Tag: Signs of Hope

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Bumper Stickers do Have an Impact on Life

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I will be having a huge announcement about my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” coming up in about a week. That’s all I’m telling you for now. Be sure to come back often to see when it pops up.

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.

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I have another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This chapter talks about bumper stickers and the impact they have on people.

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Chapter 69

 

Will the Road You Travel Get to My House?

 

[Jesus said], “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world

as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:14

 

I have done a lot of traveling and have visited many places in the world. Some of those trips have been in a car. (That may stop now because of the price of gas!) While driving I have seen many bumper stickers. I’ve had many close calls trying to write them down. If you see a car swerving back and forth on a highway, wave—it is probably me.

Charlottehas taken over the bumper sticker writing chore so I can concentrate on watching out for crazy drivers—the ones doing dumb things, like making silly turns, that lead to destruction.

I’m convinced the whole world has taken a sharp turn! It is not even an “S” curve. In many ways, it is a complete hairpin curve.

I saw the above bumper sticker, but I’ve also seen bumper stickers that tell me more about the driver than I really want to know: “Born-again pagan,” “Keep music evil,” and “Party ’til he’s cute.” Then there’s the largerDarwinfish swallowing the Christian symbol of the fish, or the one where the fish has legs.

These people are advertising for sin. They have bumper stickers on their cars where everyone can see them. They are the mockers of God and “get away” with it because He allows people to make choices. They can make those choices all they want, but they will face God someday. Then He will make His choices.

People seem to shy away from letting other people know they are Christians. We have a perfect way to advertise just like the mockers do. It says in the Bible, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). In today’s culture, Jesus could be saying, “Put a bumper sticker on your car and drive into the world and show them the good news.”

Everyone has to wait at red lights, and people’s eyes naturally go to any bumper sticker on a car to see what it says. A believer could do more witnessing in one day then he could ever dream of doing in a lifetime.

We might even feel obligated to do this. The enemy does it. He gets people to think they need to let people know how cool they are by “advertising” ungodly things. We could let them know how cool we are because we are the ones on the fast track to heaven.

Wouldn’t it be something if the Rapture occurred just as people were reading a bumper sticker that says, “Warning, driver may disappear because of the Rapture”? The look of fear on their faces would be worth a thousand pictures. Talk about shock and awe!

I have many “witnessing” bumper sticker sayings in my data files. What if we all had at least one of them on our cars? Do you think it would make any difference? Does a fish swim? (The Christian fish, of course.)

[Jesus said], “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see

 your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

 

Further Adventures

I am not advocating a mass purchase of bumper sticks, but suggest that you pay more attention to them. They all have meaning—either bad or good. If you think you would like to witness a very easy way, look up bumper stickers on the internet. You’ll find thousands of them. Be sure to choose ones that witness for God, and you will be a walking (driving) witness for God.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how you can send a thousand “jokes” through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing?

Remember:

You are not alone.

You are not forsaken.

You are not unloved.

And above all… never, ever, give up!

 

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Ab Lincoln Given Cookies in the Oval Office by a Stranger.

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Here is a real teaser…There will be a huge announcement about our bookstore in about two weeks. That’s all folks!

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I have another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” 

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.

This excerpt talks about giving is better than receiving. I talk about actual people who gave, and didn’t expect anything in return.

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Chapter 67

 

It Is Better to Give than Receive

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,

so you must love one another.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John13:34-35

 

Imagine what a heavy schedule of appointments President Abraham Lincoln had to keep day after day. Yet when an elderly woman with no official business in mind asked to see him, he graciously consented.

As she enteredLincoln’s office, he rose to greet her and asked how he might be of service. She replied that she had not come to ask a favor. She had heard that the president liked a certain kind of cookie, so she had baked some for him and brought them to his office.

With tears in his eyes,Lincolnresponded, “You are the very first person who has ever come into my office asking not, expecting not, but rather bringing me a gift. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

My personal dictionary calls this elderly lady a silent hero—someone who does many things for others and never expect anything in return. My Aunt Dollie was the same kind of person. Her goal in life was to make sure her family was well cared for. And she wanted to be sure she had something to leave her children when she passed on. She did just that. She gave a lot of love to her children and many others, and when she passed on she left her family financially secure. But, more importantly, she left them with memories of a woman who stood out as a person who led by example, relied on tough love to mold her family and became a silent hero to many that knew her.

This type of person is high on the Lord’s priority list of how His followers should act. This type of unselfish love is the cornerstone of what the Bible teaches about love.

My brother Dave is a silent hero to me. I didn’t know for over 40 years that he had done something for me that changed my life because he wasn’t out to impress anyone with his love for his family.

When my brother was a senior in high school he told our mother he wasn’t going to go to college because our family couldn’t afford two people going to college at once. He said he would support me and help me make it through so that one of the members of the family could get a degree. Well, it took a long time because of the military and three children, but I got that degree and went into teaching.

I didn’t know about his sacrifice until over 40 years later when my mother told me. That, my friends, is a true silent hero! My brother gave up his chance for a college degree so I could get mine. I will never be able to thank him enough for what he did, but he knows now that my love for him has grown deeper than seems possible between two brothers. I also have become a silent hero in his back pocket to make sure that he knows how much I appreciate what he did for me.

John13:34-35 says that we should love one another as He loves us. We can always think of what the Lord would do to help them and use that as a model for the help we give. Remember His unconditional love, and how He would do anything He could to comfort them and help them through any crisis or stressful situation. That is what silent heroes do.

 

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mathew23:11-12

 

“Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out”

—Frank A. Clark

 

Further Adventures

Look around you and list those you feel are your silent heroes. You don’t need to share your findings with them. Just know that they are there, and be happy knowing that they will always be there for you.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how he who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses?

 

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If You Think You Are Perfect, Try Walking on Water.

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There will be a huge and exciting announcement about our bookstore in about three weeks. Why am I telling you so far ahead of time? (You will have to wait to even find that out!)

For now we have one book in the store that is a must read for those you know that may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.

The book is called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to survive in an Unfriendly World.” Check it out, but clicking on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.

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I have an excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” The topic is about fear, one of the afflictions I mentioned above.

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Chapter 66

 

If You Think You’re Perfect, Try Walking on Water

 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Isaiah 43:2

 

While visitingHawaii, a group of us decided to go snorkeling. (You need to know that I am not a very good swimmer and even use a floatation device to help me stay on top of the water.) We got to the bay where we were planning to snorkel and proceeded to put on our gear; then we went to the edge of the water, put on our flippers and goggles; and slid down into the water from some rocky ledges. I was enjoying the beautiful fish and even saw a sea turtle! I was a little way out from the rocky ledge when I realized I hadn’t put on my floatation device! I was having a close encounter with God!

I tried to relax so I could still look at the fish below me, but the water was 40 feet deep where I was! I felt I needed to head for the rocks and get out in order to be on the safe side. I started kicking and headed for the shore when I got a huge cramp in my left leg. It was so bad I couldn’t kick with that leg anymore!

I struggled to stay on top of the water. But the people on the shore didn’t seem to be worried; in fact, I don’t think they even noticed me. I was scrambling to get up on the rocks—and they just kept on walking! The waves beat me against the rocks, which were cutting up my knees. I was washed out a couple more times before I finally got a grip on the rocks and pulled myself out of the water. I was exhausted, and in just a couple more minutes I would have drowned. I had been left alone, and I really felt I was going to drown. I had made the mistake of not having a floatation device with me. I would have been fine had I put it on.

I consider that similar to thinking I can make it on my own without God. When we try to live without God, we eventually find ourselves thrashing in the water of life and getting pretty banged up.

We may have friends who are going through trials. They think that they are well off—doing OK—almost to the point they think they can walk on water. Or like a duck, they may look serene floating on the surface, but underneath, they’re paddling furiously. They may actually be struggling to keep above water and have many things dragging them down.

We need to check on them from time to time to see how they’re doing and look for signals that will let us know when they’re in trouble. They need our reassurance that the Lord will help them through troubled times. We can pray with them and let them know we’re there when they need us. That will be very comforting for them. They’ll know they won’t be out in the deep water with no one to help them climb the slippery rocks to safety.

Think of how strong Peter was in his faith, and yet when Jesus told him to walk on water, he got very fearful and started to sink. We probably have less faith than Peter did, so we must hold on to Jesus and let Him keep us on top of the water.

 

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked;

 for the Lord will be your confidence.

Proverbs3:25-26

 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

 

Further Adventures

  1. Call several of your closest friends, and just check in with them. You can probably sense what’s going on with them by the tone of their voice, or they may just go right to the problem and let you know without your asking. Help them know that you are there for them, and remind them that the Lord is with them always.
  2. Check your own family members and make sure they are on the right path of good health—physically, emotionally and spiritually. They aren’t always going to run to you with their problems. When I was a teacher, I lost a couple of students to suicide and the parents didn’t even know their child was depressed. Make contact with your family daily, and make sure they are in the right frame of mind.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we sometimes test the depth of water with both feet and sink?