Overflow~

Greetings!

Christmas has come and gone this year, but there is still one present I want to give you:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

I love that God wants us to have not just enough joy, peace or hope.  But rather, He wants us to OVERFLOW.  He desires for us to have a flood, a Niagara Falls deluge, and an over-the-top, exaggeration and surplus of joy, peace, and hope.

Now all you have to say is, “I RECEIVE IT!”

Until next year…

Attitude of Gratitude

Greetings,

Yesterday I tried logging into an old credit card account, and I was denied access.  I could not remember the password, and I had to reset the whole thing by answering questions - What's the name of your favorite elementary school teacher?  - and then waiting for them to email me a new one.

Passwords grant us access, and God has one too! No need to ever reset or wait for a message either.

"Enter with the password: 'Thank You!' Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him, Worship Him" (Psalm 100:4 The Message Version).

Gratitude grants us access to God, and this is a really big deal.  First because we need Him way more than He needs us. Second because this attitude of gratitude helps us shift our focus off what's wrong with our life to everything that's right with our life. It changes our complaining spirit into a joyful one.  It replaces pessimism with hope and sadness with gladness. The most important message in this verse is that it contains no ifs, ands, or buts.

Enter with gratitude, but only if you feel like it.

Make yourself at home, but only if you have no problems and everything is going perfectly in your life.

Thank Him, but only when you get your own way and no one is mistreating you.

We are to be thankful at all times no matter what, and if He says we can do it, then we can.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to be thankful. It is so important to honor You, and as always, we are blessed by doing things Your way.  Thanking You keeps us joyful and calm.  It magnifies You over everything we face.  Help us, Lord. In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

What Makes You Happy?

Romans 12:12 “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

Tuesday greetings~

What makes you happy?  I used to say that I was happiest when my chickies were in the nest.  My definition has broadened, however, because they both flew the coop.  What makes me happy now is when they visit, stay for dinner, turn off their electronic devices, make eye contact, and say stuff.

I am also happy when it’s me and Jorge and reruns of 1960s sitcoms to keep us company.  Plus, I am happy when I chat with a friend, have a cold glass of milk in front of me, am cuddling with a baby, or am holding the latest and greatest spy novel in my hands. Lately, petting my Hershey Pie is at the top of the list!

But what about when troubles come?  Can we be happy then?  Can we have joy when we do not feel well, or one of our kids is in trouble? When we are surrounded by problem after problem after problem?

The answer is yes.  It is possible to smile and laugh in the middle of all the madness, but only when we base our happiness on our hope in Christ.

If my happiness were based on my money, where would I be if I lost it all?

If my happiness were based on being young, I would have been in trouble a while back.

Let's face it: Babies grow up, relationships come and go, and perfect health does not last forever. 

But Jesus, well, He is a constant we can rely on! When we base our happiness on our hope in Christ, nothing - NOT ONE THING - can take it away.  We are all hoping for peace, health, perfect love, and the promise of Revelation 21:4 where "there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain."  And these are precisely the amazing blessings that will be ours soon enough. 

We still have to live this life to get to the eternal one, so God reminds us in the verses above that when things get tough, even unbearable, we can be happy by proactively making sure that our hope is in Christ; He is One who will turn everything we have hoped for into a reality.  In the meantime, maintaining the habit of prayer keeps our focus where it should be.

  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us so much hope.  No matter what is going on, help us to always keep our eyes on You and all the amazing blessings that are headed our way.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Functional Obsolescence

Someone recently purchased the house at the end of my block, tore it down, and is now constructing a GIANT house. The other day we drove by and Jorge commented, “That’s a perfect example of functional obsolescence.”  Well, being the curious person that I am, I immediately looked up the definition: Functional obsolescence in Real Estate pertains to a property not complying with recognized utility. In other words there are features that are not practical or desirable. (http://massrealestatenews.com/functional-obsolescence-in-real-estate/#sthash.g0lBt3dQ.dpuf).

All the features of this house are probably desirable except one: Location. It doesn’t really match the other houses in the neighborhood, and the asking price is outrageous.    

I don’t understand the reasons for whoever is taking that real estate gamble, but I do understand the term “functional obsolescence” a little better now, and I think that in spiritual terms, it perfectly describes the future of the hope we have in Christ.

The very real and life giving “feature” of hope is that we believe that everything the Bible teaches will actually happen.  And it’s not wishful thinking like “I hope the Dolphins win,” or “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” There’s no guarantee that we South Floridians will have a winning football team and/or a rain free day anytime soon.  The kind of hope we have is based on fact, or as someone once said, “Hope is a sure anchor of the soul.”

Soon enough everything we ever hoped for will be ours.  All suffering, tears, trials, and troubles will give way to being with our Lord in paradise. Once that happens we no longer need hope – it will be obsolete! And once we are enjoying ourselves nonstop with Jesus, what else could we possibly desire?  Amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for reminding us that some things will no longer be necessary in the future. Until that time arrives, we allow the hope we have, which is based on fact, to be an anchor for our soul – something that keeps us steady in the storms of life.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

My Husband is Pregnant!

Tuesday greetings, all you blessed and beautiful children of our Almighty God!

God blessed me with two lovely children who nonetheless, were responsible for months of agonizing morning sickness.  I also suffered from pytalism (excessive saliva production) during both pregnancies for all nine months, and I could not wait till it was over.  I apologize to the weak-stomached, but the pytalism was so bad that I had to sleep with my mouth open and just allow the saliva to trickle out on its own into a bucket because I just could not swallow.  Weird, but true! This literally went on the entire time those kiddos were in my belly. (Please note that literally, the minute I delivered Hormone and Rayray, it stopped and I felt great!)  And even though Jorge was so patient during both pregnancies, it highly annoyed me that he did not feel sick – ever – and that he could speak to other people without having to excuse himself to spit in a cup.  One time in church, the youth pastor, God bless him, actually asked me for my “special cup” during the bible lesson, and imagine my horror at having to deny him in front of everyone.  He playfully insisted a few times, and I playfully countered that I couldn’t do it. He was not able to make his point that day, and I was mortified at having to explain it to him later.  Wouldn’t it be great if Jorge could feel what I felt even for one moment?

Actually, MY HUSBAND IS PREGNANT!  That’s right! Jorge is pregnant!  But wait, it’s not what you think.  

Romans 8:22-25 “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy (The Message Version).”

Simply stated: Me, Jorge, you – the entire creation – are all pregnant with the very real hope that someday soon all the evils, troubles, injustices, problems, sin, sickness etc…will give way to a glorious existence with Christ!  It does not matter that the world is utterly crazy and chaotic right now.  We have a hope that does not diminish, but grows grows grows.

Another version of the Bible say, “The whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth…” What I like about these verses is that it reminds us that we are all in this together.  We understand each other.  We all get it.  We are all united in our understanding of how difficult life can be.  Jorge gets me, I get him, we get you, and you get us!

Some of us may be feeling the “pangs” a little more intensely lately; we are desperate to give birth already.  But as we labor, we must remind ourselves that what we are going to give birth to is worth the wait.  As bad as I felt being pregnant with Hormone, that did not stop me from getting pregnant with Rayray because the end result was a precious life. Yet spiritually speaking, what we will give birth to is something so much infinitely better that God reminds us in His Word that there are no human words capable of describing the magnificence and perfection of it all!

As we swell with anticipation, it is important to connect with our Father.  He will guide us along as we wait.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, It’s not easy being pregnant sometimes.  It hurts, yet we know that this is part of the process to finally having and seeing and experiencing all that we have ever hoped for and then some.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Then you will call...

Jeremiah 29:11 ““I know the plans that I have for you.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

What should be our reaction to knowing that God’s plan for our life is good?  I think it’s fine to jump for joy and share this news with others, but our immediate reaction should be what follows in verse 12: “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

When we come to the realization that everything He says is true, we will turn to Him in prayer because He listens.  We will call on Him because He answers.  We will go to Him because He and only He – not our car, or a statue, or a rock star – fulfills His plans for us. 

When we pray we are letting God know that we believe in Him, we believe He is the only One Who has the power to help – the only One Who has power period – we believe He has our best interests at heart, and that He’s the only One Who knows how to make everything work out for our good.

We pray so that God can share with us what He already knows: There is nothing He can’t do, and He wants to bless us and help us each and every day.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for having plans for us that are meant to encourage us to pray.  Some days we don’t feel hopeful or at peace, and it is at these moments that we need to redirect our focus on You.  We ask You to fulfill Your goodness in our lives.  We thank You for listening to us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Open Our Eyes~

Tuesday greetings~

I love taking road trips.  Jorge is a pleasant companion, the scenery is pretty, and when I sing-a-long to the radio, I sound fabulous.  My favorite place is anywhere where the leaves have turned colors in all their fall glory.  There is one stretch of highway between Tennessee and Georgia, however, that is so perilous I always close my eyes and move toward the center of the car.  I realize my body is fully protected inside the car, but that two-way road is so narrow that I feel as though we are going to hit either the oncoming traffic or the railing on the other side.  One part of this road goes through a winding tunnel, and there is no way to see what’s around the corner.  The first time we went through it, I pretty much screamed the entire way.  The next time and since then, Jorge always reminds me to close my eyes. 

I don’t like it when I can’t see what’s up ahead; it’s a scary feeling.  Life is kind of like that too.  None of us really knows what’s next, and sometimes that can leave us feeling anxious.

Even though we don’t know what’s next, we know Someone Who does.  And He says, “I know the plans that I have for you.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God’s plan is to give us peace and hope.  No need to close our eyes!  We can’t see everything that’s coming, but He can, and He desires to bless us with peace and hope.  To receive His plan we have to receive Him.  We get on board by letting Him know every day that we want His guidance, His protection, and His provision in our lives.  And even when everything in our life seems to be anything but peaceful or hopeful, we stretch our faith muscles and tell Him that His way is best because ultimately everything we have ever hoped for will come true.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We love Your plans for our life!  We want peace, we need hope, and none of us ever wants disaster.  Help us to trust You – especially when we go through hard times.  Rather than going through life with our eyes closed, open our eyes to see Your power and goodness all around us. Thank You for always having good things in store for us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~    

What Makes You Happy?

Romans 12:12 “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

Thursday greetings~

What makes you happy?  I have always said that I am happiest when all the chickies are in the nest.  My definition has broadened, however, because my two chickies flew the coop.  What makes me happy now is when they visit, and stay for dinner and conversation – when they actually turn off their electronic devices, make eye contact, and say stuff.

I am also happy when it’s me and Jorge and reruns of 1960s sitcoms to keep us company.  Plus, I am happy when I chat with a friend, have a cold glass of milk in front of me, am cuddling with a baby, or am holding the latest and greatest spy novel in my hands.

But what about when troubles come?  Can we be happy then?  Can we have joy when we do not feel well, or one of our kids is in trouble? When we are surrounded by problem after problem after problem?

The answer is yes.  It is possible to smile and laugh in the middle of all the madness.  This happens when we base our happiness on our hope in Christ.

What exactly are we hoping for?  Peace, health, a 100% problem-free existence, perfect love, and a time where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…(Revelation 21:4”

And these are precisely the things that Christ has done for us.  Yes, we still have to live this life to get to the eternal one.  But God reminds us in this verse that when things get tough, even unbearable, we can proactively be happy that because of Jesus, one day, every thing we have hoped for will become a reality.

There’s a reason God encourages us to base our happiness on the hope Christ offers: EVERYTHING ELSE IS TEMPORARY.

If my happiness were based on my money, where would I be if I lost it all?

If my happiness were based on being young, I would have been in trouble a while back.

Babies grow up, relationships come and go, and perfect health does not last forever. 

But Jesus, well, He is a constant we can rely on!

  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us so much hope.  No matter what is going on, help us to always keep our eyes on You and all the amazing blessings that are headed our way.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Actively Waiting~

Praise the Lord for sunny skies:)

And...

Praise reports continued!

(1) One of you received excellent news about your child's health.  Your email to me included the words, "I will keep praying."  I love that you aren't going to stop praying just because everything is peachy king for the moment.  In fact, praying when everything is going smoothly is, in and of itself, an exciting DEVO topic--look for it soon:)

(2) In yesterday's praise report section I talked about someone who had found an intruder in her breast etc...It was a praise report because she was determined to thank God no matter what.  Late yesterday she found out she has a benign cyst.  Praise His high and holy name.  She never thought she would say, "Thank You, Jesus, for my benign cyst!"  But she did, and she meant it.  Amen!

Several undercover pictures of what takes place in a doctor's office were taken while waiting for the results, and honestly, nowadays, these diagnostic centers look like day spas, which is nice.  But there's that word again--WAITING.

Isaiah 40:31 They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

The word "wait" as used in scripture is not a passive one.  It does not mean to sit around counting minutes while fretting and freaking out.  At it's root it means to look for, hope in, and pray to God all while actively expecting Him to intervene in your situation.  

Yesterday my friend sat down in a chair while waiting for the results of her exam.  But her soul was busy busy busy.  Several whispered prayers were offered to Jesus, and you can be certain that both she and I were looking for Divine intervention.  Wouldn't that be the point anyway?  Why pray if you don't expect an answer.

We may not always receive the exact answer we were expecting, but we are promised when we wait for the Lord, we will have all the strength we need.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We need to be strengthened today.  We need to soar carefree above our concerns close to You.  We have a lot to do and take You at Your word when You assure us that we can do what needs to be done without growing weary or fainting.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Suddenly~

TGIF Greetings:)

For the past few days we've looked at this verse and discovered that God has good plans, and we need to get on board with His plans by telling Him we trust Him. We also need to live life as though we truly believe that He makes everything beautiful at the right time.

I will be the first to admit that it is easy to live this way when His plans and ours align. When love is in the air and money is in the bank. When the kids are first in their class and working the afternoon shift to learn responsibility. When everyone is healthy, and everyone is getting along. When the flowers are in bloom and there's not a rain cloud on the horizon.

What about when something unexpected happens?

Matthew 8:24 "Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat..."

My sudden and furious storm happened on July 8, 1990. I got a phone call from my mom that she didn't feel well, and one week later we learned she had pancreatic cancer. She passed away May 24, 1991, and for a long long time I struggled with how it could possibly be part of God's plan to prosper my mom by letting her die of cancer. I could not understand how His promise of no harm fit in with her chemo treatments. How her future was cut short--too short by dying so young.

For a long long time I thought I would drown in the grief. On a daily basis I bombarded God with "why?" questions.

I did not get all the answers, but I did get a few.

Prosperity, as defined by our friends at dictionary.com means "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition."

The best place where we will all one day thrive and flourish is with Christ Himself in glory.

And, can any harm ever come to us again when we are in heaven? No! No chemo, no needles, no cancer, no pain.

Finally: If God's intention is to give us a hope and a future, is there anything better we could hope for then to spend our future in perfect peace, health, and happiness with Him?

God's timing was not mine--not by a long shot. But here is what He whispered in my heart after I questioned Him--even His very love for me. (I am ashamed to admit it.)

"Yenisita, every good Father calls His children home. Besides, You know what heaven is like. Would you really want me to send your mom back to earth?"

I can honestly answer no; I wouldn't want her to come back.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us feel Your presence now and when the sudden storms arise. Thank You that You can handle all our questions and that You have all the answers we will ever need. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Detours~

Greetings~

I finally straightened out all the mess with my name at the Social Security office and was able to get my Driver’s License. For once, I came out semi-decent in my picture, and for that I rejoice!

But wait—there’s even better news: RAYRAY IS ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I waited a long time to write this DEVO, and now that the day has arrived, I am doing so with uncontrollable joy in my heart, and I pray these words will be an amazing encouragement for all you praying people out there.

Where to begin?

We parents carry such a burden for our children, and sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes it is agonizing. Sometimes we wonder whether God is even listening. Sometimes we throw our hands up and give in to despair. But then it all comes together, and we have a better understanding of what God was up to.

Rayray graduated college in May of 2012. At that point she had already applied for Grad School and was waiting for the answer. All her little ducks were in a row—her grades were there, her extra curriculars were there, and please, her mother was praying hard.

And then we get the news that a clerical error was responsible for her not getting into the program. It was discovered too late and Rayray was told she would have to wait a year.

THE HORROR! This did not line up with Rayray’s plan for her life, and frankly, nor with my plan for her.

But at this point in my journey with Jesus, I know enough to know that I am not God. That’s right. I do not always know best, nor am I capable of making all decisions on my own. And I don’t have it all figured out—not even close.

So I looked at my baby square in her disappointed face and promised her that there was no reason to freak out. God was in control—not some putz in the admissions office.

At least Rayray had a job. A friend of a friend of mine mentioned something about a Charter School that was looking for a volleyball coach, and Rayray wound up being hired on the spot. All this was in September of 2012.

I remember Rayray trudging off to practice those first few days—not totally hating it but feeling like it was a royal waste of time when she would rather continue in her studies.

At one point she said to me, “Mother, I know God has a plan, but this detour stinks!”

And I said, “Rayray, sometimes the greatest gifts are found where you least expect them. Trust Him.”

And wouldn’t you know that during her very first game the referee at the game invited her to a meeting for club volleyball. He thought she would be a great coach during the off season. Rayray, who was looking to keep busy, went to the meeting and then came home slightly disappointed because there weren’t enough kids for her to have her own team. There was, however, a spot as an assistant with some guy coach.

That “some guy,” is now her fiancé, and we are all praising God!

More tomorrow J

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Activate Your plans to prosper us and give us the future we have hoped for—for ourselves and our children. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

No Greater Joy~

Today is Hormone’s birthday. I can not believe he is 26 YEARS OLD!!! I clearly remember a kind Jamaican nurse holding him up for me to see while they stitched me up from my C-section. That image is permanently engrained in my brain, and I am thankful for him. He is one of God’s greatest gifts in my life.

If we really like a gift that we’ve been given, we cherish it. And when we cherish that gift, we take really good care of it. Is there anything more valuable than a child? No matter what the age? As such I will share with you what I have shared with Hormone a million + times in the past: The greatest thing I can do to show you my love is to pray for you. And over the years I have had countless Jabez moments where I cried to God to bless him, to help him make wise decisions, to increase the number of good friends and decrease the miscreants, to protect him—especially while playing sports, to let no harm or danger come near him, physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, and to keep him from suffering.

Has Hormone had a perfect life? NOPE—not even close. But as his mom I have such a profound and abiding peace because I accept by faith that every single thing that has come his way has been filtered through the heart of a loving God Who allowed it for the ultimate goal of blessing my son.

Let’s read that again: Every single thing that has come his way has been filtered through the heart of a loving God Who allowed it for the ultimate goal of blessing my son.

This doesn’t mean we will understand why some things happen. This doesn’t mean we have all the answers. What it does mean is that prayer is a powerful, effective tool that brings the glory of heaven down here on earth. It moves the hand of God in our lives and the lives of our families. It brings with it peace, confidence, joy, and hope.

And I want you all to know—especially you, my precious son—that the words of 3 John 1:4 are the reason why I am always so happy: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We pray today for all of our children to walk in truth. When they fully understand Your love for them and Your desire to see them make wise choices, they will make the best choices and live a beautiful life in the process. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Acres of Hope~

Good morning :)

 

Before we proceed with the topic of relationships, let's take a closer look at what God desires to do for each and everyone of who has ever been hurt, or is currently struggling in a relationship, or is feeling like a happy and healthy relationship is never going to happen.

 

There is one IN-YOUR-FACE verse that I trust will rev our engines.

 

Hosea 2:15..."I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope."

 

Have you ever taken a trip down Heartbreak Valley? Have you ever been mistreated? Have you ever been made to feel less than? Have you ever wondered if and when you will enjoy a mutually satisfying, mutually respectful, mutually faithful, and mutually loving relationship?

 

The entire book of Hosea has to do with God patiently courting us as we have done most or all of the above to Him. We have ignored Him, blamed Him when things go wrong, only gone to Him when there's a crisis, and yes, even looked for satisfaction in temporal things when only He can give peace that runs like a river.

 

The good news is that He completely and thoroughly understands relationships--inside and out. It was all His idea in the first place. Which is why Hosea is such a powerful love story. The same God Who pursues us and understands what it takes to have an amazing relationship--Who knows our weaknesses and tendencies--is the same one Who desires to apply these principles and power for our human relationships as well.

 

He knows that Heartbreak Valley exists--that it's a well-traveled destination filled with regrets, guilt, and sorrow. But Heartbreak Valley turns into Acres of Hope when we turn to Him. Acres with an "s", instead of a singular depressing valley. AMEN! It begins with prayer, as you all faith-filled creatures know, but let us not underscore the importance of Biblical principles. God has a way of doing things that will take you straight out of that valley into your hope-filled acreage. His way works.

 

We've already looked at how a young man must act and speak in a way that touches a woman's heart, and how he must protect her reputation. We have also seen the wisdom behind women who affirm, not nag, their men. And there is more to come. But let's conclude today's DEVO with a special prayer--especially for our young, unmarried children. There is so much misinformation out there. Let's be a line of defense between them and all that junk by (1) praying for them, (2) learning God's relationship principles, and (3) setting the right example by following these principles ourselves.

 

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You know best when it comes to our love lives. We all have young people in our lives that we love, and we have so many concerns because we want them to avoid the harsh consequences that can come when we do not choose wisely. Make our children receptive to doing things Your way, and give us the wisdom and patience we need to properly instruct them. And for those of us who are desperate for a change, we are asking You today to do Your thing. You are the One Who turns heartbreak into hope. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Focus on the "Who"~

Ephesians 1:18-21


I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you...

This morning I attended the burial of my Great Aunt, Irene. She would have been 91 years old this Friday and was surrounded by her family as she crossed from this temporary difficult life into eternity--where the real fun begins! Here's a little shout out to Irene because in 1995, at the apex of grief as her daughter was dying of lung cancer, she and her daughter both said a little, "Forgive us of our sins and remember us," prayer to Jesus. The reunion she is enjoying with her daughter and Jesus as we speak is so very very real to me that it penetrates all the way to my bones and puts everything else in perspective. Amen!

Going back to the verse, we know we need to have an eye-opening understanding of God. I can tell you that as Irene was day in/ day out by her daughter's side, the one thing she asked me over and again was how God could allow for a 44 year old non-smoker to get lung cancer?

And surprise, what could I possibly answer given that my fit-as-a-fiddle 47 year old mom died of cancer a couple of years earlier?

I can tell you right now that there is no way we are going to have all the answers this side of heaven. And I have often wondered if there is an answer that would have somehow satisfied me and made it all better. Besides, God does not call us to know why; He calls us to hope.

H-O-P-E!!!

What a glorious word. Purpose right now in your heart that you will never let disappointment stand in the way of hope. Can the two exist together? Read Lamentations chapter 3. You might be shocked at how angry Jeremiah was at God.

The first 20 verses say things like, "God has broken my bones," "God has made me walk in darkness," God has turned against me," "When I call out for help He shuts out my prayer," " Like a lion in hiding, He dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help...."

Those are strong words. Portraying God as an animal just waiting to pounce and ruin our lives is a serious accusation. But midway through the chapter starting at verse 21, after Jeremiah had thoroughly vented, he says, "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope..."

What is the "this?"

• His compassions never fail.They are new every morning.
• The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.
• For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.
• He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.
• You came near when I called You, and you said, “Do not fear.”
• You, Lord, took up my case; You redeemed my life.

So as we start to scratch the surface of what is the hope God is talking about let's keep two things in mind:

(1) You can be brutally honest with God about every single thing that has gone wrong with your life and even tell Him that He has, "trampled you in the dust," and He won't strike you dead.

AND

(2) When we set out to understand, even if it's by complaining to God, He will accept your honesty and eventually take you to your own verse 21.

It's a mystery, but it's a reality.

Irene's need to understand "why" took a back seat to her greatest need to understand "Who." Her questions gave way to the only thing that really matters--an assurance that Heaven is for real and that her baby girl would be there waiting.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that no matter what heartache, loss, disappointment, pain, or grief we experience, Your compassions never fail. Open the eyes of our heart until we all have a clear understanding of the hope that You have called us to. In Jesus' name, AMEN~