Merry Christmas!

Here it is - December 23, 2008 and I am thinking of ways to slow these days down and simply enjoy the celebration -
the time with family -
the sounds of Christmas - I love Christmas music -
the sights of Christmas - lights, decorations -
the spirit of Christmas - people are often friendlier -
I love to hear people say "Merry Christmas" -
I love to say "Merry Christmas".
But somehow I want to convey the depth of that statement - Merry Christmas!!!
I want to stop and say...
"No, really - I want you to know the Christ of Christmas.
I want you to experience the Peace that Christ brings.
I want you to stand in the hope that we have in our Savior.
I pray that you can know the love that God has for you.
I wish for you JOY.

So... today I am going to find ways to attempt to convey that to the people I see. I'm not sure how.
I am asking the Lord to show me - to give me words and expressions that speak peace and love.
I don't want to be obnoxious or inappropriate.
I just want to say "Merry Christmas" and really mean it.

31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Day 11
"In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
I'm so grateful that all my circumstances were permitted by You to make me see my need of You and prepare my heart for Your Word... to draw me to Yourself, and to work out Your good purposes for my life. I rejoice that You are the Blessed Controller of all things - You are now, You will be throughout the future, and You always were. All my days had Your touch of love and wisdom, whether or not I can yet fully see it.
And Lord, I choose to look beyond my past and present troubles in this life - this temporary life- and fix my eyes on the unseen things that will last forever, I praise You for the eternal glory these things are piling up for me as I choose to trust You.

31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

This my favorite devotional book. I have been reading it now for over 7 years and God does something new and fresh each time I read a specific day.
Let me share from today's reading...

"I'm so grateful, Lord, that the Christian life is not a rigorous self-improvement course or a do-it-yourself kit... that it is not a call to prove myself by overcoming my own shortcomings and failures, in my own way, but my own resources. Thank You that, instead, You are at work in me and in my situation to break old patterns of thought and action, to create within me both the desire and the power to do Your gracious will... and to make me a joy to You in new ways.
Thank You, too for the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength. I praise You that He is in me to enlighten me through Your Word, to flush away my anxieties and fears, my resentments and hostilities, my guilt and regrets, as water flushes away dirt and trash... to keep me filled with Himself and to flood my heart with Your love... to produce through me the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... and to enable me to give thanks for all things as the hours and days and weeks pass. I rejoice that You are able to do far more than all I ask or think according to Your power that is at work within me - the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

What a mighty God we serve!

The Shack

Have you read "The Shack"?

If so, we want to hear what you thought.

If not, read it.

More later...

If you Seek Him, You will Find Him

Did you ever play "Hide and Seek" as a child? I wasn't very good at that game because I gave up too quickly. I would look in the obvious places and then decide to just stand and wait for my friend to come out of hiding. Of course, no one wanted to play the game with me because I didn't do what the game said to do ... SEEK.

Seek is defined as an attempt to find something. If you are playing Hide and Seek, then, as the "seeker", it would be your job to truly attempt to find the "hider".

Proverbs 3:6
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

As we continue to look at our focus passage in Proverbs 3 we come to the next step in learning to trust in the Lord with all our heart and that is to continuously seek Him - get to know Him better - learn His Word - understand His love for us...
When we do this we will encounter a path that leads to to His will for us.

So, what does it mean to seek? Let the scriptures tell us...

Psalm 105:4
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

We are not to be passive in our search for the Lord. We are not to stand and wait as I used to do when I played the game of Hide and Seek. We are to be active in our search for the Lord and His will for us. We are to work at it and be passionate about it.

It means that we devour His Word.

It means that we fall on our faces before Him and give Him praise and adoration.

It means that we pray without ceasing - allowing Him to adjust our every move because we are in constant communication with Him.

If we seek Him, we will find Him, if.... we seek Him with ALL OF OUR HEARTS!

As we learn to Trust in the Lord with all our hearts, it will be easier because we seek Him - discovering the beauty of seeing that path that leads to His will for us. This is not a one-time event. It happens constantly throughout our day.

Will you seek Him with all your heart?

Whatever you do, Don't Lean!

Proverbs 3:5 b
Lean not on your own understanding.

Basicly, this means don't let your mind get in the way of your trust.

Last night I found myself lying awake in bed in the wee hours of the morning trying not to "lean on my own understanding". I was looking at an issue from work through my own eyes and I was not practicing "trust in the Lord with all your heart".
When we let our brains guide our emotions the enemy brings fear. Plain and simple - the scripture says that fear is not from God. So, there you have it. When we lean on our own intellect, logic, knowledge, facts - we will be filled with fear and doubt.

The Message says it like this.. "don't try to figure out everything on your own"

You see, when we face a struggle we have two choices. We can wallow in our thoughts and work hard to try to figure out how this will all end or...

We can trust in the Lord with all our heart - every fiber of our being - and allow Him to carry the burden.

Where are you right now?

Leaning on your own abilities and thoughts or TRUSTING?

Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light'. Matthew 11:28--30

If you are tired of "leaning" - accept Jesus' invitation and allow Him to carry your load.
You will find rest and encouragement. when you exchange your burden for His.

Trust

Proverbs 3: 5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. I find myself getting comfortable with a favorite passage and not really taking the time to absorb it’s meaning – meditate on it – let it do its work on my heart.

What does it mean to trust?
Websters says it is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.
Have you ever done a “trust fall” – where you stand on a ledge and fall backwards, trusting that the people behind you are prepared and able to catch you?
Can you picture yourself falling backwards into God’s arms?
Do you have a confidence that He will catch you every time?
This is trust!

How do we know we can trust God?
He has proven Himself faithful. He is all-knowing. He absolutely knows what is best for us. He has a plan for us.

Share how you have experienced trusting God in your life and how He has proven Himself trustworthy.

Raising Spiritually Healthy Children

Raising Spiritually Healthy Kids

1. Start praying for your child’s salvation and relationship with Christ before they are born. Prayer will intervene in the spiritual realm where the enemy battles for the souls of our children!

2. Start early
Begin to tell your child that God loves them, God made the flowers and so on. I have heard parents say, “My child is too young to understand about God”. How sad! Children accept what we teach them by faith. The scripture speaks of child-like faith. This faith comes easily for them. Their innocent minds are not overcrowded with reason and doubt.

3. Be real
Our faith in Christ does not mean that life is without difficulties. Children need to see how our faith helps us handle tough times. They need to understand that having a relationship with Christ does not mean that we are immune to illness or people being mean to us.
The key – how we respond to these events teaches our children how they can deal with life.

4. Model your love for Christ
Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
Our children will not know what a true love for Christ looks like without seeing it in us.

5. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me!”
Do your children see that God is a priority in your home and in your life?
Is it understood that you and your family will be in Bible study and corporate worship every week?
Do your children see that everything in your lives center on Jesus?
Do other things in your world interfere with the things of God?
For instance, do you allow your children to miss church due to sports events or other activities?
Do you plan your church life after you plan your kid’s activities?
We allow “things” in our lives to become gods. If they are more important than God – they have become gods or idols.
Idols can be TV, an obsession with appearance, a desire to have “things”, or simply placing our own children above God.
Don’t misunderstand me – I’m not saying you can’t have a TV or fun things. I’m not saying that your kids can’t play sports or wear cute clothes. I’m not saying it’s wrong to love your children.
I am saying that in everything there should be a balance with Christ at the center.

6. Love the Word.
If you aren’t already, fall in the love with the Word of God. Teach your children the beauty of getting to know our God through His Word. If you don’t understand the importance of this, read Psalm 119.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

6. Be consistent.
In everything you do – your relationship with Christ, the discipline of your children, your marriage, your friendships – be consistent.
We should be examples of integrity – the kind of people who always keep their word.
The scripture speaks of the double-minded man being tossed back and forth by the waves. Don’t let that be you.
Know what you believe, live it, teach it to your children!

Knowing and Doing God's Will

When I am confronted with decisions, my tendency is to analyze, list the pros and cons, and determine the most logical answer to the problem. I keep a note on my computer monitor that says "I need God!" This is to remind me that I need to go to my God and seek His desires for me instead of attempting to problem-solve my way through the issues.
Recently my husband preached a very practical sermon on this subject. I am including a simple summary from the Word.

Romans 12:1-2
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Do this – offer ourselves as living sacrifices as an act of worship
• Don’t do this – conform to the world and what it tells you to do
• Instead… be willing to allow God to renew your mind
• Then… you will be able to discern God’s will for your life

Global Food Crisis and What we Can Do

My son, Brian works for Compassion International. Go to his blog to find out how you can be a part of the solution! Let's don't just sit and ignore the massive numbers of people who go to sleep at night hungry. We are a blessed people who need to step up and help in Jesus name.

Flowers in Your Hair and Rings on Your Fingers

My granddaughter and I are doing a study of Proverbs this summer and I am struck again by the richness of this book. Did you know that when God said He would give Solomon whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for a discerning heart? It’s pretty scary to think of what we might ask for if God gave us that choice.

In working with teenagers and their families for more than 18 years, I find that a missing element in their lives is discernment – common sense – good judgment.
How do children learn these things? As a parent we have been given an incredible responsibility of teaching our children the source of wisdom – the meaning of discernment – the importance of the truth. Have you asked God for a discerning heart?

When you read the first chapter of Proverbs it quickly becomes clear that living a godly life is not rocket science. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” It’s simple – just respect, reverence, be in awe of, honor who God is and obey His Word.

The Message says in Proverbs 1:7
“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.”

I have read verse 8 many times and thought of my own parents instructions but re-read that verse and think of what it means to you as a parent. Are you giving your children instruction that is pleasing to the Lord – something that they will hold to for a lifetime?

1:8 My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What will they remember about your instruction? Do you feel the responsibility as a parent to be constantly in the Word – attempting to discern God’s direction for you? Do you know the Word well enough that you can easily teach your child TRUTH– not situational ethics – not “if it feels right do it” or “every man for himself” – but God’s TRUTH. You have to know it to teach it.
And then there is a promise –
9 Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
like rings on your fingers. (The Message)

We must be teachers and we must be teachable. If we do this, the rewards will come back to us in the form of children who love the Lord and seek to follow Him with all their hearts- like flowers in your hair and rings on your fingers.

Happy Birthday!

I don't usually put anything personal on this blog. But today I want to honor my husband on his birthday.
Ed is a godly man, an amazing husband and father, a pastor who loves his church and desires more than anything to serve the Lord with passion and integrity.
Please remember to pray for him - our pastor- as he seeks to lead our church and be the man God has called him to be.

Servanthood

Colossians 3:22-24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

When I was in high school I went on an overseas mission trip a few summers in a row. The organization I went with had a two-week training period they liked to call “boot camp.” During boot camp, our team got to know each other. We learned how to cook for 60 people, set up and tear down tents, get up in 5 minutes flat, memorize scripture, share our faith, and respect God’s creation. We would sometimes go 3-5 days without showering and we would also get in trouble for complaining about it. During one of these prolonged no-shower periods, four of our senior staff sat in lawn chairs and watched as our entire team passed by a piece of trash sitting out in the field we were tenting on. One lucky student from our group, Jonathan, passed the trash, turned around, picked it up, and was immediately cheered and rushed at by the senior staff. He was granted a shower for taking care of God’s creation. Most of us had seen the trash but had not bothered to pick it up. To this day, it makes me cringe to walk past trash and not pick it up. I pick it up, not because I’m hoping for a free shower or a pat on the back, but because I learned a valuable lesson that day: It is my responsibility to take care of God’s earth, and it is the Lord Christ I am serving. I should serve whether or not people are watching.

According to Colossians 3, a true test of servant hood is when I:

´ Obey those in authority over me
o Question: Do I have a rebellious spirit when it comes to authority? Am I obedient?
´ Serve when no one is looking
o Question: Do I serve when no one is looking, or when I know I will get credit for what I’m doing? Do I tell others when I have served and no one saw me so I will be acknowledged?
´ Serve with sincerity of heart
o Question: Do I grumble and complain inwardly or outwardly when asked to serve? Do I serve for ulterior motives of acknowledgement? Is my heart sincerely serving those around me?
´ Serve with reverence for the Lord
o Question: Do I have profound awe and respect for the Lord when I serve? Am I considering that He is the God I am serving when I serve?
´ Serve with my whole heart
o Question: Do I serve half-heartedly? Am I distracted? Do I dread the opportunity to serve? Is my heart in this?
´ Work for the Lord—it is Jesus I am serving
o Do I serve as if it was Jesus who asked me to do the task? Do I consider that it may be His house I am cleaning, His church that needs help, or His mouth that needs to be fed?

Today, if you feel like you can’t
o Wash another load of laundry
o Do another load of dishes
o Clean up after your family one more time
o Volunteer at church—AGAIN
o Stop to help someone in need
o Pick up one more piece of trash

Remember that it is Jesus Christ you are serving. Do it for the Lord, not man. Do it when no one is looking. Your reward is in heaven—an inheritance that cannot mold, rot, or be destroyed!

Happy Mother's Day

To all of you who have birthed, raised, taught, cleaned, protected, nurtured and loved children - Happy Mother's Day!
I pray that today you are begin honored for a difficult but most important job on earth. Loving children and leading them to know and love Jesus is an honor.
Love to you all,
Cindy Seay

The Cutting Edge by Julie Romero

2 Kings 6: 1-7: An Ax Head Floats
The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live."
And he said, "Go."
Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?"
"I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.


Have you ever been in a place spiritually where you feel completely distant from God? I’ve been there. When I finally wake up and realize that I need to return to God, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. It’s times like times that I ask myself, “Where did I lose my cutting edge?”

Elisha, a major prophet in the Old Testament, and a band of prophets get together to build a bigger meeting place. One thing to remember about prophets is that they weren’t very popular. They usually brought messages of doom and destruction unless people repented. So the fact that one of the prophets had a friend he borrowed an axe from is a pretty big deal. Prophets probably didn’t make a lot of money, either, so borrowing an axe would have been essential.

One particular prophet was chopping away at some wood when his axe head fell off and dropped into the Jordan River. I’m imagining that on the backwards swing, the axe head kept on flying backwards and landed in the river. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure iron doesn’t float. This prophet freaks out and the only thing he can think of is that it was borrowed. Maybe he was thinking he was about to lose his one and only friend!

Remember
Then Elisha comes along and asks, “Where did it fall?” This is where our story comes in. When you feel distant from God, the question you need to ask yourself is “Where did I lose my cutting edge?” Go back to the place where you remember being the closest with God. What happened right after that? That’s where you lost your cutting edge.

Repent
After Elisha cut a stick, threw it at the place where it had fallen, the axe head floated to the top of the river. After pointing to where you lost your cutting edge, it’s important to repent of it to God. Confess that you sinned. Do a 180 and go the opposite direction of where you were heading. Turn back to God. God will restore you to Himself. He will make the axe head float.

Repeat
Elisha then said, “Lift it out,” and the man reached in and lifted it out. When you confess your sin to God, you must once again use your cutting edge. Don’t just watch it float, or leave it in pieces on the riverside. Use it. Start doing the things you were doing when you were close with God the first time.

Today, as you evaluate your relationship with God, ask Him to show you if and where you’ve lost your cutting edge. Repent of that sin and start using your cutting edge again to glorify God.

How to have a Successful Retreat

We have had many wonderful retreats in the 18 years that I have been at First Baptist, Magnolia. But I am not sure if there has been one in which the Holy Spirit had such free reign to move and work in the lives of women present. I have had several people ask me why this one retreat was so "successful".
1. PRAYER - we had a committed group of ladies that met together regularly to pray for each woman attending, the logisitics, the leaders, and the speakers. I believe that God honored their commitment to pray and their faith that God was hearing and would respond by preparing the hearts and minds of women before they ever arrived at Crier Creek. This was evidenced from the very first moment that we began to worship together.
2. WORSHIP - God called out a group of women who would lead our worship several months ago. They took this task very seriously. They prayed over the music selections. They prayed for hearts to be tender toward worship and they worked hard at being all that they were supposed to be as leaders of worship.
3. TEAM WORK - There was an awesome evidence of women working together to make this weekend a special one. Thanks to everyone who had a part in planning, preparing and leading.
4. LOCATION - Crier Creek is an amazing place to meet the Lord and to simply have a good time.
This list is in no way complete. We would love to hear your reasons for having a great retreat weekend. Please take a minute to post a comment.
Here are few comments from women who attended...
A. said...This weekend was amazing. I was awed by the power of God over and over. His provision was poured out upon me...I'm find myself grappling for words that could come near to describing the holiness of His presence among us. I am grateful to the depths of my soul for each lady who dedicated herself to covering each of us with prayer before and during this retreat.....it is all about prayer....and I for one experienced the fruit of those prayers. I am so excited to see what God does in each of our lives as a result of the places He opened in each of our hearts. WOW WOW WOW. God is so amazing!

I thought the location was perfect as was the food.

Thank you to everyone involved for all your hard work. The retreat flowed so smoothly that it appeared effortless.....but I know that was only because of all the hard work, preparation and prayer that was laid as the foundation before we ever stepped one foot into the retreat. Thank you for blessing me.

K. said... The weekend was AWESOME for sure! This weekend I learned just how much God loves me and that I love Him
back by loving others! I had doubts in me before the retreat that I was not sure I loved or even knew how to love unconditionally, but after this weekend......I know without a doubt that I can and I DO simply because I love God SOOO MUCH! It is amazing what happens when we take ourselves out of the picture. I am not saying it is easy but what joy comes from obedience.

Sometimes I make things SOOO difficult and that is not what God wants for me, He wants me to be full of peace, joy and love!

J. said... this weekend gave me a sense of peace and has renewed my faith in God's miracles. I am asking for prayer that God will work yet another miracle in my life. I appreciate your prayers and if you would just be sure to thank those ladies that were responsible for this weekend (you amongst those) for such a wonderful experience. Most of all I give the Lord the praise for being such an awesome presence during this retreat and for moving and bringing peace and healing to so many ladies (I am tingling as I type this). I so look forward already to next year. Thanks again.

T. said... I thought the whole retreat was awesome! But I have to say what touched me most were the three testimonies. It was such a God-thing for those women to be willing to be so transparent and open up their lives so God could teach us in such an intimate, personal way that would usher in His healing for their sisters. I know God has huge blessings for all three of them for their obedience. And the fellowship: getting to know the women from our church and beginning new friendships was awesome!

C. said... God did allot of dealing with me this weekend! It wasn't easy, but he has shown me, I have pride that needs breaking! So many area's of my life, He's working on. I know He is working everything for my good! My spiritual good! It is such a hard journey, but it most definitely needed doing! I was blessed by all the openness and love of the ladies this weekend,also
by your healing testimony.

S. said... First off I made some great new friends and I was in real need of that. But I renewed my First Love and I made some new commitments to Him and my self and I asked for several of my "new" friends to hold me up and accountable and I know He will prevail. Thank You I loved every minute.

G. said... Cindy, the retreat was amazing alright. I really didn't know what to expect...I've never been to one before. It was truly a blessing in disguise. I really got to know some of the women I have seen in passing. The pre-conceived notions of what that person might be like were totally stripped away! I have NEVER felt closer to a group and my guard was down.
The women who shared their Testimonies are truly courageous and blessed by doing so. Many of us (I know myself for sure) will benefit from their stories and straight-forwardness.
We are all just women (children) who want to know the Lord, his word, to live as he wants us to, broken in some way, sinners,
desiring his love, comfort, struggling with our past sins to be forgiven by totally turning them over to God, then letting go of
them ourselves, afraid, want to belong to him. I could go on and on and on... The presence of the Lord was in the air...the hair
on my arms stood up...it was truly electrifying...I sobbed and wasn't sure just why, but I know the Lord will show me in his time. I am just bubbling or flowing or gushing over with I don't know what....Love I guess, warmth, shaking, happiness.....
Amazing...yes...Amazing Grace.

Discover the Joy of Doing Less

This year for Christmas I received two meaningful home decor items. One is the word HOPE in metal letters and the other is a sign that says "SIMPLIFY". Wow, do I ever need to ponder both of these. Finding simplicity in my crazy life almost seems impossible. But, I am determined this year to find it. Pray for me that I will be obedient in this journey to simplicity.

We miss out on God’s best for us because we are swallowed up in an endless array of duties, responsibilities and service. This “activity” often steals our creativity, our fun time, our joy and leaves us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually depleted. God has a beautiful invitation to all who find themselves caught up in a lifestyle of too many things to do with not enough time to do them. Through Isaiah, God issues an invitation to all who are too busy to enjoy His peace and joy:

Isaiah 55:1a, 6, 8,
“Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters… Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.

If you feel anxious, pressured or depleted by the demands placed on your life right now, God has something better in mind for you. Too little time is not the problem. The core of the problem may be having too much to do! And through accepting the invitation of the Lord to come to Him, He will give you His thoughts about the scheduling of your time. God does not want you to do every good thing. That’s why you must check His thinking and seek His counsel in everything you do.

For me, the revelation about what should occupy my days comes in my quiet time as I pray over each item on my daily schedule. More than once, He has impressed me to strike something off my list.

I believe God wants us to learn to enjoy His fellowship at a more relaxed pace. For some reason, we busy women equate being busy for God as being productive for Him. But He is showing me that I’m more productive when I’m less busy and more relaxed.

Check your life. Are you overcommitted? Take time with the Lord to seek His direction. And remember, making sure you’re less busy will help you have more time for sitting at the feet of our Master, and that’s to our advantage!

2008: Year of Hope

On the way to work, I saw these words written on a sign. It said, "Hope Is Real." As I pondered the simple little phrase, I realized that for many people hope is not real. This is perhaps one of the most important gifts we can give to another person, the gift of hope.

You see, someone who is hopeless and alone usually cannot help themselves out of their situations. There is a great sense of loss and helplessness. We must come alongside and bring the good news of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

One definition for hope is: To look forward to with confidence or expectation. We must bring the Word of God with all its hope to someone who does not know it is real. When we bring hope, we bring life. It is life changing to finally believe again.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 NIV

There are so many people who have lost hope... so many hurts, problems, sicknesses, troubles, financial woes, family problems, world issues, political concerns, etc. It seems the world has no hope.

Apart from God, it is an awful, hopeless place. But with God's help, we can make it.

I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in at this moment, there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you. How do we find the hope? There is only one place where hope can be found, and that is in Jesus Christ.

A word search in the Bible for the word 'hope' yields many wonderful passages - mostly in Psalms and Proverbs of course. David found himself in situations many times and had to remind himself that Hope is Real. It comes from God. Here are a few of David's prayers to God:

Psalm 42: 11 NIV "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 25: 4,5 NLT "Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."

Psalm 25: 3 NIV "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,"

Psalm 33: 18 NIV "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,"

Psalm 119: 49 NLT "Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope."

Here are a few key scriptures that help us to understand what we need to do. Words like "be strong, take courage, wait, reverently and worshipfully fear God, tarry for the hope, wait patiently for it, and be joyful in hope. They are all action words we need to work on. Read these scriptures out loud during your devotional times. Watch how hope will come alive in your heart as you speak the Word of God over yourself and your situation.

Psalm 31:24 AMP "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!"

Isaiah 40: 31NLT "But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Romans 8:24b, 25 NIV " But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Romans 12: 12 NIV "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Pray out loud the words of hope into your life and your situations. I have hope! My hope is in the Lord! I will be strong and wait on the Lord. I trust God with my life and the life of my family. Speak these words every day. Hope Is Real. It comes from God! He has placed it in your heart. Speak it out and watch what God will do for you.

Romans 15: 13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
What is your need today? Is it for a financial blessing, healing in your body, a new job, a house or car, etc?
Whatever it is, take it to Jesus today.
Is there someone in your life today that needs encouraging?

Speak the Words of hope that bring life. Hope Is Real, just try it.

Let's declare 2008 as a year of HOPE.