Tag Archives: hope

What Is Hope?

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - What Is Hope?

Hope is a desire for something better and having reason to expect that it will be attained.

I’m still camped out at Hebrews 11:1,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

My “hope” is for the kingdom that results from Jesus being King.

My “faith” is the evidence because of the observable effect of His government in my life.

A test of my faith is that His Kingdom should be evident in my life.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but perfect is the goal and it should be more perfect, year by year.

In my marriage, in my family, in my dealings with my neighbors, in my work, it should be evident that His Kingdom has come. It is “the substance of things hoped for”.

So, my “hope” is for a world where He rules, and the abundant life, love, peace, joy, justice and the glorious harmony that results from that.

I hope because I’ve had a piece of that.

I can’t go back.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
— Hebrews 11:13-16

#hope #heartwords #heartdictionary

“When You Return To Me” – My Night Song

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - "When You Return To Me" - My Night Song

“When You Return To Me” – My Night Song

Some of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture are

“When you return to Me” from Luke 22:32

It demonstrates that when Jesus is keeping me, when He is my hope, no matter how miserably I fail, no matter how much I fall short,

The Son’s position toward me is fixed and He does not move -like the Sun.

His rays will prosper in the things for which He sent them.

His purposes are being achieved.

I am greatly comforted by the sheer mass of His inexhaustible love, faithfulness and grace but I am also challenged by it.

I dare not abuse this grace to do as I please, “as a cloak for vice”.

I, rather, have incentive to return to Him.

Because just as He is certain, so is His victory and glory.

The only question is, how much of it will I get to partake in and enjoy?

So, whenever I fall, as I often do, by His grace I remember where the Son is.

I put away the death of darkness and turn again to the Light to receive Life to do the very thing I was created for

“to strengthen my brethren.”

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Luke 22:32

Repentance Is Lifting Your Eyes To Love

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Repentance Is Lifting Your Eyes To Love

Hating yourself can feel like the proper punishment for the wrong you’ve done, the people you hurt and not being who you think you ought to be, but it’s not the way.

It only causes more harm.

The only helpful response to error and harm is repentance:

1. Awareness of God’s standard (Love),

2. Agree that I fall short of God’s standard,

3. Apologize for the offense to God and the injured caused by missing God’s standard,

4. Acknowledge my need for God’s help to meet the standard,

5. Ask God for His help meet to the standard,

6. Accept God’s help — His manifold grace through the instruction, wisdom, guidance and strength He supplies to atone with others and to align you to His standard so that you approach the matter appropriately moving forward.

7. Appreciate the forgiveness Jesus bought with His blood and the amazing power He offers, the same power that raised Him from the dead He makes available to you to give you new life now, with a new sprit –new and healthy desires, a new disposition and a new outlook.

Self hatred and self loathing is just more selfishness and a twisted attempt at self-righteousness which achieves nothing: no reconciliation, no healing, no improvement, just more anger, bitterness and regret.

When we continually abuse ourselves rather than accept the forgiveness Christ affords us, though we think we abase ourselves, it is an egregious act of pride.

When we reject His grace, we put ourselves above God, we take His seat as judge and instruct Him on how He should have handled our case. We mock God’s perfect solution for justice, we belittle the sacrifice of Christ and assert that His blood isn’t good enough!

Instead, humble yourself. Repent. Turn your attention from self to the Savior. Lift your eyes to Jesus Christ and find all the help you need to meet the standard to be better, to do better, to reconcile, to heal, to be transformed –to love that does no harm.

Repentance is lifting your eyes to Love.

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.7.10.NKJV