Hope for Hopelessness

 Are you feeling hopeless?

I think that we all go through certain times when we begin to feel hopeless.  Perhaps certain negative circumstances are happening and you just can't seem to see how things will ever work out.  Or perhaps you've suffered loss of a loved one, a job, finances, or a friendship.  Maybe your life is in a rut and you feel like you are spinning your wheels and things will never change for the better.  Or maybe you are struggling with pain or an illness.  At times like these, feelings of hopelessness try to set in.

There are many Bible Promises that we can claim for ourselves when we feel hopeless.  One favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Whenever we feel like we can't deal with the challenges of life, remember this promise and ask God to fill you through His Holy Spirit so that we will be empowered to deal with the difficulties.  Another promise that often comes to mind is from Romans 8:28.  "All things work together for good to those who love God."  When everything seems to be going haywire, I start praising God that He will take these situations and bring something good out of them.

Another awesome promise in Scripture is found in Philippians 4:19: "My God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory."  This reminds us to tap into His abundance and trust Him to meet the need that we have.

  A Personal Relationship Brings Hope

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, there can seem to be no hope.  Without the assurance that you are loved by your Heavenly Father and that He is there with you in the middle of the storms in your life, it is hard to grasp how things can ever change for the better.  If you know God, you can experience peace and joy by turning over your hopeless feelings and thoughts to Him and by claiming the promises that are in the Scriptures.

There are so many Bible Promises that will drive away hopelessness and bring peace and comfort.  But they only apply to those who humble themselves before God, admit that they are sinners, believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, and invite Him to take over your life.  At that moment you become a member of God's family and can claim the wonderful promises you find in the Bible.  That is how God brings hope to the hopeless.

Needing A Shepherd

How often we need to focus on who our Shepherd is.  Jesus Christ is always there for us and we have only to call upon Him and He will answer.  Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and for so much more.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.  And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.  I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.  I will feed them in justice.

 In the villages of southern Germany, shepherds still tend their flocks. One crisp fall morning, a lamb was born as I watched from the kitchen window. It quickly stood on wobbly legs, nursing eagerly from its mother. Later that morning the shepherd was moving the sheep to another pasture. As he headed off, the sheep obediently followed, except the mother whose little lamb was still too weak for the journey. She dashed after the shepherd, then looking back at her lamb, bolted back to it. Increasingly distressed, she seemed to know she was unable to do what was needed to both care for her babe and follow the shepherd. My anxiety grew as well. Did he not see her distress? Would he carry on, oblivious to her need?

Settling the flock in their new pasture, he turned back to the abandoned ewe and her lamb. Leaving his dog to watch the others, he returned. Lifting the little lamb to his shoulders, he led the mother to the rest of the flock.
How often have I thought that God was oblivious to my need? How many times have I questioned what he is doing?
God affirms that he is our Good Shepherd, binding up the injured, strengthening the weak, going after the one who has lost his way, carrying the lambs in his bosom. He will never abandon us.

Falling in Love and Staying in Love

It is easy to fall in love.  But, staying in love requires a great deal of work, just ask anyone who has been married for awhile.  My honeybunny and I have had to work to overcome problems we have faced.  I am sure that there will still be problems as we age together.    Here are three things in this recipe that help you work on your relationship with your spouse.  These three are Communication, Companionship and Commitment.

Recipe for Marriage


Companionship
Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with your wife whom you love, all the days of your vain  life...


Companionship is the number one thing that both men and women desire in marriage.  Isn't that a shock?  Think about it, when everything else falls apart, friendship will last.  It is so important to be able to enjoy your life as you share it with your spouse.  Share things together, laugh together, do things together that you both enjoy.  This is the foundation on which love in marriage can be established.


Song of Solomon 5:16
...This is my Beloved, and this is my friend...


Your spouse should be your friend.  Your spouse should have the place of being your closest and most cherished companion, you do your part and let God be in control of your spouses' part.  Make time for your spouse.
CommunicationCommunication is  essential for staying in love.  Women communicate differently from men, so it is so important to learn how to talk with your spouse, in ways for work for each one of you.  We all have thoughts, feelings and needs, so expressing them to one another is again so important.  It is necessary to be able to communicate how you feel, in order to get to know each other, what you like and don't like, what your dreams are, your goals.  Talk over things with your spouse to see what is acceptable and what is not.  Great communication with your spouse helps you to stay in love with one another.


Commitment
Genesis 2:24  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.


The Biblical commitment to your spouse is your highest priority, ahead of your father and mother or friends.  When pressures overwhelm you and companionship and communication may disintegrate, commitment to one another will carry you through.  My honeybunny and I have had disagreements, but the commitment we made to one another, and the determination to make it work have helped us forgive one another, communicate our feelings and resolve our differences.  Set your affection on your spouse, no other.  Keep your promises and oaths you made on your wedding day.  Be faithful in your covenant of love.  


Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.


Jesus' love for His Church is the ultimate example of commitment, giving Himself up to death on the cross for His beloved.


Please follow Christ's example to be absolutely and totally committed to your spouse, in good times and in bad.


This recipe can be used in any relationship, spouse or friendship.  These are the foundations used to build and nurture and keep your love alive and well.  Apply these to your relationships and I am sure you will be blessed!  Remember God must be the main ingredient and prayer for each other is of the utmost importance.  Even if you are fighting, you can still be praying for one another.  That can give you comfort and reassurance.  When you have finally found the one God has for you, continue to seek God's guidance, His blessings, pray without ceasing and put this recipe into practice and the results will be a long, satisfying and strong life together.  God bless you! 

In Memory of Barbara Simpson Turner

My sister in law went to be with the Lord and she will be missed.  She won't have to suffer from cancer anymore, just rejoice with Jesus and worship the Lord.  Life had been hard, but her children were blessed by her as  were we all.


With all the family in Alabama for the funeral on Wednesday, praying that the sorrow of her death will be replaced with the joy of her being in the arms of Jesus and out of pain.  She worked hard for family and did what was best for them even when they didn't know it.


As mothers we are not often rewarded, but we do it because we love them and want the best for them, not for earthly rewards but for heavenly joys.  God has guided her decisions and her life and now she receives her crown of glory.  Her body made new, no longer in pain, praising her Savior for all eternity.  


Thank you Barbara for what you added to our lives.  May we remember the good times we had together and the special way you showed you care.  We were blessed to know you, may we too bless those who know us.