Zechariah 9:12  Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Being in a prison is truly an unpleasant experience. Because of Jesus, however, we have been given a life sentence in a pleasant "prison of hope." His cross and promises give us a living hope, even when life's troubles and problems seem to destroy every possibility of hope.

Life and aging have a way of threatening our hopes. Losses, accidents, illness, and death turn our dreams into nightmares. On the worst of days, however, the cross of Christ still offers hope. We cannot escape this prison of hope, not made of stone and steel, but based securely in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

John 16:13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in all the truth...

As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure to His heavenly home, He had a farewell message for them. As He returned to his Heavenly Father, He promised His Holy Spirit. The Spirit would be with them, would teach them, would guide them, and would take care of them. Yes, He would be their Advocate and Counselor!

That's the message for us today. As we draw closer to the end of our days on earth, the Spirit helps us repent, comforts us when we ache, guides us in our pilgrimage, and assists us as we go about witnessing, sharing, and supporting one another. He assures us of our heavenly home.

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Mark 4:8  And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing...

As I grow older, I find myself reflecting on my life and thinking about who made a positive impact on me, especially on my spiritual growth. When you are firmly rooted in your faith, it builds a firm foundation and provides an anchor for you to weather the storms of life that inevitably arrive.

I was blessed with parents who raised me in the Christian faith. They showed the love of Christ to everyone and taught me to place my hope and trust in the Lord. When the seeds of faith are planted and nurtured, faith takes root and blooms!

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

1 Thessalonians 1:6  ...you became imitators of us and of the Lord...

God blessed me with parents who led me to know Jesus and His love. They guided, corrected, supported, and loved me. God called my dad home a few years ago, but I continue to remember, with thanks, his godly example.

The Apostle Paul commends the believers for being an example for others to follow. "You became imitators of us and of the Lord," he says in the above verse. They had imitated Paul, who had imitated Christ.

We can be a positive influence on our family and friends even after the Lord calls us home. But until that day, we can pray daily for the Lord to guide and bless them.

-- Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

1 Peter 3:15 "...always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you..."

A cat can be fast asleep and totally relaxed, but if there is a noise, it is at full attention in an instant.

So it is with a Christian; relaxed and happy, but at full attention to help another in need, or to give a full account of the faith in God that graces our life. The faith that God gives us is our constant help. He is attentive to our every need, and He is also attentive to our every prayer.

God directs our life in the right and best path - the one that pleases Him in all we say and do. He leads us to seek Him first, so our lives may be productive, making us, and those around us, fulfilled in what Christ has done for us on the cross.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Lamentations 3:22-23  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

As we age, we feel like a child's toy on Christmas morning. You know, the one that comes in the box that warns, "Some assembly required." Slow to rise with something to help us out of bed, snap in the upper and lower dentures, and coax in the hearing aids, NOW we're assembled. But for what?

We're assembled for service to God who sent His Son to take away our sins and to serve Him. All the days of our lives. Sometimes the aging process tempts us to question our usefulness. When getting started in the morning seems like an insurmountable task, begin each day with a prayer. Then you can go to work serving the Lord and your neighbor.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

 

Psalm 143:8  Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.

Her neuropathy and nerve pain in her feet and legs worsened, so she started using a walker. She had tried to get by with pain medication, but it became clear she needed to do more. While the pain did not go away, the walker provided the necessary support and stability she needed to move around.

Jesus healed many people during His time one earth, and He provided care and comfort for those in need. What a great example for us! While not all of us will be healed on earth, we look forward to the glorious day when we will be in heaven and all pain and discomfort will wash away!

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,