Category Archives: Have Hope

Press On!!!

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Look beyond today…

Keep going…

Forget the past…

Don’t let it steal your peace…

Press on to your future…

Hope, Joy, and Peace…

Jesus is waiting…

Don’t give up…

No matter what!!

Rise Up…

It’s a race to the finish…

Don’t run aimlessly…

Aim high to reach your goal…

Endure to the end!!

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Philippians 3:12-16

“Not that I have already obtained all this,

or have already arrived at my goal,

but I press on

to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters,

I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do:

Forgetting what is behind

and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on

toward the goal

to win the prize

for which God

has called me Heavenward

in Christ Jesus.

All of us, then,

who are mature should take such a view of things.

And if on some point you think differently,

that too God will make clear to you. 

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

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Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before Him

He endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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Matthew 25:23

“His master replied,

‘Well done, good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful with a few things;

I will put you in charge of many things.

Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

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1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,

but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.

They do it to get a crown that will not last,

but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;

I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave

so that after I have preached to others,

I myself will not be disqualified for the prize”

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1 Timothy 6:12

“Fight the good fight of the faith.

Take hold of the eternal life

to which you were called

when you made your good confession

in the presence of many witnesses.”

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Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

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Our old time Pastor/Evangelist…

Tommy Waldron…

Who has since gone on to be with the Lord…

Passed away several years ago…

At the age of 86…

The day after preaching a fiery message…

For us to “Plod On!”

What a way to go!!

Preach, Be in God’s Presence…

Die, Be in God’s Presence!!

Here are the words to the song he always had us sing:

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Plod On

Plod on. Plod On.

Whatever life does,I’ll plod on.

Whatever the weather;

Whatever’s in my way;

Whatever life does,

I’ll plod on every day.

My life is there to live

And I’m living it well.

I can succeed in my own special way.

Whatever life does, I’ll plod on every day.

Success doesn’t have to be instant,

Just as long as it comes in the end,

I’m plodding, slowly but surely.

No problem is too big, and there’s no rule I can’t bend.

Plod on. Plod on. That’s the way to go.

If it feels good – do it! Never mind the trend.

There’s nothing to it. It’s a life I recommend – Plod on!

Plod on. Plod on.

Whatever life does I’ll plod on.

Plod On

From the 2002 album by Luke Smith

Called “Life Will Work itself Out”

http://www.lukesmithmusic.com/Life/Life.htm#PO

The LOVE Letter!

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(I received this e-mail today…author and photographer unknown)

There’s a beautiful soul…

Working in the dead letter department of the Post Office…

who understands…

LOVE…. 
 

Our 14-year-old dog, Abbey…

Died last month…

The day after she passed away…

My 4-year-old daughter Meredith…

 Was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey…

She asked if we could write a letter to God…

So that when Abbey got to Heaven…

God would recognize her…

I told her that I thought that we could…

So she dictated these words:

Dear God…

 Will you please take care of my dog?

Abbey died yesterday…

And is with You in Heaven…

I miss her very much…

I’m happy that you let me have her as my dog…

Even though she got sick…

I hope you will play with her…

She likes to swim and play with balls…

I’m sending a picture of her…

 So when You see her…

 You will know that she’s my dog…

I really miss her…

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope…

With a picture of Abbey and Meredith…

 Addressed it to God/Heaven…

We put our return address on it…

Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope…

 Because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter…

 All the way to Heaven…

That afternoon, she dropped it into the letter box at the post office…

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet…

I told her that I thought He had…

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch…

 Addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand…

Meredith opened it…

Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, When a Pet Dies

Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God…

In its opened envelope…

On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey and Meredith…

 And this note:

Dear Meredith…

Abbey arrived safely in Heaven…

Having the picture was a big help…

 And I recognized her right away…

Abbey isn’t sick anymore…

Her spirit is here with me…

 Just like it stays in your heart…

Abbey loved being your dog…

Since we don’t need our bodies in Heaven…

 I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in…

 So I’m sending it back to you…

 In this little book for you to keep…

 And have something to remember Abbey by…

Thank you for the beautiful letter…

 And thank your mother for helping you write it…

 And sending it to me…

What a wonderful mother you have…

 I picked her especially for you…

I send My blessings every day…

 And remember that I love you very much…

By the way, I’m easy to find…

I am wherever there is LOVE!!

Love,

God

I’d love to write a letter myself to God about the loved ones I’m missing!!

Romans 8:37-39

No,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us

from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”

Hope In Him!!!!

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Hope When Your Plans Get Interrupted

By Holley Gerth

Hope When Your Plans Get Interrupted

photo by photosteve1

photo by photosteve1

Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we think.

We face loss, bump up against a wall, wonder what in the world just happened.

It’s part of living here, in this fallen world.

Yet even in those moments we can find hope.

Not the kind that hopes for {because we all know that doesn’t always come true}.

But the kind that hopes in {because that’s what remains true no matter what}.

Hope in a God whose ways are higher than ours.

Hope in a future he promises he’s preparing for us.

Hope that even today’s rain can somehow how become tomorrow’s flowers.

I don’t know how it happens.

All I know is I’ve lived it.

Breathed it.

Clung to it in the night.

As long as we live, there is hope.

Even the darkest night leads to dawn–

to scandalous joy unexpected.

I love this post…

And Holley’s entire Heart to Heart Blog!!

Please check it out!!

Jeremiah 29:11

 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

declares the Lord,

‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Romans 12:12

“Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.”

Romans 15:13

“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.”

C. S. Lewis (On Hoping For Something More)

“Most people,

if they had really learned to look into their own hearts,

would know that they do want,

and want acutely,

something that cannot be had in this world.

There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you,

but they never quite keep their promise…”

Psalm 119:114

“You are my refuge and my shield;
    

I have put my hope in Your Word.”

Amen!

“To Believe”

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“And my God will meet all your needs

according to the riches of His glory

 in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Take a moment…

Listen to…

This beautiful voice…

With this beautiful message…

Allow yourself…

To Believe!

http://video.staged.com/preacher/jackie_evancho_to_believe

“He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

 they will walk and not be faint.”

Dance!!

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 Feel Depressed???

 

Got Shackles???

 

Then…

 

Praise the Lord!!

 

Be Free!!

 

Put on This Song…

 

And Dance!!

 

 

Whoo!

It sure is hot out here…

Ya know?

I don’t mind though…

Just glad to be free!

Know what I’m saying?

Uh!

 

Take the shackles off my feet, so I can dance…

I just wanna praise You!

(What’cha wanna do?)

I just wanna praise You!

(Yeah, yeah)

 

You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands…

(Uh, feel me?)

And I’m gonna praise You!

(What’cha gon do?)

I’m gonna praise You!

 

In the corners of my mind…

I just can’t seem to find a reason to believe…

That I can break free…

‘Cause you see I have been down for so long…

 

Feel like the hope is gone…

But as I lift my hands, I understand..

That I should praise You through my circumstance!!

 

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance!

I just wanna praise You!

I just wanna praise You!

 

You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands!

And I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!

 

Everything that could go wrong…

All went wrong at one time…

So much pressure fell on me…

I thought I was gonna lose my mind!!

 

But I know you wanna see…

If I will hold on through these trials…

But I need you to lift this load…

‘Cause I can’t take it no more!!

 

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance!

I just wanna praise You!

I just wanna praise You!

 

You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands!

And I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!

 

Been through the fire and the rain…

Bound in every kind of way…

But God has broken every chain…

So let me go right now!!

 

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance!

I just wanna praise You!

I just wanna praise You!

 

You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands!

And I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!

 

I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!

 

Take them off!!

What’cha gonna do?

Yeah!

 

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance!

I just wanna praise You!

I just wanna praise You!

 

You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands!

And I’m gonna praise You!

I’m gonna praise You!


Oh!

 

Go Ahead…

 

Get Rid of the Shackles..

 

Praise Him!

 

Feel His Joy!

 

And Dance!!

 

 

Invest In Your Future!

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“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

declares the Lord,

‘plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future.

Then you will call on Me

and come and pray to Me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek Me

and find Me

when you seek Me

with all your heart.'”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

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This is my son’s favorite verse!

Mine. too!

Along with…

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“Call to Me

and I will answer you

and tell you great

and unsearchable things

you do not know.”

Jeremiah 33:3

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“…and call on Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you,

and you will honor Me.”

Psalm 50:15

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God’s plan is to…

Prosper you…

Not harm you…

Give you Hope…

And a Future…

Call on Him…

Come to Him…

Pray to Him…

He will listen to YOU!!!

Seek Him…

Find Him…

With all your heart!!

Call to Him…

He will answer YOU!!

And tell you great and unsearchable things…

You don’t know!!

Call on Him in your times of trouble…

He will deliver you…

And you will honor Him!!

Amen!

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You have now invested wisely in your future!!

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Praise God!!

Even If The Healing Doesn’t Come…

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This post is dedicated to my beloved Cousin Tom…

Who just passed away…

One month after his Mother, my Aunt Rachel…

Who I spoke about recently…

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/leave-a-legacy/

Tom, or “Cousin Tommy Boy!”

As we used to call him…

Was two days older than I…

We celebrated all our Birthdays together for many years as children…

Running and playing with all our siblings, and our other cousins…

He loved trucks…

And his favorite sound was his “truck” sound…

“Gilly-Gilly-Gilly…Vroom!”

A happy, fun, and playful child,

Who grew up to be a Mighty Man of God…

Who loved his family, and cared for my Aunt…

Heaven welcomes you, my precious cousin…

Well done, good and faithful servant…

Rest now…

I know you’re seeing your Jesus face to face!

You’re Home!!

May our Lord bring His Peace to everyone in our family…

We will miss you!

Sometimes, all we have to hold onto…
Is what we know is true of who You are…
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane…
That could never change who You are…
And we trust in who You are!

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone…

You are God!

You are good!

Forever Faithful One !

Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come…

“And God 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

Lord, we know Your ways are not our ways…
So we set our faith in who You are…
Even though You reign high above us…
You tenderly love us…
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are…

You’re still the Great and Mighty One !

We trust You always…
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing Your praise!

“Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief.

He shaved his head

and threw himself face downward on the ground.

He said, ‘I was born with nothing,

and I will die with nothing.

The Lord gave,

and now He has taken away.

May His Name be praised!’

In spite of everything that had happened,

Job did not sin by blaming God.”

Job1:20-22

You are God and we will bless You!
As the Good and Faithful One!
You are God and we will bless You!

Even if the healing doesn’t come!
Even if the healing doesn’t come!

Amen!

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him;
    I will surely defend my ways to His face.”

Job 13:15

We pray for blessings…
We pray for peace…
Comfort for our family, protection while we sleep…
We pray for healing, for prosperity…
We pray for Your Mighty Hand to ease our suffering…
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things…

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears…
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise…

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea…
And long that we have faith to believe…

When friends betray us…
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart…
That this is not, this is not our home…

What if my greatest disappointments…
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy…
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise…

“For this world is not our home;

we are looking forward to our City in Heaven,

which is yet to come.”

Hebrews 13:14

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 “But our citizenship is in Heaven.

And we eagerly await a Savior from there,

the Lord Jesus Christ,

who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control,

will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His Glorious body.”

Philippians 3:20-21