Hope Victorious

  Everyone loves a good idea An idea is good when it feels good and bears a good result. We celebrate the impact of a good idea – the idea itself as well as the one who had it!   An idea is good when there’s no regret in its wake. The idea comes, is acted upon and not up for re-evaluation. Not tainted by regret or sorrow, it stands clean and strong.   Everyone loves a good idea. But wisdom is even better!   Wisdom – more elusive and undefined. With wisdom there is also the satisfaction of no regret and of a good result. But wisdom can be tricky; sometimes it doesn’t feel good at the start.  Sometimes it takes time to see the goodness in the result. Wisdom can be painful.   Wisdom, in my mind, is a good idea from God. Wisdom has power that a good idea can’t have. Wisdom is super-natural, it is God-sourced   A good idea is born within the human mind Acted on with human will and effort You can mix your faith in God with a good idea A blessed good id...

There are many kinds of happy The warm sun on my face when the air is cool Seeing a bird I’ve not seen before and watching it for a while The feeling of warm sand under my feet and the sound of waves The first bite of a favorite food – savoring it   There are many kinds of happiness from people too The warmth of my husband’s touch – a happy that lights a fire inside The presence of friends who know me well – and I am free The sound of my children’s laughter   There is the sudden surprise of happy A card in the mail from a friend A check in the mail – or a gift given unexpectedly Hearing or reading something funny and laughing out loud   And then there is the deep abiding kind of happiness That lingers and gets heavy within you – a good heavy Security – peace – well-being   There is the kind of happy that comes from looking back Remembered happiness Happy memories – that make you feel happy all over again Newness of love – the wonder of love – the growth of love Or...

  I believe that God exists and that I am connected to Him by faith. I’m living this decision out every day and while there are ups and downs in the journey, it is a decision I do not re-evaluate based on circumstances. There are many decisions like this and for me it is helpful to name them. Sometimes we tend to focus too much on how we feel on a given day or in a specific set of circumstances. Often these feelings cause us to question beliefs and values that we’ve already determined in the past. Here are a few of my non-negotiables; principles that I’ve settled and do not allow myself to reconsider: ·        God is always with me. He speaks to me and listens to me as well.       I don’t always feel Him. I don’t always hear Him, but I know I will again soon. ·              My faith connects me to God and supports all that I do. I have enough faith. Sometimes my faith feels stron...

  I loved Thanksgiving when I was young. Many of my favorite memories are of Thanksgiving and the special feeling of that day. Most of my peers when I was young said that Christmas was their favorite holiday, but for me it was always Thanksgiving. For my family there was a lot in common between the two: a day spent with family, lots of baking and cooking, board games and watching football, extended family and friends visiting. When I was a kid, we often went to my paternal grandparent’s house, who had a small farm in the country, about a 40-minute drive from my house. If we were spending the holiday with my mom’s side of the family, we typically gathered at my aunt and uncle’s big house that was in the same town as our house and that of my maternal grandparents. I loved going to both places! There were similar things, but also differences that made each place enjoyable and special. I loved the feeling of Thanksgiving, my family together all day, eating yummy food and playing togeth...

  The unity of believers is a strategic witness to the greatness and power of God. As Christians we have the opportunity to demonstrate God in how we live in unity amid a world obsessed with comparison, competition and performance. As our world is torn apart by division based on appearance, belief, opinion and affiliation – we can stand apart. Unity – togetherness. A choice that is difficult and costly. Unity is not agreement. It is not conformity. Unity is a choice, a prioritizing of importance.   Joshua rallied the people of Israel prior to his death and called them to choose again to serve God and not the idols and pagan gods of the land. They stood in the land of Promise, the land their ancestors waited for, wandering in the wilderness because of their lack of faith. Joshua and the new generations claimed it with their faith, they fought the battles and witnessed the victories of God again and again. And there they stood victorious residents of age-old promises, commit...

  Bird What do you sing about? And when you stop – Why? I like your morning song best of all Bright and cheerful – a greeting of the day   Where do you go in the rain? Are the drops heavy on your wings? I see you darting for cover But never witness your return to the sky   I see you in the trees – your house is so near my own You bathe in my fountain Enjoy the flowers I’ve planted Pull the worms from my lawn But I do not know you   I wish you could sit near me I can be still and quiet I would like to see your eyes And listen to your voice up close   Sing little bird And I will imagine You are saying good morning To me –   Tired Heavy eyelids           Deep breathing I am tired           Weary of going and coming and going again                     Weighed down by all the things that re...

  You’ve shared my brightest moments           Witnessed my triumphs           And your cheers have encouraged my effort You’ve seen my courage and heard my “yes” when it was tentative and unsure           You know the cost I bore           My whispered fears and quiet tears With steadfast faith in God’s goodness           You have prayed for me and with me           Your faith has pointed the way           When I felt lost and was too afraid to move   I have seen your heart too           The joyful, bold and overcoming times           When love overflowed and my pride in you mixed                with awe of the goodness and faithfulness of God We have celebrated and...

  “Are you hungry according to your appetite or mine?”   I was praying and preparing for our Sunday worship service. My hopes were up, thinking of all that God may do in our time together. We were having a special speaker, and I was filled with anticipation of the wisdom and power that would be released. I had great faith for how God would touch me and each of those who came. At first, I felt the Holy Spirit stirring up my faith, increasing my expectation. I was declaring the desires of my heart for myself and those in the congregation. Believing that the revelation God would release through the worship and speaker that morning would bring freedom and transformation for each of us, I began to thank Him for the specific impact of this breakthrough. I had faith for words of encouragement, for invitations into freedom from depression, addiction and apathy. I felt that He would bring comfort and reassurance to individuals with long-standing unanswered prayers, and they would h...

  I bear no regret There is no shame Not sorrow or pain I hold no doubt towards you None   I don’t remember your mistakes or failings Your weaknesses are not weighty to me I am not at a loss for what to do How to respond I have lost no hope or joy in you I cannot be disappointed in you And never feel that I have wasted any ounce of investment in you   My plan is leading you I intercept your mistakes with my redemption Your places of weakness are my strategy for promotion I partner my strength with you I enjoy you!   I look at you through love that is greater than any love you’ve yet known You are learning. You are becoming My love is forming you and I am confident Leading you brings me great joy   You are never heavy or difficult for me to bear I am the one who created you, called you and paid a high price for you You are mine and I bear no regret in you   Again and again, I will call to you I call...

  It can be difficult to truly rest. There is more to resting than simply ceasing activity or doing less. Rest is more than being inactive, it is more than being quiet or doing nothing. Rest is not sleeping.   Rest is more than a physical state; true rest is found when you are in a place of peace, being refreshed and restored. I find rest to impact my mind and emotions in addition to my body. I want to share the key truths that I find best support and enable me to rest. When I focus on these truths I can rest amid hardship and stress. There will always be reasons to be anxious and to stay busy. I believe that rest is a choice, a discipline that is critical to our health and wholeness. When I focus on these truths, I can choose to rest: Rest is necessary and commanded by God. My effort is not the biggest factor in my success. My choice to rest instead of striving is a command of God. My relationship with God is advanced and deepened when I choose to rest and depend more on Hi...

  Home   Secure and Confident In who I am           No pretense           No need to strive, worry or be on guard Accepted   -   Approved of Loved Celebrated   Imagine being so sure of how you will be received That you are free           Completely Unashamed           Unafraid and Unintimidated           Encouraged           Guaranteed Praise This is freedom “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere”*   I knock and you answer I cry out and You hear me Open arms greet me   I am here At Home With You, my God       *Psalm 84:10             I Run to You   I am running to your protection You define my safety I trust You I take risks and I am stretched Within Your protection, I can grow   I run to your power...