Be Hopeful

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27: 14

Don't ever think that you or your circumstances won't change. You ARE growing and evolving every day you just don't see it yet.

Let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame, disappointed or let down. Psalm 25:3

The enemy wants us feeling like nobody cares and that we don't have purpose so we'll get depressed, because it's hard to bless others when we're depressed.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the help of my sad countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5

So as a reminder ...

- you ARE loveable
- God DOES care about you
- you DO make a difference
- you DO have lots to offer

... so hold your head high and BE HOPEFUL.

Father, thank You that those whose hope is in You won’t be disappointed. May You, the God of our hope, so fill us with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of our faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound and be overflowing and bubbling over with hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.



see also related AFTA blog: The Man with the Plan

Feeling Down and Out?

Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Don't be afraid of them ... today I have made you strong ... I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken. Jeremiah 1:17-19

So, in July of this year I got a real bad sunburn on both my legs from floating in the Frio River with sunscreen everywhere on me but my legs (duh). My legs blistered and my feet stayed incredibly swollen for 2 weeks. Then, I got a bad infection on both my legs (from knees to feet), probably from open skin from the sunburn. Those things started to heal and I realized I still could barely walk and was told by the doctor I had vein issues from inadequate blood flow ‘cause my feet were swollen for so long. With compression hose my circulation got better. But almost 2 months later, I’m still struggling to walk. Still severe, gut wrenching pain. Then comes the news from my doctor (all this has caused 9 doctor visits now and 1 emergency room trip) that I have torn ligaments in my ankles and that I need to wear splints on my legs/ankles to let my ligaments heal and give my ankles support. Great. Just what I needed.

You know how it is. I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point in our life. The times that you really have to struggle to find your hope and get out of bed and continue to live your life despite setbacks. I have to keep reminding myself that others have it so much worse than I and God’s been good to me through it all.

The Lord gave me the above verses this morning to help me to motivate to get up today. He wants me to GET UP, GET DRESSED, and GET GOING despite what’s coming against me and to trust Him, knowing He has me and my situation under control.

So … the point is to make sure you put suntan lotion on, everywhere. Ok, that’s not the real point I’m trying to make, but it’s a good one. The real point here is … despite your trials and how down and out you may feel - REJOICE, for He is worthy of your praise. Regardless of what happened yesterday it's going to be a great day today, because you have another day to glorify God. This is the day that the Lord's made ... REJOICE and be glad in it.

Father, I pray that you give us the strength to get up, get dressed, and get going. Above all else today, may Your name be glorified. In Jesus’ name, amen.