Tag: Signs of Hope

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Do You Live on the Corner of Boredom and Dead End?

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We have been sharing excerpts from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book is perfect for an Easter present, and Easter is only about two weeks away.

There is a special sale going on right now, so click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to check it out.

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The excerpt today talks about how easy it is to be a “back slider,” once we become Christians. It helps us to understand what we need to do to be strong.

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Chapter 53

 

Done There; Been That

 

If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:30–31

 

The first week of my weight-loss program was wonderful—I lost 13 pounds in one week! (That shows you how overweight I was.) I have gone on to lose a total of 58 pounds.

It was amazing what losing 58 pounds can do. I felt so much better, had more energy and began to sleep better. I even noticed that I had a better attitude. Must be something to this losing weight stuff, don’t you think?

I saw a bumper sticker that says, “Three square meals makes one round.” Or there’s the one that says, “He who stuffeth, fluffeth.” I know the truth of those sayings and have struggled with weight for many years. I am sure none of you have. (Oh! You have?)

Have you ever said on January 1st, “This is the year I’m going to lose weight and keep it off”? You commit to going down to the club at least three times a week to work out. You cut down on your food intake and watch your eating habits, and for a few weeks things go great. Statistics say that the health clubs are the busiest during the month of January, but everyone drops out of sight by March.

Why are we so excited when we start a diet, and then fall down a month or so later?

Do you live on the corner of Boredom and Dead End? Do your days seem like weeks when things don’t go well? Does the end of the money come before the end of the bills and the end of the month?

These are things that can tear at our initial excitement about dieting? Seem silly? Not according to many experts. Depression, illness, failure, and other negative issues can stop us in our tracks, driving us to our comfort zone. And for many of us our comfort zone involves food. We even have a category called “comfort foods”: pudding, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese—things that are smooth and soft and remind us of the comfort of childhood.

That is the way it is for new, born-again Christians. They feel wonderful at first, and everything goes well for a month. Then they start forgetting where they put their Bible. They mean to study the Bible every day, but they oversleep most days. Church seems to get in the way of the big game on TV.

All the while, the same old feelings they had before they became a Christian start coming back. They are easily angered when someone is late or not doing their part of the work. Their children drive them crazy, so they retreat to a spot in front of the TV or get engrossed in their favorite magazine.

Think that none of these seems sinful enough to draw us away from God? “Give Satan an inch and he will make it a mile.” (Hey! Another great bumper sticker!) Here are a couple more good ones:

One snowflake grows into an avalanche.

Every little molehill can grow intoMt.Everest.

Don’t let the small things fool you.

Satan is very clever. He will not tempt us to do things that seem out of place—at first. Instead, he likes to chip away at our heart, and slowly get us back into his realm.

We need to go on a spiritual diet! We need to lose all those weighty problems like depression, doubt, anger and failure that cause us to be exhausted even when we see the slightest sign of hope. We need the proper food to help us grow. Here’s a good diet to follow:

1 Bible

½ hour of prayer in the morning followed by ½ hour of studying God’s Word

Constant prayer throughout the day

A Bible or a Christian book to read after the evening meal

More prayer at bedtime

Stir these ingredients into your life every day for the rest of your life, and you will see and feel the difference. You will be a clean serene fighting machine—one that Satan will not be able to cope with.

The negative pounds will start coming off. You will feel stronger, have more energy, sleep better at night, and have a much better attitude. All the benefits of what you eat spiritually will make a difference as you turn to God and let Him be in your life. 

I have been on so many different diets I can’t even remember the names of some of them. There was the “Eat bananas all day” diet, but I started making strange noises, and jumping up and down. But my swinging on the chandelier did it forCharlotte.

One diet promised I could become a slender “animal” by eating only meats and poultry. I tried that for awhile, and the pounds did come off, but then whenever I looked at a live chicken or a cow, I felt tremendous guilt because I was eating their brothers and sisters!

A vegetarian diet led to other problems for me—one of them being too much time in the bathroom. I had better ways to spend my day!

This went on until I shifted to Weight Watchers. I could eat anything I wanted as long as I stayed within my point totals for the day.

There are so many ways (formulas, diets) we’ve devised to follow God that it’s no wonder so many of us go off spiritual diets.

I did some church-hopping in my earlier days in my search for the perfect church. I didn’t find one. I learned that there are pluses and minuses in every church.

That leads me to comment on the bumper sticker at the start of this chapter. I bet you’re waiting for me to finally straighten it out. You thought it should read, “Been there; done that.”

But what I put there is what I meant.

I grew tired of church-hunting. I wanted to settle into to a church so I could grow. Hence, I was done there. I was done looking for a church because I realized I was slipping away from God since I didn’t have a church home. I had been that person before. I had slipped away from God before.

So I was done there and been that!

I got on a good diet of Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, reading Christian books, and prayer. I started a journal of my hurts, good moments, and just remembering the day. It was a great way to look back at my growth—or lack of it.

We need to be done there with all the negative barriers. We cannot remain in the world of hurt; the world of worry, or the world of fear.

We have been that long enough. We can’t allow Satan to run our life. He has done it long enough. God needs to take over—and we need to let Him. He can carry us the rest of the way.

Yes, you have been that. You have been what you had hoped you would never be, but you will be done there. You never have to carry that heavy load again.

We can turn to God and say, “I am done there. I have been that for too many years, and I need Your love to be with me to keep me from going back.”

Like the loving Father He is, He will open His arms and take care of you.

 

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power

is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

 

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that or your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:3–4

 

Further Adventures

We all struggle. We all have failed at one time or another. We all have wished we would be strong and keep doing things that will make us healthy both physically and mentally. But you know what? We are humans! We can talk ourselves out of anything. It can be, “Oh that piece of cake won’t cause me too much trouble. I won’t be depressed if I fail. It is OK to not exercise to make me physically strong.” Wrong! Wrong! And wrong again.

We need both physical growth and spiritual growth. They go together hand in hand. When you’re at your proper weight and physically fit, you feel much better about yourself and want to go even further by cleaning out your polluted mind of all harmful thoughts that tear you down. Strong physically; strong mentally. You are a clean serene fighting machine.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how some choose their friends by their outward appearance, and yet they don’t like themselves?

 

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What Will it be Like When the Rapture Comes?

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We have been sharing excerpts for the book “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book is on sale right on this site for a special price. Think Easter, which is only a couple of weeks away.  This book is perfect as a gift at this time.

The book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.  Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page to check it out.

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The excerpt today lets you wonder what it will be like when the rapture comes.

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Chapter 51

 

Beware—Driver Disappears after the Rapture

 

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God

will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep [died] in him.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

 

The bus full of people goes off the road. There isn’t a driver! The car ahead of you crashes into a tree. The driver is gone. The person who was skiing ahead of you on the slopes suddenly disappears. The high school swim team is leading in the big district meet, but all of the relay team disappears right in the middle of the winning race. You are having a nice dinner in a crowded restaurant, and it is suddenly nearly empty. What if you are in an airplane and the pilot disappears? Talk about shock and awe! What a close encounter with God this will be!

Can you imagine all the different things that will happen when the Rapture takes place? It will be chaos! People will be panicking, and fear will overcome them.

The wonderful thing about this is that you will be the one that disappears—if you believe in the Lord and accept His offer of salvation! This makes it very clear for you. Believe in the Lord with all your heart and you face life for eternity in the presence of Jesus.

Theologians have also pondered a very interesting situation that may prove true. Because there are so many Christians in theUnited States, when the Rapture occurs, it is possible that so many leaders of business and government will “disappear” that our country will no longer be a world power. This may put theUnited Statesin peril and those left behind in great danger. I believe this is very possible.

None of us wants those we love to miss out on eternity with Christ. We need to be talking to them about God’s gift of salvation. We don’t know when the Rapture will occur. It could happen while you are reading this.

I am not trying to scare you with these thoughts. I want you to find comfort in them. It’s that simple. Those of us who have turned our lives over to the Lord are in for a free ride when the Rapture happens. And we need to share that truth with those we love.

If you aren’t certain about where you are in your belief, stop right now and ask the Lord to come into your heart. Tell Him you have sinned, and seek forgiveness. It is an easy thing to do.

Act now. It’s time to ask God to forgive you of your sins and accept His gift of salvation. Then the Rapture is something to look forward to.

Here is a simple prayer to open your heart to God: Dear Lord, I know that I have sinned against You. I am not worthy of Your loving grace. I need Your forgiveness to free me of these chains that Satan has wrapped around me. I give You my life. I give You my sins, and I want to serve You from now on. Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your grace. Amen.”

 

We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in

the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

 

 

Further Adventures

When will the Rapture occur? Can I wait until later to worry about it? I will give my life to God tomorrow. I am having too much fun right now.

You’d be surprised how many people on this earth live with that mentality. One survey shows that a high percentage of people believe there is a God, but a much smaller percentage of the world actually follows Him.

What’s wrong with this picture? Why are there people who believe but do not surrender? People are having too much fun. But the most important factor is that they don’t want to give up control of their lives to God. They do not want God to direct them. They may suddenly cry out to Him when they’re in trouble, but they’re not willing to totally commit to Him. How sad it will be when the Rapture comes and they start screaming, “But God—I was going to give my life to you! Can’t I still come with the others?” You already know the answer to that.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that those who love this world will lose it, and those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life? Have a look at John 12:25.

 

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Don’t go Through Life Without the Love of God in Your Life

Thank all of you who have been signing up for the RSS feed to this site. It helps us move up in the Google Search Rankings. If you haven’t already signed up please do it now to help us climb even faster.

Just click on the  icon right after the title to sign-up. __________________________________________________________ 

I have been featuring excerpts from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book is on sale right on this site. Easter is getting close and this book is perfect for those you know who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, Hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects. Click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to check it out.

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Today’s excerpt is about what we must do to pass the tests that God may have for us some day.

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Chapter 50

 

Time Will Pass; Will You?

 

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal.”

Genesis 6:3

 

One day during my teacher years, I was sitting at my desk correcting papers when I looked up and saw one of my students staring at the clock. It was getting close to recess, and he was anxiously waiting to be able to go out and play. After recess, and near the end of the day, I decided to watch the students while I was at my computer. (I had the monitor positioned so I could see the reflection of what—or who—was behind me. Sneaky, huh?)

It was happening again. Several students were watching the clock, instead of doing their schoolwork.

Before the students came in the next morning, I had posted a sign below the clock that read, “Time will pass; will you?” I couldn’t wait until the kids came in. They had been there about five minutes when one of the students spotted the sign. She started laughing as she pointed to the clock. The others looked up, and everyone started laughing.

Then the laughing faded and looks of concern started showing up on their faces. They had that look that said, “That is a funny saying, but what does it mean?”

I went to the front of the classroom to explain what I had observed. They didn’t laugh this time, and from then on you could see students taking a darted look at the clock and then dive back into their studies. They didn’t want me to catch them looking at the clock.

I was able to take the sign down after a couple of weeks, and never had a problem after that. Its message had become embedded in their minds.

When I was a young father, I was very busy, trying to provide for my family. I was going to college and working full time at a grocery store. I didn’t have time for anything else.

This schedule led to a college degree for me and a career in teaching. But it cost me my marriage and created a separated home for my children. It was my own fault. My first wife worked very hard while I was in school and is a good mother.

I decided I wanted to find out what the world was like since I never had time to do it while going to school for ten years. I walked away from a good family situation in my divorce. I had my two sons with me, but my daughter stayed with her mother.

That is when I thought about time passing by me. I walked that wide path of sin, and really thought I was enjoying my newfound freedom. I left my sons at home, and went out “playing.” They had to learn to be independent.

I didn’t see much of my daughter either, and one day when I did, I was in shock. I thought, Is that my daughter? She sounds older. She looks older, even taller, and much prettier. I must have missed something. What had happened, of course, is that she had become a young lady. Overnight, it seemed that she had gone from my little princess to a young woman.

Just yesterday, I was changing her diapers, I thought, and now she is driving a car. She was going to college, and I didn’t even have time to watch her grow. I was running out of chances to show her my love. Time was passing by quickly, and I was failing.

That is what happens when you decide to wait on giving your life to God. Time passes very quickly, and before you know it, you have gone through life without the love of God in your life.

Your time to pass on will come soon enough. You will take the final test, but what test will you pass? The test of sin or the test of righteousness? The final grade will be handed out to you at the end of your term here on earth. It is a pass/fail test.

We are like my children when they were little. Some things are hard to comprehend. There is no way our minds can comprehend, the love of God. We may think ourselves unworthy of such an awesome God. Although we cannot understand His love, we cannot stop Him from loving us.

We just can’t grasp the thought that God would come down to earth through a womb, wrap Himself in human flesh, and be crucified just for us. Just for you.

Let me ask you something: Upon learning that God would rather die for you—and He did—than be without you, how do you respond? How can you justify His doing this for you?

You can’t come up with a good answer, can you? I can’t either. You can’t justify one person dying for another.

The only answer is that there is more love in God than we can ever imagine.

That brings us down to the fact that there is no one on earth who can love us more than God does. Our parents can’t. Our siblings can’t. Our best friends can’t. Our spouse can’t.

The bottom line is that God loves us more than anything else He has created. The Bible doesn’t say He might love us. It doesn’t say He is thinking about loving us. It doesn’t say He did love us, but that our sins have turned Him away from us.

God has an unconditional love that is forever.

Time is passing; will you pass on to heaven? That is the final test. You can pass this test easily. Just confess your sins and let Jesus into your heart. No true or false questions. Just yes or no. If you say yes, you have passed the test with a 100% score, and the gates are opened wide for you.

My daughter has grown up from that little princess I told you about. She graduated from college with a teaching degree, married, and has two lovely little girls. We spend time together as often as possible. I am in the autumn of my life, but I know that I am loved by her, and she knows how much I love her. I may have let time pass, but there is still time left.

There is still time left for you too. Don’t let any more time pass. Turn your life over to God. He will look at you, and say, “You have grown up, and I am proud of what you have become. You have become My child, and I will love you forever.”

Just like I will love my children forever.

 

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.

Philippians 3:13–14

 

Further Adventures

Does it seem like you just graduated from college, but here you are just a few years from retirement? Did the little boy you were holding in your arms yesterday suddenly become a husband with three children—your grandchildren?

There are some things you might avoid, but there are some things you can’t. Time will keep ticking no matter how much you try to slow it down. I know this may sound rather overbearing, but treat each day as if it is your last. What would you do if you knew tomorrow was your last day? Sit down and write down all those things and make it your “bucket list”—things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.” Start doing them and check them off your list as you do.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how quickly the days go by as you get older?