Praying Hope

Praying hope is found in communication with our Creator. He knows our inmost hopes and dreams, thoughts and motives. When we pray, we connect with a power that is far greater then we can imagine with our finite minds. Hebrews 4:14 -16 reminds us that because we have a great High Priest (Jesus) in heaven Who is able to empathize with our weaknesses, and has been tempted in very way, yet did not sin, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.

There's a garden where Jesus is waiting.

It's a place that's so wondrously fair.

And it glows with the light of His presence.

It's the beautiful garden of prayer.

Oh, that beautiful garden,
That garden of prayer.

Oh, that beautiful garden of prayer.

Where my Savior awaits,

And He opens the gates,

To that beautiful garden of prayer.

I come to the garden alone.

While the dew is still on the roses.

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me
And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there.

No other has ever known.

Sweet hour of prayer,
Sweet hour of prayer,

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.
.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

At thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
Tho' the night around me be falling.

But He bids me go with a voice of woe.

His voice to me is calling.

Oh, that beautiful garden,
The garden of prayer,

Oh, that beautiful garden of prayer.
Where my Savior awaits,
And He opens the gates,

To that beautiful garden of prayer.

May you spend much time in the garden of prayer with the Source of hope.

Bringing Hope

We bring hope to our world when we spend our lives serving others.

Out on the highways and byways of life, 

Many are weary and sad.

Carry the sunshine 
Where darkness is rife, 

Making the sorrowing glad. 

Give as was given to you in your need.

Love as the Master loves you.

Be to the helpless, a helper indeed.

Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,

Out of my life, May Jesus shine.

Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.

Make me a blessing to someone today.

In Matthew 25: 35, Jesus says," I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.  I was  thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me.  I was in prison and you came to visit me." The disciples asked when they had done all those things for him. He answered, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."

Someone is needing a blessing today.

Something to cheer him 
On life's rugged way,

Needing a friend who is faithful and true,

Will that someone be you?

Someone is waiting in sorrow and night,

Needing the word of Salvation and Light.

Someone will bear it, his hope to renew,

Will that someone be you?

Jesus is waiting for someone,

Waiting and calling for someone;

Someone will answer and go in His name;

O, will that someone be you?

God's plan is so amazing in that He has chosen to use us to bring His message of love and hope to this world. What a privilege to be used by God to touch lives for eternity.

His Spirit lives within us,
Flowing like a river. 
Filling us with strength,
So that we can reach
Out for our brother.
Help one another.

Some of us build,
Some are teachers.
Some can sing like angels.
But all of us can love.
Like He loved,
Pure and simple,
So warm and tender.

We are His hands,
We are His feet,
We are His people.
Children of Lord.
We share the hope, 
We share the dream,
Believers in Jesus
Children of the King.

May you live a life of loving service bringing hope to your world.

Singing Hope

Singing hope is found when we take that step of faith, and begin to follow our Savior. This is my testimony song:

I used to play a tune filled with discord.

I wondered why 
I was born on this earth.

Then I met Jesus, 
I gave Him my life, 

And He gave me a song of new birth.

It's a song 
That has the sweetest melody,

For it tells 
Of Christ coming from above,

Of His death 
On Calvary's cruel tree,

Of His grace, 
Forgiveness, and wondrous love.

There may come situations 
I don't understand,

 But the melody is there, 
Just the same.

When I look up into my Savior's face,

I can't help singing 
Praises to His name.

He writes a song of love upon my heart.

He writes a song 
That never shall depart.

He writes a song 
That makes my whole world bright.

And keeps me singing in the night.

Music is an incredible tool for bringing hope into our lives.  Most of us have memories of special times associated with music - singing around a piano or a campfire; harmonizing in a choir or group; playing in an orchestra or band; making up silly songs to impress our friends. These times encourage and strengthen us. But remember the truth found in this song:

Sing, sing a song.

Sing it loud, sing it long.

Don't worry that it's not good enough

For anyone else to hear.

Just sing, sing a song.

Psalms 150 is an incredible reminder to sing praises the Lord.

1. Where - in His sanctuary, in His mighty heavens. 
2. Why - for His acts of power, for His surpassing greatness. 
3. How - with timbrel and dance, strings, pipes and cymbals. 
4. Who - let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

I have a song that Jesus gave me.
It was sent from heaven above.
There never was a sweeter melody.
It's the melody of love.

In my heart there rings a melody,
Rings a melody with heaven's harmony.
In my heart there rings a melody.
Rings a melody of love.

May a song of praise reverberate in your heart bringing hope and joy to all your days.

but

Talking Hope

Words of hope - how our generation needs to hear them! We should always be bringing hope to others by the words that we speak. I'm reminded of a Sunday School song:

Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

There's a Father up above,

And he's looking down in love.

So be careful little mouth what you say.

The Bible has much to teach us about the power of the tongue. James 3:1-12 states that we can tame a horse with a bit, and steer a ship with a rudder, but the tongue is much harder to control. If we give our tongues to God, He will put His words in our mouth. Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.

The tongue is a little member,

But difficult to control

Unkind words when spoken

Are destructive and untenable.

Words of truth,

Words of life

Words that banish fear and strife.

Blessings bring peace to the soul.
 

May the words of my mouth 
Be acceptable

In thy sight, O, Lord, I pray.

May hope in Christ be evidenced

In everything I say.

Words of kindness,

Words of love,

Words that challenge to look above.

May I speak words of promise today.

Of course the greatest words of hope that we can speak are from God's Word. Steve Green's song "Ancient Words" sums up this truth:

Holy Word, long preserved.

For our walk, in this world.

They resound with God's own heart,

Oh, let the Ancient Word impart.

Words of life, words of hope,

Give us strength, help us cope,

In this world wherein we roam,

Ancient Words will guide us home.

Ancient Word, ever true,

Changing me and changing you,

We have come with open heart.

O, let the ancient Word impart.

May we let The Word guide us and speak life-giving words of hope today..

Walking Hope

We can always walk with hope in our hearts, because God has assured us that He is with us, leading us onward and upward.

Each step I take, 
My Savior goes before me.

And with His loving hand, 
He leads the way.

And with each breathe,
 I whisper, "I adore Thee."

Oh, what joy, 
To walk with Him each day. 

Each step I take,
 I know that He will guide me;

To higher ground, 
He ever leads me on.

Until some day, 
The last step will be taken.

Each step I take 
Just leads me closer home.

The key is staying in the Word and obeying its teachings. The Holy Spirit will be your guide.  As Isaiah 30:21 says,  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it' ".

Does your life seem empty?

Does it seem like you can't pull through?

The load doesn't get any lighter, 

If you think it's all up to you.

Why don't you lean on Jesus?

He knows you can't tow the line.

He only wants you to follow Him.

Just one little step at a time.

Little by little, one step at a time,

He's changing our hearts 
And renewing our minds,

Teaching us how to be, 
Patient and kind.

Little by little, one step at a time.

As we live a life of walking hope, we will find joy and fulfillment beyond measure.

Walking with the Savior 
On the narrow way.

Doing all that pleases Him 
From day to day.

Reading from the Bible 
Taking time to pray.

That's the way to find happiness.

Trusting in the Lord 
When there's a stormy sky.
Bringing Him the troubles 
That would make us sigh.
Knowing He will keep us, 
Every need supply.
O, That's the way to find happiness.

Ready with a witness 
To His love so true.

Giving out the gospel as He told us to.

Serving faithfully in all we say or do.

That's the way to find happiness.

May you step out in confidence, listening and obeying the Savior, and you will have a life filled with walking hope.

Time for Hope

If there was ever a time that hope is needed it is now.  Our news reports are rife with stories of man's degradation.  We hear of wars and rumors of wars, disasters and disease. In Romans 8:22 - 25, God says that all of creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth to be liberated from bondage to decay. We also, although we have the Holy Spirit inside, groan while waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Our hope saves us, for if we had no problems now, we would not need to have hope. So we wait patiently and rest in God's sovereignty. 

In His time, In His time,

He makes all things beautiful.

In His time.

Lord, Please show me everyday, 

as You're teaching me Your way,

And I'll do just what you say,

In Your time.

Lord, My life to you I bring,

May each song I have to sing,

Be to You a lovely thing,

In Your time.

While we wait on this this earth for our coming redemption, we need to redeem the time that we have and use it wisely to glorify God. It's so easy to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent, or become distracted from the call on our lives.

 This moment never comes again.

This moment will soon be past.

Life is just a vapor that appears 
And then is gone.

Only what is done for Christ will last.

This moment, what will you do?

This moment can Christ be seen in you?

We will be accountable 
For every word and deed.

Use them wisely 
For the moments are so few.

I have this moment I hold in my hand.

God has given a choice to me.

I can waste it and lose it 
On things of this world.

Or I can give it to God 
And I'll keep it for eternity.

Making each moment count for eternity won't just happen.  We must guard our heart and purpose to let God control our lives. Nourishing our spirit with the Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship is essential.

Take time to be holy, 
Speak oft with thy Lord.

Abide in Him always, 
And feed on His Word.

Make friends of God's children. 
Help those who are weak.

Forgetting in nothing 
His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy.  
The world rushes on.

Spend much time in secret, 
With Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, 
Like Him thou shalt be.

They friends in thy conduct, 
His likeness shall see.

May you take time to cherish the hope that is in you and share it with others.

Hope for Eternity

When I think of hope for eternity, one of my favorite songs comes to mind:

              

Just think of stepping on shore - 

And finding it Heaven!

Or touching a hand - 
And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air - 
And finding it celestial!

Of waking up in glory - 
And finding it home! 

What an amazing thought: to leave this world with its disappointments and disillusions and dwell forever with Our Heavenly Father. We were made for a different existence - in God's kingdom of love. As "Heaven's Song" by Phil Wickham says:

I want to run on greener pastures

I want to dance on higher hills.

I want to drink from sweeter waters. 

In the misty morning chill. 

And my soul is getting restless

For the place where I belong.

I can't wait to join the angels 
And sing my heaven song.

"No More Night" by David Phelps reminds us what heaven will be like:

The timeless theme, 
Earth and Heaven will pass away.

It's not a dream, 
God will make all things new that day. 

Gone is the curse 
From which I stumbled and fell.

Evil is banished to eternal hell.

No more night, no more pain.

No more tears, never crying again. 

And praises to the great, "I AM"

We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

Wow! If I keep my eyes on Jesus and live with eternity in mind, I will live a life filled with hope no matter what my circumstances.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.

Life's trials will seem so small,

 When we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face,

All sorrow will erase.

So bravely run the race,

Till we see Christ.

 May you set your affections on things above and look "for the hope (positive expected end) which is laid up for you in Heaven". Colossians 1:5