Posted by Hope on December 01, 2009 at 06:11 PM in Tid Bits & Treasures | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on November 13, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Agape Love Stories | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on November 12, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Agape Love Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on November 11, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Agape Love Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on November 10, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Agape Love Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on November 09, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Agape Love Stories | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Although I’m not a bear, I am Canadian and more importantly than being Canadian I am a Believer. There are times in the life of a Believer when God calls them away for a season – not to slumber, or hibernate, from the rest of the world, but to seek Him with all one’s heart, soul, and strength. And while we are called to love and seek Him this way always – there are times when private time is needed. God has called me to join Him in a season in which He is going to “nurse” me – nurture me and our relationship - and prepare me for the spring – a new season.
Before He takes me and hides me under His wing for this time, He’s bringing me back to Israel. He’ll fill my mind with fond memories and innumerable teachings, my heart with love and compassion, and strengthen me with His Manna. I am desperate for this time with Him, a time to do nothing but focus on our relationship – our love.
I will not be tending to Unveiling Hope during this time with God. I do however, leave you with a blessing and prayer from my heart – a prayer that, undoubtedly, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob desires to honour. Shalom and lehitraot for now.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Num. 6:24-26 NKJV.
Posted by Hope on November 07, 2009 at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
I’m not much of a gardener. I love gardens; I just don’t have the patience to wait for growth. I have a tendency to focus on the weeds growing while I’m waiting on the good stuff.
I have this mental picture of the “old” me – a garden of sorts – filled with briers and dandelions with the odd daisy pushing up here and there. I don’t know why I ever visit that garden, but I do.
The Greatest Landscaper of all creation has been weeding out my garden for several years now. You’d think a person who has a professional “gardener” come in would just stop fussing and just enjoy the scenery, but no … not me. Of course, I do appreciate the garden and I certainly see the work He’s done, but to tell you the truth, I seem to spend far too much time focussing of the little weeds that seem to sprout from time to time.
That old serpent loves nothing more than to scatter bad seed in our fertile minds and then sit back as hope that we’ll choose to get out the watering can. Every gardener will tell you weeds will grow. You can spend hours and hours lovingly caring for your garden, but the next morning – or maybe the following day - you’ll surely find a little sprout that doesn’t belong there. The enemy will always sow bad seed, and bad seed grows. But having a weed or two in your garden doesn’t mean your flowers won’t blossom or your plants won’t produce fruit.
God has worked so hard healing the soil and sowing; He seems to be happy with His work. Maybe I should just sit a spell - rest in Him - appreciate His work and let Him worry about what He plants.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV.
Posted by Hope on November 02, 2009 at 06:46 PM in Awesome and Wonderful, Be Still and Know I Am, Growing with Hope | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I’ve been going through some memories – searching for times when strength and
peace seemed to come with much more ease. It those “remember when” moments that
a person’s faith is strengthened by the courage that carried them once upon a
time.
In less than one month, I'll be back in this very place. The calmest and most relaxing moments of my trip to Israel last year was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The water was calm; the weather was warm and sunny – a perfect day. I began thinking about the night the disciples were on the boat and a storm began. Jesus – walking on the water – came to their rescue. Peter however mustered all the courage he could and took a step in faith.
When the skipper stopped the boat I began looking out upon the water. I wondered, if a storm kicked up right this minute, would I step out? Would I be brave enough not to take my eyes off him – even for a second?
He gave me a revelation on the Sea. He showed me that I don’t have to be on the Sea of Galilee to walk on water during a storm. Life is filled with opportunities to practice. When the winds of life are blowing and the waters grow rough, I know what I need to do. Today, I may take only a few steps, but I know that during the next storm, I’ll take a few more, and a few more the storm after that as I learn to focus on the Calm in the storm.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matt. 6:34.
Posted by Hope on October 26, 2009 at 03:18 PM in Reflections | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I’ve never met a satisfied believer and I hope I never do. I’ve never heard a believer say, “I’ve had enough. We’re good. I’m completely happy with the level of intimacy I enjoy with the Lord.”
Jesus said all the law and prophets hinged on His two greatest commandments. God is love and there is nothing more important to Him than love. He is all about entering into and maintaining intimate relationships; His ten commandments are evidence of this. The first four commandments concern our relationship with Him and the last six involve how He wants us to relate to each other. It’s altogether uncomplicated. He wants us to get life right.
I’m not one for making generalized statements about any given group of people but in this case I’m going to make an exception. I find far too many people, myself included, make being in relationships complicated particularly relationships with God.
He made it so easy for us. He gave us His Spirit and His Word yet so often we participate in conversations, and read book after book, in order to determine how best to relate with Him, how to take our relationship with Him to the next level. The truth is, there is no magical potion or formula, He’s been upfront on what to do and how to do it.
Jesus made that way for us; He is The Way. The Spirit of God is our Helper and there is nothing He wants more than to guide us in this most important and excellent endeavour. There is only one thing that we can do to grow in our intimacy with Him: “draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” James 4:8. All we have to do is want it.
He’s already done His part, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness,” Jer. 31:3.
This is how we draw near to Him:
· Read His Word
· Study His Word
· Speak His Word
· Meditate on His Word
· Behave in accordance with His Word
He said it, not me. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful,” Joshua 1:8.
Be unsatisfied and love it.
Posted by Hope on October 23, 2009 at 06:00 AM in Growing with Jesus and Others, Life at its Best, Prayer is Always Answered | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)




