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One thing we should never ever let go of is hope. We have to hold on to
hope no matter what we face in life. No matter the trials, tribulations,
setbacks or failures, if we hold on to hope then we will be strong enough
to face every problem with a deep knowing that God is in control and our
story isn't finished yet. Hope is kind of like faith in that you have to
hold on to it in the darkest of times having a deep sense of confidence
that all will be well in the end. Hope encourages us to believe that a
brighter day is coming. Hope strengthens us to believe that God's
omniscience will lead us onto the best path. Hope lifts up our spirits
keeping us from giving up when that's all we want to do.
No matter what comes your way, keep hope and faith at the center of your
life. Believe that greater things are coming your way. Never doubt that
the darkest times serve a purpose to make you stronger, wiser and better
than you were before. When we have hope and faith alive in our hearts
then nothing will be able to bring down our spirits. We will see the good
in every situation. We will focus on our blessings despite the temptation
to murmur and complain about our problems. We will see our glass as
half-full and not half empty. Having hope makes us look forward to a
better tomorrow despite the bleakness that we may be seeing today. Be
encouraged to let God know that your hope is in Him.
Thank the Lord for every gift and every blessing that He has graciously
given to you and remember His goodness when times of testing tempt you to
give up. The Lord is not finished with you yet. That's the great thing
about our God; in Him there is always a second chance. Stay hopeful and
never even think of giving up.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to always have a
hope filled heart knowing that your life is precious and meaningful to
this world.
KEEPING HOPE ALIVE
We cannot live only on hope. But neither can we live without it. Nobody
knew this better than John Chapman.
John Chapman was a man of great hope. He was born in 1774 in Massachusetts.
In the early 1800's he got in on the opening of land in the Northwest
Territory, as it was then called, of the new United States. He found small
plots of land suitable for farming and cleared them by hand. He bought
fruit seed in Pennsylvania every year and carried it to his many apple
orchards, usually on his back.
When the trees were large enough to transplant, he sold them to settlers
homesteading the West. Eventually, he had little apple orchards spread
around what would become the states of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and
Indiana. Most people forgot, or never knew, his real name, and took to
calling him Johnny the Apple Man or Johnny Appleseed.
Johnny was a gentle man with a big vision. He was liked by most people who
knew him, the native Indians and white settlers alike. His vision was to
spread the goodness of apple trees everywhere people settled. Apples, he
believed, gave the promise of harvest and hope that the wilderness would
become home. Every tree he grew was a symbol of hope.
Johnny had another curious habit. He loved books, but did not have the
means to carry more than two, usually a Bible and a book of inspiration or
theology. Because Johnny wanted to share his books, he carefully cut
chapters out of whatever inspirational book he had available and loaned
one or two chapters to families that wanted to read. He'd later swap those
chapters for others when he came back through. In this way he left hope
and encouragement wherever he traveled.
His grave can be found today in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It says, “Johnny
Appleseed (John Chapman). He lived for others.”
Johnny understood his greatest task in life: to keep hope alive. When we
keep hope alive, then hope keeps us alive.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Psalm 31:23-24 “O love the LORD, all ye His saints: for the LORD preserveth
the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good
courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 71:4-8 “Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of
the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou art my hope, O Lord
GOD: Thou art my trust from my youth. By Thee have I been holden up from
the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise
shall be continually of Thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but Thou art my
strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honour
all the day.”
Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not
hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for
that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: WISDOM OF THE SOUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem182.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JESUS MY DELIVERER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony136.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
