Category: Hope

Posted on

Blurry Vision

See the source image

Earlier this week, I went for my annual eye exam and vision test. Once upon a time I had that eye chart memorized from all my trips to the ophthalmologist, but not anymore.

I had LASIK a number of years ago and never expected to need glasses or contacts ever again. Then I hit middle age! In the last few years, I found myself in need of trifocals because I couldn’t see well from any distance! It was somewhat concerning that my distance vision was in need of more correction with each yearly exam.

A Change in Prescription

When my eye doctor asked me to read the third line down on Monday and I had to guess, I knew I was in trouble. I wasn’t completely surprised since my vision has seemed somewhat blurry for a while now. The exam continued—better 1? better 2?….you know the drill. When it was all over, I was left speechless, but not for the reason you might think. It turns out that I could see the eye chart better with my naked eye than with the prescription of my current glasses! My vision has actually IMPROVED since last year, with no real explanation. But guess what? Blurry is blurry! It doesn’t matter if the prescription is too strong or too weak. If it isn’t the right one, the vision isn’t clear!

So, how is your vision? Can you see enough to take your next step without stumbling? Do you need more light on the subject to make things more clear? If your vision is blurry, I know just the prescription for you—His Word!

“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.”

Psalm 119:105 NIRV

The Bible is like an instruction manual for this thing called life. God knows we need it! And as always, He provides. His word guides us and shows us the way forward.

Instructions Necessary

I’m currently reading the instruction manual for our new microwave. What a great read—LOL! I will admit that I started using the microwave before consulting the manual. I found out the hard way that microwaves have come a long way in 34 years. Let’s just say I did my share of cleaning up messes last week!

First or Last?

After purchasing something new, do you read the instruction manual first, or only as a last resort? How about when life presents challenges? Do you seek God’s direction through His Word first, or only after you’ve tried (and failed) to solve the problem yourself? Admittedly, I often approach my problems much like the microwave. I try to figure it out myself first because I think I can handle it. Do I think God can’t? Do I not want to bother Him with my petty problems? What is my reason for getting it backwards? If you can relate, what is yours? It seems I give myself too much credit and don’t give God enough! I think they call that pride.

“Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 CEB

How is that for purpose?? If His word can do all that, we would be fools to ignore it! This passage inspires me to sit the microwave directions aside and dive deeper into His word so I can look more like Jesus. All I need is my new glasses so I can see those directions clearly!

Posted on

Gathering

See the source image

Though I absolutely love Christmas music, I restrain myself from breaking it out before Thanksgiving. When I give any thought to music at Thanksgiving, my mind immediately goes to the hymn, “We Gather Together.” Well, that, and “Over the River and Through the Woods!”

Thanksgiving Gatherings

As we close in on Thanksgiving 2021, I am mindful of the fact that, for many, Thanksgiving is going to look a bit different this year. Some families have joyously added on in 2021. Others have subtracted. For some, gathering together this Thanksgiving won’t even be an option. And some will be gathering in a completely different location.

Guest List

I don’t know how your Thanksgiving gathering is shaping up this year, but I do know someone who will be delighted to join you, regardless of the setting or time. It doesn’t even matter if the weather cooperates because there is no commute involved! As believers, we have access to God 24/7 through the Holy Spirit living inside us, all thanks to Jesus. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

Personality Traits

In a sermon series recently concluded by my pastor, we took a deep dive into the character of God. It was based on the following verse:

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” Exodus 34:6b NIV

By the end of the series, we had the 5 characteristics from this verse memorized.

God is…

  1. Compassionate
  2. Gracious
  3. Slow to Anger
  4. Loyal in Love
  5. Faithful

He’s all that…and in just one verse! Who of us doesn’t need that reminder when life is throwing curveballs our way? If you are old enough to read this, I imagine you’ve already learned that things don’t always go as planned or expected. Are you still waiting on an answer to prayer? Have your hopes been dashed? Your dreams shattered?

The Real King

My small group recently finished watching and discussing a 5-part sermon series by Andy Stanley titled “David”. If you recall, David was known as a man after God’s own heart. In spite of that, David was still a flawed man. He learned some tough lessons throughout his lifetime, but, in his messages, Andy Stanley kept stressing that David never lost his confidence in God. In spite of his position as king of Israel, David never confused himself with THE King. That King is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, loyal in love and faithful for starters. Our hope isn’t found in fulfilled dreams or answers to prayers, but rather, in the character of God.

“He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8b CEV

Circumstances change, God does not. He is our Rock, a refuge in times of trouble. In the words of David,

“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. My hope is in you ALL day long.” Psalms 25:1,5 NIV

Though your Thanksgiving celebration may look a bit different this year, the MVP has already RSVP’d. He’ll be there!

Enjoy your gathering, no matter the size or shape…Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on

Not As Expected

Image result for disrupted images

The sermon series for this Advent season at my church is aptly titled, “A Disrupted Christmas.” If you can’t relate to that this year, then you’ve missed a good chance! It seems this global pandemic has turned everyone’s life upside down in one way or another. Nothing is as expected in 2020.

Disrupted Plans

It seems we may have something in common with Mary & Joseph. It wasn’t a pandemic, but rather a couple of angels who disrupted their plans, hopes, and dreams. After Mary and Joseph were engaged, they were busy making wedding plans and dreaming of their future as husband and wife when God sent the angel Gabriel to give Mary a message:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”  

Luke 1:31-33 NLT

When Mary questioned how that was possible for a virgin,

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:35 NIV

Gabriel left Mary with one final message:

“For no word from God will ever fail.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

As you can imagine, the news of Mary’s pregnancy didn’t sit well with Joseph. He had decided to break their engagement quietly when he, too, had an encounter with an angel.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-21 NLT

Upon waking from his dream, Joseph did as the angel directed and married Mary.

Not As Expected

I have a feeling that this wasn’t quite how Mary & Joseph drew it up when they got engaged. But God had far bigger plans for them than they could have ever imagined. These angelic disruptions, coupled with Mary and Joseph’s obedience, changed not only the course of Mary & Joseph’s life, but also the course of eternity for all who have placed their faith in the Son of God. From the womb to the tomb, Jesus fulfilled His Father’s purpose and saved his people from their sins. Furthermore, His resurrection conquers death. Believers everywhere can look forward to everlasting life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

Because of love, He came for us;

Because of grace, He died;

Because of hope, He gave us life—a living sacrifice.

Jesus truly is the Ultimate Gift—believe and receive.

Image result for religious Merry Christmas images
Posted on

Remember

A Monument to Help the Israelites Remember

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

Isaiah 46:9 NLT

Focus Word and Verse of the Year

At my home church, we are encouraged to choose a word with an accompanying verse from the Bible at the beginning of each year. This word and verse are to serve as a battle cry of sorts as we seek to deepen our faith and keep our focus where it belongs—on Jesus.

The Search Begins

When we flipped our calendars earlier this month, my thought process was that it would be fitting to choose a word that had to do with vision in the year 2020. Get it? The search for my verse and word of the year only seemed to lead to a dead end. Or did it?

I panicked earlier this week when I realized that January was nearly over and I hadn’t found my word and verse yet. Was there a deadline? Only in my mind. My husband calls these my “self-imposed” deadlines. He would know! Surely, I can’t start February without having this settled.

I Think I Found It…I Think

Just the other night, I found a potential winner for 2020. And then I lost it! I was using the Bible App on my phone at bedtime when the Holy Spirit drew my attention to a verse that was at least somewhat related to vision. I already had it highlighted, so I simply filed 46:9 away in my brain. I remember thinking that I wouldn’t forget that because the verse after it is one of my favorites—“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) So, the next day I go to take a closer look at that verse on my iPad and literally couldn’t find it. Psalm 46:9 had nothing to do with vision. Now what? I stewed about this the whole day and kept checking verses that I could have confused with Psalm 46:9. But, to no avail. At bedtime that night, I was on my phone and looked at my recent searches. And there it was—ISAIAH 46:9. Oops…I was looking in the wrong book of the Bible!

My word for 2020 is REMEMBER. Apparently, I am deficient in that skill so it seems to be a very appropriate choice! My verse, Isaiah 46:9, states:

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

A Lesson That Stuck

The first experience I had in leading a small group occurred about 15 years ago when my whole church participated in the “Old Testament Challenge”. I often tell my students or my small group that you get out of it what you put into it. “It” is either the class I’m teaching or the study that I’m leading. It’s true! I get way more out of the studies that I lead than the studies that I am simply a participant. Why? Because I have to put time into preparing so I don’t look like a fool! So, I remember (LOL) one lesson in particular from that study that fits nicely with this verse. But first, allow me to set the stage.

God’s Plan

After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites, under the direction of Joshua, were finally ready to stake their claim to the land God had promised them so long ago. Their first obstacle was the Jordan River. God, of course, had it all figured out. So, He had Joshua relay His message to the Israelites regarding what was about to transpire. The priests would lead the way, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. When they stepped into the Jordan, the flow of water would be cut off and the river would stand up like a wall. This would allow the Israelites to pass through on dry ground while the priests stood in the middle of the Jordan riverbed with the Ark.

How’s that for a plan? Of all the ways to get across the Jordan River, I have a feeling that this plan never crossed your mind. Mine either. Look how my verse for the year ends—“For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” That explains why this plan never occurred to us!

It all shook out exactly the way God said it would. I wonder how many jaws had to be picked off the riverbed as the people made their way to the other side?

The Story Isn’t Over

Next, the Lord told Joshua to choose 12 men, one from each tribe, and have them take 12 stones from the riverbed where the priests were standing. They were to carry them out and pile them up where they would be camping that night. Joshua did as directed and the twelve men complied. These stones were going to be used to build a memorial. Why do we have memorials? To REMEMBER!

“Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.””

Joshua 4:21-24 NLT

Taking Action

That lesson from the “Old Testament Challenge” encouraged each of us to choose a “memorial” of our own to serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past. Our memorial doesn’t have to be made of stones. The only qualification necessary is that it helps us REMEMBER.

The Point

When the going gets tough, and Jesus promised that it would, it’s easy to get discouraged. The enemy does whatever he can to drive a wedge between us and God, remember? You may be feeling hopeless right now and ready to give up. If you don’t feel that way now, I’m sure your turn is coming. That is, if you haven’t already had yours. It is at those times that it is critically important to look back and REMEMBER. Reflect on who God is and how He has been faithful in the past. Your vision is 20/20 when looking at your life in the rear-view mirror!

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

Isaiah 46:9 NLT