H is for HOPE

by Hallie Gipson

As we approach the end of year 2016 and the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas, many will be excited about what each holiday means. Many will look forward to the time with family & friends as they enjoy all the ‘trappings’ that surround these holidays.

For others, however, these holidays can bring angst, depression, and a feeling of hopelessness. The reality is --- life is hard! And because we live in a fallen world, we must deal with many things that can cause us grief and pain, or that seek to drain all the joy from life. I could list some of these, but will leave that to you, the reader, because each person’s reason for feeling hopeless is different.

Even when our lives could be defined as going ‘well’, we can still be dragged into a pit that leaves us feeling hopeless. It’s not something we can always put our finger on or even name, but it’s there. It eats at our inner peace and leaves us feeling as if we’re in a fog with no way out --- hopeless.

If this describes you or someone you know, I am here to declare that there is HOPE for you!! And that hope is found in Jesus Christ and the truth of His word. No matter what ‘season’ of life you are in, God has not abandoned you. If He has allowed a painful or difficult situation in your life, He will walk beside you all the way. As you read the following Scriptures, it is my prayer that you begin to feel the warmth of God’s word and the hope found in Jesus Christ. As Jesus Himself said in John 4:46,“I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

1 Peter 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Titus 3:4-7

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Psalm 71:5

“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.”

Ephesians 1:18

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Colossians 1:27

“ . . . Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Hebrews 6:18, 19

“ . . . by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:8

“But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Romans 5:2b-5

“and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

As God’s word tells us, the hope we have through Christ Jesus is many things.  

It is:

• ·        living
• ·        eternal
• ·        an anchor for our soul
• ·        sure and steadfast

The hope we have through Christ will never disappoint. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

So take heart, dear reader! If you are experiencing a season of hopelessness, my prayer for you is Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  

Blessings!

PSALM 100

by Hallie Gipson

When I sit down each morning to have my ‘quiet time’ with the Lord, I often use one of the Psalms to help me focus on God and tune my heart toward Him.

Psalm 100 is one I memorized as a child and I love how it reads in the King James translation of the Bible.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God;

It is He that has made us and not we ourselves;

we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into

His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him,

and bless His name. For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures

to all generations.”

As we read this Psalm, we see definite actions the worshiper takes as he approaches God:

• Make a joyful noise
• Serve the Lord with gladness
• Come before Him with singing 
• Enter His Presence with thanksgiving and praise
• Bless His name

We have this response because we know He is the Lord God! The Psalmist gives us insight about who God is:

• Our maker
• The Shepherd
• Good
• Merciful
• Everlasting
• Enduring truth

When we look at Psalm 100 and see God for who He is, our response must be one of joyful praise that is filled with thanksgiving. “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.”

Praise Him today, dear reader and bless His name! He has indeed done great things for us!!

God's Names and Attributes (G's)

by Hallie Gipson

As I continue with the Names and Attributes of God, it seems fitting to re-visit the purpose behind what could be called an ‘exercise’ by some. But it has been so much more to me!! Although I don’t use these every day, I often return to them when I struggle with focus or worship in my quiet time. There is that indescribable ‘thing’ that happens when we open God’s Word and begin to read and meditate on who God is --- the Who of God. As I meditate on a name or attribute and look up the Scripture that is the source of what we know to be true about God, I am drawn into God’s Presence and reminded that He is Who He says He is!! Isn’t God’s Word amazing?!?!

Two of the words I have listed today are adjectives. As Webster defines an adjective it is: used to note the quality of what is named; describes a noun or pronoun; or specifies a thing as distinct from something else. So when we say that God is Great, we are using it to note the quality of God and to give definition to God’s love, wrath, promises, salvation, power, glory, and faithfulness. Also, when we say God is Gracious, again we are using it to describe a quality of God.

So let’s go to the ‘source’ as we focus on God!

GREAT

Deuteronomy 10:17  “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”

2 Samuel 7:22  “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”

Psalm 145:3  “Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.”

Daniel 9:4  “I (Daniel) prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

GUARD

Isaiah 52:12  “But you will not leave in haste or go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

GUARDIAN

1 Peter 2:25  “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

GUIDE

Psalm 23:3  “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Psalm 48:14  “For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”

John 16:13  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

GRACIOUS

Exodus 34:6  “Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.”

Psalm 145:8  “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.”

Nehemiah 9:17  “But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

Nehemiah 9:31  “Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God.”

I hope this ‘exercise’ will lead you to do your own search through the Word and to expand on what has been started here. You might even be inspired to come up with your own list of God's names and attributes and use them to praise God for who He has been to you.

Father, I thank You that You show us Who You are through the indescribable blessing of your Word! All praise and glory belong to You!!

Today, and Tomorrow

By Shirley Wiggins

“Humans live in time but (God) destines them to eternity.” … “For the Present is the point at which Time touches Eternity.”  --- C. S. Lewis.

 

Time touches eternity.  Time is mine.  This present time is mine.  Mine to truly live, or mine to waste.  Which do I choose?   Easy!  I choose to fully live out my life in the here and now, in the present. 

 

For a time is coming, well on its way, when “time” as we know it shall be no more.  Time will have run out, reached its last moment here on this earth, for it will have run out here and begins in God’s eternal promised forever time with Him.

 

I can hardly imagine a life lived free of the pressing urgency to hurry.   Hurry, hurry, hurry up!

 

Hurry up and eat; hurry up and sleep, hurry up and work, hurry up and rest, hurry up and read, talk, walk, laugh, cry --- Hurry up and?  Die.   And, then what?

 

Today melts away, and in the night becomes tomorrow.   Tomorrow becomes today when I wake, and when I fall asleep blends again into --- tomorrow. 

 

But tomorrow always turns again into today… On and on and on…. Until…?

 

♪“Tomorrow!  Tomorrow!  I love ya,’ tomorrow!  … Tomorrow is only a day away!”  ♪

 

Tomorrow.  But what did I do with Today?

 

Numerous trains of thought run swiftly on their tracks, making me forget some most important facts:   both today and tomorrow are gifts from God.  Gifts filled with the precious, priceless commodity:  TIME!

 

What to do with it?  Oh dear, what to do with my time today?

Today is NOW, what am I doing NOW, while I live?

While I live…

Spiritual hunger for intimate communion with God is a birth born in human hearts, a birth ordained by God, a gift of grace.

Take time for fellowship with the God Who made us, --- and then, for those who have asked, or will ask, God has remade us.   We love Him because He first loved us.  Then He saved us, to live life dearly loved in and through and with Him for time… and eternity!

Psalm 63  A Psalm of David; when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.

¹ O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.

² So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.

³ Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

⁴ So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

⁵ My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips

⁶ When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.

⁷ For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.

⁸ My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

⁹ But those who seek and demand my life to ruin and destroy it shall [themselves be destroyed and] go into the lower parts of the earth [into the underworld of the dead].

¹⁰ They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a prey for foxes and jackals.

¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him [that is, who binds himself by God’s authority, acknowledging His supremacy, and devoting himself to His glory and service alone; every such one] shall glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)  Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says:  ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 6:1-2   (emphasis mine.)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:14

 What will you do with your time today?

 

 

 

DO YOU HAVE THORNS?

by Hallie Gipson

Luke 8:4-15

“When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said . . . “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

In the passage above, Jesus was teaching a large crowd and using a parable, as he often did, so those listening would understand. He used the analogy of a ‘sower’ –- a farmer –- and what happened as the seed he was sowing fell on different types of soil. As Jesus explained to His disciples in vs. 12, “the seed is the word of God” and “Those beside the road are those who have heard”.

If we claim Christ as our Savior, we can consider ourselves “good soil” because we “have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” But does that mean we are free of thorns? Oh, we may not have the thorns of unbelief, or yield to temptation because we are not firmly rooted in Christ, but I believe we do have thorns. They are not because we have heard the word and gone on our way without believing, but rather because we have allowed the devil to use the “worries and riches and pleasure of this life” to keep us from bearing “fruit with perseverance.”

As I listed the words worries, riches, and pleasures, I identified what each of those words mean for me. It was a fill in the blank exercise, if you will. And it was convicting, to say the least, to realize what ‘thorns’ I have allowed to grow in my garden!

•  What do I worry about even though God tells me in Matthew 6:25 “do not be worried about your life”?
•  What are the ‘riches’ that become my focus when God says in Matthew 6:16 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven”? 
• What pleasures do I think I have earned the right to enjoy when I live as if I have forgotten that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”?  James 1:17

Am I suggesting that Christians adopt a ‘c’est la vie’ (that’s life) attitude, quit planning wisely for the future, and live on bread and water? Certainly not!!

But I have recognized how subtly thorns creep in, even in the life of a Christian. One minute, we are a lush, green garden --- the sweet-smelling aroma of the life of Christ to all around us. The next thing we know, that same garden is over-grown with weeds and thorny bushes that have choked out our love for God’s word, kept us from pressing on to maturity in Christ, and stunted once-fruitful ministries.

The questions I have asked myself are: How does it happen? How do I get the weeds under control? And, how do I prevent thorns from returning?

The Enemy is often-times subtle, and before we know it, we have allowed worries, riches, and pleasures to over-take us. Because the thorns did not appear over-night, I believe weeding them out and preventing them from returning is an on-going process that starts with a steady diet of God’s word, prayer, and thanksgiving for His great and abundant provision for us. 

As His word takes firm root in our hearts and minds, the thorns and weeds are replaced with the truths of Who God is. As we submit to God in prayer, we will “be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:14-19

Holy Father, search my heart and reveal to me the thorns and weeds in my life. I desire to once again be that green, lush, sweet-smelling garden that displays God’s glory for everyone to see. May I “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 1:17-18

THE WORDS OF GOD

by Hallie Gipson

I have set a goal for myself this year of reading the Bible through – from Genesis to Revelation. However, as it always seems to happen, I find myself slogging through Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy as if they are just squares to check off as I skim through the Old Testament and eagerly move to the New Testament. But God has reminded me that there is always great purpose in every Word that has proceeded from His mouth, whether spoken directly to His people or spoken through a messenger He appointed.

In Deuteronomy, we find Moses preparing God’s people, Israel, to go in and possess the land the Lord was giving them. They had wandered in the desert for 40 years after their release from captivity in Egypt –- a rebellious and stiff-necked people who continued to disobey God. Their wandering was the consequence of their rebellion, as was the death of an entire generation. Yet despite their rebellion, their children would still possess the Promised Land!

Even though Moses would not enter the Promised Land, nevertheless, he was God’s chosen leader to prepare Israel for their new life of promise. So how did he prepare them? With the Word of God. Deuteronomy 6:1 says, “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me (Moses) to teach you . . .” 

He continues to instruct them to obey God so they will prosper in the new land. In verses 4-7 he tells them, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Of course, we know God never speaks without purpose and verse 24 give us the reason for obeying God --- “So the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival. . . ” (emphasis mine)

As Moses continues to ‘preach’ to them, he implores them in Deuteronomy 8 to remember God’s gracious dealings with them. Verses 2-3 “You shall remember all the way the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” (emphasis mine)

In the final chapters of Deuteronomy, we read of Joshua’s commission as new leader of Israel, the beautiful “Song of Moses” in Chapter 32, and “The Blessings of Moses” in Chapter 33. In Deuteronomy 32:45-47 we read, “When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. (emphasis mine) And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”

What the children of Israel were to learn and what we are to learn about God’s word, is that it is “for our good always and for our survival”; it is what we are to live by; and “it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.”

If we are New Testament believers, we have God’s Word in the form of His Son to speak to us. John 1:1 tell us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We are also told in John 1:14 that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  

And His Word, Jesus, speaks with great purpose just as that of the Old Testament did.

John 6:35 –-- “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

John 11:25 --- “Jesus said to her (Martha), I am the resurrection and the life; he who believe in Me will live even if he dies.”

John 14:6 --- “Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

We see that God’s words through Jesus are the same as He spoke to His children of the Old Testament. His Words are our ‘bread’ (sustenance), The ‘way’ we should walk, The absolute ‘truth’, The ‘life’, the way to the Father, and assurance of inheriting our Promised Land – eternal life!

My vision has definitely been re-awakened to God’s Story from Old to New!! The threads that weave themselves seamlessly through the entirety of God’s Word become treasures if we will just stop and let God’s Words --- even those of the Old Testament --- settle in our hearts and minds as words that are not ‘idle’ but are our ‘Life.’

Holy Father, thank You for how You speak through Your Word to us. Give us open hearts to receive it, ready ears to hear it, and willing feet to obey all that You command! In the precious Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE -- Psalm 136

by Hallie Gipson

Vs. 1:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His steadfast love endures forever.”

The phrase “For His steadfast love endures forever” is repeated 26 times in this Psalm. Between each of these declarations, we are given a wonderful picture of God’s actions not only in creation, but in the redemption of His chosen people, Israel.

This Psalm declares that He:

§  is good
§  is the God of gods
§  is the Lord of lords
§  does great wonders
§  made the heavens by His understanding
§  spread out the earth above the waters
§  made the great lights –- the sun to rule over the day and the moon and stars to rule over the night.

It also tell us how he rescued His chosen people. He:

§  struck down the firstborn of Egypt
§  brought Israel out from Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arm
§  divided the Red Sea in two and made Israel pass through the midst of it
§  overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea
§  led His people through the wilderness
§  struck down great kings
§  killed the mighty kings and give their land as a heritage to Israel
§  remembered His people in their low estate
§  rescued them from their foes
§  gave food to all flesh.

Vs. 26:

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

As you give thanks to the God of heaven for His steadfast and enduring love, what would be your story? How has He rescued you, His child?

I encourage you to take some time and make your own list of His actions on your behalf. If you are like me, His gracious and merciful actions towards me are too many to count!! And it will take a lifetime of praise from my lips to glorify Him for His steadfast love that indeed endures forever!

Father, we can never praise you enough for Your goodness towards us and Your precious gift of redemption through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Increase our awareness of Your mighty works and Your Presence in our lives so that our “mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.”  (Psalm 145:21)