Posts Tagged ‘ Hope ’
“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Luke 12:40, ESV
God takes care of us, most importantly by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Church now prepares the world for His imminent return to judge the world.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 19:17, ESV
God is our source of life and love, and this should inspire us to help others. We realize we were poor in spirit and so are they, and especially those who are physically poor. Our reward is eternal life with Christ.
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
Nahum 1:7, ESV
God is good and our only source of strength and comfort when we trust in Him. Have faith in Christ and find His oeace.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4, ESV
We are called to wisdom, and wisdom shows us our sinfulness and need for God. May we mourn our sin and seek the Savior from God’s wrath and Comforter of our souls and hearts.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:24, ESV
God can do anything, and by the power of His Word and by His grace through faith in that Word even the worst sinner can be saved from God’s judgment.
Repent and believe!
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20, ESV
God showed His faithfulness and goodness by becoming one us to save us. He has promised to not leave us and to return bodily, and we can join Him in eternity if we accept His offer of grace by faith.
He had sent a man ahead of them—
Psalm 105:17-18, CSB
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They hurt his feet with shackles;
his neck was put in an iron collar.
God is faithful, and He showed this by protecting Abraham’s grandchild and great-grandchildren by sending Joseph to suffer and rise to save his family. Likewise, God’s faithfulness is ultimately found in His sending Christ to suffer for our sins and rise to glory for our salvation and hope.
I got to thinking this past week about my mom. She would have been 63 yesterday.
My brother’s 10th anniversary was on Tuesday. They got married in a large room down the hall from mom’s room in the hospital, because we knew, barring some super-amazing miracle, she was going home to Jesus. The hospital staff was amazing, clearing the room and helping with decorating and some of the food. (A celebration of love and life is probably very welcome in that ward!)
10 years later, my brother and his wife have a house, some pets, and two rambunctious and adorable boys (the oldest starting Kindergarten this month.)
I think about that mom got to see me start teaching in Special Education (self-contained autism classroom), but she missed my then going on to get a masters in education and teaching 7th Grade Algebra and later some courses at Grand Canyon University (GCU).
She missed that I not only grew to enjoy coffee but become a barista and business owner.
She missed when I entered paid ministry as a Youth Pastor (and eventually an elder for my congregation) . Add to that the apologetics speaking I routinely do, including a YouTube channel to go with this blog, and eventually achieving a dream of teaching at a college, specifically Christian Worldview at GCU.
There are many things I know she would have loved to see happen in my life that I wish I could share with her.
But I also remember all the conversations had 10 years ago with people who used to “hate God and religion” but had come to faith or at least became more friendly toward Christianity all because of her. That had been her just 14 years before that. (Take it from one who took a lot of her badgering and questions!)
I remember seeing a church filled to standing room only to celebrate her life and share more of those stories.
I like to think there was so much more she could have done in this world, but I’ve talked with hundreds of those lives God used her to change. I think the fact that I have been used to impact hundreds of lives, and I talk about the role she played in that with many of them.
Do I miss my mom?
Absolutely! Is it everyday? Not anymore. Some days are so busy that I barely have time to remember my own needs! (Youth Pastor/Elders, Worldview instructor, and back in seminary.) But most days she is remembered. Even by friends who barely met her or only talked to her on the phone.
Actually, more often than not, I think about the fun we could have in any moment, how she would have responded to a situation, and – most importantly – the fun we’ll have in eternity.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, ESV
Her legacy definitely continues through many who still praise God because of her life and so many other reasons, and, if not for her, I wouldn’t be here. I thank God for her life and the glory of God that is spread because of her life.
Was she perfect? Absolutely not! But she drew near to God for the last 13 years of her life, and that has made her perfect in Christ’s righteousness.
I long for the day we can praise God together face to face.
a simple man of God 