Tag: hope in Christ

A Diagram of Life

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD2 Comments

When Jerry and I were caregivers for my mother, I used the following triangle to encourage her to remember her life would not end here. The blue line is the New Birth to Eternal Life.

In 4 1/2 years with us she declined rapidly with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, in this stage of decline, it is encouraging for me to remember I have been born of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father with promise through Christ, His Son, we who are in Christ will never die spiritually. I rejoice in the words of 1 John 3:1-3. New Brith can occur on the side of decline also. On either side Eternal Life goes beyond the page.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Gracious Father, thank you for making us your children, giving us life in Christ, your Son. As we grow physically throughout our life here, fill us with your Spirit and enable us to grow spiritually, to know you better and love you more, to praise you and witness to others that they, too, may have this hope of everlasting life in Christ ~ for your glory and our joy. In His name we pray. Amen.

Hope, Hope, and More Hope

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD1 Comment

The world gives us every reason to despair.

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? Job 6:11

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. Job 7:6

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish. Job 8:13

The Lord, our God is the one reason for hope. Let us as His people flood the airwaves in our speech and all communication, with the truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Gracious and loving Father, for those who may be without hope today, I ask your mercy to be upon them. By your Spirit, draw them to your Word and to your Son. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran
(Please forgive any inconsistency in this format. WordPress is unsure and uncooperative today.)

“What’s Happenin?”

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, Uncategorized22 Comments

Nathan, our only grandson, now seventeen, used this expression when he was younger, being the middle child of five granddaughters. 

He learned this from my reading to him The Man Who Couldn’t See from Ella K. Lindvall’s READ ALOUD BIBLE STORIES.

Children and adults are asking the same question today? Children are growing up in a culture unlike any other in our history. There is a lot of walking and talking, and our children are becoming more anxious, affected by all that is going on in the world.

No one is blind to the news of evil. It is very evident through mass communication for the world to hear and see. We are blind, however, to the causes. We cannot see behind the scenes. And the world is blind to the solution.

What we hear and see is a prelude to what hell will be like for those who are blind to the good news of Christ.

Imagine, if things continue as they are, where the chaos will take us. Without Christ there is no hope.

It is as if God has removed Himself from the world, to show us what it is like without His rule and presence with us. All we need for more evil and  destruction is for the world to be left alone to decide what is good in our own eyes.

Imagine the worst scene in history. Multiply this in our day with all that is happening, and you can imagine hell. Our only hope is Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, show us your mercy. As we hear and see what this world is like, in disobedience to you, rend the heavens and come down, as the melting fire burneth, and make your name known to the adversaries. Enable us to see Jesus as our only hope. Open our eyes to see Him and to tell others about your marvelous grace through Him for our deliverance. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Praying Together For Our Nation ~ Week 2

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER, Uncategorized1 Comment

Last week we began praying  together  with the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer.

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

This week we want to meditate upon and pray the second petition:

supreme-court

“What do we pray in the second petition? We pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.” Shorter Catechism

This answer was documented centuries ago, by those ministers who met together, prayed together and agreed on its meaning.

Dear Father in heaven, we need your Spirit here on this earth to reveal your rule over us. It seems that you have left us to fend for ourselves, that we don’t know where we are going, or who will lead us.   You teach us in your word that all power belongs to you; that your kingdom rules over all men and circumstances. We need to hear your voice, to see your working, and to know your holy will as we wait in uncertainty.

Bring the power of your Spirit to us as your children to trust you. Though we cannot understand how you are working, give us your Spirit of peace and of wisdom for the decisions that each of us must make.  Let us continue to seek your kingdom and your righteousness first and foremost.

We pray that your kingdom would reign in each of our hearts, believing that you have appointed your Son, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, the authority in heaven and earth. Enable us to examine our hearts and lives to know that Christ rules over all things that concern us.

Enable all who follow Christ to know that your kingdom lives and rules in us all; that we are one kingdom, not a divided kingdom. In these times, let us who are your people put aside all differences and disagreements and join hearts and minds in Christ in a unity that honors you and your Son, our Savior, and Lord, Jesus Christ, exalting Him above all things.

Make us light in the darkness, ready to answer those who ask us the source of our hope.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.”
Psalm 145:13


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