Hope When There Is No Hope

Have you been struggling with many different circumstances that you just have no answer for. Well you are not alone in this, there is hope when you think there is no hope.

God sees your heart and knows what is going on so don’t worry about what isn’t or is happening, allow Him to guide you through the darkest of days.

There is hope that tomorrow will be a s better day for you. What you are going through will not last.

We can only see what our eyes tell us, but it is what is unseen that we hope for and as we pray and have faith that God will show you the way, it is then that we can find the solution to what is wrong. When you are finding such things are happening to you, maybe it’s time to step back and wait for God to show you what to do. For He is in control, not us.

Be kind to people who frustrate you, be gracious to those who are not fair and be hopeful for all that God promises you. He will not leave you or forsake you, it is He who guides your path and makes a way. Now you must do your part and believe that He will.

Jesus tells us in John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Shalom
Nancy
The Christian Writer

There Is No Fear Of God

This is the direction of the world, but for those who seek God there is hope,

hope in Jesus!

I will post this Psalm to encourage you to not look at what the world is doing but to look to God. David witnessed many ungodly acts during times of distress, so he prayed seeking answers and this is God’s message through David as he writes;

Psalm 36

I have a message from God in my heart

    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: 

There is no fear of God

    before their eyes. 

In their own eyes they flatter themselves

    too much to detect or hate their sin.

The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;

    they fail to act wisely or do good.

Even on their beds they plot evil;

    they commit themselves to a sinful course

    and do not reject what is wrong.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

    your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

    you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

    in your light we see light. 

Continue your love to those who know you,

    your righteousness to the upright in heart. 

May the foot of the proud not come against me,

    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

See how the evildoers lie fallen—

    thrown down, not able to rise!

May you find comfort in what God has spoken,

Don’t lose heart, God knows everything and is in control.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

#thereisnofearofGod

#sinfulcourse

#yourunfailinglove,OGod

#Roman3:18

#Luke12:1-12

God’s Timetable Vs Ours

Waiting….. how hard is that?

We pray we wait, we pray we wait. Still no answer.

We want things to happen and for things to be shown to us clearly as we wait for direction.

But have you ever noticed that as you wait, you do see things clearly. In hindsight many things I prayed for did not happen, and that for my greater good. Maybe something was given to someone over my desire to have it because it wasn’t right for me and very right for another.

Don’t get me wrong, God has answered many prayers and I have seen many great things happen under His hand. I came to resolve that my timetable is not God’s. So for you weary waiter’s (and I don’t mean in a restaurant!) I say there is a season where you see a lot happening, you may be in it right now or as I call it a desert season just waiting for God as He is shaping you for whatever is coming your way next. Hold firmly onto trusting God for wherever you are now.  His plans are making a way for better seasons and as you wait, your faith is always being tested. Paul tells us this in the book of Hebrews devoting a full chapter 11 to the faith of the ancient people in the Old Testament. They may or may not have seen their dreams come true but God is always faithful to those who love and worship Him.

Hebrews 11:1

 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

For those who have given up on your dreams, I say this to you, dreams are created in your life that others cannot see. When you have a dream, it’s because the dream you have is placed in you, to strive towards, used for the greater good of God and man. Dreams change and sometimes they die but if it is in you pray and see God’s hand and how He answers you.
Place your trust in God as He moves you closer to the things He desires for your life, surrender those tightly held plans and release them to Him, He knows the best direction.

It’s hard to see God working, isn’t it?
Especially when you think you should be going one way and the opposite is true. But God knows you better than you know yourself. That’s where trust, hope and faith come in.

Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods
    is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
    working wonders?

In writing this to you I see my struggles with waiting, but I know as much as I struggle you do as well so as we are in the body of Christ we wait, we pray and we trust.
Shalom
Nancy
The Christian Writer

Gossip & It’s Destructive Force

Scrutiny… it’s just another word for gossip. Why? Because we are under the eyes of a scrutinizer. When we start out our conversations do they end up scrutinizing someone for their behavior? But in actuality, we are the ones that are behaving in a un-godly fashion. 

By gossiping, we are allowing the foothold of the enemy in our thoughts and words. If there is anyone who thinks that they are above gossiping, it is not the truth. The truth is that everyone is someone’s judge. We judge other people’s actions and think our ways are better. But are they? Maybe in each person’s sight, we are a vehicle for their wrath.  We need to check in on what we are doing as well. Not one is free from this and we all do some sort of judging. But when it’s taken to a place where it could severely damage someone’s reputation then this needs to stop.

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

    they go down to the inmost parts.

Gossip destroys relationships

One person may say one thing and a fire is let loose in it’s path, others get on board. Now you have a flame that’s out of control over something that could have been resolved just by a conversation to clarify everything.

Proverbs 26:20 

Without wood a fire goes out;

    without a gossip, a quarrel dies down.

Many families & friendships split because there are divisions that were misunderstood and “me” focused. “Look what they did to me?” -“Why did they say that to me?” Are just a few of things that can get blown out of proportion. Something misunderstood could be quite simple and pride rears its ugly head. Learning to let go is better than harping on it or blowing it out of context, like the storm that brings in the rough surf. No control just damaging waves.

Proverbs 16:28 

A perverse person stirs up conflict,

    and a gossip separates close friends.

Gossip prevents us from relationships

When you gossip and someone finds out you break confidence and trust. Now what seemed to be a good relationship is on edge with how much you will reveal. The lesson is this, if someone is gossiping to you, they are gossiping about you. So be careful who you let into your deep thoughts.

Proverbs 11:13 

A gossip betrays a confidence,

    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Gossip just hurts

If someone finds out that things were revealed to someone else that’s hurtful and can really take time for someone else to regain trust again. Sadly the lesson is learned in a hurtful way. You lose confidence in someone you thought you had trust in.

1 Corinthians 2:15 

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

Gossip does nothing but hurt others, puts wedges between people and many times is not healthy. Ultimately God is our judge, it is He who judges us and our actions. Trust God, pray for everything.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

God Is Coming For You

If you are reading this, God is coming after you. Maybe you can’t imagine that God even cares but He does, He cares so much for you that He sent His Son for you, so that you may have a way to Him.

Luke 15:3-7

 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

We can’t go through life wandering around just imaging that something great is going to happen,  or something tragic will fall upon you. We are given the ability to know Jesus and our lives ahead are bringing us closer to eternity with Him.

God doesn’t want your money, possessions or thinking you must work your way into Heaven. He wants you. Jesus says to come, He is the source of life abundant So if you are experiencing loneliness, depression, or questioning your faith-then pray and ask Him to come into your life.

Let’s pray right now.

Heavenly Father, you know all things, you know me when I come and go, where I am and what I am going through, help me to see things through the lens of your throne where you reside. Help me to know you, help me to see you in all things that you have given to me, life, gifts and a way to worship you. Help me Lord to see you in all of this, I have been lost and you have come for me, thank you Lord for opening my heart to you.

Amen

May you find peace in knowing that you are counted and joyfully loved in every way possible.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

The Falsehood Of Reincarnation

When I was growing up I believed that you could come back into this earth and become someone or something else. Just imagine coming back as something exciting, that’s an interesting thought. But as I grew and matured I began to take this seriously, so seriously that it was consuming to my soul on a loop of coming back, never resting.

The falsehood of reincarnation is that when you follow this thought your life is never going to be satisfied, it will always long for more chances to make things the way you think they should be. That can destroy any kind of hope for rest or joy. The joy that only can be experienced with Jesus Christ. 

The revelation of Jesus Christ has always been the way to eternal life, from the moment you were born the decision to follow Him was always up to you. Jesus came to give you abundant life on earth and life eternal with Him. But following such non-sense as coming back is only something that the devil wants you to follow so that you will turn from the true way into heaven.

Through Christ blood shed on the cross, he defeated death and the strongholds of this world were broken, as he rose from death and is the eternal one, that is the truth. So when you see the sign on someone’s lawn that says: John 3:16, that is the reminder what God did for us through His Son.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Enough said,

Shalom 

Nancy

The Christian Writer

Step Back, Adjust Your View

Seeing things from a different perspective

Just recently I purchased a car with a back up camera, it’s a great feature and to know what’s right behind the back of my car that I can’t see. Although this is such an revolutionary idea, I still have to look around the sides and adjust my view, sometimes the camera can’t see everything. The same goes for photography, my grandson took a picture of the garden from his perspective, but if I took it from my view it would be very different. That’s the great thing about photography everybody has a different sense of an angle or depth of field, we adjust our way of looking at things, we adjust our view. ( I adjusted the size of the photo above) you can point the camera to to mountains and turn 360 degrees and take a water fall, it’s how we look at things and how we want to look at things.

Then there is my garden…

The deer have chewed our Hostas down to picks, I get it they love the salad garden we grow here at our house but I really get upset and would never cause any deer harm, so I changed my point of view from allowing them free reign to now spraying to keep them away, planting flowers they don’t like and just by changing our view and using the knowledge we have been given we are seeing the results!

In life, not only can we adjust our view by seeing, we can adjust by receiving and responding. We just have to step back and understand what’s really important to us, winning the fight or seeing the answer by someone else’s view. Pride can make you look only through a peephole, but let it go and see the whole bigger view that maybe you haven’t seen at all!    Step back, adjust your view.

Do you see yourself looking at things through one view or perspective?

The best solution for understanding comes through prayer, asking God for help, seeking Jesus in times of struggle and uncertainty and relying on that, trying to see things from God’s view!

Psalm 19:14 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

    be pleasing in your sight,

    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Please share

Shalom

Nancy

#Stepbackadjustyourview

#Jesus

#God

#perspective

 

 

 

Step Out & Try

Looking back over the years that I worked and volunteered I found there to be rules and structure to the way the organization was run. Now if you are like me, (a creative at heart) 

You like to be different than others but you still follow the crowds, continue with tradition and rituals that certain places practice, because that’s what is required, you just go along and follow the crowd and don’t rock the boat. But inside you want to make changes!

So through the years have you ever worked alongside someone that just wouldn’t fit in the mold? The person was right in their standing, ethically and morally had great ideas that you even agreed with but because they didn’t fit into the crowd, said something that was correct but was frowned upon and was branded an outcast. That’s a creative and outside the box thinker, pushed back by peers but ultimately that creative thinker is learning and growing in those situations to use in the future.

Often times that independent, creative thinker goes off and starts their own business or group that inspires others to want to learn and follow them or create something that is unique so that others can feel that there isn’t anything wrong with different ideas. That God gives us unique inspiration and guidance so that we don’t feel like our ideas or thoughts are a failure but reminds us to acknowledge how creatively made we all are.

So what I am driving at are two things for you today,

#1 When you feel like an outcast, no matter where it is, or what it is, ride it out- 

you will need this someday and it may really be tough now and you might be going through difficulty but there is an end and a lesson and God has a plan in it for you.

#2 If your heart and gut tell you to accomplish something, start it! 

     Don’t talk about it and think about it and contemplate over it, take a baby step out and start      walking. Take 20 minutes write it in your notes on your iphone, write a plan down, do it in steps but easy ones and then give it over to God, because through Him great things can be done.He is our inspiration.

Our great example  is Jesus, If God didn’t send His only Son into the world and turn it upside down, creating havoc over religious laws, stir hearts, heal sick and broken people and just when things got really amazing and thousands upon thousands were following Him, He was condemned by those religious leaders, but stood strong against their plans, yet relinquished His rights , put to death and was resurrected from the dead- 

What Jesus did for us and taught us we are set free from strict religious laws and rules-to follow Him and to love others, just as He loves us. 

Romans 8:3-4 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus taught us not only to step out and follow Him but also to know that He brings light and newness to a dark world, we no longer need to be afraid— be brave, step out even if you feel you will be ridiculed or resented, at least you will not have regrets for not trying and that’s harder to live with as you look back.

Remember you are completely, beautifully made in your uniqueness.

Praising Him…….Nancy

How God Grows Us

Every year I tend to a garden that sits way back from our house. There are different varieties of plants and flowers and every year I am amazed at what comes up, I completely forget!

Just this week I went back and realized that my fig tree which I thought was completely dead has been resurrected and is growing need branches at the bottom. It just helps me realize that what I thought was gone and dead has been given another chance to grow.

That’s what happens with us doesn’t it?

Just when we think things aren’t going the way we hoped God has another plan, He makes part of us die, so that new growth can emerge and we can be better in our newness and service.

I thank God for the newness in me, it helps me to grow and to see where I was, what had to change and what can still be ahead, God will always surprise, we don’t have to know it all, we just stay faithful for growth and understanding, praying for guidance in doing His will as He directs us in His mysterious ways.

Shalom,

Nancy

#HowGodGrowsUs

#Growth

Pride Just Holds You Hostage

There is nothing like going through difficulty in any circumstance that kicks us in the butt more than our own pride. Pride holds us hostage to it, we hold on to something we just don’t want to give up. Sadly many relationships have been destroyed because someone didn’t let go of some pride or judgment they were holding.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Pride destroys opportunities, you may have something amazing in your sights, ready to grasp, but there’s something that you just can’t get from it that you feel you should. Then you may grumble because it’s not what you thought it should be.

Pride can prevent a person from making a positive, life changing experience.

That’s pride showing up just to flatten out what could have been something great.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

When sitting in pride others can feel it thus not opening their hearts to what could be a meaningful relationship, or making false assumptions about someone or something, as…

Pride can hold you back from loving or forgiving someone.

 Proverbs 13:10

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Pride overtakes your soul and makes your heart hard

Psalm 59:12

For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,

Human pride makes you step out before you should, instead of allowing God to work it through.

Proverbs 11:12

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

 Pride makes a great presence but falls hard to destruction

Proverbs 16:8

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

How does God view pride?

Psalm 10:4

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Pride keeps you from knowing God is right and you are not.

 Pride creeps it’s way into the mind of men, thus making them seemingly above others

Isaiah 2:11

The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

 Simply put pride just holds you hostage from seeing the bigger picture

In our love of others and sometimes disdain,

Where do you see pride holding you back from something or someone?

 

Shalom

Nancy

 

#Pride #God #arrogant #Lord