1st Sunday in Advent ~ HOPE

Light the candle of HOPE ~

HOPE ~ Jesus is THE hope of all the world. As this week begins, consider what HOPE looks like. Will you share the HOPE of Jesus with another person this Christmas season? When you listen, can you hear the bells ringing HOPE for the world? The only way to have spiritual peace is to let the HOPE of Jesus define life. Have you found His peace? ~ dho

* Casting Crowns "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

Pray More

"Everytime we pray our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don't pray more." Oswald Chambers

God Alone Can See

Hymn of Promise

words/music: Natalie Sleeth, 1986

In the bulb there is a flower;

in the seed, an apple tree;

in cocoons, a hidden promise: 

butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter

there's a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season, 

something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence,

seeking word and melody;

there's a dawn in every darkness,

bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future;

what it holds, a mystery,

unrevealed until its season, 

something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; 

in our time, infinity;

in our doubt there is believing; 

in our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection;

at the last, a victory,

unrevealed until its season, 

something God alone can see.

I heard this hymn a few weeks ago at my daughter's church, and love the words! In its simplicity there is great depth and meaning. The theme is repeated at the end of each verse ~ no matter the time, whether a time of beginning, of waiting, of doubting, God's promise to us remains. Through all the uncertainty that life brings, we can be certain of God's goodness. His tender love for us reaches through the difficulty, through the unknown. God has a plan for each of His children and desires a relationship with each of us. Even when we cannot see the reason, the answer, or the end result, God can. Trust is the key component in every relationship. Do you trust God with everything? 

This week I have been following a Facebook page Prayers for Gabe. The young mother of Gabe updates the page. Seems a couple of weeks ago, this two year old was burned in a freak accident. It first came to my attention when I a mutual FB friend noted the page. The family is from Mississippi, which caught my attention, but currently is receiving care in the Burn Unit in Augusta, GA. In a short two weeks, thousands ~ in fact, over 10,000 people ~ have responded to the the page. Most do not know the family; some have experienced burns or family members have been burned. All offer prayers and words of encouragement to this mother who sits beside her child as he struggles to live. Tragedy, disappointment, and uncertainty come in unexpected ways, at unpredictable times. In times like these, we must turn to God for comfort and encouragement, seek His unfailing love and faithful provisions, find His peace! We must trust that God alone can see!  ~dho

God IS Gracious!

"God is gracious - it is He who makes things right, our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, He saved me.
I said to myself, "Relax and rest. GOD has showered you with blessings.
Soul, you have been rescued from death; Eye, you have been rescued from tears; and you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." I'm striding in the presence of GOD, alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though bedeviled, and despite a ton of bad luck, . . .
I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of GOD.
I'll complete what I promised GOD I'd do, and I'll do it in company of His people" Psalm 116:7-10, 17,18 The Message

This week a friend lost her wallet which had a significant amount of cash inside. A few hours later she received a call from the Sheriff's Department; someone had turned in her wallet after they found it in a parking lot! AND, all the money was still there! According to the Sheriff's clerk, the person who turned it in did not want to leave a name, just hoped it would be returned. The most unusual thing is that my friend's phone number was not in her wallet. Her driver's license was there but she does not have a land line phone, and her cell phone is a disposable phone to which she keeps adding minutes. We aren't sure how they found her number! God's angels are all around!

When difficult and unexpected craziness interrupts our days, when disappointment and unexplained chaos interferes with our weeks, when deception and uneven cracks intersects our way, we must remember it is God who is gracious and loving! In God we find rest and peace! Offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving ~ a praise, a Hallelujah, a 'thank-You, Jesus' should be our frequent response, our faithful reply! God, who is always gracious, desires our obedience to Him and our praise! Be alert! God is always present ~ don't miss Him in the craziness of this world! ~ dho

  

Listening for God's Voice

"Some read the Bible to learn, and some read the Bible to hear from heaven." Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray, a South African missionary in the late 1800's into the early 1900's, is well known for his many devotional writings. Murray's writings reflect his understanding that the Holy Scriptures connect us to the living God and are not just a set of rules or an account of history. In A Life of Obedience Murray explains it is through Scripture God is revealed to each of us so "that God's people might be equipped to do His will as it is done in heaven, and to be restored to the perfect obedience upon which God's heart is set." From the Holy Spirit "the Word of the living God [is spoken] to us and into us if we are to know its full power." Murray adds, "All Scripture will become the simple revelation of what God is going to do for you, in you and through you."

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read, "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God'w will in thought, purpose, and action, so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work." Through the Holy Scriptures God whispers and sometimes shouts to us. As we study God's word, our questions should not be Does God hear me? or Does God have a plan for me? Of course God hears us and has a plan. Rather the question we need to ask ourselves is Am I listening for God's voice?. God reveals himself to us through His Word. Open the Bible and seek the living God. LISTEN! ~ dho

Proof!

In the late 1500's and early 1600's, Galileo became a scientist that influenced many areas of mathematics, astronomy, physics and philosophy. A devout Catholic, Galileo's understandings of the universe differed with the accepted view that the earth was the center of the universe and the sun and all planets revolved around the earth. Through his studies and observations, he concluded that the earth revolved around the sun. The Pope and the church leaders thought this was heresy. They believed his theories were contrary to the Holy Scriptures. A Roman Inquisition of Galileo forbid him to speak of these theories. Ultimately, he was put under house arrest for the rest of his life. The scientific truth ~ Galileo's theory which was proven in time ~ eventually provided evidence to those who did not believe. Sometimes, giving proof is hard!

Proof is defined as sufficient evidence for a truth statement. "The Sixth Edition of Black's Law Dictionary" explains burden of proof this way:

"Ei incumbit provatio, qui dicit, non qui negat; cum per rerum naturam factum negantis probatio nulla sit . . . The proof lies upon him who affirms, not upon him who denies; since, by the nature of things, he who denies cannot produce any proof."

Atheists and God-seekers alike want proof of God. Doubt inside our frail humanity shouts its insecurity, "How do you know? What proof do you have? Most often evidence is drawn from our experiences combined with evidence from nature. Even the greatest scholars confess the great mysteries of God exceed explanation. So where's the proof?

A few weeks ago I heard a song from a newly emerging Christian group called "For King and Country". It is called Proof of Your Love. As I listened, the words remind that WE are the proof - you and me, God's children, those of us who identify with Christ, who call Him Savior. OUR LIVES are the proof that God loves! This very sobering thought raises a new awareness in me. What evidence of Christ does my life offer? Does my life story speak the love of Christ?

Years ago there was a question asked, "What if you are the only Jesus someone sees?" Those who struggle with walking by faith often expect or demand answers to their theological questions. We respond that the Holy Scriptures reveal God and His plan of Grace through faith for all mankind. While we many not understand all that is written within these God-breathed words, God's message is clear. As Christians we are to love God and love each other. Our only true understanding of unconditional love is Christ! We are called to love as Christ loves! The way we love becomes the evidence that we understand God's message. We are the proof of His love! ~ dho

Patience

Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~ St. Augustine  

Most of us struggle with patience in some area of our lives. For some being patient with children demands counting to 10 (sometimes twice), while others have to remind themselves to breathe in AND out when dealing with teenagers. Slow drivers with 'seasoned experience and their big cars' can send patience out the window; long lines, late people, and heavy traffic snatch patience from others. Hypocrisy, lying, whining or procrastination can tip the scale of patience. We know what triggers our frustration whether we admit it or not. In the scheme of life, I suspect none of these things really matter very much.

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom, beginning with The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline...Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:1,7 NLT). Later, Chapter 14:26-30 gives this advice: Those who fear the LORD are secure; He will be a place of refuge for their children. Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes. A relaxed attitude lengthens life! 

The discipline that unites with wisdom gives birth to the patience in our lives. I suppose an absence of patience could point to a lack of wisdom. Ouch! Over the last several weeks in different venues I have heard a Proverb used, not incorrectly but without a reference of the phrase. Perhaps the ones speaking did not KNOW where their saying is found. Proverbs 27:17 says this: As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. Are you surrounding yourself with faithful friends, those who not only hold you accountable but desire to encourage you? Do your friends add value to your spiritual growth? A wise friend challenges you to be more, stands beside you, prays for you. Just as the Lord teaches patience and wisdom complement each other, a faithful friend can champion your heart. So, this week, spend some time reading about wisdom in Proverbs, thank God for faithful friends, and let your new relaxed attitude lengthen your life of Kingdom-service! - dho

Healer

LORD, You alone are my portion and my cup, You make my lot secure. 
Psalm 16:5



Healer by Kari Jobe