you question how He can know your own thoughts, it’s because God is all knowing—or omniscient, as the theologian would say. He knows the thoughts of nobodies like us who want to be somebodies. Each of us is just one person among millions and millions of people. Why would He care about you and me? Because He loves us so much He doesn’t want us to be alone. He wants us to love Him back and seek Him in times of trouble. That’s what your earthly father would do, wouldn’t he? (I realize that question assumes a healthy parent-child relationship, which isn’t the case for everyone.)

Yes, He even knows your inner thoughts—your very own personal thoughts. That can be a scary thought, but it shows us His tremendous love for us. He loves us so much that He listens to even you and me.

God is all-powerful—omnipotent in theological terms. You follow the weather report each day to see if you need an umbrella for the rain that God created. You look at the beautiful mountains, and know that they tremble before God. You see a crocus come up in the spring, and know that God designed it. You look at a newborn child and see God’s greatest work.

Yet, even though God is so powerful, He takes time to listen to you and me. He lowers Himself to your level and listens as you speak in His ear. He loves us so much He even came to show us His love in person. In human flesh. He sent His only Son for us so that we would have a person who will pass our hurts, fears, and shame on to the Father. That is why we always say, “In Jesus name,” at the end of all our prayers. We are going through Jesus to have God also feel our pain.

Have you had times when you thought no one cared? Did your spouse leave you? Did your child grow up and move away—emotionally, if not geographically? Has your brother or sister stopped talking to you? Did your dad or mom disown you?

God feels your pain. Everyone left His only Son when He needed them the most. They turned their backs on Him and let Him die on the cross because they feared for their own lives.

God feels your pain. David escaped angry King Saul by hiding in a cave. When David became king, he committed adultery and had a man killed, yet God (through Paul) called him a man after His own heart (see Acts 13:22).

God feels your pain. Jonah tried to run from God and got as far as a whale’s stomach before God turned his pain into obedience.

God feels your pain. It hurts Him when people die in wars. He gives people choices and many leaders make painful, evil choices that hurt others.

Remember: God came down to this earth and felt pain. He cried. He worried. He knew fear. He knows (and understands) what we are going through. He has gone through it. So it makes sense to rely on someone with experience.

We probably wouldn’t hire someone to fix our toilet whose specialty is doing hair and makeup. Nor would we ask someone who has never been outside the United States (and is afraid of snakes and spiders) to lead us on a trek through a thick jungle. And we probably wouldn’t let a blind person show us how to climb the side of a rock cliff.

Rely on someone who knows you better than you do. Use someone who can change outcomes, before they happen. Count on someone who loves to make your life better than it is right now. Use God. Get on your knees and pray for God to direct you the rest of your life. God loves knee mail. He accepts it every day.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

and though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1–3

Further Adventures

We all have friends we can turn to in order to share with them our deepest hurts and fears. They are a must on this tainted planet. However, when you leave them after a long talk, they are not with you anymore. You can’t talk to them without calling them or e-mailing them. You don’t have that problem with God. He is sitting right next to you as you read these lines. He will always be right there for you. You are never alone. Let Him hear your inner thoughts and rely on Him to show you the way.

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that God can move mountains and calm the seas, but we still doubt He will help us in time of trouble?

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Keep coming back to see more excerpts. 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.

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Getting on our knees to talk to God, is not humiliatingly, it is accelerating. Try doing just once and see how much closer you are to God. He loves to talk to you.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never every give up!

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Worry is the Dark Room Where Negatives Develop.

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I thought I would share with you and excerpt for my first published book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. It won a national ward.

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Chapter 12

Worry Is the Dark Room Where Negatives Develop

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

I had a real dream the other night, and it was a western. It had me tossing and turning until the outcome unfolded.

The wonderful thing about dreams is that no matter how terrifying they are in the beginning; they almost always turn out for the good in the end. You notice that you never quite get caught by the monster that is chasing you. Isn’t it fun when you are flying and you can see everyone below you? I just flap my arms, and I fly. (OK, I know you’re thinking, This guy is crazy!)

How about the fact that you are the hero and you always save the day? Everything is wonderful. That is how life can be if you follow God. It doesn’t pay to worry, have anxiety and be full of fear. It doesn’t pay to be full of shame. It doesn’t pay one cent to be gossiping all the time. My dream is an example of that.

The characters:

The good guys: Matthew, Mark, John

Stranger on a white horse

The bad guys: Anxiety, Gossip, Shame, Death

Matthew, Mark, John and the Stranger—the four good guys—were riding on their horses through Sin City towards the Not OK Corral. Hiding from them were Anxiety, Gossip, Shame and Death—the four bad guys. They didn’t want the good guys to find them and stop the harm they were doing. They had control of all the people in the city and they wanted to keep control. Matthew, Mark and John were riding on brown horses because that was what they rode in those days. The Stranger was riding on a white horse.

The good guys were not gunslingers; they were Bible-slingers. The good guys got down off their horses and went searching for Anxiety, Gossip, Shame and Death.

Matthew found Anxiety leering around a corner trying to see where everyone was. Anxiety had a worried look on his face. He kept looking everywhere in fear—in back of him and in front of him. He didn’t know what to do.

Anxiety (aka worry) can be caused by a doctor’s appointment that holds the results of a blood test. It can be wondering if you can pay this month’s bills. It could be from a dispute you had with your wife. Whatever the case, from stage left comes Matthew, who says to Anxiety: “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done” (taken from Philippians 4:6).

Anxiety felt like a ton of weight had been taken off his shoulders, and he left the Not OK Corral much happier. Anxiety was gone.

Mark was looking for Gossip. When he found him, Gossip was talking so fast Mark couldn’t understand him. Gossip said, “Did you see Clem at the Horse’s Breath Saloon? He said he would never take another drink, and I just saw him walk in there!”

Gossip can ruin a person’s life. Talking about someone behind their back can only spread hurt and can cause unwanted hardship.

Mark put his hand over Gossip’s mouth and said: “As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Proverbs 26:21–22).

Gossip was dumbfounded and was unable to speak further. He went away with a swollen tongue and was gone. There was no more gossip.

John found Shame hiding in a closet because he was so ashamed of what he had done all his life. He didn’t want anyone to see him this way.

Shame is often the last fatal nail in the heart of a person who is hurting from something they did in the past. Turn anything you are ashamed of over to God, and He will wipe it out of His books.

John felt pity for him and said, “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16).

Shame rose and came out of the closet. He was a different man. He felt self-worth. He felt he was loved. He wanted to learn more about God. After this, Shame was gone. There was no more shame.

Then the Stranger went right to where Death was, for He knew where everyone was, and what they were doing every second of the day.

Death was a hideous creature. He was caring a sword and had a look on his face that would melt anyone who looked into his eyes. He really was the leader of this gang. There was fire coming out of his ears, and he laughed a chilling laugh. (This is the part where I was tossing, and turning!) He said, “You may have calmed the rest of my gang, but you have no power over me. Everyone has to die, and I will wait until they come to me.”

Yes, death will happen to all of us, but if we are under God’s protective wing, we do not have to fear death. It is just a stepping stone to be with our heavenly Father. You can be assured that the angels are waiting for the moment you are ready to be with the Lord. It is like a parent anticipating a newborn. The angels will say, “Cool, here comes another one to be with us in heaven.”

The Stranger took off His cloak, and uncovered his head. It was Jesus. Jesus walked up to Death and said, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Death spun around in pain and, weaker but still standing, turned back toward Jesus.

Jesus said, talking to God: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (from Psalm 23:4).

Death began to wither and fell to the ground. He had no more power over people any longer.

So there was no more anxiety, no more gossip, no more being ashamed, and most importantly, no more death.

God is the final power. He controls all things. We can stop worrying about anything. Worrying and fear does not gain us one more minute in a day—and it saps our strength. Turn your anxiety, gossiping, shame and the fear of death over to Him, and He will send them on their way.

The four horsemen got on their horses and headed to the next town to see what gangs might have settled there. As they rode into the sunset, they all sang praises to God and worshipped Him.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory,

honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Romans 2:7

Further Adventures

Have you had one of those bad guys come into your life? Have you been faced with anxiety? Has someone said something about you to someone else that wasn’t true? Do you live in shame for past sins that you cannot get out of your mind? Have you lost a loved one? Always remember that God is always there. He knows what your anxiety is. He knows about the gossip that has been spread about you. He wants you to throw away your shame, like it was a broken toy.

And remember that death has no power if your loved one was a Christian. God is the final Word. He controls everything. Lean on Him through whatever trial you are going through. You will have some storms come into your life, but God is there to help calm them for you.

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says?

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Keep coming back to see more excerpts from my book. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never every give up!

____________________________________________

+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.

We Have to Face Surprises. How We do it is what is Interesting.

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It actually snowed this morning in the middle of April here in Salem, Oregon! You never know…

Have you had surprises like snow in April? Has your world been moving too fast because of the surprises?

Things that happen could be you wrecked you car. You owe a lot to the IRS. A relationship has fallen apart. You lost you job.

There can be many more things that happen, so how do we handle all of this?

  1. All storms end.
  2. Tomorrow is a new day.
  3. Facing live with a positive attitude can overcome anything.
  4. Lean on God for comfort. He is in the Bible to comfort you.

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I know..it is hard sometimes to accept what is happening, but we have to be strong, and not let the darkside overcome us. Satan would love for us to fall apart.

Lean on the strength of God, and face the storms.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never every 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.

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