Tag Archives: hope

What’s holding you back?

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3: 13-14 (MSG)

Many of us may have reason to forget our past—we haven’t been faithful to God, we have made some poor choices in life, we have hurt someone, badly. If you’re like me, I wish I could take some things back. Some of the things in our past seem to threaten our future; that, not-so-perfect college transcript, the run-ins with the police or the stretched truth on your tax return. No doubt, many of us have things that we’ve done in the past that we are ashamed of, and we struggle with what we hope to be based on what we have been.

Paul is telling us in Philippians 3:13-14, to let go of the past, the guilt and the shame. Because our hope is in Christ Jesus now, we are free to look forward to what God will help us become. And the Lord wants you to come to Him. God wants you to grow in His knowledge by focusing and concentrating on, a dedicated relationship with Him. Realize that you are forgiven and move on to a life of faith and obedience. God is offering you the opportunity to trade in your past for a new life with Him.

Lord, Jesus, we come to You today, with a past, we’re not proud of. I realize that the mistakes I’ve made, in some cases, can never be corrected. However, I learned today, that You can set me free from the guilt and shame of my past and allow me to be a living example to others.   You can still use me. You will use anyone, who comes to You with and open heart. O’ forgive me dear Lord, wash me clean of my past which comes to haunt me daily. I’ve decided to become what Christ Jesus wants me to become. I’m no longer the person I use to be. My past tells me, I’m never going to amount to much. But I believe Your word in Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “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.” I believe Your word over my life today. I’m going to keep looking to You Lord, to help me become what you want me to be. I will forget what I use to be, by your grace and mercy. Thanks for the hope You’ve given me today Lord. I won’t hold back any longer, because of my past.

Just as you are…

You have everything you need today to accomplish great things. Maybe you did not accomplish what you intended to last year. Perhaps you fell short, of your goal. Not to worry…today is a new day and a New Year! You have everything you need to accomplish great things for God.

God often uses simple things to accomplish great tasks in this world. As long as you are dedicated to God, He will use you to do great things for Him. No matter how little you may have today if you commit what you have today, to be used for serving God; He will take the little you have and do great things with it!

God used a staff by Moses to work miracles before Pharaoh. He used Joshua’s trumpet to flatten the walls of Jericho. He used a small stone of David’s to defeat Goliath. He used two fish and five loaves of bread to feed a crowd of over 5,000 people with leftovers. Do not despair today God can do great things with you and the little that you may have.

What do you have that God can use today…do not worry about what you had, but bring what you have today to God. Commit it to Him to be used for great things! Dear Lord, we thank you that you do not require of us the things we do not have in order to serve You. You will accept what simple, little things we have today, if we commit those things to be used for Your purpose. Take what we offer You today, and do great and mighty things with it Lord. Take our lives, as simple as they are, and use us for Your glory. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

Reflections of 2014

Perhaps 2014 was a year you would rather forget. Perhaps it was one of your best years yet! Whatever thoughts you may have about 2014, I thank God that you are reading this blog today. If you are reading this blog, you have the opportunity to see a better 2015!

I leave with you a couple of key scriptures that helped build a rock solid foundation for me to stand on in 2014 that will carry me into 2015:

  • I had to believe with all my heart that, “All things happen to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” Romans 8:28
  • I challenged myself to whether or not I really loved the Lord. Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23
  • I sought the Lord often for myself as well as others. Reminding God of His Word which says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
  • I had to Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Not because I felt like it, but because it is the command of the God. Philippians 4:4
  • Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. When I did not know what to do or where to go…I thank God that He had an answer for me in the Bible. Psalm 119:105
  • Everyday was not filled with tears. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
  • Though I could not see God, I loved Him; and even though I do not see him now, I believe in Him and I am filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. Inspired by 1 Peter 1:8
  • Despite my tragedies, God has caused me to triumph. Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
  • And now I know, that God has plans me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thwart

To prevent someone from accomplishing something or to stop something from happening; To stop or hinder a plan.

No one or nothing can thwart God’s plan for you. Your current situation or circumstances do not mean that God’s plan for your life has changed or been delayed. God is still in control. Believe.

Jesus wants to be King of your life…He does not want to take life away from you. He wants to give you abundant life, eternal life–and it begins right now. Christ gives you freedom from sin, joy and peace in Him. However, you must make Him King of your life. Your situation or circumstances do not mean that God’s plan to save you has failed. Believe.

God’s plan for you can not be stopped. Joseph might have thought that God’s plan for him had been delayed or stopped when he was rejected by his brothers, kidnapped, enslaved and imprisoned in Egypt. However, God had a plan to make Joseph ruler of all Egypt. Do not give up hope, God has a wonderful future in store for you. Believe.

Herod tried to thwart God’s plan by killing all male children two years of age and younger, in an attempt to kill Jesus. However, God warned Joseph in a dream to leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt so that the life of Jesus was spared. Herod did not stop or delay a God’s plan through Jesus. Believe.

So no one or nothing can stop God’s plan for your life. “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.”
You may be in a place right now where God needs you to help when the need arises. You are in that job, living in the city you are in, holding the position you are holding, for a reason. God is in control. Believe.

Jesus’ death did not thwart God’s plan, but rather His death and resurrection were the biggest parts of His plan to forgive us of sin and to make it possible for us to have eternal life. The cross was the extension of Christ in bringing us back to God. It bridged the gap between our separation from God, because of sin, to eternity with God through Jesus’ death on the cross. Believe.

The plan to keep you from hearing the truth about God’s purpose for your life today…right where you are has been thwarted. Believe today that that no situation, no circumstance, no condition can thwart God’s plan for you today. God is still in control. Believe.

Holy Father, I believe that no one or nothing can stop or hinder the plan that you have for my life today. All I have in life today, I offer to You. I will proclaim today, despite the heaviness of my circumstances that your plan for my life will succeed…just as it has for the life of many others, including Jesus. Thanks for helping me believe in You today Lord. Amen.

Genesis 45:4-8
Matthew 2:16
John 10:10
Jeremiah 29:11
Luke 23:7-8

God Sees Someone Different!

God does not see you for who you were or even who you are today.  He sees you for what He created You to be!

Don’t hang your head down, don’t feel hopeless!  We often consider ourselves unfit for any “good” purpose because our past, or present is shameful, ugly, disgraceful, sinful.  However, God created every one of us for a purpose.  So you have a purpose in God’s Kingdom today.  Your purpose can begin right now.  In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord says it this way, “For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  There is hope for you!

God used murderers, prostitutes, liars, and thieves in the bible.  If He can use them, He can use you too!  All it takes is for you to know that God still has a purpose for you!  If you are reading this message today, it is not too late for you!

Dear Lord, I thought there was no hope for me.  My past is disgraceful and sinful.  I do not even deserve to be loved or given another chance.  However, You said that you have a plan for me.  Take me as I am.  Forgive me for who I am today and what I have done in my past.  Help me to live a changed life.  I want to live the life that You planned for me.  Clean me up so that I may be acceptable for your use…I cannot do it by myself.  Thank You for giving me hope today to see myself as You do…someone who can be used for Your Kingdom.

Preparing for battle…Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.” This is the LORD’s declaration.” Whether weapons are used against us, or whether lies are told to hurt us…the result is the same!!!  We will triumph over our enemies and put them to shame!  Our security and final victory are certain because of our trust and obedience to God. Thank You, Lord, that You are merciful, just, loving and steady in a changing world. You are my safe harbor in life’s storms.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place…

In Exodus 14:1-19, the Israelites were stuck between the mountains and the sea.  We may sometimes feel trapped in our jobs, relationships, situations—as a result of circumstances.   We may begin to feel like our hands are tied—we are doomed—no way out of the situation—trapped!  That is exactly how the Israelites felt too!  A physical mountain on one side and the sea before them—and coming behind them were the Egyptians.  Coming for the kill! The Israelites felt doomed!  So we feel that way too when we can see no way out, and we feel the full court press of our enemies coming to destroy us! We may feel fear, despair, and start to complain about our situation— even question if God sees what’s about to happen to us!  The Israelites certainly felt that way.

However, by focusing on how God has been faithful in the past and brought us through, we can face crises with confidence that God will do it again.   Rather than fearing and complaining, trust God.  Even Moses prayed to God to intervene and help them.  Gods reply to Moses was, “Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites to move on toward the sea”!  Sometimes we know what to do, and we must just do it!  Don’t keep praying to God, asking Him for more guidance.  Just do what you know you are supposed to do!  Moses got it!  He told the Israelites to stand still and see the deliverance The Lord will bring!

I say to you today!  If God is telling you to move ahead on something, do not wait any longer, move forward.  You are not going to drown if you trust in God!  I know it may seem like you will lose all you have.  Only trust God.  It may seem like there’s no way you are going to get out of this one; you are running into a brick wall!  However, stand still and see what God will do!  Time to act!  You know the end of the story with the Israelites, they pressed forward, and God parted the sea for them to cross over!  God has brought you to this place between a rock and a hard place so that you will know to trust Him only.   So when He delivers you, you will know that no one did it but God!  Trust God to rescue you from your enemies today!  I am not going to list what your enemies could be, you know them.  Just do what you know God wants you to do!  Move forward and watch Him deliver you from your enemies today!

Thank You Lord for Your Word.

Beauty for Ashes

In Isaiah 61:3, God promises us beauty for ashes—the oil of joy for mourning, praise instead of a spirit of despair. Claim yours today!

As I have been reading this morning in Psalm 69, I am confident that I must look forward with joy to the day when evil and injustice will be gone forever. Save me each day O Lord. I am physically exhausted from death and tragedy around me, but I will not collapse or despair—I will turn to You to save me. My tears may still come, but they are not in vain—I will continue to pray. I know You hear me and You will rescue me. You are my faithful friend when others reject me.

The only genuine source of happiness is God and we receive lasting joy only by seeking Him. God is ever so present in your lives. As we lock arms together, keep your eyes on HIM.

“If only” I ____

“If only” I had___ or “if only” I had not___; we have all been there.
Some of our “if only” situations are minor in the big scheme of things. Other “if only” decisions are life-changing.  “If only” decisions are often followed by regret.

We have a chance today to eliminate the “if only” situations in our lives by listening to God’s voice and obeying His Word.  God will reveal the steps to us to get us back on track with Him.  Simply trust and obey God.  When we do so, we eliminate the decisions that we make which cause us regret.

Sovereign Lord, You are All-Knowing and All-Powerful.  Forgive me that I have not always followed Your ways.  Release me from the “if only” decisions in my life.  Put me back on track with you Lord.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.