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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!)
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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!