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Hope For Today

Jan 01
Love0

Start The New Year Right

By Hope For Today

How to Start the New Year Off Right.

Overcoming the past and Spiritual Exercises for this year.

Video of my notes on Facebook Live. This was live, so it was a little less polished!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL2bZneT8jE

 

For many 2017 was a hard year, and it is carrying over already into 2018.

(1) You may be suffering from serious regretful decisions this past year. Guilt and Shame are eating away at you.

(2) Sickness or Disease has brought you to a place where you have no hope.

(3) Job/Career situation where you seem to be losing the battle.

(4) Suffering hardship of loss and life is spiraling out of control.

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philppians 3:13-14 

Friends there is hope in Christ!!!

1. For those with Shame and Guilt from regretful decisions, there is forgiveness.  See Romans 8

  • When you turn to Christ, there is forgiveness and restoration!

  • There is nothing you have done, – ever – that Christ cannot forgive!

  • God is not in the condemning business, He is in the forgiving business!

  • There is NO condemnation for those who turn to follow Christ!

2. For those suffering sickness, God is still in the healing business!

  • Jesus went to one town and could not hardly heal anyone, because of their unbelief. He wanted to heal more. He wanted to help more, but they failed to believe

  • Faith is the currency that moves the heart of God!

  • Does everyone get healed? No.

  • But I would rather go out of this world, trusting God, loving God, hoping in God and spreading joy than go out bitter and angry at God and the world!

  • See James 5

3.  For those who are in a Job crisis!

  • Jesus is LORD! He is over all things and can open up doors for you that you could never imagine.

  • Ask Him for His direction, His help, His power in your life!

  • He promises wisdom to all who ask Him, to those who believe He will give you direction!

  • See James 1

4.  For those who are suffering severe hardships, and you don’t think there is anyway out!

  • Don’t believe that lie!

  • God is in the business of restoring the broken!

  • Don’t get stuck in the valley, you are passing through it!

    You are going to come out on the other side, stronger with a greater purpose than you have ever had!

  • God is for you! He is not against you!!!

  • Seek Him and His direction in your hardships!

This year, put yourself in position to receive God’s spiritual help in your life.

Unless you put on your walking shoes or hit the gym, you are not putting yourself in position to receive the physical benefits of exercise.

Spiritual exercises that will help you overcome whatever you are going through:

1. Start reading the Bible.

  • Spend 3-5 minutes each morning, just reading a passage from the Bible. It may be one verse, it may be one chapter.

  • Begin the Gospel of Luke or John.

  • And Read the Psalms as well, especially if you are going through hard times.

2.  Pray daily.

  • It is not selfish to pray for yourself.

  • Pray for your family, friends, and yourself.

  • Make a list of things that are really needed in your life and theirs.

  • Spend some time, thanking God for what He has done, and asking Him to intervene in the needs you share with him.

3.  Get in a Bible Study with some others who are seeking to follow Christ.

  • Learn how to study the Bible for yourself.

  • Don’t isolate yourself.

  • Everyone is going through some kind of hard times.

  • If they are not right now, hang on… it won’t be long.

4.  Find a good Bible believing church that actually uses the Bible.

 

5.  Go serve someone less fortunate that yourself.

  • It will be good for them and good for you!

  • You won’t regret it.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

 

Nov 30
Love0

Overcoming Grief: Christ will Restore Your Soul

By Hope For Today, Overcoming Grief
 by Bill Stevens

When we hurt, Christ cares the most

He restores my soul; Psalm 23:3

Grief is especially painful, but especially so during the holidays. Christ cares about your anxieties, worries, pain and grief, and He wants to personally help you through it and restore your soul. When someone we love dies, we are injured emotionally and spiritually, which can make you sick physically. True healing only begins on the inside, because the wound is so deep. Your emotions are torn and need the healing touch of God’s love. Only God himself can bring true healing to the wound of grief. The world offers nothing that can really help you through this pain.

 

Many times, we look everywhere, but to Christ for our spiritual healing. Some try to find healing in self-control and self-discipline or other relationships. Some just say, “the hell with it!” and go out binge drinking or doing some kind drugs to ease the pain. While others turn to work, busyness, and “being strong” all the while they are hurting beyond belief. Then there are those who stop eating or eat everything they can find. My dear friends if you turn to anyone or anything but God, then you are turning to the wrong one to bring healing. Christ is the only One who can bring inner peace, and bring true healing to the deep wounds of this life.

 

Twenty-two years ago, I had just begun pastoring my very first church. I could not have been more than 6 months there. I was green and totally unprepared to handle 35-40 funerals in the first 18 months of being a pastor there. I was reading everything I could find to be able to encourage the dear people I was entrusted to care for. They were enduring the horrible preaching that I was doing because they knew I cared for them. I really should apologize to them for the very bad preaching. One lady came to me and after two very significant deaths in 6 months of each other, both were her brothers who raised her from a little girl. Their parents had died early in her life. She was more than distraught. She told me the doctor wanted her to take anxiety medicine, but she did not want to and was very strongly against taking it. She knew she was a basket case, a bundle of raw nerves that had the skin ripped off exposing them.

 

She came to me and asked me to recommend something to help her from the Bible. I knew she was a follower of Christ from an early age, but she told me in no uncertain terms, “I believe in Christ’s power to help me, and that His Word is powerful enough to help me through this. I may need medicine, but I really don’t want to if I don’t have to, and I need to know what to do.” I silently prayed, “Lord help me, I am over my head and have no clue what to do!” It was then that I was reminded of a story I had just read in an old out of print book. The pastor told a story about a person in his congregation who was struggling with extreme anxiety like she was, and he recommended a Rx prescription for his anxiety. So, I gave her the same prescription.

 

Rx for Anxiety

  • Take Psalms 23 like medicine.

  • Take it 5 times a day, 5 minutes each time, for the next 7 days.

  • Spend each of those 5 minutes reflecting upon how Christ is your Shepherd and how He cares for you.

  • Spend that time praying these things to Christ and acknowledging His role in your life and how He is doing this for you too.

  • Look at where you are mentioned in the passage. You are mentioned 12 times (I, me, my).

  • You will memorize it, but read it, write it down, and keep your eyes on a copy of it.

She took the Rx to heart! She hunted me down a week later and said, “Pastor! Something happened on the fourth day! When I was reading, ‘He restores my soul’ on the fourth day, something lifted off of me that I can’t explain and I have a peace now that I have never felt before. God used Psalm 23 to heal my soul!”

 

I was taken aback – I did not expect that level of deep experience that she had with God. But she was different from then on. She was stronger and had a greater sense of inner peace about her than I had ever seen in her life. Her family said the same thing. Christ is the Answer. He does not just have an answer or the answer, but He Himself is The Answer to everything we are facing. Christ restored her soul. Now, I am not against medicine at all, but I am like her in this. Too many people try it before they genuinely try Christ.

 

The Word of God is very powerful! It is described as a healing ointment to our soul, a crushing hammer to destroy wrong habits and bad thought patterns, and a purging fire to cleanse our soul of guilt and shame. It is unlike any other book on the planet. It is the bestselling book every year for a reason.

Overcoming Grief: Table of Contents
Nov 29
Love0

Overcoming Grief: You Can Make It!

By Hope For Today, Overcoming Grief
by Bill Stevens

Can you Make It Through This?

Can Jesus really help?

 

Yes, you can make it through it with Christ’s help! I have seen Christ help us and many of our friends!

What about?

  • What about my friends who lost a child during pregnancy? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who thought there was absolutely no hope when their dad died? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their child unexpectedly? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their son to recklessness? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friend who lost her husband, the sole breadwinner, and left her with kids at the house? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my young friends who lost their dad way before time? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friend who lost his wife, way before her time? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their new-born baby, to fetal alcohol/drug syndrome? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their child in an accident when they were momentarily distracted? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their dad and mom when they were a child? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

  • What about my friends who lost their child, brother, dad, and friend to suicide? Yes, Jesus helped them and is helping them!

No matter your loss! Christ is the Only One who can really help you through the pain! He is able to touch the deepest part of your soul and begin healing it and helping you through this dark journey called grief. Christ’s death on the cross was not only for our forgiveness, but it was a statement to us. He understands your pain. He really knows this suffering personally, He knows you, He sees exactly what you are going through, and He wants to help you through it.

 

The first step is simply asking Him to help you.

 

Lord Jesus,

Please help me through this pain and help me make sense of what has happened.

Help me to receive your help each day and each moment. Thank you for your promises to help me.

Amen.

Overcoming Grief: Table of Contents
Nov 29
Love0

Overcoming Grief: Christ will Restore Your Soul. Booklet Excerpt.

By Hope For Today, Overcoming Grief
 by Bill Stevens

When we hurt, Christ cares the most

 

 He restores my soul; Psalm 23:3

 

Christ cares about your pain and grief, and He wants to personally help you through it. When someone we love dies, we are injured emotionally and spiritually, which can make you sick physically. Healing begins on the inside, because the wound is deep. Your emotions are torn and need the healing touch of God’s love. Only God himself can bring true healing to the wound of grief. The world offers nothing that can really help you through this pain.

 

Many times, we look everywhere, but to Christ for our spiritual healing. Some try to find healing in self-control and self-discipline or other relationships. Some just say, “the hell with it!” and go out binge drinking or doing some kind drugs to ease the pain. While others turn to work, busyness, and “being strong” all the while they are hurting beyond belief. Then there are those who stop eating or eat everything they can find. My dear friends if you turn to anyone or anything but God, then you are turning to the wrong one to bring healing. Christ is the only One who can bring inner peace, and bring true healing to the deep wounds of this life.

 

Twenty-two years ago, I had just begun pastoring my very first church. I could not have been more than 6 months there. I was green and totally unprepared to handle 35-40 funerals in the first 18 months of being a pastor there. I was reading everything I could find to be able to encourage the dear people I was entrusted to care for. They were enduring the horrible preaching that I was doing because they knew I cared for them. I really should apologize to them for the very bad preaching. One lady came to me and after two very significant deaths in 6 months of each other, both were her brothers who raised her from a little girl. Their parents had died early in her life. She was more than distraught. She told me the doctor wanted her to take anxiety medicine, but she did not want to and was very strongly against taking it. She knew she was a basket case, a bundle of raw nerves that had the skin ripped off exposing them.

 

She came to me and asked me to recommend something to help her from the Bible. I knew she was a follower of Christ from an early age, but she told me in no uncertain terms, “I believe in Christ’s power to help me, and that His Word is powerful enough to help me through this. I may need medicine, but I really don’t want to if I don’t have to, and I need to know what to do.” I silently prayed, “Lord help me, I am over my head and have no clue what to do!” It was then that I was reminded of a story I had just read in an old out of print book. The pastor told a story about a person in his congregation who was struggling with extreme anxiety like she was, and he recommended a Rx prescription for his anxiety. So, I gave her the same prescription.

 

Rx for Anxiety

  • Take Psalms 23 like medicine.

  • Take it 5 times a day, 5 minutes each time, for the next 7 days.

  • Spend each of those 5 minutes reflecting upon how Christ is your Shepherd and how He cares for you.

  • Spend that time praying these things to Christ and acknowledging His role in your life and how He is doing this for you too.

  • Look at where you are mentioned in the passage. You are mentioned 12 times (I, me, my).

  • You will memorize it, but read it, write it down, and keep your eyes on a copy of it.

She took the Rx to heart! She hunted me down a week later and said, “Pastor! Something happened on the fourth day! When I was reading, ‘He restores my soul’ on the fourth day, something lifted off of me that I can’t explain and I have a peace now that I have never felt before. God used Psalm 23 to heal my soul!”

 

I was taken aback – I did not expect that level of deep experience that she had with God. But she was different from then on. She was stronger and had a greater sense of inner peace about her than I had ever seen in her life. Her family said the same thing. Christ is the Answer. He does not just have an answer or the answer, but He Himself is The Answer to everything we are facing. Christ restored her soul. Now, I am not against medicine at all, but I am like her in this. Too many people try it before they genuinely try Christ.

 

The Word of God is very powerful! It is described as a healing ointment to our soul, a crushing hammer to destroy wrong habits and bad thought patterns, and a purging fire to cleanse our soul of guilt and shame. It is unlike any other book on the planet. It is the bestselling book every year for a reason.

Nov 29
Love0

Overcoming Grief: Through the Valley & The Stages of Grief

By Hope For Today, Overcoming Grief
Book Excerpt from “Hope For the Grieving” by Bill Stevens

Help in the Valley:  Stages of Grief

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;  Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The grief process is like a valley. A valley that is dark, dangerous, despairing, and depressing. The place where you dread the most. A place where you surely don’t want to get stuck there, but unfortunately so many do and never make it through the valley.  You see on the other side of this dark valley is a place of light, new normal, a new beginning, and a place of renewal. You never forget the one who you lost, and you don’t want to. Is the pain ever gone? The pain lessens as you follow Christ through the valley. This journey leads to you t a new place, a place where you deeply miss your loved one, but your life is not ordered around them anymore. There is a new order to their life. You have made it through the valley. The darkness of the valley does not overshadow your life like it once did.

 

“Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery’s shadow or reflection: the fact that you don’t merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.”  C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

 

Psychologists tell us there are five stages of grief. They are very accurate to what a person goes through, and they can be likened to going through a very long dangerous valley.

Five Stages to the Valley of Grief

1. Shock/Denial

  • – “I can’t believe this is happening,” Numbness settles in. Some refuse to face the reality that their loved one has passed and they never get out of this stage. For months or even years, they walk around and talk about their loved one as if they are still here, and still coming home. There is this seemingly total refusal to face reality. Please don’t stay in this place. Christ wants to take you by the hand, and lead you through this hard place.

2. Anger:

  • You will be angry at someone. It could be yourself, your loved one, doctors, other family members, the guy minding his own business walking down the street, and many times we are even angry at God. It is important to know that anger is normal, but it is not an excuse for wrong actions. Don’t stay in the anger stage, or you will become bitter and healing will never take place. Too many dig into being bitter and unforgiving toward someone, mainly God. It is ok to be angry at God and tell Him how angry you are with Him, just don’t let go of Him. He understands and loves you. What happened to your loved one is not His fault and He did not do this to you. This is a broken world and He wants to help you navigate the brokenness we are faced with every turn of the day. We are in a broken world (see Genesis 3), but that is why Christ came to be our Savior!

3. Depression:

  • Sadness that will hit you like a wave and knock you down unexpectedly. Expect it but don’t stay in it. Know that this is just a stage and tell yourself that. Hang on to Christ! Get out and go do some things with your friends. Good friends can help you through these deeply sad times. Stay away from friends who will enable you in your hard days and encourage you to do things that are not healthy for a person going through this valley. They may be well-meaning, but they are not really helping. Many wrong choices can keep you in this place of darkness when you are meant to make it through it!! You are passing THROUGH the valley, hang on to Christ who is the source of our strength and hope! Let Him lead you through it!

You will feel at times like C.S. Lewis did in the loss of his wife.

“Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.”   C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

For in grief nothing ‘stays put.’ One keeps on emerging from a phase, but it always recurs. Round and round. Everything repeats. Am I going in circles, or dare I hope I am on a spiral?   C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

 

4. Bargaining:

  • God, I will do __________(whatever) if you don’t let me experience this kind of pain again. Trust God and let him have your anxieties. So many times people make desperate deals with God. God loves you so much and wants to carry you through this – not to the place where you can say, “I made a deal with God,” but “God Himself carried me through the hardest days and helped me every step of the way.” He wants you to know His presence during this time, so you can rest in him and not be controlled by worry, fear, and anxiety.

5. Acceptance:

  • You made it through the valley. You have allowed the Lord to carry you through the valley of the shadow of death, to the other side where there is a new beginning. On the other side of this valley, there are sunshiny days, green meadows, and streams of running water – a beautiful place of healing and new beginnings. No, you will never forget your loved one. You should not forget them. This is a not a place of forgetting, but of a reordered life with a level of spiritual and emotional healing in your life.

If you get stuck in the valley and don’t really deal with your grief, you will be miserable. And when someone else dies not as close, but near you, it may open up all the repressed feelings you have. It can flood all over you. There is nothing wrong with letting it out.  But please take time for yourself and allow yourself to heal emotionally and spiritually.

 

Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.  C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

 

Weep and mourn the life you had in mind, but continually give it to God trusting Him to work in and through your life. Remember, you are passing through the valley! The valley is not your destiny. The place of healing on the other side of the valley is where Christ is leading you! Find your hope and help in the Shepherd as He leads you through this dark place.

There is a blessing on the other side of the valley.

 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” Psalm 23:5

A table? Not a real table, but a lush green flat easy-to-walk-on plateau far above the dark valley below. The place of safety and blessing for the sheep, farm above all the enemies that tried to destroy them in the valley. There is a new beginning once you make it through the valley. A new day has come. A new normal has come. The deepest pain is gone. You don’t hurt like you do now. Let Jesus carry you through the valley, He will help you; He will heal you; He won’t give you a life of regrets but of healing & blessing.

The Promise of Being with Christ Jesus Forever.

 

Your forever home is Heaven! God is leading you through this valley and this life to get you to your real home, Heaven!

 

“ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” Psalm 23:6

Those who follow Christ have the promise of being with Him forever. It is the place called Heaven, the House of the Lord, the dwelling place of God. Jesus said it this way, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27)

Oct 09
Love0

Don’t Give Up! There is Hope for Today!

By Hope For Today

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

 

God wants you to have hope that things will get better and that He will carry you through every obstacle you face! You may be thinking that your life is such a mess, your family is so messed up, your decisions have destroyed you, or maybe life just took such a bad turn and you see no way out. There is hope to get through it. God wants you to know He loves you and is not out to get you!

 

You may feel so hopeless, like you are dying of thirst and lost in a desert. But here comes Jesus with jugs of cold spring water to and an umbrella to get you out of the heat, quench your thirst, and to fill you with life again! And to give you a fullness of joy knowing that He is with you! And to give you hope that you are going to make it out of this very dry-empty-hard place and he is going to bring you to a place of joy, peace, and laughter again. When Jesus shows up in your situation, you are not only filled with joy, but with peace as well.

 

God’s Peace is the removal of the inner conflict in your life that comes from worry, anxiety, and fear of the future possibilities. But God’s peace also removes the anger and frustration from your soul in the right now. It is a supernatural touch of God that we all need everyday!

 

This is God’s promise to you! This powerful touch of God is available for you right now! It is activated by believing – real faith in Jesus, who is the God of hope! Faith that you are going to follow Him, listen for His direction, and that He is capable to deliver you through and from any circumstance or situation! He will move in power when you seek Him in faith to help you overcome!

 

So, turn to Christ today, stop fighting against Him, and ask Him to lead you through your troubles. Read His Word, the Bible, (start in the Gospel of Luke or John) and write down the trouble people had and how Jesus overcame it for them! There was nothing impossible for Him then and there is nothing impossible for Him today! Seek Him and ask Him to do this for you!

 

Keep saying this today: I have hope, peace, and joy because my Great God is able to deliver me through or from every problem!

Pray this today: Father, fill me with joy and peace today because my faith is in Jesus to deliver me through or from every problem I am facing! You are my hope!

Memorize Romans 15:13 and let His word change your life.

Remember! Don’t ever – ever – ever give up!!! There is hope, no matter how bad it looks!

 

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Sep 23
Love0

So what do you say?

By Hope For Today

So what do you say?

    So what do you say should be done to the woman you just caught sleeping with ….

  • Your husband?
  • Your brother?
  • Your father?
  • Your best friend?
  • Your neighbor?
  • Your brother-in-law?

Homewrecker! Hoe! Slut! That is what would be posted on every social media account we can think of.

Some guys caught this woman in bed with a friend of theirs and sent him packing, but decided to make an example of her by having her killed, publicly!

They wanted to stone her to death. Stoning? Picture this! An angry mob with lots of soft-ball size rocks throwing them at her head like a carnival game. The first one and the last one get the prize! Well, no prize but you get the picture of the viciousness of this kind of execution. Instant justice by the public.

Jesus was teaching a large crowd one day and this happened…

“The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.” John 8:1-5

There is no shortage of self-righteous hypocrites today trolling around with big rocks, ready to throw them at someone who breaks their religious rules. Today they may not use real rocks, but they will “kill you” with their tongue. Jesus had them everywhere during His days on earth as well, but they used real rocks, baseball sized ones! There was a real group of people called Pharisees who saw themselves as the religious enforcers during the day of Jesus. Jesus called them “hypocrites,” which was their word for an actor in play, someone who pretended to be something they were not. They were fakers.

So WWJD? They wanted to know to trap Him. But as the kids in my home neighborhood would say, “He don’t play!” Jesus didn’t play their games, especially bullies. He bent down and wrote in the sand, with this angry mob around him with stones in their hands the woman in the judgment seat.

Jesus knew everything they thought, why they were doing what they were doing, and how it would play out. Jesus is God, but they didn’t get it. Their idea of God was far from the reality of who God really is, so that is why God became a man, Christ Jesus, to demonstrate and reveal to humanity who God really is.

We don’t know what he wrote in the sand that day, God’s Word the Bible does not say. It may have been the names of these men’s side chicks, their hidden sins, their past sins, or just the Big Ten – the Ten Commandments of God.
But we do know this…

“Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest.” John 8:6-9

Something got through to their hard revenge-filled heart, willing to run over a woman and kill her for the sake of hurting someone else’s reputation. The oldest left first… I guess those who have been around the block a few more times, learn a little quicker in their older age. I told one guy the other day, I am not the kind of pastor who throws stones at people. He said something very wise. “I have found when I throw stones at others, they bounce back and hit me.” There is a great deal of truth in that statement!

So Jesus told them, the one without sin could begin the stoning party and he went back to writing in the sand. And they all left.
“The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” John 8:9-11

Wow! Totally unexpected turn of events! Jesus did not condemn her. Not only did he not condemn her, he stood between her guilty self and certain death. She was guilty and the law of the day actually said she and the guy in adultery should be stoned to death. But Jesus is about redeeming, restoring, forgiving, adopting, assuring, and transforming a person from what they should not be to the person they should be. It is called GRACE!

Grace is the unexpected, undeserved, loving favor of God to do what we are not capable of doing. For this woman, grace meant removing the guilt, shame, condemnation, and real punishment from over her life! It is called the love of God!

Jesus came to give life! He didn’t bring condemnation. He came like a strong life-guard swimming out to us as we were drowning in guilt, shame, and condemnation to extend to us a life-raft to save us! He is our rescuer, our Savior!

He did not leave her without boundaries either.

He said “Go and sin no more.” He simply told her, what you have been doing is wrong. Stop it or it will destroy your life and the lives of others. He did not approve of her behavior at all. He told her with a great demonstration of love that God loves her in spite of her behavior, and that she need to make much better choices in the future.

Jesus brought grace and truth. Demonstrated love to us personally and clear instruction from God’s Word how life should be and our lives should be. Grace forgives and fills us with joy and truth keeps us in the place of joy! He took all of our guilt, shame, and condemnation when he died on the cross! His resurrection proves he can forgive our sin and give us new life!

If you think you have blown it, you haven’t!!! God loves you and wants to forgive, restore, redeem, and transform your life! He wants you to be filled with joy and know His love for you!

Ask God today to help you receive His gracious forgiveness and walk in His truth!
Blessings
Pastor Bill

Bill@TheWellLoveland.com

 

Sep 17
Love0

You can’t get there from here! God’s Guidance

By Hope For Today

 

You can’t get there from here

I could see a huge outcropping of rock in the distance that beckoned me as I sat in the opening session at my first silent retreat in a palatial ranch estate in the mountains outside of Denver. But there was a problem, I could not get there from here. My high school geometry teacher taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. My college football defensive lineman coach said the same thing, which meant you just go through whatever is in front of you to achieve the objective. Clearly that is not the best advise for navigating the obstacles between us and what God has called us to do.

If I had taken the straight path, I would had gone down a treacherous rocky mountainside, through a thicket, through a dense forest, and gotten knee deep in water, and scaled a 30’ rock face to get there. But the wise, thicket scarred wet to the knees King Solomon said, “with humility comes wisdom.”

My journey to the call began by walking away from the direction of the objective to achieve my ultimate objective, sitting on top those rocks overlooking the valley and the beautiful brook flowing through it. I started away from the direction of the rock and walked down the backside of a mountain to the bottom. I could have sat down and spent my time at a picnic table on the way down, but it didn’t feel right and I would have missed out on the glorious adventure.

At the bottom of the hill, I took a hard turn back toward the rock. Going away I could not see the vision of the rock anymore. All I could see was a path downward away from the goal. I hoped it would open up, but I didn’t know. But at the bottom of the hill it did open up and as I turned back, the vision was before me again. Clearer and closer, and more exciting than in the beginning. As I walked from side to side down a rocky boulder strewn pasture leading to the valley below, I could see it was still further than I anticipated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful babbling creek in the bottom of the valley begging to be fished, but I was heading to the rock, overlooking the valley. There were not cows in the pasture, but there was still the problem of bogs and cow piles. Life can lead us through places where we can trip and fall into a cow pile, or just step into it. Fortunately, this time, my steps were sure, but the brook twisted, curved, and was deeper than I expected. As I wandered around in the pasture following the creek and again I walked away from the vision to get to where I could cross somewhat easily. God had made a path through the water, a solid sandbar of rocks and pebbles that was crossed with just a little hop and a jump.

 

Then there was the climb up the mountain to get to the rock. I always wondered why the patariarch Abraham stopped in Haran and took a looping path to the promised land. He was tired! He had to stop and rest for a while! Sometimes we over spiritualize things and what we need to do is stop and rest for a while. Jesus took Peter, James, and John upon the mountain to pray. I am certain there was no easy path to the top and that they had to stop and rest along the way.

I made it up the mountain to the foot of the rock, but it was 30 feet tall straight up. I was still 30 feet from where I wanted to be, and I was not about to attempt climbing it, so I kept walking up around it, and then I see it.  God had made a stairway so I could step up those 30 feet to where my eyes first fell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Such is the nature of following God’s call upon our lives. It can be more difficult than He wants it to be or it can seem like it will take forever.  But it is just a walk with Him up, down, through, and around obstacles with our Good Shepherd, if we hear his voice and follow him. It is imperative to stay tuned to the Shepherd’s voice.

He is on top of the place where He wants to take you. He can see every step you need to take and save you from lots of painful steps if you will have faith that his steps are the right steps and you stay attuned to his voice.

The path back is going to be much easier. I know where to go. I could bring someone back with me now, much easier and faster if they would listen to me. We need others in our lives who have already been there and done that, and willing to coach us in the steps along the way. See with humility comes wisdom.

Father, you are so good in your ways. You are our good-good Father who has a plan for our life and you want to carry us to places we could never imagine!

How did I know where to begin this journey?

At the ranch, I could not see a path to the rock, the place that beckoned me. All I away was hardship and the prospect of pain looking out through the thicket. But when I drew near to the cross, I began seeing a path. The closer I got to the cross, the more visible I could see the path down the mountain.

The cross is always the beginning point of every journey to where God is calling you. The Good Shepherd knows the way, has gone the way, and wants to show you the way personally.

 

 

Lord, help me to be as gentle and leadable as a sheep. Protect me from my own stubborn streak and the inner desire to follow my own ways. Thank you for leading, guiding, directing, and protecting in the calling upon each of us. Lead me in the path to the place you would have me to be.

Knowing Christ means knowing the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd who leads you and guides you along life’s journeys.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell[a] in the house of the Lord
Forever.

 

Aug 17
Love0

Rx – Overcoming Worry & Anxiety

By Hope For Today, Overcoming, Worry

Anxiety and Worry can destroy your health, mentally, emotionally and physically.  Have you ever felt like worry and anxiety were about to overcome you? Maybe your nerves were way past being on the edge, they were over the edge. You may be feeling like this even right now.

You may have strained an “emotional” muscle.   Consider the pain that comes from a strained muscle in your leg, back, or arm. Your muscle can tighten, knot, or even be torn, all causing extreme discomfort and pain. The doctor will normally prescribe some sort of physical therapy which is intended to help heal and strengthen your body. They then give you exercises to continually strengthen your body you it can stand up under future stress better as well as instructions on things not to do that would clearly harm you.

Good health is the goal and it is very similar with your spiritual life.  Good spiritual life is the goal.  Not only will anxiety and worry can cause such stress upon your body that it will “strain” you mentally, emotionally, physically, and but also spiritually.

Any kind of stress can cause you to “strain” your soul if you are not careful.  If you strain a muscle you seek a physician’s help for a physical problem, but if your soul is strained you need spiritual help. God’s Word, the Bible, clearly gives us guidance as well as the strength and healing we need for our strained souls.

The physical therapist may take some sort of ointment or balm and work into your strained muscle.  In the same way, you need a spiritual “ointment” or “balm” to be able to massage your strained emotions and spirit, that will penetrate deep inside and cause healing to take place.  God’s Word is like this. It is not merely a book of do’s and don’ts, it is Spirit and it is Life.  Jesus said “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Searching for Wisdom

I came across this Prescription for Anxiety years ago. I was reading a little fifty-year-old book by Charles Allen called God’s Psychiatry. It was a little book, easy to read, and given to me (free), which fit my reading criteria at that time. I had only been a pastor for a couple of years and was searching for wisdom on how to help people because in those 2 years I had already performed over 30 funerals.

Then one lady came to me and told me how much help she needed. She didn’t want to go to the doctor, she was clearly afraid that he would her on anxiety medicine, which she did not want. She had unexpectedly lost her two older brothers who had virtually raised her in the previous six months. Her parents had died years before and she was grieving beyond belief. She came to me, her pastor, who had only been a pastor  2 years and only a Christian 4 years – I had nothing to offer.

The Power of God’s Word

I suggested the seven day prescription for anxiety that was recommended in this book.  She came back the following week, a totally different person. She told me how on the fourth day, something lifted off of her and did not come back. Her faith was radically strengthened in Jesus and I was taken aback at her radical change and freedom from the oppression that anxiety and worry had upon her life.

What is the Prescription?

  • It is so simple, you might not even want to try it.
  • It is so simple, you might even laugh at it.
  • If you have been a Christian for a while, it may seem so familiar that you might just say, “Oh I know that passage of Scripture,” and quickly discount it.
  • It is so short, you might just pass over it quickly.
  • But don’t!
  • Why? Because it is so strong, so deep, so powerful, and so God honoring, that it will help you through the trials you are facing.

Here is the Prescription for Anxiety and Worry.  

  • Take the Twenty-Third Psalm for Seven days, Five times per day, and Five minutes each time. 
  •  Read it thoughtfully, prayerfully, and carefully.
  •  Spend those five minutes praying this Psalm back to God, asking him questions about it, recognizing your relationship to Him, and His relationship to you. Slowly chew on each verse, savoring each bite, and allow your mind to fully focus on God, His Word, and His thoughts toward you.
  •  Focus on God.  Who is God revealed to be in this passage?
  •  Focus on what God does for you. You are mentioned (I, me, my) 17 times in this short passage. 
  • Pray it to God, yield your concerns to Him, and allow Him to restore your soul.

 Remember, Jesus’ words are Spirit and they are Life!  This is spiritual balm and you need to allow God’s Holy Spirit to massage your soul (mind, emotions, spirit) with the healing power of God’s Word. God’s Word has life-giving power, allow God to give you strength and life through His Word.

Write it down and keep in your pocket. No matter where you are, stop and spend those five minutes with Him in concentrated focus upon His word.

The Rest of the Story

 

When this dear lady came and told me what the Lord Jesus had done for her and the power of God evident upon her life, I was overwhelmed.  I was overwhelmed with gratefulness to my King, but also overwhelmed with my inability to help anyone.  I realized that the wisdom I needed to help anyone was to help them get to the One Who is Wisdom Himself, King Jesus. I realized I had nothing to offer anyone, but Jesus has everything a person will ever need.

So I offer you Jesus, the Rx for Anxiety and Worry, the Good Shepherd!

Special note for dads and moms:  This is something you can use with your children as well. They will grasp the images as you explain them and show them pictures of how a shepherd cares for his sheep. Help them to know the God who is the Shepherd of their souls. Found by Sally Lloyd Jones, is a beautiful picture book of Psalm 23 to share with your little ones.

Blessings!

Bill Stevens

 

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