Planning a New Hope

  Daring to Step Out into a New Opportunity   Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you, Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isiah 41:10 (New American Standard Bible)   While sitting on the deck of the ship, I marveled at the awe-inspiring sight of the Greek Isle, Santorini.   While experiencing the breath-taking views, past troubling thoughts about this trip played out in my mind.             During the lunch outing, one friend turned to another and explained that I was getting ready to go on a cruise to Greece and Rome.             “Oh, that’s a trip of a lifetime,” she exclaimed. To which I replied, “But I don’t want to go. I am so scared.” Why wouldn’t anyone not want to avail themselves to such a wonderful opportunity? In...

  Commit Your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 (New American Standard Bible)   Sometimes Life Seems So Unfair NOTE: This is not a post directed at someone who is in the midst of dealing with profound grief.             It was a dark rainy day and my mood mirrored the weather. Bowed down with feeling disconnected, sadness over a loss, wishing I had children and those bonds and ties, I took to my chair to pray and try to figure out how to get out of this glum state.             Some people might say I was having a pity party. Call it what you want, but often we need to be honest about what’s happening in order to find a resolution. While I knew that I have much for which to be thankful, what I possessed didn’t abate that profound sense of desolation exacerbated by the sense I couldn’t do anything about it. When we are you...

  And do not be conformed to this world, But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, That you may prove what the will of God is, That which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1 (New American Standard Bible)   The Courage to Stop and Evaluate              The picture showed the man who was waiting for the jury to decide his fate watching people freely walking down the streets. Knowing he would probably never experience such freedom, what must have gone through his mind?   I wondered if in these moments, his thoughts were somewhere in the line of How did I get here? This isn’t the way my life was supposed to go.             For sure, this example is extreme, but haven’t we all come to a conclusion where we asked, “How did I get here? How did this credit card get so high? Where did I lose myself in this relationship? How, how, how...

  For this reason, I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1: 15-18 (The New American Standard Bible)   Don’t Throw Away, Repurpose At the entrance of my front door is a long runner that is old and slightly curved. I love this about the carpet because it is a picture of life—our life’s path is never straight no matter our age. My interest in used furniture started while I was attending college in Jackson, Mississippi. There in a used f...

  In the following scripture, Jesus speaks of needing to go away so the Holy Spirit will come. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come . John 16:13 (New American Standard Bible)   Is God Tapping You on the Shoulder?             It’s not unusual for someone of faith to say that it’s a sin to worry, we should just put our faith in God and He will take care of the situation. For sure, our Father does handle those things that are committed to Him., but is there a possibility that sometimes what we call worry could be God tapping us on the shoulder, saying check this out?             There was no doubt that I’d been called to buy my house . Awakened about 2:30 a.m. fearful thoughts raced concerning ...

  My son, let them not depart from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul, And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. Proverbs 3:21-23 (New American Standard Bible)   Therefore be careful how you walk, not As unwise men, but as wise, Ephesians 5:15 (New American Standard Bible)   When Opposition Makes a Change of Plans Difficult              Why is it so difficult to make a change? Contemplating doing something differently can feel threatening and sometimes it’s just not convenient.             Though the relationship was fragile, we’d decided to attend an event the next night. Immersing myself in a movie helped to forget the concerns that something felt amiss about our plans for the following night. About half way into the story, I sensed...

    In I Samuel 17:1-50 we can read the story of the young shepherd boy, David, killing the giant, Goliath. A recap of the story is as follows:             David was at the camp site because his father sent him.             David’s brother gave was scathing in his criticism of David.             David paid no attention to his brother but continued to gather facts about the giant.             David defended his ability to face the giant by his past successes in fighting lions and bears to protect the sheep.             David had a faith that the same God who delivered him from the paw of the lion would save him.             Before going int...