lasting hope

I am hardwired to be optimistic.

It takes a lot to get me down… usually a combination of illness/injury, eating poorly & not sleeping enough.

But like you, every day something tries to undermine my hope:

I am married to a wonderful man, who tends to be more of an Eeyore in nature, mostly due to his having seen so much in his nursing career over the last two decades.

I have had random twitches joint pain which has still not been diagnosed, leaving me exhausted some nights, and make it hard to fall asleep on others.

I too have had unexpected expenses pop up.

The loss of a loved one.

The dishwasher conking out when it was full.

My order not show up.

Not enough work.

Too much work.

Our complaint lists can keep going and going like the Energizer bunny, if we keep feeding them.

I choose to feed my hope.

Not on fluffy catchy feel better quotes.

Not on physical food or drink.

With the hope that lasts…

God given hope which rests on Him as its sole source.

In a world seeking bargains and making our lives as ease filled as possible, it dumbfounds me to see people spend millions on make it all better in 10 day programs.

If it didn’t take 10 days to get there, it isn’t going to take 10 days to get back out….just saying.

Since my life has had a lot of knocks, whacks and pitfalls, I need a source of Hope that can take all the concerns and worries I have, and then some, for days to come, for the rest of my life.

God is my choice.

He even paid the cost, fellow bargain hunters, so we can come to Him without barrier.

He even invites us to come and find rest in the shelter He has to offer:

He himself is our peace (Eph 2:14)

Come to me,all who are weary and heavy laden (burdened) and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.
He will call on Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
 and show him my salvation.”
(Psalm 91:14-16).

God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”
(Jeremiah 31:3a)

This is just a glimpse of the treasured promises from God for you.

He knows you.

Despite anything you may have done or will ever do, He loves you dearly.

He made a way for you to come home and be with Him, your heavenly Father.

Jesus calls you sibling, friend, chosen, apple of His eye.

Holy Spirit is within you to guide you, help you in any way you need Him to.

God with us.

That is where I place my hope.
Not on shifting trends, things that pass away and don’t last.
On the foundation of Hope my God has laid down for me.

All my hope is in Him.

The path of hope is waiting for you as well.

Its a journey unlike no other, but with Him leading you, you will always have reason to be thankful, give praise and hope.

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(Repost from Sept 17, 2014 as I am out & about getting ready to celebrate one of my babies’ birthday today, and this is one of my fave posts!)

all things new

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness… Isaiah 43:19

God makes all things new.

The sunrise every morning, the sunset every night, the wildflowers in the field, the new greenery on the trees after winter, the uniqueness of each and every snowflake, a newborn child arriving into the world!

Every day, we can see evidence of His newness around us, and not always acknowledge all the wonder in what He is doing.

If God spends time carefully crafting everything He makes, imagine how much more so He is going to re-create and re-craft the children of His heart?

He makes all things, including you and I, new!

Feeling stuck in a rut?

Ask God to make this verse come alive in your life, for God is known for making a way where there is no way.

He is the Trail-Blazer of heaven, making His path clear for those who seek His way!

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live free

Did you know you are free?

You really are.

You are free to make any choice you want to.

You are.

No one can make you choose.

Our wills determine our choices.

If you are stuck in a bad habit, you may feel like you have no choice but to keep doing what you have been doing…but that is a lie.

We always have a choice.

God designed us to be free.

And God allows us to make our own choices, even when He knows they aren’t the wisest or how we will be hurt by them.

Why would such a loving God allow us to do so?

Because He wants us to freely choose His way, just as Jesus did.

Do you grasp that Jesus CHOSE the cross? He freely agreed to follow through, despite the devastating pain & separation from His Abba & Holy Spirit when He took on all our sin?

As we are made in His image, we too are designed to be free to choose. We are free to say yes, and likewise no.

This may seem childish and simplistic a concept to some of you, and I bless you in the level of freedom you are walking in.

Some of us are not that free yet.

I have the tendency to bottle my emotions when I am upset…and this shows up in eating past my hunger cues.

I have not always has this extra weight issue. There have been periods where I am healthier, and my appetite is based on real physical hunger desires, versus when I fall off the wagon and eat based on my emotional hungers not being addressed properly.

I am free to choose to eat well, or not. But my choice, either way, comes with consequences. Over eat? Overweight. Eat healthy? Healthier temple.

This is just one example of how we are free to choose.

We are free to say no to good things too, when we want to say yes to the best choice for us. I left a job I loved because God was calling me into a new direction. I was both free to follow, and free to stay. The choice to obey His call? Up to me.

Your choice in a single moment has future impact.

Choosing God, means your future will not end once we leave this earth, nor will it be the same while you live out the rest of your days.

Choosing Him of our free will invites Him to release the fullness of His freedom within us, stirring us up to answer its call.

Choosing His way means we allow Him to direct our path, as only He knows the way ahead, and if we are listening closely, we will avoid pitfalls and distractions along the path.

We are always free to agree, or not.

If there is an area of your life you want to bring into alignment with the freedom He has for us, ask Him to shine His light on it, and break you free from the unhealthy consequences you have been dealing with. Especially our mindsets, emotions & spirits.

For when we freely agree with something that isn’t healthy for us, we are impacted by those choices.

You may think or feel unhealthily, such as hearing ‘You’ll always be so pudgy’ randomly run through your mind or feeling yucky when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, while trying on clothes.

Your spirit may be wrestling to break free from the chains of your choices as well, for it knows when we choose well or badly, for it is eternal and always trying to commune with its Creator.

Here are a few tips to help us stay free to make the best choices:

1. If you know you are bound by a bad choice, you are free to run to your Abba and ask Him to break the chains binding you. Always.

2. If you have a bad mindset about yourself (stupid, lazy, ugly…) ask your Abba to remind you who you are to Him. Write down what He tells you. Read it over every time an old name pops up. Choose to be free from the negative mindset of your past.

3. If your emotions are driving your decisions, its time to ask God to move into the driver’s seat, and filter all your decisions through His love and best for you. You are always free to put God on the throne of your life.

4. If you know you need help to break free to be the you He designed, run for it. Don’t hesitate. Today could be the day you are set free! You are always free to ask for help, for we were meant to be in community. To seek support when we need it, to offer help when others need what only we can give.

5. Remember you are free to choose in every decision you make. You are always free to ask God His opinion, and free to choose to wait for His response.

These past seven days, I have been working through this freedom especially in regards to my eating, which is really about my emotions. I believe I am free to eat whatever I want whenever I am hungry. I am also free to say no when I am not, and to stop when I am full. I am very thankful to Beth Kinder & Sandi Krakowski for their wise Spirit led input into stepping fully into the freedom God has waiting for me as I freely choose His way, every day!

I am free not to live for anyone else but You! Help me walk that out each and every today I have with You, Lord.

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