More Thoughts or Food for Thought

We had a very busy weekend, but a very rewarding one. Saw more people than I can name at the moment, besides I really want to share my God thoughts with you not lists of names and places. It dawned on me that the greatest need for the survival of mankind is hope. I will elaborate on that thought more as we go along in this particular blog....Back to last week and my thoughts regarding Lot. In order to leave Sodom and Gomorrah Lot had to travel through the valley of Zoar...I realized in further contemplation that in order to get to the mountain top God has designed for us we must travel through the valleys of life...the valley floor is the richest soil, because so many give up and loose their way that their decaying carcasses become the fertilizer for future life. I do not want to become fertilizer I want to be the one who benefits from the fertilizer. Ezekiel was prophesying to the dead bones of Israelites who had lost their hope in God...they gave up on their dreams to be a united people with a land of their own...they let their past...slavery, disobedience and wars define who they were. It is important that God and HIS eternal hope define who we are; not circumstances....the key is to keep moving forward in faith. Faith is best contrasted by doubt. Faith only becomes faith when it overcomes doubt. Don't despair if you have found yourself doubting the promises of God....encourage yourself in the Lord and ask for an abundance of faith to overcome the obvious and reach for the miraculous. I believe Popa is still alive today because his faith rises above his doubt when the physical symptoms present themselves. He encourages himself in his God, he puts his hope in the fact that God says HIS mercies are new every morning. The Bible says in Hosea 2:15 I...will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. It was Achan sin that led to his stoning and the valley was named the valley of Achor or the valley of trouble. There is trouble on everyhand. The scripture even says don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough troubles of its own. The very thing that could destroy you can be turned by Almighty God in a door of hope. There is no one like our God. Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; HIS faithfulness continues through all generations. As parents and spiritual leaders we embrace the goodness of God and his everlasting love, we proclaim to those following us that the faithfulness of God will never end. There is hope in our God. I read Psalm 25 today and was blessed by the Psalmist cry that God remember him and vendicate his plight. No matter where you are today, cry out to God and ask HIM to be your hope and your strength; to give you HIS peace that passes all understanding. That literally means it defies the current circumstances. Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord,for HE is good, HIS love endures forever. Proverbs 23:18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. That is a promise from God, Hope brings strength to your bones. Psalms25:4&5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; gude me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. My prayer is that all day long we remember the author and finisher of our faith. HE who has begun a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. Teach me Lord, how to trust in you through every moment of every day. Blessing on you all...may God encourage you with HIS love today. NONA