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its been one of those days – you know those days, where it feels like you’re not getting it right and when tears come easier than ever…. and so it was a tear-maker to open my inbox and read this… it was a breath of encouragement from my God, to give me hope, and love me, and speak kindness to my heart… followed up by a “ping” sound – as one of my friends, who i count as so wise and i am so blessed to call her friend – was messaging me who had read between the liens and asked if i was sad…. so i want to share with you what i read in my inbox, and pray you’ll be refreshened too…
WHEN YOU ARE LOW ON HOPE
by Max Lucado
Water. All Noah can see is water. The evening sun sinks into it. The clouds are reflected in it. His boat is surrounded by it. Water. Water to the north. Water to the south. Water to the east. Water to the west. Water.
He sent a raven on a scouting mission; it never returned. He sent a dove. It came back shivering and spent, having found no place to roost. Then, just this morning, he tried again. With a prayer he let it go and watched until the bird was no bigger than a speck on a window.
All day he looked for the dove’s return.
Now the sun is setting, and the sky is darkening, and he has come to look one final time, but all he sees is water. Water to the north. Water to the south. Water to the east. Water to the …
You know the feeling. You have stood where Noah stood. You’ve known your share of floods. Flooded by sorrow at the cemetery, stress at the office, anger at the disability in your body or the inability of your spouse. You’ve seen the floodwater rise, and you’ve likely seen the sun set on your hopes as well. You’ve been on Noah’s boat.
And you’ve needed what Noah needed; you’ve needed some hope. You’re not asking for a helicopter rescue, but the sound of one would be nice. Hope doesn’t promise an instant solution but rather the possibility of an eventual one. Sometimes all we need is a little hope.
That’s all Noah needed. And that’s all Noah received.
Here is how the Bible describes the moment: “When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!” (Gen. 8:11 NIV).
An olive leaf. Noah would have been happy to have the bird but to have the leaf! This leaf was more than foliage; this was promise. The bird brought more than a piece of a tree; it brought hope. For isn’t that what hope is? Hope is an olive leaf—evidence of dry land after a flood. Proof to the dreamer that dreaming is worth the risk.
Don’t we love the olive leaves of life?
“It appears the cancer may be in remission.”
“I can help you with those finances.”
“We’ll get through this together.”
What’s more, don’t we love the doves that bring them?
Perhaps that’s the reason so many loved Jesus.
To all the Noahs of the world, to all who search the horizon for a fleck of hope, he proclaims, “Yes!” And he comes. He comes as a dove. He comes bearing fruit from a distant land, from our future home. He comes with a leaf of hope.
Have you received yours? Don’t think your ark is too isolated. Don’t think your flood is too wide. Receive his hope, won’t you? Receive it because you need it. Receive it so you can share it.
Love always hopes. “Love … bears all things, believes all things, *hopes* all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4–7 NKJV, emphasis mine).
I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
It will come from the LORD,
who created the heavens
and the earth.
The LORD is your protector,
and he won’t go to sleep
or let you stumble.
The protector of Israel
doesn’t doze
or ever get drowsy.
The LORD is your protector,
there at your right side
to shade you from the sun.
You won’t be harmed
by the sun during the day
or by the moon at night.
The LORD will protect you
and keep you safe
from all dangers.
The LORD will protect you
now and always
wherever you go.
Psalm 121
I look to the hills! Where will I find help? It will come from the LORD, who created the heavens and the earth.
Help will come from the One who created the stars and the globe we call planet earth. From the One who created the zebra, the sunflower, the grasshopper, the whale, the seahorse, the persian cat, the orchid, the camel, the mouse, the slatter, the totara tree, the starfish, the tiger, the cow, the goat, the platapus, the humming bird, the eagle, the kiwi, the butterfly, the hippo…. you get the picture… the creative almighty God is the one who gives us aid!
The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy.
God does not get distracted or unfocused. He cares for us and watches us. His eye is upon us and he knows the number of hairs on our head and hairs on our toes (thats a claire-ism in case you were wondering!)
The LORD will protect you now and always wherever you go.
The Good Shepherd
1You, LORD, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.
5You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
6Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, LORD.
the 23rd psalm is one of the most well known psalms and passages of the bible. it is embroided and hung in hallways. recieted at funerals. sung in sunday school. often we become so familiar with it that we forget to read it and meditate upon it and we miss the power and the grace and the hope for our real lives contained within its verses.
the Lord is my shepherd, the one who leads me and cares for me and provides for all my needs. i am not in lack because he is the one who is Lord of my life.
the Lord is the one who leads me to lush green fields of peace and tranquility and restoration and rest.
the Lord is the one who leads me to streams that refresh me and fill me with life giving water.
the Lord is the one who leads me into the valley of death….
WAIT! STOP THE BUS!
WHO leads me into the valley of the shadow of death.
yes you read it right. The Lord, my Good Shepherd, does.
verse 3 says “you lead me along the right paths.”
the right path also includes the valley as dark as death.
this valley is filled with shadows and fears and frustrations and loneliness and darkness and doubt and rocks and desolation.
but this valley is important for us to grow and trust our God.
in this valley our faith is refined, like gold.
1 peter 1:5-7 You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do. On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns
James 1: 2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
The valley is not bad. The valley is where God walks with us and comforts us and trains us and transforms us.
The valley is as much the will of God as the streams and green fields.
We must learn to not look so much at the scenery, the fields or the valley, but to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Author and Perfector of our faith.
The kindness and love of God will always be with me each day of my life – no matter where i am walking – the valley or the fire or the flood or the fields.
in your presence God, we find hope
in your presence we find life and love
all we need is found with you.
when i am with you i know you are with me
and i never walk alone
so i turn my eyes
towards you
gazing with trust and surrender
knowing you are with me and i am never alone
i walk not by sight but with faith in you
your presence gives me hope
your presence gives me peace
with you i am found and am complete and whole
in your presence God, i find all the answers
in your presence its okay not to know
i will trust you all my days
i will walk and obey
your presence gives me life and hope
it is where i know i belong
poem by me 
)
When i think of HOPE i am reminded of a verse in Romans 15 that says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I want to point out the first phrase – the God of HOPE – God is a God of HOPE, he gives hope, he inspires hope, he fills us with hope, he IS hope. one of his very characteristics – his very essence – is HOPE. hope is found in who God is and in what he does.
Hope gives life to peace and trust – as we hope we have peace that there is a brighter day, that there is a tomorrow, that God cares and is with us and that he has a plan and a purpose. We put our trust in Him who cares for us and is our heavenly Father – we have hope. hope, faith, trust and peace go together, growing each other, encouraging each other.
Hope is a gift from God that we can choose to accept or reject. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to have hope – it stretches our spirits because we choose to have faith and trust and peace and hope in the face of what circumstances may say. choose hope.
choose hope over hopelessness.
chose peace over restlessness.
choose faith over unbelief.
choose trust over doubt.
choose God.
my awesome friend has an awesome post on HOPE – swapping my hope - that i encourage you to read. she puts life into perspective… “My HOPE is in God. It is in Him I make my decisions, around Him I centre my dreams and visions.”
and there is a whole bunch of awesome chicks posting on hope over at (in)courage – go there and be inspired!
If i need hope there are a few places i look: my family – my encouraging husband who makes me laugh, who supports me, and keeps me grounded… my kids who wrap their arms round me and say “youre the best mummy i’ve ever had” and love me iwth all they are and can do (wet kisses and all!) – and the Word of God. the Bible is filled with hope and encouragement and couraging giving life – as God speaks his love and hope to us – and as we choose to follow His words and his ways and to believe and trust in Him and his provision for us and his power to work in our lives. Today if you need hope, turn His pages and read for yourself and find hope. choose hope.
Isaiah 61
The LORD has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed
the good news,
to heal the brokenhearted,
and to announce freedom
for prisoners and captives.
2This is the year
when the LORD God
will show kindness to us
and punish our enemies.
The LORD has sent me
to comfort those who mourn,
3especially in Jerusalem.
He sent me to give them flowers
in place of their sorrow,
olive oil in place of tears,
and joyous praise
in place of broken hearts.
They will be called
“Trees of Justice,”
planted by the LORD
to honor his name.
4Then they will rebuild cities
that have been in ruins
for many generations.
5They will hire foreigners
to take care of their sheep
and their vineyards.
6But they themselves will be
priests and servants
of the LORD our God.
The treasures of the nations
will belong to them,
and they will be famous. 7They were terribly insulted
and horribly mistreated;
now they will be greatly blessed
and joyful forever.
8I, the LORD, love justice!
But I hate robbery
and injustice. My people, I solemnly promise
to reward you
with an eternal agreement.
9Your descendants will be known
in every nation.
All who see them will realize
that they have been blessed,
by me, the LORD.
10I celebrate and shout
because of my LORD God.
His saving power and justice
are the very clothes I wear.
They are more beautiful
than the jewelry worn
by a bride or a groom.
11The LORD will bring about
justice and praise
in every nation on earth,
like flowers blooming
in a garden.
“Two things must be discovered; the greatness of God and the vastness of the devastation of the fall as pertaining to your own soul. It is an understanding so vast that no tongue can express it. From this revelation proceeds a glimpse of the grace of God… a grace which takes pleasure in encompassing that person with the pure goodness of God.” Michael Molinos from 100 days in the secret place by gene edwards
So we continue on the journey today which I think can be summed up in the statement above by Molinos. To surrender afresh and undergo this life transformation that we are all called to we must recognize our need and also the greatness of God, knowing WHO He is and how He loves us and works in our life.
We could go on the road of refinement with our eyes fixed firmly on our sins and weaknesses – but we would walk eyes downcast and focused on our naval… which is not healthy per such. Nor does such eyes on self achieve the glorious transformation that God desires with this process. We see what WE want to see and depreciate ourselves, which can lead to discouragement and disappointment.
We need to keep eyes on God, our Father, who loves us and knows us. This gives us hope when the day gets dark. This gives us courage when the discouragement threatens.
This is something we cant manufacture or fake till we make it. It comes with the grace and surrender to God.
Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.
Smith Wigglesworth
you have a testimony! you have a story! you have a story of faith! even if you are IN the great fight and IN the great test and IN the great trial you have a testimony of who God is and how he is working in your life. Testimonies are not just victory stories post the fight or when we get over the mountain – t hey are the declarations of faith we make as we are in battle and as we are climbing to the summit.
your testimony is your declaration that God makes springs to flow in the desert. your testimony is i was blind but i will see! that God is my healer. that by Christ we can do all things and that in him is the victory.
in hebrews we read about those that overcame and by faith made decisions and won the day… and we read about those that held onto the promise that God is our deliverer and the Almighty God even in the midst of their great persecution and sorrows.
our testimony is that we continue to have faith.
dont give up.
God doesnt give up on us.
he will not quit until he sees his purposes and plans unfolded and fulfilled in our life. and that includes our transformation into the character and likeness of his son Jesus Christ.
have faith. keep taking one step at a time. you have a testimony!
the thing i love about my CEV bible is that it makes it so personal. it makes God accessable. the language is so personal and relevant that in a way it breaks down walls and draws us closer to God. well for me it is that. i also read regularly from a NKJV which i love. but i love my CEV.
i read this the other night.
Isaiah 41:13 I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand so dont be afraid. i am here to help you.
now isnt that amazing. wow. close. encouraging. strengthing. empowering. inspiring. loving. awesome.
i read this last night in my usual reading and it just so encouraged and inspired me and gave me courage and more fresh love for Jesus….
Isaiah 42:4 “He (Jesus) wont quit or give up until he brings justice everywhere on earth and people in foreign nations long for his teaching.” CEV
and so you can read it in other flavours:
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope.” NIV
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. KJV
Thirsty deserts will be glad;
barren lands will celebrate
and blossom with flowers.
2Deserts will bloom everywhere
and sing joyful songs.
They will be as majestic
as Mount Lebanon,
as glorious as Mount Carmel
or Sharon Valley.
Everyone will see
the wonderful splendor
of the LORD our God.
God Changes Everything
3Here is a message for all
who are weak,
trembling,
and worried:
4“Cheer up! Don’t be afraid.
Your God is coming
to punish your enemies.
God will take revenge on them
and rescue you.”
5The blind will see,
and the ears of the deaf
will be healed.
6Those who were lame
will leap around like deer;
tongues once silent
will begin to shout.
Water will rush
through the desert.
7Scorching sand
will turn into a lake,
and thirsty ground
will flow with fountains.
Grass will grow in wetlands,
where packs of wild dogs
once made their home. [a]
God’s Sacred Highway
8A good road will be there,
and it will be named
“God’s Sacred Highway.”
It will be for God’s people;
no one unfit to worship God
will walk on that road.
And no fools can travel
on that highway. [b] 9No lions or other wild animals
will come near that road;
only those the LORD has saved
will travel there.
10The people the LORD has rescued
will come back singing
as they enter Zion.
Happiness will be a crown
they will always wear.
They will celebrate and shout
because all sorrows
and worries
will be gone far away.
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