Hope-Full Living

It’s fascinating to watch a glassblower, a potter, or a metalworker fashion objects for a variety of purposes. Like them, our heavenly Father fashioned each of us with a variety of skills and interests, specifically for the works he has in mind for us to do. But there’s more! We continue to be fashioned spiritually, “in Christ Jesus.” As we engage in his Word, we’re not just growing in knowledge....

Senior citizens are often seen as retired and sedentary. God, however, has a new assignment for us when our work life is over. He asks that we minister to others, as we learn in Numbers 8:23-26 of the Bible. The knowledge shared by seniors with younger generations, for example, can help them avoid making the same mistakes that we did. “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days,”...

Mind over matter, I say, knowing that my mind is capable of lying and rationalizing. If my mind is to help me, I need it to tell me the truth, or a better way: Don’t give up, have courage, be practical, be content, and most of all, be listening for what God expects. Puzzles are one way to exercise our brains, but studying the scriptures not only challenges our brains, but strengthens our resolves....

You probably know that walking is good for your physical health. Did you know that it’s a good way to connect with Jesus too, especially if you are upset? Scientific research shows that when we are flooded with emotions, our bodies need 15 minutes of calming activity to metabolize stress hormones. When I’m upset, one of the best things I can do is take a walk with Jesus. Like he did with the two d...

Sometimes we get in that “stinking thinking” mindset where we are cynical, disappointed, and even depressed. I know I do. It’s usually because I have set my mind on things that are on earth, things like the economy, war, sin, and death just to name a few. Paul tells us to set our minds on “things that are above.” That’s where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father. In that direction...

How has the church survived all these years? By God’s great love and faithfulness for the salvation of bodies and souls. God created all people in his image, including our hearts and souls. The Holy Spirit lives within us to lead us to know Christ. He draws us to his word where we learn of the assurance of God’s presence in all circumstances; he draws us to the church where we discover the comfort...

Whenever I visit shut-ins, I usually appreciate their stories. They will tell me how they met their spouse, when their children were born, and other special stories. Sometimes they say, “Well, I know I told you this story before,” but I’ll say, “Tell me again!” Their stories usually reveal how God was involved in their lives, so I’m happy to hear their stories again! And why not? God told his peop...

Some people rejected Paul’s message that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jews in Berea had a different attitude. They listened carefully to Paul, but they did not stop there. They searched the Old Testament Scriptures to see if Jesus really was the Messiah foretold by the prophets. The Spirit was at work in the Word, as Scripture confirmed what they had heard. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit through the...

My husband, Gordy, moved to Assisted Living in October 2019. I couldn’t meet his many medical needs while the senior campus he moved to could very well. Our separation has been difficult and became more difficult when the pandemic arrived. Lockdowns meant he couldn’t leave the building, and I couldn’t visit. To take the place of physical visits, we keep a consistent schedule of phone calls: we eac...

To relieve my back pain, I searched the internet for exercises. After exercising for several weeks, I was no better, maybe worse! Finally, I saw my doctor who prescribed physical therapy. My therapist not only implemented the correct exercises but trained me to do them properly. My pain improved drastically when I left it to the pro to treat me. When it comes to my life as a Christian, the same le...

At a young age, “I do it my-telf” was my response to my parents’ inquiries asking if I needed help. My early sewing included bag zippers. The first one had the correct outer fabric on one side, and the other outer side was the lining, supposed to be in the inside. I kept that bag as a reminder to “always ask for our Lord’s guidance in all things.” Another bag had the zipper installed properly. I w...

By the time you read this, my granddaughter will be about two years old. It has been fun watching her change from a helpless baby into a blooming, independent, toddler. We have watched her progress from only milk to baby food to “adult” food. We have heard her little babbles turn into real words. We have observed her progress from sitting, to crawling, to standing, to walking. Paul wrote, “When I...

When my daughter left for college, my husband and I found ourselves with an empty nest and an equally empty social calendar. Our free time had been filled with our children’s activities, but now we were free to pursue our own interests. I nstead of filling our nights with television and social media, we set out to learn new skills and hobbies we could leverage for the kingdom. First, we joined Toa...

Have you ever asked yourself: Where can I find Jesus today? When we keep our mind, our intellect, focused on our Lord, we discover him working in our lives. We then find ourselves asking: What would Jesus do? Living in Christ renews our minds. We adopt Christ’s mindset of mercy, compassion, and humility, informing our actions and giving us strength for our daily lives. Our thoughts, decisions, and...

Have you ever asked yourself: Where can I find Jesus today? When we keep our mind, our intellect, focused on our Lord, we discover him working in our lives. We then find ourselves asking: What would Jesus do? Living in Christ renews our minds. We adopt Christ’s mindset of mercy, compassion, and humility, informing our actions and giving us strength for our daily lives. Our thoughts, decisions, and...

Commissioned by God, we are to live and share the message of salvation found only in the sacrificial love of Jesus. Serving as beacons of light to the world, we are to BE about sharing the message of the Gospel. In addition, we are to BE Christ-like, taking on his persona in all we think, speak, and do. Let us strive to model Jesus in every aspect of our lives, celebrating the assurance that when...

Some mornings I don’t start strong. You know that kind of day. The hours loom empty of meaning, or full of struggles. Both can cause me to lose heart. Isaiah says the antidote to discouragement is to wait on the Lord. Every morning his strong arm is there to rescue me in every time of trouble. Good advice for staying spiritually strong. I like the twist I once saw on the Humpty Dumpty poem. “All t...

I am filled with wonder when Scripture tells me that my creator will fulfill his purpose for me. Little ole me! When I look at my past, the events, achievements, and mistakes seem so random. Yet the words of the Bible assure me that God’s purpose and will is to be the theme of my life. So, I pray that in all opportunities and circumstances, God’s love is displayed to family, neighbors, and everyon...

Would Jesus smile upon mankind if we lived a life like Christ? We try to be like Christ, but we fail because of the Evil One’s strength against us. Jesus showed us how to live when he lived on earth. When life becomes hard, we tend to blame Jesus. We ask ourselves, “Why does God hate me? Why does he give me so many challenges?” God wants us to succeed. He tells us, “Call upon me in the day of trou...

You may never have heard the phrase “Physically living in Christ.” Here are some examples of people in Scripture who were physically running. Samuel ran to Eli thinking that he was calling him, Legion runs and falls down before Jesus, Zacchaeus runs to climb a tree to see Jesus, and Peter ran to the tomb of Jesus. Here is one that talks about you: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their...

One of my least Jesus-like character traits is my lack of patience. I had an experience years ago that I try to remember when I find myself tapping my foot impatiently. I was in a store that sold helium balloons. I was behind a young woman who asked for a dozen blue balloons, even though there was a sign that said, “For more than 2 balloons, please order in advance.” I waited and waited, fuming a...

Our daughter was a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa, and loved the Nigerien culture. She gave us a large calabash, a dried gourd that Nigerien women use for storing and carrying. When the gourds age and crack, the women sew them up with natural twine and the stitched patterns make the gourds more beautiful. God’s people become beautiful, too, when, struggles, failures, and sorrows creat...

“Arthur is here again!” declared Grandma as we entered the room. Arthur visited Grandma often in her last years. It was an ache deep in her joints and particularly in her fingers and toes. No creams or meds seemed to cut the pain of arthritis (Arthur) which beset her. My siblings and I now understand what that pain was doing to the physical and emotional being of Grandma. It is an inheritance we d...

Being of a certain age, remembering is not IF, but WHEN we remember. That word occurs frequently in Scripture — almost 250 times. People and events in our lives are part of that memory ... some we would like to forget and others we hate to forget. Perhaps we also remember the words of our Lord Jesus after a woman anointed his head with an alabaster ointment (Mark 14:9, Matthew 26:13). We also may...

Jesus Christ is our physician. Our Lord prescribes graces and blessings that protect, strengthen, and ultimately, heal us. Therefore, prayerfully embracing Jesus does wonders for the body, mind, heart, and soul! We fully benefit by conforming our ways to our Lord’s ways. United with Jesus, God’s love permeates every aspect of our lives — physically, spiritually, intellectually. Sharing God’s love...