BE REMINDED

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Her name was Ruth.

She was a part of a little gathering in Springfield yesterday who honored me by letting me share a message with them.  The message encouraged those that were there to take on the role of “HOPE DEALERS”.

And no, that is not a new saying or maybe even starting to be a little threadbare, but the reason I chose to share it with not just Ruth’s gathering but also at her sister congregation up the road was because even those these churches might be small in numbers, they have the potential to be LARGE in HOPE. 

For it is NOT the size of the gathering that determines its impact.  Heaven rejoices when just ONE is set free and among these little gatherings were hearts and stories of HOPE that just needed a little encouragement to RELEASE THEM; to be REMINDED of them!

That brings me back to Ruth. 

With tears in her eyes she came to me following the service wishing her FAMILY who in her mind were in a “hopeless” season, would have heard what GOD had to say through me.  I could see that Ruth was losing HER HOPE. 

That is when we paused, prayed and remembered…

Proverbs 23:18 (ESV)

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

I reminded Ruth that HER hope HADN’T been cut off. 

The stories I shared during my little talk were stories she could believe it, that she could share, that she could take back.  And perhaps it would be one of those stories that would resonate and change the tenor or the trajectory of those in her family who seemed so hopeless. Ruth just needed to HOPE again; to remember her FAITH!

“Where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith” – Brault

Ruth needed to be reminded that her HOPE that seemed to have been reduced to hopelessness could be re-ignited by HER FAITH in GOD!

Ruth needed to be reminded that GOD was bigger!

Ruth needed to be reminded that GOD specializes in the impossible.

Ruth needed to be reminded that her FAITH when applied could instill HOPE in the most HOPELESS of situations.

For:

Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:2 (ERV)

Friends, Ruth was reminded that SHARING GOD’S GLORY gives HOPE!  Ruth was reminded that the GRACE she experiences everyday had the POWER activate her FAITH to diffuse her feelings of hopelessness.

But my guess Ruth is not alone today.

Have current challenges caused you to question your HOPE; your FAITH?

Do you too need reminded!

Reminded of your stories of HOPE?

Reminded of the HOPE that is JESUS?

Well here you go... 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:2-3 (MSG)

Hope back now?

Have a blessed day!

Love you all…

Opportunities for Hope