hope

Image

Faith in Tribulation

Tribulations shall come; and we are told to glory in them (Romans 5:1-5 NKJV). 

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character, and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t say that I glory in times of testing.  At times I have been so gripped by fear that I was virtually stuck – powerlessly overwhelmed by worry, doubt, and loss.  My nights were sleepless and when I called out to God in prayer for peace of mind, it did not come.

What is wrong with me?

I was not earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 1:3).  I lacked boldness and confidence in my Lord that He not only provides for all my needs, but He is more powerful than any circumstance.  I was not living by faith in Jesus, but faith in myself. 

I can’t fix anything!  Once I turned everything over to Him, my burdens were lifted as He carried me through one difficulty after another.  The more I trusted Jesus to take control of my life, my prayers were heard and answered according to His will.  I can now see how giving God the glory fits with tribulation, as his solutions to problems are perfect compared to mine. Where was the evidence of my faith? Sadly – gone. But praise God, once I repented and began to live according to His Spirit guiding me, I learned:

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”  ~ Romans 1:16-17 NKJV

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass… 7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm.  ~ Psalm 37:3-5,7a, 8 NKJV

Jesus keep me from stumbling!  Keep me from taking back any burdens You have freed me from so I can rest in You always.  Thank You LORD!

28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, as I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  ~ Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

And also:

20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  ~ Jude 1:20-21 NKJV

When Good Comes

There are so many questions that go unanswered these days. Events are perplexing as year-end 2020 draws near.

5 Thus says the LORD:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD, 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” ~ Jeremiah 17:

When the heat (testing) comes, God doesn’t want us to fear. If we trust in the LORD, we will be able to recognize God’s goodness when it comes. For instance, a very good thing happened in January 2020 that was mocked by news media; our President Trump issued an update to students’ right to pray in our public schools.

HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU PRECIOUS FATHER ABOVE!!

May we continue to be overcomers; producing good fruit for the LORD as the world struggles in useless pursuits of false justice as it always will until Jesus comes and sets things right.

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” ~ Jeremiah 17: 9-10

Let us strive to live according to the Word of the LORD, recognizing when good comes; trusting in our LORD instead of turning to worthless and unprofitable things during this year of spiritual drought.

God bless you greatly and thank you for following

importantstuff.live

Trepidation vs. Inspiration

It’s been difficult to write lately.  There is never a lack in God’s Kingdom, therefore it must be me.  I realize today that I lack enthusiasm, hope, and love for my neighbors.  The Holy Fire of God’s Spirit simmers, but not fiery-hot like it should be in my heart.

Forgive me LORD, as I am a weak creature not worthy of Your love or hope; yet I ask to be rekindled once again for service to the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  Although I kneel for no man, I willingly bend both my knees before Almighty God and King Jesus.

ThreeCrosses

It’s amazing how God works to raise us up from a place of depression, fear, and lack of hope to a realization that we see things from a very limited perspective.  Out of the blue today as we walked together, Mother reminded me that my lack of inspiration is totally my problem – not God’s.  After all, He gave me His WORD.  That is more than sufficient to keep me focused on Him instead of the worries of this life.  Remind me, LORD:

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written:

                “For Your sake we are killed all day long;

                We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

                37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~ Romans 8: 35-39 NKJV

Throughout this Covid-19 pandemic and social unrest, I witness people who are experiencing great anxiety.  Many endure depression and/or panic attacks as they attempt to adapt to illness, loss of loved ones to the virus, social distancing, job losses, and (for many) feeling the loss of church attendance through mandated restrictions.  I recently attended two family graveside services unrelated to coronavirus, but very difficult to observe social distancing in the midst of devastating loss.  Yet, the LORD is ever so faithful to comfort.  Both funeral services were perhaps the most beautiful of any I have ever attended.

TomatoesFlag

The LORD has also blessed me with unexpected but welcome opportunities to meet new people and share the Gospel with them.  That’s Pretty amazing, since I live in a rural setting and am not out and about much in the community.  Two friends approached me to visit my church this week!  HALLELUJAH!  God still works His plan for each of us; no matter what is happening on the earth.  Amen?

Praise Jehovah God for His Covenants with us, His children!  Thank You, LORD, for promising us that we do not walk alone if we believe in Your Son, Jesus.  You are still answering prayers, healing the sick, freeing the captives from sin, and bringing peace and comfort to those who cry out to You.

I am reminded again of Romans 8: 31:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Thank you for following Importantstuff.Live – whether in trepidation or inspiration!

God Bless You All.

Quote

Resurrection Day 2020 | A World Shaken

ResurrectionDay2020
Our Hope – Resurrection Day 2020

Today I see a world shaken.

Today I see men scrambling.

Confusion and terror reign over the land.

The mighty fear a tiny foe,

And hide from each other,

Behind strips of cloth – A worthless defense.

Has Hope really fled?

Science is aghast.

Hearts are torn

From fear and dread

As we count the dead.

~ Me in Quarantine

Continue reading →

What’s In Your Wallet?

I was searching through a box of old photos a few days ago and noticed my dad’s wallet nestled down between photo albums.

“What’s in Your Wallet, Dad?” I wondered, as I gingerly picked it up and looked inside.

It’s been decades since I last explored the contents of his wallet; and frankly, I had never been able to get past the family photo contents without tearing up and closing it.  But on this day, I slid my finger behind his old driver’s license and pulled out this card:

A Living Hope
Dad’s Witness Card

It stopped me for a second… “Good for you, Dad!  Ever the Lord’s witness, you carried this gospel tract in your wallet.  How many times did you pull out your wallet and show this witness card to someone?”

Now, forty years later, I believe that God wanted me to notice Dad’s wallet and be curious enough to investigate further.  This side of Heaven, I will never know; but as we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus this Sunday, I’m sharing this card.  A Living Hope has been tucked away in Dad’s wallet for half a century… safe, and preserved… and I am thankful for the opportunity to shed light and ask,

What’s in Your Wallet?

“Thank you, Lord, for the mysterious and wondrous workings of Your Holy Spirit and how You move so powerfully and purposefully throughout the earth to bring the hearts of men back to you.  Woo us, Father God, through the Good News that Jesus loved us so much; that He gave His life for our redemption and broke free of the bonds of death – giving us A Living Hope.  Stir us up and revive us again, Lord, to proclaim Your Gift of Grace, Jesus Our Messiah, to the world.  In His Matchless, Powerful Name, Amen.”

So where is A Living Hope now?

In my wallet, of course.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Note:

Tribute to Good News Publishers for its tracts publishing ministry.  I was unable to determine if the publisher at Westchester, Illinois, is the same one as the Good News Publishers of Wheaton, Illinois, that later published the ESV Bible.  Here is a link to the history of the founders of that great tracts publishing ministry at Crossway.org.

 

Inspiration Found

Stone of Inspiration
Stone of Inspiration ~ Proverbs 3:5

My daughter found this painted stone at Red Rock Canyon last week.  Soon it will be placed far, far from Nevada – for someone else who needs inspiration.

What is going on?  A project is trending about leaving a stone of inspiration for another person to find.  The message painted on the rock is meant to inspire that person who in turn leaves it in another location for the next person to find and so on; a paying it forward project, so to speak.

My daughter found a Proverbs 3:5 Inspiration Stone:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ~ Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

If you are somewhere in Alaska, you could be the next person to find this rock:

LaughLoveLive
Flipside ~ Laugh Love Live

Proverbs 3:5 is a precious message.  Isn’t it miraculous how God’s Word ties us all together and binds us to Himself with a painted rock?  You know what is even more amazing?  This rock may have been created by God millions of years ago in order to be picked up and lovingly painted by someone living now; left in some random location for another special someone to find, who may be blessed in a personal way just by finding it.  Think of the journey of this one little stone.  This rock is about the size of a large egg and look what it can do!  God is using it as a witnessing tool to spread His love message to a vast number of people.

WOW!  What can you do compared to a rock?  Hmmmm …

I love the next verse:

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

I believe God is doing a mighty work with this project by directing the paths of individuals all over the planet to read and to think about His Word; and to share in being God’s witnesses.  I like the word “laugh” painted on this rock.  I laughed when I realized how God keeps everything so simple for us.  He makes it so easy to witness for Him that sometimes it’s fun.

Have you found one of these rocks?  Be on the lookout –  Evidently, they are all over the place!

Sometimes we would like to participate in God’s work, but don’t know how.  In this case, I didn’t find the rock – my daughter did.  She was inspired to bring it to me so that I could tell you the story and then place the rock in a location frequented by lots of people.  So easy.  Praise God, I became part of all this, even though I didn’t go anywhere or find anything.

What can you do?  Suggestions:

  • If you know an “inspiration found” story, you can share it or post the link here in comments.
  • If you are God-favored and find an inspiration rock, please tell us!
  • Share this article and see who else knows about this.
  • Find a group doing this and join up.  Paint your own inspiration stone.  Get it circulating.

I am leaving this Proverbs 3:5 Rock somewhere in Alaska this week.  It will be found and another story will unfold.  Another person will be inspired – and another – and another …

If you need more inspiration, here is a link to my article, What Can You Do? 

Prov3-5
Importantstuff.Live

(If you don’t find a stone of inspiration, don’t worry.  The Bible is full of God’s messages to you.  The same important stuff is all in there.  Read it.  Live it.  Share it.)

Thank you for following.

 

Anything

I just wanted more time together.  Just another hug . . . one more chance to hold his hand . . .  tell him how much I love him again . . . I would have given . . . anything.

My stepdad battled Alzheimer’s for over ten years.  Our last days with him have been crying days – mostly for him.

One family member said, “I hate what Alzheimer’s does to people.”

I agree.  As my stepdad slowly broke down under the insidious disease process, we crumpled emotionally beside him.  There were times as we held hands at the dining table that he would look away with a hurtful expression on his face and mutter to the wall, “Oh well . . . It is what it is.”

In my heart I waged war; won his battle by finding a miraculous cure; traded places; did more; did anything to prevent what we all knew was happening.  But in reality, I had no such ability or power.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  ~ 2 Tim. 4:18 NIV

My stepdad was a Christ believer.  His heart was huge for everyone he knew; and he was so loved in return.  Then our prayers for a miracle were painfully answered as our family expected – but dreaded.  My stepdad was released from Alzheimer’s torment a few days ago.  Even though I am mourning the loss, I am thankful to God for mercifully calling him Home.  He will no longer suffer.  He is leaping for joy in Heaven with Jesus, friends, and family in Glory.

My friend, John, called yesterday to pay his respects to Mom.  He told me to “just look at it as if he has graduated.”  Thank you, John.  That simple encouragement has comforted me more than anything else.  Graduation means a reward at the end of the struggle; the victory over life’s hurts.  His diploma is now a page in The Lamb’s Book of Life with his name written there for all to see.  It means honorably finishing the course and moving on to a new beginning.  Thanks to Jesus, It is finished!  Jesus paid the price for our sins and didn’t leave anything undone.  He has done everything that no one else is able to do.  Thank you, Jesus.  I know that I will see my stepdad again when it’s my turn to graduate.

My stepdad was a boxer as a young man – a fighter; and he fought the ravages of time (he was 85) and of Alzheimer’s right up until the end.  Even though he could no longer speak the Words, I will copy them here on his behalf; as I am confident he owned this scripture as he took his last breaths:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. ~ 2 Tim. 4:7-8 NIV

My stepdad was also a race car driver when he was young.  He always drove a pickup truck and never relinquished his set of keys after he quit driving.  I’m sure he hoped he would need those keys again someday because that truck is still parked in his garage.

Gosh!  I would give anything to see him driving it around in Heaven right now . . .

Do your best to come to me quickly, ~ 2 Tim. 4:9 NIV

 

Thank you for following

importantstuff.live
importantstuff.live

 

Expect a Miracle

At any moment in time there must be multitudes of people who expect a miracle to manifest in their lives.  Each circumstance is different, but oh! so equally important.

Would some expect a miracle of healing from God after fervent prayer, while others place their trust in a team of doctors?  Do miracles manifest with or without any human expectation?

I think so.  For instance, our planet earth is spinning around the sun at an astounding speed of  18.5 miles/sec (30 km.sec).  Even more shocking is the fact that earth is rotating at 1000 mph (1600 km/hr) near the equator without any person or object flying off into outer space!  Gravity is a miracle that I have come to expect.  I don’t pray or hope for it, as it has existed for millennium.  However, just because I don’t expect it doesn’t make it any less of a miracle.

Are you expecting a miracle today? – Perhaps a miracle to land that “perfect” job? Rather than adopt, some barren parents might be praying to conceive a child when the doctors have given no hope.  In medical circles, that would qualify as a miracle.

Whatever miracle you are expecting today, consider that a miracle is likely the glory of God revealed.  Wait for it patiently.

canstockphoto27713327

I pray God gives you favor and that you receive the miracle you expect.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ~ Romans 8:19 NIV

God’s blessings and thank you for visiting

importantstuff.live
importantstuff.live

Photo Credit: Couple on beach at Maldive – ©Can Stock Photo/haveseen

The Crying Days

canstockphoto13942052

Everyone has them, and most of us just want them to end.  For me, that is not happening; so I am left with a journey I call “living through the crying days”.  At least I am not traveling this road alone.  Jesus fights my battles for me when I think to ask Him, and the Holy Spirit consoles me as the tears flow.

Whether illness, grief, loneliness, or unwelcome burdens – sometimes one can only cry.  Our Heavenly Father knew this, of course, before He even created the cosmos.  He lovingly created tears for all broken-hearted souls.  The ancients collected tears in bottles as highly prized keepsakes.

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know, for Elohim (Supreme God) is for me. In Elohim will I praise his word: in Yahweh (Self-Existent; Eternal; Jehovah) will I praise his word. In Elohim have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O Elohim: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before Elohim in the light of the living? ~ Psalms 56:8-13 RSB  (Parentheses added)

The act of crying has a bad rep in many circles.  “What good does it do?”  “Just buck up and take it on the chin!”  “Crying doesn’t solve anything!”  But God’s Word is clear:

The prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah in 713 B.C. that Hezekiah would soon die.  Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed for mercy:

And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of Yahweh to Isaiah, saying, “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Yahweh, the Elohim of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.” ~ Isaiah 38:3b-6 RSB

So Almighty God not only added fifteen years to the life of Hezekiah, but He vowed to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of the invading Assyrians and to fight the battle for them.  Wow!  Hezekiah hadn’t even prayed for that!

Our God is SO GOOD!  He promises to one day create a new heaven and a new earth.  There will be no more crying days.

And Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ~ Revelation 21:4 RSB

Today there are reported over 900,000 believers martyred every year on this earth.  These are Crying Days, folks.  Don’t hold back on the prayers or tears for our persecuted brethren suffering for their faith in Christ; for our nation in peril; and for those lost and on their way to eternal outer darkness.  These crying days are the last days before Christ returns.  Pray tearfully for the sick, the dying, the poor and the needy.  Remember to love one another as He loves us and in the words of Jesus, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Few of us are called upon to make that level of sacrifice, but prayer changes things.  Sincere prayer can even change the will of Almighty God, as we have seen in the case of Hezekiah.

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, for meeting our every need with your tender Spirit of love and truth; for hearing the prayers of your church; and for noticing tears of the humble being shed during sorrowful days.  We look forward in faith to victory in the Only One Who Fights Our Battles For Us – our Savior and Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus The Anointed One.  In His Holy Precious Name Above All Names, Amen.

I pray that you are encouraged by God’s Word as you are living through your own crying days – whatever they may be.  God bless you, and thank you for following importantstuff.live.

PC: Can Stock Photo Inc/stakkete