Hope-Full Living

What a comforting invitation this verse brings, especially as we “age gracefully.” Life brings its share of struggles, both big and small. God’s throne isn’t a distant, intimidating place, but a “throne of grace” — a place of welcome, mercy, and abundant help. We can approach Him with confidence, not because of our own merit, but because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let us then, with hearts full of gratit...

When asked what we’re thankful for, it’s easy to name the obvious — family, home, food, Jesus. But what if we are steeped in circumstances and concerns that make the obvious difficult to discern? How can we give thanks? My wise grandmother once told us that if we were to write our troubles on a piece of paper, place our lists in paper bags, and add them to a pile of other trouble-laden bags, that...

How many times have you muttered the words of this devotion’s title? What would happen if the “wrong” person found the key before you did? What treasures lie behind the locked door? The Holy Spirit gave you the Key to God’s Kingdom. You can lose it on purpose or misplace it by temptations, but it can’t be taken from you — no matter how weak you might feel. It was an unusual key — made of water and...

Medical experts recommend that senior citizens incorporate strength training into their exercise routines as it is vital to improved health and mobility. God’s Word also commends to Christians the importance of strength training. We are told to carry one another’s burdens. That can often be a heavy load! Seniors, in particular, are poised to exercise our faith in this way. Years of experience with...

I sat in prayer relating my fears and longings. The Lord had heard them many times before. Some had remained unanswered for years. I thought about giving up, but dutifully said “Amen.” confident answers come in the Lord’s timing. Even to my small, seemingly unimportant, requests. Scripture assures us that there is no unimportant prayer. None too small. All the cares of God’s children are precious....

Those who are ill, grieving, or facing a crisis certainly need our compassion and care. But so does a less obvious group: those who are lonely. Loneliness is rampant these days, even among young adults. Easy to overlook, loneliness is relatively easy to address. A visit, a weekly phone call, a written note, a text or email — any connection that says “I’m thinking of you” — goes a long way. Jesus d...

He was lying in the hospital bed surrounded by friends and family. It was this way every evening since that bed had essentially become his home. He was dying from cancer and none of the treatments had cleared it from his body. Being surrounded by people who love you can be a great blessing, but some of the visitors didn’t know when it became too much. His wife talked with me, their pastor. I agree...

Ann and I often met for lunch together and served on a missions team at church. Now, driving to her house with a casserole and fruit in my insulated bag, I was making a bereavement visit. Her husband Joe had passed the day before. What do you say and do when you make a grief visit? In the past few years as a widow, God has carried and comforted me with His presence and His Word. “The Lord is near...

Recently, some friends needed help moving into a new home. My chronic back issues prevented me from offering the assistance they required and a feeling of helplessness washed over me. When Jesus instructed His disciples to feed a hungry crowd, they must have experienced similar feelings. The meager offering of a few loaves and a couple of fish hardly seemed worth mentioning. Then Jesus stepped in,...

Does getting up in the morning depress you because of your age? Do your aches and pains cause you to complain? Do you ask yourself, “Why am I still here at this old age?” Recently, I was in a car dealership’s showroom, having a conversation with the general manager. We were standing there among cars worth over $100,000. He knew I wasn’t there to buy a car. I asked about his family. His wife was in...

When I think about how blessed I am to have Jesus as my best friend, I rejoice. As I focus on the goodness He has shared with me, even during the toughest days of my life, I rejoice. The King of kings and Lord of lords loves me. He cares for me. He died for me and rose again to reveal that love. Dwelling on those thoughts strengthens my heart and my mind. I can fix my eyes on Him and not the circu...

On this day, November 17th, 1869, after ten long years and a vast amount of labor, the Suez Canal was opened for ships to pass between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Travel and cargo from Europe to the East saved over 5,000 miles. What a blessing to all the nations! But rather than peace, there was much bloodshed. Many nations fought for possession and power. God promised blessings to all...

As children, probably most of us, at some point, played Follow the Leader. In this game, one was the leader, and the rest were to copy and do whatever he did. If he folded his arms or clapped his hands, we did too. If he hopped through a mud puddle, so did we. It was a simple game in simpler times. As adults, we still have a Leader to follow. Each day we pray for His guidance as we reach out in lo...

As the daughter of an inner-city pastor in Chicago, I accompanied my dad on holiday deliveries. When we carried a turkey into the kitchen of a member-in-need, the woman said, “Just, a turkey? I wanted a ham. Set it there …” Our gifts barely fit on the counter overflowing with hams, turkeys, and all the trimmings. The image is seared into my brain. Perhaps that experience triggers the recurring que...

What an exciting promise that our Lord is giving to us in this passage. He wants His joy to be in us and when it is, we will experience a peace that is hard to imagine or explain. When talking about joy, I have often said, “True JOY is Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third.” When we have this in the right order, we can and will experience a joy that is beyond our comprehension. And when t...

The other day I received a hug from God. There was no white robe, beard, or staff. The hug came from a woman dressed in navy blue pants and a floral top. My day had been going pretty well, but little frustrations were starting to pile up. That God-hug cleared my frustrations and gave me a better perspective. God surrounds me with His hug. Scripture reveals His sure promises of salvation in Jesus....

An 83-year-old church member was recently diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. I asked him to share how he had experienced God’s comforting presence when receiving such news. He quietly said, “God is my Sustainer!” We often find ourselves on our knees in fervent prayer one day and then rejoicing with exhilaration the next. This is what I call the Prayer-to-Praise cycle. How do we handle the...

As I considered retirement, I was excited, yet anxious. Life in retirement seemed to have more unknowns than knowns. One of my retirement “knowns” was spending more time with my parents and caring for their needs. However, my “unknown” was the misbelief that retirement would move at a slower pace. On the contrary, my life became increasingly more busy. My decision to spend more time with my parent...

Here are words that you might hear or speak: “I can care for myself.” “I really do care about something, but there are times when I don’t care about anything.” “People today don’t seem to care at all.” “I need to show more care for others.” Here is a question: Do I get care from my family, friends, or co-workers? How do I show more care for others? Here Is the answer: Care comes from God. He cared...

During the years my mother was in a nursing home, we would often struggle about gifts to bring her for her birthday, Mother’s Day, etc. Usually we would settle on flowers for her room. It always brought a sweetness to the space (especially the roses) and the aroma would sometimes trigger wonderful memories from her life. St. Paul reminds us that our presence can bring the fragrance of the knowledg...

We have biblical accounts of Jesus’ compassion to help others. I think of the mother in the funeral procession for her son, and Jesus gave the son back to her. I remember the blind man through his faith, asked Jesus for healing and He did. The leper also asked Jesus to be willing to heal him, and Jesus did. Every time, Jesus extended grace, which led to restoration. Our abilities to extend grace,...

Isn’t it interesting that the Lord chose Paul, a once persecuting enemy of the church, to be one of the most influential apostles? In Acts 12:17, Peter says, “But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and he said, ‘Tell these things to James and to the brothers.’” The early church was in need. God chose Paul, a church’s pe...

The adults at the funeral home stood back, not knowing what to say to the grieving grandfather, but his four-year old grandson climbed into his lap. “What did you say to Grandpa?” asked his mother. “Nothing,” replied the boy, “I just cried with him.” When Jesus met His weeping friend Mary near the tomb of her brother Lazarus, He wept with her. He shared her grief, but offered hope. “I am the resur...

As we progress through the years it seems as if “waiting” is more and more a normal part of our lives. The “waiting room” at our doctor’s is just that. Wait. And wait. And mom lived to be over 100 years old. She had to wait for our Father to take her home to Him. In the passage above, the word “wait” comes from the Hebrew “qavah” which means “to bind together like a cord” or “to entwine.” So waiti...

You can’t give what you haven’t received. This sounds like, “Beloved, let us love one another.” Notice that sequence: beloved — love another. How are you regularly experiencing the love of God? Do you wake up wondering, “What joy drop will God send me today?” Have you developed the habit of calling, “Where are You, Lord?” when distress hits because He has been present to you in just such times bef...