This Mother’s Day, enjoy the video Mamas by Anne Wilson with Hillary Scott.
From a sermon of Reverend Steve Ramsdell, the message was that for Mamas, God has a plan and purpose. Just like Mary’s child was a child of God, so is yours. Because of Mary’s child, history changed because God through grace and forgiveness on the Cross was in the process of establishing a new family; an eternal family that after two thousand years is now on the other side of the planet right in your local community. Mary became not only the mother of Jesus but also His follower just like you. What a tremendous purpose moms have. In raising their children, they have a major part in changing the world.
A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post Be Led by Love From Above which is a study of Judges 17 when Israel had no leader at the time, and it was an era of decline. A nation that is not led by God is cut off from the love from above and is not fit for greatness. The people tend to get off track doing their own thing and there’s no way they can work together for the good of the whole.
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. –Romans 5:3-5
A takeaway from “Hope Has a Name” is that God’s past action is a basis for hope. When God has been faithful and made good on promises, tell others about it so you produce hope for others. Hand over to the next generation an optimistic future shaped by your hope.
Hope has a name, and its name is Jesus so never get down because a new day comes around. Remember what Jesus went through on the cross. Remember the things people have gone through but have come out stronger on the other side.
Be inspired by the song God is in the Story by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave. Even in hard times, we can have joy because of hope. If life had many broken parts, the light of a new day will rise over the horizon to warm our hearts.
Even in hard times, we can have joy because of hope. If life has many broken parts, the light of a new day will rise over the horizon to warm our hearts. As we read Psalm 71 today, keep in mind that hope has a name, and its name is Jesus so never get down because a new day will come around. Remember what Jesus went through on the cross. Remember the things people have gone through but come out stronger on the other side.
Enemies had been in pursuit of the author of today’s psalm for a long time. The theme of verses 1-9 is hope for a rescue. We are told that the writer of this psalm has been a youth and is up in age. He wants to finish strong on the last lap of his life journey. His experience with God has been a sign to many.
The author’s experiences signal miracles, wonder, how God has provided hope and deserves praise. God has made good on promises in the past and the author’s expectation for the future is more of the same. For God is faithful and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God’s past action has been a basis for hope. Since God is faithful and made good on promises, tell others about it so you produce hope for others. Hand over to the next generation an optimistic future shaped by your hope.
Lord … our future is shaped by our hope. You have given us hope because of Your past action and this hope makes us want to help others have this hope. To be a blessing to others as we help them to put their ultimate hope in Jesus. Nothing we face will be greater than what Jesus has provided for us in the Holy Spirit. Even in the hard times, we have hope because the light of a new day warms our hearts with joy and hopeful thoughts of a new day with You Lord. Amen.
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4
A take away from “Desire to Store Up Encouragement” is that challenges and decisions that require urgent resolutions are more easily handled if proper preparations are made. Prayer and listening to God through His word prepares you to make quick decisions with a plan of action.
So the best way forward is to put Jesus in charge. As the song Way Maker by Leeland points out, He is the Way maker, the miracle worker, the promise keeper, and the Light in darkness.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 