hope « Grace Fox

Posts Tagged ‘hope’

Perspective on Pain

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Before launching into today’s devotional, I have a very special announcement! Stonecroft Ministries Canada asked me to write a study guide to accompany Moving From Fear to Freedom and to produce a 7-part teaching DVD. The study guide is in the publishing process now, and the DVD will be recorded live this fall. Would you like to be a part of the audience?

Date: Every Thursday from September 30-November 11

Time: 7-8 P.M.

Place: House of James bookstore, Abbotsford, BC

Cost: Only $20. This includes the 7 sessions plus workbook.

Program: I’ll teach about a specific aspect of fear for 15-20 minutes each session. Then participants will break into small groups for discussion, using the study guide. We’ll share from our personal lives and examine God’s Word to learn how to overcome the fears that often hinder us from embracing life as fully as God intends. This is an evangelistic outreach, so bring your friends and introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Registration: Follow these directions.

Space is limited to 40. I hope to see you there!

Now, for today’s devotional thought….

One of my Power for Living interviews was with a gal named Jan Turner. Amazing woman. Years ago she contracted pneumococcal pneumonia. Her body struggled to survive by shutting down blood flow to her extremities. Gangrene set in, and she had to undergo a quadruple amputation.

A single mom with two adopted sons, Jan determined not to let discouragement override her. She applied herself to the rigors of physical therapy and learned how to walk with prosthetics. Using metal hooks that replaced her hands, she learned how to do all the usual things able-bodied people take for granted – things like combing her hair, brushing her teeth, driving and cooking. She returned to school and obtained a second degree in Communications, and she became an ordained pastor.

I listened in awe as Jan told me her story, and then I asked her how she maintained such a positive outlook in the midst of pain. She quoted 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “…Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

“It’s all in one’s perspective,” said Jan. She explained that when troubles come, we’re all faced with a choice regarding where we fix our gaze. Will it be on the pain or on God’s promises?

Focusing on God’s promises might sound trite to someone dealing with extreme difficulties, but in reality, what else can we do when there’s no easy answer and hope seems distant at best? Fixing her gaze on the Truth of God’s Word worked for Jan – her life proves it. It’ll work for the rest of us, too.

What particular promise from God’s Word has sustained you and given you a proper perspective in the midst of pain?

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Tags: amputation, hope, Jan Turner, Moving From Fear to Freedom, pain, Power for Living, prosthetics
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The Hike

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

On the sixth day of camp, everyone left the hotel for a day trip to one of three optional destinations. Ours involved hiking to a castle perched on a mountain. We’d done the same hike last year and told everyone, “It’s an easy walk – mostly flat until the last part immediately before entering the castle. That’s the only steep section.”

Ha! Those were our famous last words. We knew a surprise was headed our way when our bus driver pulled over and stopped in an unfamiliar place. “The old parking lot is no longer there,” he announced in Polish. “You must begin your hike here.”

Flexibility is a key word we stress when training our short-term volunteers. And it’s a word we have to put into practice every day on a ministry trip like this. And so we practiced flexibility….all the way up a rocky, very steep mountain road. I didn’t time the hike, but I’m sure that we panted and puffed for more than an hour. Each time someone lagged, I asked if they’d like to turn back or wait by the roadside for the others’ return – and I graciously said that I’d turn back or wait with them. Unfortunately, no one accepted my offer. And so I plodded on.

The view at the top made the trek worthwhile. Fields and mountains stretched for miles, dotted by red tile roofs. My eyes lingered on the beauty before me, and my imagination pondered the heart-wrenching history of Poland and its amazing people. I felt an overwhelming love for our campers who live in poverty and pain as a result of circumstances beyond their control, and I thanked God for the opportunity to bring hope and healing through the message of Jesus Christ.

Campers and staff still happy after the hike

Castle-top view

The hike provided a great opportunity to build closer bonds with these precious campers. We walked together, we shared snacks, and we swapped stories about life. Then the clouds rolled in and we broke a speed record heading downhill in the pouring rain.

Besides good exercise and bond-building, the hike also provided me with a touching visual image: A young man, about 20 years old, holding the hands of his younger brother, 11, and sister, 9, as they navigated the rocky road in the pouring rain. They’d lost their mom to cancer only two months prior. Their dad had since suffered a stroke. It took a lot of courage for this family to come to camp and be immersed in a setting so unfamiliar, and the older brother’s care and tenderness towards his siblings warmed my heart. It’s not often you see affection between siblings demonstrated like this. It’s an image I want to keep forever.

I’ll write a bit more about the trip on Friday’s blog and then switch back to devotionals. Blessings on you today, my friend.

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Tags: castle, flexibility, hike, hope, Poland
Posted in Devotionals, Travels | No Comments »

No Reason to Fear

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Watching the evening news can be a scary thing sometimes. We hear reports about the economy rising and falling, stories about children being abducted and assaulted or killed, roadside bombs blowing up soldiers, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Now we’re seeing an oil spill slither towards the southern U.S. coastline and endangering its wildlife habitat.

Some people grow calloused toward the news because it feels far removed from their little safety bubble. Some refuse to watch because they find it depressing. Some listen to the reports and their hearts grow faint from fear. They lock themselves in their houses, afraid to go outside lest the sky fall. Others don’t watch because they’re too busy or they’re dealing with painful personal situations that demand their time and energy.

Global and local news can strike fear and uncertainty into our hearts. So can personal situations. But in the midst of the fearful stuff of life, we can have hope and courage when we remember Jesus’ words to His disciples when He appeared to them after He rose from the grave.

“’Why are you frightened?’ he asked. ‘Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me’” (Luke 24:38).

Beautiful.

Jesus knows the fears we face, and He knows the secret to dealing with them. “Look at my hands,” He says. “Look at my feet. Don’t look at the storm blowing about you. Don’t look at the waves. Don’t look at the overwhelming circumstances…look at Me.

“Why are you afraid? Do you see the nailprints in My hands and feet? They’re proof that I love you. They’re proof that I value you. I’ve invested My life in you – I will never leave you or forsake you.”

When fearful situations face us whether on a global or personal scale, let’s focus our eyes on the Savior. Let’s remember the nailprints in His hands and feet. And let’s draw courage in knowing that they’re proof of His unfailing love for us.

Where do you place your focus when you feel afraid?

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Tags: afraid, fear, hope, natural disasters, oil spill
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Problems and Memory Loss

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Sticky notes and scraps with scribbles say it all: age = forgetfulness….at least for me. If I don’t write down reminders, I’ll surely miss an appointment or fail to fulfill a commitment. From personal experience, however, I suspect that forgetfulness happens for other reasons, too.

Consider problems, for instance. It’s interesting to see how one’s memory of God’s promises often fails when life deals a tough blow. Stress and fear sabotage our minds, and our ability to recall His words takes flight.

Perhaps this is what happened to several women in Luke 24:1-9. They’d gone to Jesus’ tomb early in the morning to anoint his body with burial spices. Imagine their grief after witnessing His crucifixion. With the scene still fresh in their minds, they may have been hanging onto hope by a thread and fearing an unknown future without the Messiah. But the angelic visitors at the tomb helped them refocus with these wise words: “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day” (vv.6,7).

The women did what the angels said and immediately their hope was restored. Scripture says, “Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples – and everyone else – what had happened” (v. 8,9).

When problems or obstacles face us, we need to heed the same advice – remember Jesus’ words spoken to us. Matthew 28:20 is a good example – “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Our problems look much less intimidating in light of His promises, and we find encouragement, confidence, and peace.

When you think of Jesus’ words, which ones have been especially meaningful to you during difficult times?

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Tags: fearing an unknown future, hope, Luke 24, memory loss, peace
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Amazing Encounters and Encouragement

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

I came to Urbana ’09 to represent International Messengers and to answer questions/encourage students who are exploring options for their future. During Monday morning’s worship service, however, I heard the leader say, “God has brought you here for a reason. What does He want to tell you or show you?” Hey – that’s right, I thought. I’m here to do my job as a mission co-director, but that’s not the only reason. God has something for me, too. What message does He want to give me?

Later that day, a woman named Beth stopped by our booth to speak with me. Her daughter had read Moving From Fear to Freedom, found it very helpful, and started following this blog. When she’d read about my trip to Urbana, she asked Beth to meet me here and to tell me that the book had helped her work through fear issues in her life. Wow – what an encouragement to me as an author and blogger. As we spoke, Beth called her daughter on her cell phone and then handed the phone to me. Another wow – what a treat to speak with this young woman whose life has been impacted by the words I’ve written in solitude.

While I love writing, I don’t find it an easy task. Penning a worthwhile article or book or even a blog takes much time and energy. It requires a willingness to be transparent and to risk rejection by readers who may not agree with what flows from my heart. It requires saying no to other activities that would be a whole lot easier. But I know that my mission is to write the message God puts within my heart, to communicate hope to those who are discouraged, truth to those who are choosing the wrong path, and light to those who have lost their way. I don’t know who my readers are, and I don’t know their deepest needs, but God does. It’s my job to obey – to write – and it’s His job to put my words into the hands of those who need to read them.

What message has God given me at Urbana ’09 (so far)? To continue writing, even though I cannot track the results. He’s using my skill to bring glory to Himself and I’m forever grateful.

What skill(s) has He given you? How can you use them for His glory?

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Tags: hope, International Messengers, Moving From Fear to Freedom, rejection, Urbana, writing
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Rise Again!

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

To say these folks felt bone weary is an understatement. The Israelites were more than just overtired and exhausted. They were dead…’way dead, and the valley filled with old, dry bones proved it. Life was gone and with it, all hope. But everything changed when the Spirit of the Lord showed up. Ezekiel 37:10 says, “They all came to life and stood up on their feet – a great army of them.”

What an amazing scene that must have been. And what an amazing message it carries! If you’re struggling in a difficult situation today and you feel as though all hope is gone…this message is for you, my friend. Read God’s words to you:

“O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

These three verses are packed with promises:

God will open our graves and cause us to rise again! Even when all hope is gone, He wants to breathe life into our battle-weary souls and set us on our feet. Nothing, not even death, can defeat Him or His purposes.
God will bring us back to the land of Israel. In this context, it means He’ll fulfill His grand purpose for our lives.
God will put His Spirit in us. That happens when we enter a relationship with Jesus Christ and trust Him for our salvation. His Spirit living in us means His presence is with us 24/7. We’re never alone – how reassuring is that?
God will reveal Himself to us. Seemingly impossible situations are opportunities for Him to work mightily on our behalf, and when He does, we get to know Him more intimately. We understand that He truly is God.

Do you feel like you’re living in the Valley of Dry Bones? Hang in there, my friend! God has no intention of leaving you there. He will cause you to rise again and will fulfill His purposes for your life. He will put His Spirit within you, and you’ll get to know Him more intimately. He said it…and I believe it’s true. Do you?

Have you ever felt as though you were in the Valley of Dry Bones? If so, did you see the above promises fulfilled in your life? How?

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Tags: Ezekiel, hope, know God, Valley of Dry Bones
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Three Promises

Monday, September 14th, 2009

God’s Word is filled with amazing promises He’s made to those who follow Him. Psalm 57 contains three of them:

* God will fulfill His purpose for us (v. 2). Whatever His specific purpose for our lives is, He takes responsibility for ensuring that it happens. We only need to say yes to whatever He asks, and He looks after the rest.

I’ve seen this happen over and over again, especially when my husband and I sensed Him asking us to launch International Messengers. For us, that meant moving to a new location, finding suitable housing within our price range, building our support team to help cover additional living and ministry costs, and starting a new ministry in Canada from the ground level. We saw Him keep His promise to fulfill His purpose for us as each detail fell into place. We only needed to say yes.

* He will send help from heaven to save us (v. 3). When we call on His name, He answers. It’s fun to recall various ways in which He does that. On one occasion for me, it came in the form of a little man in a Polish train station who appeared out of nowhere not once but twice, and helped me with heavy suitcases. And a train conductor who appeared suddenly and motioned for us to follow him to a different train car. He was politely persistent, so we did as he said even though we couldn’t understand a word he said. Seconds after we’d resettled in a different car, the train stopped, disconnected, and then headed in two different directions. If we’d stayed on the first car, we would have ended up in who-knows-where.

* He will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness (v. 3). Without God’s love and faithfulness, we’d be unforgiven sinners without a shred of hope for now or eternity. How’s that for bleak? Thankfully that’s not our situation. We have every reason for hope, joy, and peace because of this promise.

These promises are true for you today, if you’re walking in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. How have you seen them fulfilled in your own life?

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Tags: God's purpose, help from heaven, hope, Polish, Psalm 57
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A Song in Your Heart

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

King David wrote, “I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me” (Psalm 13:6). We could look at his life and say, “Yeah, I’d sing, too, if I was royalty and as wealthy as he was.”

Before we’re too unsympathetic, let’s step inside his head for a moment and see how he really felt sometimes: “O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die” (vv.1-3).

David may have been a king, but he endured a lot of difficulties and sometimes felt as though God had abandoned him. In the midst of his trials, however, he kept his perspective right: “But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me” (v. 5). His heart, burdened with troubles, could sing because he looked beyond the tough stuff and focused on God’s goodness in his life.

Can we do the same? Can we sing to the Lord when our teenagers make lousy choices that carry far-reaching consequences? Can we sing when tragedy strikes? Can we sing when our finances take a nosedive, or when our dreams and hopes disintegrate?

The very thought of singing to the Lord in the midst of trials sounds ludicrous. As difficult as it may seem, however, it is possible. Even when we don’t understand or appreciate the direction our lives take, we can trust in God’s unfailing love and rejoice because He has promised to rescue us. We can sing because His goodness never fails. We can sing because He’s able to work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We can sing because His purposes are eternal, and because His presence is always with us.

Next time you feel like God has forgotten you, make a list of the things about which you can sing. Then do it. Read that list aloud to God and thank Him for His goodness. Guaranteed – your heart will be filled with joy and hope, and others around you will be blessed.

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Tags: hope, King David, Psalm 13, sing
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Watch our Words!

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Luke 6:45 says, “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Ouch! This fits in well with yesterday’s travel blog. I admitted feeling stressed to the max when trying to make our connection and spilling the words to my husband in a not-so-respectful way: “Just get on the stinkin’ train!”

You may be wondering whether or not I considered praying about making that connection. I did pray, but for whatever reason, I thought worry might help our situation. My heart was filled with stress and fear, and my words reflected it.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Ever allowed your thought life to run amuck with critical thoughts about someone, with unthankful thoughts about your lot in life, with fearful thoughts about your future, your finances, your spouse or kids? Ever allowed those thoughts to influence your tongue?

Our words are to bring encouragement to others, to build up, to bring hope. In order for that to happen, our hearts must be filled with thoughts that naturally breed such words. The finger’s pointing at me for starters!

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Tags: encouragement, heart, hope, stress, tongue, words
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GraceFox

Posts Tagged ‘hope’

Perspective on Pain

The Hike

No Reason to Fear

Problems and Memory Loss

Amazing Encounters and Encouragement

Rise Again!

Three Promises

A Song in Your Heart

Watch our Words!

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