Tag: trials

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When Will The Storms Stop?

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful.  We just past 3,625 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Help us to make it to 4,000.  Could you be the one that puts us over the top? Our goal for the end of this year is 5,000.

Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.

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Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It will be reaching out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.  

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If you follow Twitter, join me by following @heavenencounter. Many veterans are starting to follow and we hope to have many more to share thoughts and ideas with. You can also connect with my on Facebook by putting my name in the search area.

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I see it has been almost three months since I last posted here. I have spent my whole summer battling an infection in my spine. I am just starting to feel well enough to be able to stop the daily IV doses of antibiotics.

I missed so much because of this. My family went on summer trips, but I couldn’t go because of the IV treatments everyday.

I wasn’t able to drive because the effects of the antibiotics made me drowsy and sleepy. So, not only was I in severe pain, I also was grounded and sent to my bedroom like a disobedient child.  I spent three weeks staring out my bedroom window hoping some birds or squirrels might come by for me to see.

This is a pretty sad story so far.

I want you to know something. I never faltered. I never cursed God. I never gave up my positive attitude.

I could have given up and let the dark side have its way.

It reminds me of when I was in a huge battle with depression while in the military, and beyond. I spent many days wondering what the world was all about, and if I wanted to be a part of it.

In 2001 I actually was sitting in my Ford Explorer thinking of checking out of this hotel called earth.

God woke me up that day. He stopped me in my tracks. He had plans for me, and it wasn’t my time to leave this earth. So now I am writing this post to you to share hope.

I also share hope on my blog at www.dailysignsofhope.com. As the title states, you get daily signs of hope. Check it out and join me there as well. Find out why 94,000 people are subscribers to the blog.

I have been labeled as the “hope whisper.”   I go to writer’s conferences and people address me with that name.

Why? Shouldn’t I be angry at the world? I had over ten years of serious ailments including five surgeries. This latest trial has been one of my hardest to accept.

I don’t feel anger. I don’t think this world is an awful place to be.

I have learned that we will all face trials and storms. Some will be raging storms. I have also learned that each time I make it through the storm I am a little stronger. I even learned that I can use my adversity, pain, and suffering to help others who may be going through the same things.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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I Was Ready to Check Out of This Hotel Called Earth

There is been a steady surge in subscribers to our RSS feed lately. We now have 220 subscribers. That is wonderful. We have had 26 new subscribers in the last month.

We also set a new record recently with 5,099 hits for one day. There have been some dynamic posts the last few weeks. Be sure to subscribe to know when they are coming.

Keep up the great work by helping us climb up in the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

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Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy, with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

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I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7.

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Wow! What a response for the last post. 5,099 hits for one day is a record that will be hard to beat. What was the title? “We Never Have to Carry Our Sins With us.”

People wanted to know how to get the burden of sins out of their lives. Sins can pull you down like a huge magnate. It doesn’t matter who you are. You could be a teacher, doctor, garbage truck driver, soldier, or a pizza delivery guy.

Satan doesn’t care what you do. He just wants to control you. He uses guilt to push you down, and he hopes you stay down.  He delights is seeing you in pain. He delights in seeing you ready to give-up. I know I have been there.

I was at the end of my rope, and ready to be placed on Satan’s trophy wall. He had me right where he wanted me. I was Sitting in my Ford Explorer ready to check out of this hotel called earth.

That is where God came to my rescue. I should have known He was there all the time waiting for me to cry out to Him. That is exactly what I did. I said, “GOD I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!

There was an instant calmness in my Explorer. It was as if God was saying, ” IT’s about time you came back to me.”

Yes, I was and the end of that thin rope, but what I didn’t know was that I was really holding on to the hem of God’s robe.

There is never a time when God isn’t near you. If He feels far away, guess who moved.

Always depend on God to see you through your storms and trials. It is when those storms come that He is nearest. He allows them to happen, but He helps calm them.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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God’s Grace is Sufficient to Take on All Trials You Face

There is been a steady surge in subscribers to our RSS feed lately. We now have 215 subscribers. That is wonderful. We have had 21 new ones in the last month. Keep up the great work by helping us climb up in the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

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Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy, with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

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I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

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Having a blog or an authors site is a must for marketing in the day and age. With all the social media outlets, you need to have a steady place for your followers to go to where they can get to know you better.

Through your blog, you can talk about many things, and show the readers more about you. On your author’s site you can talk directly about your books, and promote them.

If you don’t have both going for you right now, I strongly suggest you consider it. WordPress is an excellent source to get started with your own outlet source for your readers. That is what I am using here.

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 My mother’s name is Grace. Her middle name is Angelia. Both those names fit her so well. She has been my pillar of strength for over 70 years.

She is still with us at the age of 95. She isn’t as “graceful,” as she was fifty years ago, but her constant love, and caring ways still fill my heart as I see her each day.

The name Grace is also another word for God’s reservoir of strength and protection.  Not occasionally or miserly but constantly and aggressively, wave upon wave.  We barely regain our balance from one breaker, and then, bam, here comes another!

We dare to stake our hope on the gladdest news of all:  if God permits the challenge, he will provide the grace to meet it.  We never exhaust his supply. “Stop asking so much!  My grace reservoir is running dry.”  Heaven knows no such words.  God has enough grace to solve every dilemma you face, wipe every tear that you cry, and answer every question you ask.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also graciously give us all things?  (Romans 8:32).

Having given the supreme and costliest gift, how can He fail to lavish upon us all He has to give?

Don’t think God isn’t listening to your cries. He knows your hurts, and with His grace and love will see you through. Just like my mother’s love and grace see me through.

God’s grace is sufficient to take on all walls, and trials you face. Turn to Him when the dark clouds come.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!