Tag Archives: hopeless

Darkness To Dawn

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As I was sitting here and contemplating my next blog post a verse popped into my mind.  I will share it shortly.  My mind went to the time from Christ’s crucifixion until His resurrection.

I wonder what that time was like.  It had to be hell for earth for those who followed Jesus.  They expected Him to take over at any moment and declare Himself the King of Israel.  Remember the triumphal entry?

Now, all their hopes and dreams were smashed on the rocks of the sea of life.  Imagine the confusion.  I can see them aimlessly wandering without hope.

Then a verse of Scripture came to me.  Look at Luke 22:31, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”  If you think this through he is not only trying to get Simon Peter; but, all of the followers of Jesus.  As they endured this time I am sure they thought that the enemy had won.

Then came Sunday.  Resurrection Day!  I love the song, “Then Came The Morning”.  I love to sing it and I like to listen to others sing it.  My favorite would be Guy Penrod on the Gaither Homecoming series.  What a truth!  Even Peter at times wanted to go back to the fishing business.  He was sifted; but, Jesus prayed for him and he made it through.  He did not graduate with honors; but, he graduated non the less.

Maybe your life seems like all hope has fled out the door.  Let me share with you that you can find hope and help in Jesus Christ.  He loves you supremely and He demonstrated it by dying on the cross in your place.  Put your faith and trust in Him today before it is eternally too late.

So, how are you doing?

Speak Peace

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As you know we have many of the DVD’s from the Gaither Gospel Series.  The other day we were listening to one recorded in Israel.  It is one of my favorites.  Our son kept repeating one song in particular.  The title is “Peace Be Still”.  Bill Gaither shares how he and Gloria wrote this song on that same sea in a boat similar to the one they are riding in at that moment.  As I watch the video my mind goes back to Scripture.

Look at Mark 4:39, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

We all have times in our lives that “feel” like a tempestous storm.  The waves of life seemingly break over the sides of our ship.  We look around and it seems that all is lost.  Let me assure you; from one weary sailor to another, it only seems and “feels” this way.  Jesus Christ is He who created these waves and the seas.  He has all power over them.  He has the ability to speak; not yell, and they obey Him.  I don’t know about you; but, this gives me great hope.  All is not lost.  It is not time to throw everything overboard.  Hold on with everything you have and watch Jesus come into your storm with you and simply speak, “Peace, be still.”

So, how are you doing?

Hope

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Dr. Paul Chappell shared the following in his “Daily in the Word” daily e-mail devotional on Sunday March 16th:

“I read something interesting about African impalas. These large animals have powerful legs—so powerful that they can leap to a height of over ten feet and cover more than thirty feet in a single bound. Because of this amazing leaping ability, you would think that a very large enclosure would be necessary when they are kept in a zoo. Yet in fact a fence only a few feet high will keep them safely contained—as long as they cannot see what is on the other side of the fence. The impala will not jump if he cannot see where he will land.”

As I was reading this from Dr. Chappell my mind began to race to a thousand different things.  I think the impala resemble today’s Christian far too much.  We sit in our “curches” and look out the stained glass windows at life around us.  Yet, we never seem to move past this.  When we loose hope we are the most miserable people or person on earth.  Hope is what drives us.  I believe that one reason that God’s Church is not flourishing is because we feel hopeless.  We feel hopeless because we have been trying to do things in our own power and do them our own way.

It is high time we get back to the fundamentals of the faith like fervent prayer, fasting, reading the Bible, faithfully attending Church services.  This list could go on for quite a long time if the truth be told.  When we loose hope the first thing we need to do is the first thing.  If you look around you and you feel hopeless then get back to the basics of your Christian life.  If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour then run to Him for salvation and start there.  You will never regret it.  I promise.

So, how are you doing?