Category Archives: Faith & Hope

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September 23, 2013

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Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises

He Carries Your Picture in His Wallet

But the Lord says, “Can a woman forget her baby? Can she forget the child who came from her body? Even if she can forget her children, I cannot forget you. I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes.” [Isaiah 49:15-16 (ERV)]

O Lord, thank you for the reassurance that you never forget about me, especially since I so often seem to forget about you. I am, indeed, blessed that your love for me doesn’t depend on how faithful I am to you! Forgive me, Father, for my lack of faith; may I never again lose sight of you. Let my love for you be as unwavering as yours is for me.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He’s crazy about you. [From “A Gentle Thunder” by Max Lucado]

 

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September 16, 2013

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Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Trusting God

His Way is Better

2013-9-16“My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,” declares the Lord. “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8-9 (GW)]

Lord, help me to understand, and when I cannot understand help me accept. Give me the courage to trust my life and future to your hands. Remind me that when life seems upside down, it is right side up to you!

 

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August 24, 2013

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Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Trusting God

He controls our destiny

So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. [Job 23:14 (NLT)]

When life goes wrong, when disaster strikes, when there is illness, sorrow, or even death, we want to know why. That question is rarely, if ever, answered to our satisfaction, and yet God asks us to trust him and his infinite love and wisdom. Faith is accepting that much of life is inexplicable. Faith is being willing to leave our questions unanswered and to accept an unknown future. Faith is being willing to see God’s presence not just in happy times but also in sad. Faith is saying (and accepting), “He will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. [D. Elton Trueblood]

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August 15, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Prayer

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

You are my friends if you obey my commandments. I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. [John 15:14-15 (GW)]

Friends share, friends confide, and friends listen to one another. Do I listen to Jesus? Do I want to know what is on His heart or do I only want to tell Him what is on mine? Am I so busy talking to him that He can’t get a word in edgewise? It’s time to let my best friend speak; prayer should be a dialogue and not a monologue!

 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” [by Joseph M. Scriven]

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged –
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

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August 13, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Trusting God

A Change of Heart

A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song. [Proverbs 15:15 (MSG)]

Father in Heaven, help me turn my concerns over to you, trusting in your unlimited power and love. Take my fear and bitterness, my sorrow and anxiety and replace them with faith and hope. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that my heart is filled with a song.

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August 5, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Miracles

For the Sick

Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. [Acts 4:30 (NLT)]

O God, our Great Physician, bless and comfort those who are experiencing health problems. Place your healing hand upon their heads, ease their pain, and relieve their fears. Reassure them of your healing presence and, if it is your will, restore them to health. Give wisdom and compassion to their doctors and courage and patience to their families.