Hope Victorious

  When I come to the end of me I find there is no end to you Your faithfulness goes on and on And on and on through all eternity Unending Love    -    Ceaseless Hope    -    Power without boundary   I find the end of me Fearful    -    Tearful    -    Alone And there I am in the mist of you Me – a dot on your timeline   I rest my ending In your eternity:    Secure    -    Purposeful    -    Anchored I find myself in your unending love Saturated and Filled Your strength invading   -    Covering    -    Overwhelming every weakness Every part of me, that I prefer to hide I rest   -    I remain Trusting   -    Anchored    -    Belonging           In you, I find I have no ending N...

  A Modern Parable The scope of this promise is huge! Paul, the writer of the book of Romans had faith for it though and he had some extreme examples of “all things” from his own life. If God could make something amazing out of the ingredients of Paul’s life, maybe there’s hope for us too! Think of the cooking reality shows where experienced cooks are competing to create amazing dishes on the spot using the main ingredients that are yet to be discovered. Each of the competitors stands behind a counter, with full access to a pantry stocked with all the spices and supplies they could think of. They also have all the kitchen tools and appliances they could ever need available. There is a time limit and the judges stand watching. In front of each chef is a large plate with the pre-selected main ingredients hidden beneath a silver dome. When the time begins, they will lift the dome and see what they will need to create their dish around. They will be surprised and will need to think...

  The parable of the good shepherd is one of my favorite passages for building faith that we can hear God’s voice. Recently as I was teaching from this passage, I gained this new perspective: I think faith was required of Jesus as well!   Jesus told this parable, found in John 10, to demonstrate the nature of relationship between Himself and people. He used the relationship between sheep and their shepherd as an analogy because this was common and familiar to His listeners. Jesus clarifies that the shepherd in this parable is “good” and He states clearly in verse 11, that He is the good shepherd in the parable.   In the beginning of the parable (verses 1-5) Jesus is talking about how there is a good shepherd, but also strangers who would not enter by the gate and the sheep will not follow the voice of the stranger. In verse 6 we see some of John’s commentary.   He says that the people weren’t understanding what Jesus was saying. So, Jesus seems to start again in ve...

  W O N D E R   I wonder IF I wonder WHEN HOW?           I wonder how… WHY?           Does it even matter? I WONDER I am learning more from asking - Than from any answer I am hearing I am a student of WONDER           Possibility                Desire                     Hope                          Awe                                  I let my mind go… I    W O N D E R       Memory   I remember The feeling of you What your eyes said when you looked at me The warmth of your hand The music of your laughter   I remember how solid and sure I was of the love that connected us Gran...

  One of my strengths is making connections between passages of scripture and creating applications from the themes that connect them. This is one example of this that has been so real in my life recently. In this writing I look briefly at 3 interactions of Jesus with people:  Jesus cleansing 10 lepers, the father of the demon-possessed boy interacting with Jesus, and the conversation Jesus had with His disciples about the “rich young ruler”. I’m pulling a common thread through these 3 and applying that theme to how we can respond to Jesus. Gratitude Luke 17:11-19 There were 10 lepers, who, when they saw Jesus, cried out to Him for mercy. Jesus saw them and instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests. The text says in verse 14, that “as they were going, they were cleansed.”. In the following verse it says that one of the men returned to Jesus when he realized that he was healed. He came and fell down before Jesus to thank and praise Him. This was Jesus’ respon...

A seed is full of potential The mature plant and future harvest Hides within the darkness of a seed Compact – Microscopic – Dynamic – Waiting – Holding – Tightly Closed – Storehouse of promise and future fruitfulness Growth Potential   But growth is conditional The terms must be met Specific conditions supplied Moisture and darkness for root eruption Light and moisture for the sprout Growth has its demands Light – Water – Nutrients – The more it grows – The more it needs The small quiet seed has become increasingly demanding A seedling noisy with hunger Growth takes time Maturity is a process With needs and ideals   Fruitfulness is the reward of growth Harvest is the great victory won by the seed It is the assurance of legacy For fruit bears seeds Future Potential As so the cycle perpetuates   A new generation of seeds Potential – Promise – Hunger –   Demand –   When conditions are met –   ...

  I have recently gained new understanding of the process of healing from emotional wounding. I am passionate about the ability we all have to heal from trauma and deep pain. We need not be limited and defined by it forever. I have found that the process of healing is intentional and not merely a matter of time or “moving on”. To heal one must face the betrayal, trauma event or relationship that caused the pain and walk through the process of identifying the impact it had on them. One must grieve and be comforted. Often working through anger and disappointment is required in order to forgive and come to a place of peace. I have found that it is possible to experience freedom from the anger, shame and deep sorrow that is often the result of trauma or deep emotional wounding. I have experienced my own journey of healing from physical and sexual abuse. I have also worked through relational tensions, betrayal and loss. In all these journeys I have experienced a kind of process that i...

  Love is a powerful agent of change. Love comforts. Love heals. Love brings hope. Love strengthens and perseveres. Words of love calm and bring peace. 1Peter 4:8 says this of love; “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Peter is writing about relationships within community. Earlier in his letter, Peter was writing about Jesus as the ultimate expression of love and how He is our example of how to love one another. He writes about the messiness of a faith community living in the midst of others who do not share the same values. It is in this context that he exhorts his reader to love one another fervently. Giving them the challenge of verse 4:8. How does love cover sin?...even a multitude of sin!? Peter has written about Jesus earlier and he will again in the verses that follow. But here in verse 8, he is definitely addressing inter-personal relationships. I think Peter says this because love is messy betwe...

  I don’t just love you   I like you I enjoy you You thrill me   My heart leaps My face light up My spirit smiles   At the sight of you   I am not weighing the good and the bad I am not measuring you or keeping track My evaluation is already completed   Approved   -   Accepted   -   Loved   I see all that you are   Welcomed   -   Celebrated   -   Embraced   As I consider you, I am   Hopeful   -   Joyful   -   Full of love and promise   I would say these words to my children. My feelings may not agree with the truth of these words every minute of each day – I get frustrated, annoyed, angry and hurt just like every one else. But they are still true! Even when I am hurt by or angry at one of my sons, I still love them fiercely. I am not a perfect parent and I don’t expect perfection from my children. I aim to keep my love for...

  A Promise is only as good as the keeper Speak O promise keeper Light my Way I will follow the sound of hope Whispers of love Remind me of the connection You to me I am never alone Cannot stray too far Love holds me Hope calls My heart hears My spirit tunes its ear Speak your promises Lights strung along the path And I am walking with you Unafraid – I am trusting Confident – I am loved Shinning bright O Path of Promise I am on my Way!