There’s Always Hope

 Happy Sunday!

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”(Isaiah 35:3-4 NLT).

Isaiah was such a poetic prophet!  Well, he was inspired by God so that explains the excellence in his messages!  The world has always been crazy, even though we imagine it's crazier in our generation.  In a crazy world, he tells us to encourage those who have tired hands, weak knees and a fearful heart.  Can't you just see people overworked, frazzled, and anxious?  Looking for Hope.  

There is Hope!  The Word of God is full of hope for us and for the world!  That's why the Apostle Paul said it's imperative that there be preachers!  Romans 10:14-15 says, "How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. (CEV).

Isaiah goes on to say this about Jesus, "And when HE comes, HE will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and sing! Springs will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground will become a pool, with springs of water in the thirsty land. Where desert jackals lived, there will be reeds and rushes!"(Isaiah 35:5-7 Living Bible).  Sounds like Abundant Life to me!  No matter what happens, God has a good plan for us!  He loves us more than any human being can!  He gave us His Word!  Get in the Word to get Hope!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Imitators

Happy Sunday!

Happy Father's Day!

 "Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]."(Ephesians 5:1 Amplified).

Multiplied millions of dollars have been made by toy manufacturers simply because children love to imitate their parents.  Who didn't dream of driving your own car, tractor, or baby buggy?  Who didn't pretend a big stick was a gun, or sword, or garden tool?  Maybe you dreamed of a typewriter or going to an office like your dad.  I still love to see big red dump trucks because that's what I remember seeing in my father's workplace. 

Well loved children want to be what they see.  Who can love us better than our Father God?  No one.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful."(CEV).  Don't miss this!  God doesn't wait until we have it all together.  He loves us, and paid the ultimate price for our freedom, even if we decide not to accept it.

When we decide to accept the gift of salvation, there should be some evidence.  For many years, Dr. Fred Price Sr. started his television broadcast with a song written by Larnelle Harris called "Evidence".  
The lyrics are, "Evidence, evidence
Does your life show enough evidence
Evidence, evidence
Would they put you away, listen to me now
Evidence, evidence
Do you live enough evidence
Evidence, evidence
What does your life say?"

Sadly, many Christians live camouflage lives blending in with the world.  Jesus told a parable about the evil one sowing tares among the wheat.  The workers wanted to pull the tares out immediately. But the owner said, "‘No,’ he returned, ‘if you pull up the weeds now, you would pull up the wheat with them. Let them both grow together till the harvest. And at harvest-time I shall tell the reapers, ‘Collect all the weeds first and tie them up in bundles ready to burn, but collect the wheat and store it in my barn.’”(Matthew 13:29-30 Phillips).

In honor of our Heavenly Father, let's imitate Him.  Let's purpose in our hearts to represent Him to the world.  Daniel was said to have an "excellent spirit", and he was 10 times better than his counterparts.(Daniel 5:12).  We're talking about him thousands of years later, so he definitely had evidence.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Confident

 Happy Sunday!

"Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless].  For the Lord shall be your CONFIDENCE, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]."(Proverbs 3:25-26 Amplified)

Is the Lord your "Confidence"?  The Webster 1828 Dictionary defines confidence as "A trusting, or reliance; an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability or veracity of another, or in the truth and reality of a fact".  Don't miss this! Confidence is the trust in the integrity of another! Who can you trust more than our Lord Jesus Christ?  

The Apostle John wrote, "My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re CONFIDENT that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours."(1 John 5:13-16 Message).

The songwriter, Jennie B. Wilson wrote the song, "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand".  It was a staple in church when I was a child.  The second stanza says, "Trust in Him who will not leave you.  Whatsoever years may bring.  If by earthly friends forsaken. Still more closely to Him cling".

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Remember Their Faith

Happy Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day!

"I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), a faith that first lived permanently in the heart of your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am fully persuaded, dwells in you also."(2 Timothy 1:5 Amplified).

Mother's Day brings back memories for me.  How about you?  Can't you just hear the song, "The Way We Were" in your head?  I can!  LOL!  If you are too young to remember that song, Google it, Baby!  Anyway, Timothy was a young pastor in Ephesus.  He wrote to his father in the ministry, the Apostle Paul.  2 Timothy is the letter written back to him.  The Apostle Paul knew that things can be difficult in this life, but he didn't indulge Timothy in a "Pity Party".  He encouraged Timothy to remember!  Remember what?  Remember the foundations of his faith.  Remember how blessed he was to have a mother and a grandmother that taught him the Word of God.

A young pastor I enjoy listening to, always says, "The more I watch true crime shows the more I appreciate my parents!  At least I made it out of the house!"  It's funny but so true.  Even if you had the worst parents in the world, you are alive and able to read this email!  You survived!  And if you are a parent, you know all too well that it's harder than it looks!  The best foundation and parent can give their child or children is a foundation in the Word of God!  The world is prophetically headed toward destruction.  Read your Bible!  It's no secret, time is winding up!  Jesus is coming soon!  Revelation 12:12 says, "So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there, but doom to earth and sea, for the Devil’s come down on you with both feet; he’s had a great fall; he’s wild and raging with anger;  he hasn’t much TIME and he knows it."(Message).

But what if I can't remember the faith of my grandmother or my mother?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  The Psalmist said, "My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in."(Psalm 27:10 Message).  Don't worry if you didn't get that firm foundation of faith.  As long as there is breath in your body, you have the opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and you can be adopted into the family of God.  You can enjoy the Blessing of Abraham which includes: Health, Healing, Prosperity, and Joy!  Galatians 3:13-14 verifies this, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
That the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."(KJV).

You have time now and the opportunity to help others build firm foundations of faith.  Be a blessing to everyone you come in contact with.  You never know how a little kindness can bring light and hope to others.   If you are blessed to still have your mother or grandmother with you in the flesh; cherish them, bless them, and appreciate them! 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Freely!

 Happy Sunday!

"A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had SPENT all her money on doctors, but no doctor was able to heal her."(Luke 8:43 Easy-to-Read Version).

We love the story of this woman.  Many songs have been sung, and sermons preached about her.  She pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' garment.  Then, "Jesus said to her, “My daughter, you are made well because you BELIEVED. Go in peace.”(Luke 8:48 Easy-to-Read Version).  The King James Version of this scripture says, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy FAITH hath made thee whole; go in peace."(Luke 8:48 KJV).

Don't miss this!  She had SPENT every dime she had in an effort to get well!  In Job 2, after Satan's first unsuccessful attempt to get Job to curse God, Satan came again before God.  Satan answered, “There's no pain like your own. People will do anything to stay alive."(Job 2:4 CEV).  WOW, the Father of Lies seemingly told the truth.  Men and women all around the world are spending their hard earned money on medicines, surgeries, and treatments in hopes of saving their lives.  Thank God for godly doctors, nurses and medical professionals!  BUT what will you do when they have exhausted their ability to help you?  What will you do when they diagnose a disease rarely seen and incurable?

"The Lord says, “Come, everyone who is thirsty—here is water! Come, you that have no money—buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk—it will cost you nothing! Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? LISTEN to me and DO what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all.  “Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life! I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised to David."(Isaiah 55:1-3 Good News Translation).  There seems to be theme here, FREE!  God likes to freely give!  Jesus commanded us to, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: FREELY ye have received, FREELY give."(Matthew 10:8 KJV).  The Apostle Paul wrote, "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put EVERYTHING on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t GLADLY and FREELY do for us?"(Romans 8:32 Message).

As a child we were exposed to the Blues, the music genre that is.  Saturdays were for cleaning, and the sound track was the Blues.  When I think of the woman with the issue of blood, I think of the song, "Last Two Dollars" by Johnnie Taylor.  I know, I know it's shocking but true.  I think of how the woman in the song has been to the casino and spent all her money hoping for a "Big Pay Day".  Sadly, she's going out empty handed.  She's asking to borrow two dollars that will be just enough to get home on the bus, and listen to the Blues.  She's not asking for sympathy, but she needs deliverance!  God doesn't want us to live a sad beggarly life!  He sent Jesus so that we can have "Life, Abundant Life!"(John 10:10).  1 Timothy 6:17 tells us our God is, "the living God, who giveth us richly ALL things to enjoy."(KJV).

I enjoy Country Music too!  It's just White Blues!  LOL!  A song by Sugarland called, "Something More" inspired me to leave the St. Louis area years ago.  It's been a grand adventure, and a learning experience.  God has proven that there is something more!  He has a wonderful plan for us.(Jeremiah 29:11).  "And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."(2 Corinthians 3:18 Message). Amen!

Love and prayers, Cynthia