Reason for HOPE

I had a question that hit me as I was reading a book. It asked, “When was the last time someone REALLY stopped you and asked about the REASON of your hope?” Wow, I mean in all seriousness, I did have to really think and then I had to admit my thought was OUCH!

If we’re honest here, there really isn’t anything about our lives worth asking about. Most of us just go day in and day out in the most normal way, nothing sets us apart from anyone else. We robotically get up, deal with normal life and go to bed and do it all over again. There’s nothing that intrigues someone to ask about our hopes, nothing to make someone curious.  Now, I’m not saying none of us have hope. I mean…I hope I have enough money in the bank to pay my bills each week. Enough money to go on a vacation trip. We hope our favorite team makes it to the World Series, we hope we don’t get cancer or we hope we can deal with cancer. Everybody has some kind of hopes like that and there’s nothing wrong with that but it’s also not unusual. So why would most folks ask us about that? It’s just normal life in general.

What got me to thinking is, I don’t want my walk with God to be something that no one sees. I don’t want it to be something that others don’t ask about and wonder what my real hope is in. I know I share these devotions on my page and I know some read them and comment, that’s not what I am fishing for is comments. I just hope some are reading them. I pray each time I post that it will bring some meaning to someone else’s life on here. Maybe help to make a difference for their day and place some HOPE that they have a reason to even live.

If you don’t feel you have that HOPE in your life. I’m here for you. I sure don’t know all the answers there are in the Bible but I can sure help you find what you are seeking. No mumble jumble coming to church stuff, that’s not what it’s about. But if you want real hope….God is there. Believe me, not talking religious stuff….I’m not even going there. But I can pray for you and get you on the right track if you need someone to talk to. I just know that I have HOPE that is the best kind and you can have through Jesus Christ.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)

Judging

Sometimes I feel like the $5 DVD bin at Walmart.  Strung here there and everywhere.  Not organized, turned upside down, sideways….you’ve seen it and know what I mean.  Everyone wants to dig around and pull stuff up and out and if it’s not to their liking, they toss it back and walk away.

Sounds kind of silly to use a DVD bin as an object lesson, but for most of us if we are normal blooded people, we know the feeling.  We get hit from all directions over feeling just looked at and tossed over.  From work, home, the kids to even doing it to ourselves.  We give off a good vibe of being one thing and as folks get closer to us….they can sometimes read what or who we really are and NOPE….toss you back and walk away.  They don’t want to watch and see who you really are, they only read the cover like a book and toss it back.  Sadly, we judge so many people these days by how they look, act, or seem. 

If we don’t take the time to really listen and get to know someone, we will never know the real person behind the cover.  I remember going to my 10 year class reunion (they just had the 45^th one, so tells you how long it’s been!) and one gal who would have never given me the time of day in high school sat down and we got to laughing and talking.  She told me she wish she had gotten to know me better back then, that I was someone she would have liked to hang out with.  I wasn’t much better either as I thought she was too high and mighty at the time to get to know.  Both of us had missed an opportunity because we judged one another.  We were more alike and probably would have been good friends

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Don’t miss seeing someone for just their cover.  So many people are hurting and we walk by daily and never notice the down and out.  We judge too easily these days and can miss knowing someone who might just be one of the best parts of your life….or what you need in your life right now.

“Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things.”  (Romans 2:1 CEV)

Heart Love

"I've discovered that if people are not on my heart, they’re on my nerves. Heart love begins with understanding why someone feels the way they do. Ask questions and then listen. Hear the hurt, look for the problems, know what makes them tick. You need to understand the moods of the people closest to you, why they act the way they do. If you care, you’ll be aware. " (Rick Warren, Saddleback Church)

I do this. Something in me.....I pick up on those around me....I see hurts and or hear them share their problems.  I tend to have a lot of sympathy that turns over into empathy and I somehow end up trying to help others around me all the time.

However, it's not always given back or folks aware of the pain I am going thru at times, or problems I may have.....because, I don't always send out the vibes that something is going on.  I am good at masking and don't share the hurts, or let others see that I may be hurting or something is deeply bothering me.  I put on the mask or I keep trying to just help others and go on.  So many times when I am throwing out some advice or lifting someone else up through a word or trying to help….inside I have to go off and be by myself and almost shut down to recoup.

I'm the clown, cheerleader, and helper, that person who wears the smiling face and makes sure that everyone else is taken care of......because I have people on my heart all the time. I have HEART LOVE for those around me.  It’s part of what is called my “spiritual gift” to encourage those around me.   But some days....I'm like Rick Warren says.....when they are not on my heart....folks can really get on my nerves. So if I care.....I'll be more aware and slow down and try to understand that person a little better.  I put myself in their shoes and I take time out to feel what they are going through.  Heart love….look around folks, people need some of us to stop and understand them instead of getting upset with them.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”  (Romans 12:9-10 NLT)

CHOICES

Small choices add up and can have a big effect.  At the time, when we make a small choice we don’t always see the result from it or an impact it may make later on.  Just an example, for many of us if we make the wrong choice in eating something we can feel the major effects of it later on with heartburn or worse.  Some of the decisions we make today will determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow or down the road. 

I’ve talked to many people about how a choice they made in their youth has dogged them every day now as they have gotten older.  Bad choices made led to jail time, drug use, habits that are hard to kick and some have lost all they had, including their family.  All because of a choice they had made and didn’t see the result or how it would impact their life later.  On the other hand, I’ve also talked to those who said they had made a good choice after thinking and weighing the options they had in front of them before deciding.

 

Recently, I had someone tell me that they had lost their job a while back and was looking for another one and had prayed in finding the right one.  No jobs in site and suddenly two interviews came and they went on both and were going to be offered at both places.  The decision to go with one came with a lot more pay but seemed a little “iffy” in stability than the other one.  As the person said they were deciding to choose the “more paying job” over the other, a still small voice told them….THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU.   Said person almost just let the still small voice go in and out their ear, however they decided to rely on the voice they heard and went to work with the lesser company.  Now after 14 years….this person said they made the right choice and has had the best job they have ever had in their life.  They also found out the other company went under in less than 2 years and they would have been without a job again.

Choices….we all have to make them day in and out.  They can have a major impact in our lives for the good and the bad.  One bad or good choice can affect us a life time.  For myself, I’ve always tried to include God with my choices and I have to admit, I selfishly sometimes don’t.  And when I didn’t….well, let’s just say God has saved me out of some situations in my bad choices I have made I the past.  We all have stories we could share about making the wrong or right choice.  When it comes down to it….we are not always the best for making them either…..another reason I rely on the Lord.

“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV)

Counting Days

Lately I’ve been hearing folks talk about “counting days”. One was counting days till their retirement in another month. Another counting down till vacation, while another was counting the days till their new baby arrived. Kids are counting down the days they have left of summer till school starts back up and so are the teachers. Sadly, one told me they had been counting the days till their loved one passes on. Face it, we all count our days at times but what really got me to thinking was, DO WE REALLY MAKE OUR DAYS COUNT?

Most of us have heard the little saying that you have the date you were born and the date you will pass away on your headstone, but it’s the dash in between that is the living. It’s true, those are the days we count. Talking with the person, who’s family member is passing away, they told me they had wished they could get some of their days back with their loved one and make the days really count with them. I know we are all guilty of it. We get so busy living the dash that we don’t really make our day count.

I told my friend that they can’t change the days that are gone, but they can make each remaining day count and be precious that they do have with their loved one. Make those so special that they will not feel guilty for taking the time out to make those days count with them. I’m not preaching, but we all know it’s true. We fill our days up with so much stuff, crap, cell phones, tweets and one day we will look back and wish we had made our days count better with our family and friends.

I’m being perfectly honest with you all as I know I can let my days slip by and look back on a calendar and say….can’t even remember what happened on those days and nothing really will have counted. It was the same old same old routine and I could have, should have, but didn’t.

Are you counting the days…..or are you making your days count?

“You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes.” (James 4:14 CEB)

Zip the Lips

Our words have power.   Words can bless someone or break them down.  The old childhood saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me”, is a lie.  We all know too well how someone’s words cut us to the bone like they were using a steel blade knife.

I’ve got a scar on my right knee from falling on a rock as a kid.  It caused a gash that to this day is still there but rarely do I think about it anymore.  However, I can still remember like it was yesterday of some hurtful words that someone said to me or called me as a kid.  Being called worthless, you’ll never amount to anything, has stabbed at me many times over the years.  Other times, hearing someone tell me that you are important, that you do matter, have helped to shape me to who I am today.  I was told that God loved me and through Him, I have been able to move past negative words and not let them bother me to this day, but to be honest, it still does hurt at times.

Same with everyone.  Sometimes, we don’t realize what we are saying to those around us.  We use social media like it’s a right to put someone down or make fun of them.  Bullying comes in so many different forms these days.  We belittle people and then sit and chalk up another notch on our belts.  It doesn’t matter if you say the words out loud, in front of the person.  We type emails, tweet, and text words that we ourselves wouldn’t like to be said to us.  They have the power to hurt or help.

Next time you start to say, text, type your words to others….STOP and make sure what you are saying would hurt or help that person.  It’s hard to take something back when it’s been said.

^“Help me to guard my words whenever I say something.”  (Psalm 141:3 CEV)

Cheerleader

Many who know me, really know me, know that I am an Encourager.  I can’t help it….call me the side line cheerleader.  My older brother, Ron, always told me I was his personal cheerleader and I have a few close friends who have told me they can count on me to cheer them on when they are feeling low.  As a Believer and Follower of Christ….God gives us what is called SPIRITUAL GIFTS.  Now this is different than just talents we have been blessed with.  If you read in 1^st Corinthians 12, the list is there.  Some can have a few, but not all.  There are some on-line tests you can take to find out what your gifts are.  And funny, when you take the test….it really does fall in to your personality, things you like to do and other talents you may have that can be used for God’s Glory.  Encouragement is my top one.

This morning I was heavy in my heart over several friends I have that are going through some tough times.  Seems if you are an “encourager” God tends to send those who need it the most your way.  But where does the cheerleader get some encouragement when they are always cheering others on?  I asked God that this morning, which I already knew the answer but was having one of those little “pity parties” with myself and feeling a bit alone.  I stepped outside and went to my little area where I will swing at times and look over the back field. 

GOD let me see and hear all around me.  Open my eyes and ears, He said.  Birds were singing all over the place.  Blue sky and a breeze with light clouds forming off in the distance.  Bees buzzing around my wild flowers and the sounds of the cicada’s chiming in.  I felt the warmth come over me and could hear God say….THERE YOU GO CHEERLEADER….I know your heart is heavy but you carry on for me.  Listen and be cheered by how blessed you are.   I was….and my shoulders lifted a bit and I felt stronger.

 

As I got back up to head in the house…..I stopped for just a minute and looked down….BINGO…a 4 leaf clover!  Some might call it a fluke, some might say just a coincidence….but I knew it was God letting me know He was there and it made me smile.  I was encouraged big time.  God cares about all of us and He is in to the “little things” to show us He’s there.  This cheerleader got encouraged for sure.