a better hope

"Speak, for Your servant is listening." -1 Samuel 3:10 Just as any good parent loves talking with their children, your heavenly Father loves talking to you, His child. But most of the time we are in a hurry. We just read a passage, say a few sentences and rush off to work or school. If we truly want to listen or hear God's voice you need to quieten your heart. Ask Him, whatever you want to. He will speak to you, either through His word or in a still small voice. And when He does, you know without a doubt it's Him. Talk to Him, tell Him how you feel, about anything and everything. And He loves to talk to you too. *** I didn't write this but thought I would pass it along because I enjoyed it.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

I just want to encourage you to continue walking with the Lord. There is great gain in it, even if it doesn't seem that way right now. I never saw all the things that were coming this year and have no idea what is coming next year. But I know I will be okay because I know the One who leads me. It's hard to trust sometimes, but it makes more sense to me than knowing everything in advance. I saw God work wonders with things I didn't understand at the time but simply trusted He knew what He was doing. You know what? It turned out better than my plan. So, going forward, my plan is out the window and God's plan is the way forward. Amen?  Happy new year, everyone.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

The Bible says God is our refuge, but what does that mean? I found a short article that explains how multifaceted that concept is. You can read it here . It was impressed upon me months ago how God is to be my refuge. I was taking so many of my thoughts and feelings to other places, but what I really needed was to pour them out to Him. Corrected, I am a much stronger Christian and a more stable human being. I have a long way to go, but I feel much stronger taking all my cares to Him instead of trying to find my own solutions. I stopped being my own refuge and much of my stress evaporated. Sure, I don't know how He's going to solve things, but I trust His ways are better than mine.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

This video helps explain the seeming contradiction in Galatians 6 which says to bear one another's burdens but also states all should bear their own load. Contradictions in the Bible can be explained by looking at the original languages, either Hebrew or Greek. Think of it as if you are going down a road and have a ditch on either side. As long as you keep your vehicle in the middle and away from either ditch, you're fine. Go too far in one direction or the other and you're in trouble. The contradictions are close enough in meaning to give a precise way forward, basically saying, "Don't go too far this way, and don't go too far that way either." I thought it was an interesting video. Here is another interesting video about the "thinking heart. " Sorry these are all TikToks. There is a lot of interesting stuff there. The heart does seem to have a mind of its own. It's not just the stuff of romance novels. Also, it does process things separate...

Imagine carrying around a supercomputer in your pocket that's connected to everyone in the world and all the information in the world. Most of us in the U.S. carry such a device. A lot of what's out there ain't that great, let's be honest. It's not beneficial for our walk with God. Exposing our kids to that sort of stuff does them no favors either. But, greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. There's an old saying that inside every man are two dogs and those dogs fight every day. The question is posed which dog will win. The answer is the dog that is fed the most. It's not realistic to say we'll never be exposed to hateful, ugly, and gross worldly stuff, but we can inoculate ourselves and our children against it with what we feed on every day: the Word of God. We can't help what our kids are exposed to all the time, but we can cover them with the blood of Jesus and aid them every day with warfare prayers. When challenging things come ...

In case you need a reminder!  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

It was impressed upon me recently the power of the tongue and how blessing and cursing are in it. Well,  then I came across this video , which goes further in explaining how that works. Many curses and blessings are embedded in our everyday language. What a fascinating thing. You can also visit  part two  and  part three .  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

You know, I thought about this when I read the word unicorn in the Bible but didn't understand what it was talking about. Maybe I looked it up and forgot, but this was a good reminder, if that's the case. Here's a video explaining where that word came from .  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

My father has skin cancer. Please pray for healing. His name is Charley. Thank you.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

Some things only God can do. We all get to a point in our walk with Him where we feel we can go no further. And then God constrains us to do just that. We can't fathom where we're headed or how to get there, but we take His hand and go.  I almost stopped writing here (as well as all my other blogs) recently because God wanted to deal with something in my heart and I felt it was such a big thing I couldn't imagine presenting my thoughts and ideas on Christianity while I was going through it. I felt I was doing Christianity all wrong, that I had disqualified myself from even speaking about it. It was a very humbling moment. I won't speak about that thing God is doing, but it cuts to the very heart of me. If you feel inclined to pray for this humble writer, he would appreciate it greatly.  Just think of all the solutions the world has for those things. A troubled mind. A broken heart. A rebellious spirit. They aren't solutions at all. They don't change anything. On...

Sometimes you're the only one who can do anything about a situation. In those cases, it's wrong to do nothing. This guy, instead of feeling bad about what he didn't have, decided to stand in the gap for others and give them what he didn't have.  I don't know how to be a dad. There really isn't a manual except what the Bible says. My own dad was more of a "what not to do" than anything else. But, I changed how I pray for myself and my son recently and since doing that, it seemed he softened toward me and we have more good moments. This is a change on his end, but it's likely due to something I was praying. One of the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28 essentially refers to alienation between parents and children. Perhaps breaking that curse allowed us to be closer.  I don't know what kind of kid I'm raising. I don't know what it's going to be like when he gets older and what he'll get into. All I know is my job is to pray over him e...

This is an odd story . Every time I read it, it sticks out to me. Manoah and his wife were the parents of Samson. But how Samson's mother was depicted and how she was treated by her husband always puzzled me. She talked with the angel and relayed everything to her husband. Her husband clearly didn't believe her. I think even the angel was a little put off by his unbelief. Here we have a woman who is godly but her husband lags behind her in faith and belief. She has more sense than her husband spiritually (and maybe in other ways) yet we don't know her name. I thought that was unfair. Part of the reason she wasn’t believed right away was the fact that this was a patriarchal society and women didn’t have many rights. I don’t know how right that was (look at how Job treated his daughters and it’s a different story), but that’s how it was. If an eyewitness to a crime was a woman, her testimony wasn’t allowed in court. And, we have the Bible verses regarding when a woman under a...

This is a prayer request for my ex-wife's  mother, whose name is Jennine. I asked God why it seemed my ex was quite sad lately (normally I wouldn't overly concerned but it seemed extreme), and this is what I believe the answer is. Jennine was admitted to a nursing home/assisted living kind of situation not long ago. Everything went downhill fast after she got the second covid booster shot. (Which is another post entirely.) Then she started having dementia-like symptoms. She's on a cocktail of drugs, one of which is Zoloft, which has symptoms like thoughts of suicide (which she now has). Anyway, she is in her 80s and it doesn't look like she will be with us much longer. Once they get in a place like that and start taking all the drugs, it doesn't take long. The reason this is a prayer request is, unless Jennine kept it to herself, I don't think she is saved. So, this is asking for prayers for her salvation. Special angels on an emergency mission to minister to he...

An interesting story is found in Judges chapter 9 . Here we see a vital lesson: it's not just what we do but what we lend our support to that matters. God sees where our money goes, for instance. Distancing ourselves from the end result of something by paying for it and not doing it ourselves does not make us immune to the consequences. (I also think of the men who paid Judas to betray Jesus.) I used to give money to a mission organization based in India but later found out the money was misused. Then I gave to another mission in India. Finally, I decided to give to the American Bible Society because, I thought, they simply distribute bibles. Then I decided to give to my church, as that is biblical. Honestly, I don't know where my money goes, which is why I pray over my tithes and donations before I send them. I ask that the money wouldn't be misused or frittered away on things that aren't important. I ask that it goes to help those most in need. Because I can't see...

I saw this and laughed. It's true in the physical. I even try not to look at the ingredients sometimes because I know it means I'm not going to buy that product. But, my next thought was we put so much emphasis on the flesh, but what about what goes into our spirit being? What feeds our spirit? Is it highly processed and devoid of nourishment? Is it laced with something poisonous? Is it making you healthier or weaker? Does it contain the newest ingredients (I think of 3D printed food) and leave out the tried and true? What is left out to cut costs and boost profits? You can carry those questions as far as you want, but you see my point. Our spirit food is important, too.  I'm fed at my church. That's why I tithe there. If you're having trouble in an area of your life and feel hindered, one of the first things I would look at is if you're tithing enough. This isn't an offering. Tithes are mandatory. Offerings are above 10%. God will bless you for doing what i...

I personally don't care if someone celebrates Halloween. Its roots go back to some pretty satanic stuff, but putting on a plastic mask and asking for candy doesn't align with outright satanism. But, the spiritual roots to things matter in ways we sometimes don't realize. I won't tell anyone not to celebrate a holiday. That's between them and God and it isn't my place. I'm not a preacher or a teacher, just a guy. However, when I saw a local church was sponsoring a Halloween party (called Trunk or Treat), I realized how innocuous many Christians see the holiday. It isn't the only one, either. It's one thing to let your kids go trick or treating, but it's quite another to put on a party for the holiday. That didn't seem right.  As with everything, I think it's wise to take something we feel convicted about to the Lord. A few years ago I carved a pumpkin for Halloween and then a few days later had this feeling that wouldn't budge. I felt ...

I never would have seen this on my own. A preacher (I listen to a lot of radio and YouTube sermons while I work) relayed this one day. It stuck with me because, well, don't we all want God's blessings?  Jesus was preaching one day and was pressed upon sorely by the people, so He asked Peter (notice He asked) if He could stand in his boat while He preached so He didn't end up in the water. Peter said yes, and then Jesus gave Peter a command to put out his nets somewhere specific. So Peter did. He was fishing all day and didn't catch a thing. But he obliged and his nets were so full, they almost broke. We all know the story. It ends with Peter saying, "Go away from me, for I am a sinful man." The progression is so subtle I missed it all these years, but it speaks of how God blesses us.  It starts small. With an almost unnoticeable request. Do this little thing for me? Let me stand in your boat? Yes, Lord. Peter had been listening to Jesus preach so knew He was a...

This is something I'm working on. Adding to my faith. Lots of things come after believing. I don't want to stop where I am and say, "This is good enough." Jesus didn't do that. He went all the way. I intend to do the same. God made me a warrior, but what sets Christians apart from others is love. We are to love in the same way Jesus did, which is hard to imagine. Sometimes, in my daily battles, I forget to love. Lord, please remind me love is what changes hearts and minds, and also that You were exceedingly gentle. You are gentle with me, and I need to be gentle with others. I need to set myself aside and tend to their needs, for this is what you've called us to do. Cause me to seek out the poor and the sad and the needy and present to them the thing they need most: You. Amen.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

Self-sufficiency, independence, and self-reliance are things God has been dealing with me about. Imagine God taking away the thing that has driven you and guided you your whole life. Imagine where that puts you and how you feel about yourself and the world. It's quite a shock. But, we are the sheep of His pasture, and He is the One who guides. He knows best. That's something it took me many years to learn. I'm learning it now. Self-sufficiency leads to ruin. I'm glad I'm no longer on that path. If anyone actually reads here, please pray for me, as this is very difficult. God is telling me to rest in Him and let Him take the wheel. That doesn't sound so bad, but for someone like me it's scary. Pray I learn to trust. I've been through so many storms. I've been in many battles. But this is what makes me tick. This is at the very heart of me. God knows what He's doing. This is for the best. God, do what You have to do. I trust you. Remove whatever in...

Every Christian has been there. Maybe you're there now. I've been there. Maybe I'm there now, too. We all endure trials. I'm not talking about things that happen after we did something stupid. Those are consequences. That's just life. Trials are something ordained of God (and, of course, He can use our mistakes, as well) to teach us something. To refine or purify us for a future task. And other purposes. Anyway, Charles Stanley says it better than I do. I used to watch Charles when I was in high school on the little TV between the kitchen and dining room. He always made sense. Now he's 90 years old and still preaching. God bless that man. He blessed me many times over. It's a short video but I got a lot out of it.  One thing God mentioned to me a while back was I had a god in my heart that was getting in the way of our relationship. I thought it was something else. He made it very clear. The god in my heart was my independence and self-reliance. I was always...

After the Israelites drove out many of the inhabitants of the promise land, the Bible says God gave them rest. It's an important notation, as many think we should always strive for something. No, there is a time for fighting and a time for rest. I feel barren in the latter category, perhaps because I have not fought enough. Or perhaps because I haven't allowed myself an important blessing: rest.  Rest is an important and beautiful reward God gives His people. If you feel you lack rest in your life, ask the Lord why. It could be something incredibly simple is hindering it. Ask for rest. You need it. Most likely, you want it. God wants you to have it. Get it!  Yesterday, I suddenly realized I felt bizarrely grumpy and took a moment to lay down. I lacked rest. All the things I wanted to do (there were many) would have to wait. I laid down but didn't sleep. It was still enough to gather strength for the rest of my day.  If you are God's soldier (and you are), allow time for...

Blogger is being weird with this one. Imagine that. The media attachment that was supposed to be here says, "God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede." Oswald Chambers.  How often have you been given insight into something? It just came out of nowhere and there it is in your lap, looking at you like a lost puppy. What do you do? God gave you discernment or insight into something, and that is a gift. What did you do with it? You just went "huh" and went about your day? Did you say something? Think about it a while and then no more? I've done all of those.  Many times we take these things to that person or situation and work on them ourselves. I think that's okay but not the best way. If God absolutely tells you to go take that person into your home and take care of them or whatever, go do that. But, often the answer of what to do with that insight that ends up in our laps is to pray. Be humble about what God gav...

What is the purpose of abundance? When blessings come, what do we do with them? God doesn't give us things for no reason. If we are blessed in some way, we should seek Him about how to use those blessings. Maybe we have a talent that could enrich someone else's life. Maybe we have monetary wealth. Maybe we are blessed with extra time each day. Influence. Connections. Success. A teaching spirit. A listening ear. The gifts of the Spirit. Those are all wonderful, but they fall into our hands for a reason.  It's seems to be a two-part process: recognizing our blessing and using them. When I am blessed somehow, my first thought should be "Thank you, Lord," then my next thought should be to seek Him for how to use those blessings. I believe that is a way forward. Too often I feel stuck because I haven't recognized my many blessings and don't even think to use them properly. I pray my blessings turn into blessings for others. Amen.  Then there are the blessings w...

Some of us are given the gift of starting over. It may not look like a gift at the time. It may be a major catastrophe comes to your life or something to reset your focus and point of view. God can use those moments to get you into a better place with Him. It happened to me. This is a little more personal post, so please allow me a moment. I don't know how long I'm going to live. I gave my remaining days to God. What He does with them doesn't concern me. My job is to be faithful to follow.  Recently, I questioned something God did. It was a big thing and I had questions. And then I asked what to do next. When I brought it up, I felt in my spirit God answered to pick up a book I started reading months before (actually by the author quoted above and a rather dry book in my estimation at that time). It was a strange answer, but I got the book down and picked up where I left off. And then what I read a few pages later answered everything. It was like it jumped off the page. In ...