Posts

Posted on

Be Still and Know That I am God

It has been a few days since I last posted. I have been busy with my blog at: www.dailysignsofhope.com. It has been growing so fast that we are ranked # 2 out of 6.1 similar sites according to the Google Search Rankings. We are averaging about 15 new RSS feed subscribers a day.

I would love to start that kind of action here as well. Please take a couple of minutes and sign-up for the RSS feed here. It really helps this site move up in the rankings.

________________________________________________________

I have some exciting news! I just had a trailer made for my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”  I received an email yesterday with the final draft in it, and I approved it. They said it would be 3-4 days before it hits YouTube, and the other video outlets on the web. I will be having it as a regular feature on this site when it comes out.

I am very impressed with the quality of it, and I hope you will too. Keep checking back to see when it comes out.

_________________________________________________________

Often times when we pray we are doing in a noisy, or busy place. It is very difficult to concentrate when that is happening. Look at it this way:

Imagine you are at a party with a friend and you are trying to talk to them. There is a lot of noise, and clamor. You are trying to whisper what you want to say in the other person’s ear.

The one listening will not be able to hear what you are saying. That could be what happens when we are in a crowded and noisy area when we are praying to God. We can’t concentrate, and will not be able to get across what we really are trying to say.

 We need to find a quiet place when we “talk” to God. We need to be able to concentrate on what we are saying, and who we are talking to.

God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” He is telling us that He is our God, and we need to quietly follow Him, and be connected through prayer.

The next time you pray, think about the quality of how you are praying. Think like God is sitting right next to you in a chair carrying on a conversation with you. Then share your hurts, and thoughts about others you are concerned about. It will bring the level of your prayers to a new high, and you will feel much closer to God.

_________________________________________________________

Just a reminder that the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” is on sale right here on this site. All you need to do is click on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page. You will find a description of the book and a copy of the cover.

The book is on a special price. It is selling for $19.99 in the retail stores, but if you order on from here, it is only $15.99. The shipping is cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00.

Did you realize that it is less than 90 days until Christmas. Time to start thinking of that.

Never, ever, give up!

Posted on

Don’t let Failure Cause You to Give up. God is Always There

What a weekend this has been. I am a alum of Oregon State University, and I saw my Beavers lose yet another game yesterday to the UCLA bruins. We played fairly well, but just two mistakes caused the loss of the game.

We have all made mistakes. Have you ever made one that cost you the game?

I have certainly been close. I have made many mistakes in my lifetime. I paid for some of them for many years, and learned a great deal from all of them.

Life is a learning process, and God sometimes allows us to make mistakes to learn from them.

It isn’t like we knew we were making a mistakes, we often think we made the right decision and then realize that we made the wrong turn at the crossroads.

The wonderful thing about all of this is that God allows U-turns. You can always come back to Him and ask for forgiveness. It is never too late to put on the brakes, and turn around.

Don’t let one failure cause you to give up. God was there before you made that mistake, and He will be there afterwards as well.

Turn your bitterness, and self-doubt over to Him, and feel the relief, and peace of knowing all the worry is gone.

__________________________________________________________

My book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” is all about self-doubt, anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, hopelessness, etc.

I have been to many crossroads, and I share in the book how I coped each time I reached that spot, plus how God can hold your hand through the storms.

This book may not seem exactly what you thing is right for you, but think about your friends and family. I can bet you can think of someone who would benefit a great deal from the support this book gives.

________________________________________________________

There is a special sale going on right now, and yes, it is time to start thinking about Christmas. I was in a department store last week, and they already had their Christmas stuff out.

The special price is now $15.99 for the book. In the retail stores it is $19.99. The shipping has been cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00.

Take time to have a look at the book, by clicking on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.

Always remember: Never, ever, give up!

Posted on

Man’s Way Leads to A Hopeless End-God’s Way Leads to Endless Hope

I hope you will take time to sign-up for the RSS feed. This helps us climb up the ladder on the Google Search Rankings. It only takes you a minute. By doing this you  are able to know each time I post.

__________________________________________________________

I will be sharing another excerpt from, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” after to tell you how to get it for a very good price.

Right now you can order the book on this site for only $15.99. It is $19.99 in the retail stores. The shipping has been cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00.

The book reaches out to those who suffer from anxiety, and fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects. You may not relate to any of these afflictions, but know of someone that may. Start thinking of Christmas. (I know it is very early, but I went to J.C. Penny yesterday and they already had their Christmas stuff out!)

_________________________________________________________

Today’s excerpt is chapter 5. It teaches us that we cannot make it in this world without God.

MAN’S WAY LEADS TO A HOPELESS END—GOD’S WAY

is ENDLESS HOPE

  

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is safe. 

—Proverbs 28:25–26 

THERE ARE TIMES when I think I am doing fine and do not need to worry about tomorrow. I will be strong against the sin that I may face. Every time I feel that way, I fall flat on my face, and I let Satan creep in inch by inch. You give Satan an inch, and he will become the ruler. (Another great bumper sticker!) 

God has a plan for me, and I need to understand that He already had my life planned before I was even born. A plan was begun for mankind before God put the first breath into Adam. God knows my every move. Wherever I go, He will be there with me. 

I sent a saying to my son when he was stationed in Iraq. It said, “I know your name, and I will be with you wherever you go.” That is true for everyone. He knows your name. He is wherever you go. 

God cares for you. 

And God even cares for “little people.” What I mean by little people are the people who come into your church—the ones you don’t want to sit next to because they need a bath. They need help because they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. They are the hungry. Their clothes look like they came from a charity store. 

Let me make sure you understand! God always hears and loves those who seek Him—little people or not. He doesn’t care what they wear. He doesn’t care if they smell. He does care that they are hungry. He does care that they need love—just like you do. 

I realize that to love these people you are going out on a limb, taking a risk. They could take advantage of you. They may want to steal the church offering. But you should embrace them as people of worth and welcome them into your church. God cares about them—and you need to as well. 

Speaking of taking a risk: Don’t you take a risk when you let your daughter go to her first dance alone? Don’t you take a risk when you give the car keys to your son for the fi rst time? You worry about them, but you love them enough to let them stretch their wings a little. They are a little person in your eyes yet. They are still your little girl or boy, but you trust them enough to let them enjoy increasing independence. 

Our heavenly Father takes a risk with His children every day. He lets us stretch our wings. He trusts us to do the right things.We don’t always do the right things, but God loves us just the same as you would still love your children if they didn’t make the right decisions. 

We often try to make decisions without God’s help. But as the bumper sticker says, “Man’s way leads to a hopeless end.” 

Try to remember the risk takers from the Bible. Think of David and his sling shot, Mary washing Jesus’ feet, Abraham raising his knife to kill his son. They took the risk, but they relied on God to help them. They had a heavenly Parent to trust them and protect them. He let them stretch their wings because, “God’s way leads to endless hope.” 

Stay with God’s way, and the narrow path you walk will lead to,endless hope. The wider path leads to destruction, disappointment, shame and despair. You may stretch your wings if you wish, but stay the course that God has in mind for you, and you will receive the final reward—the eternal love of your heavenly Parent. 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 

—1 John 4:16 

Further Adventures 

Man’s way does lead to a hopeless end. We have all been there. You think everything is going great and that you don’t need God to help you during that time. Like clockwork, something knocks you to your knees, and you are praying (crying) to God to help you through it. 

Let me suggest an alternative: Pray without ceasing! Let God know every day about your day. If it was a good day, thank Him for it. If it was a bad day, ask for His loving care. It is so easy to get in touch with God. It is a much better way to communicate than any electronic invention man has come up with. It is similar to e-mail, except you would call it knee mail. 

Something to Ponder 

Isn’t it funny that if God is for us, no one can be against us?

Remember: Never, ever, give up!