Remedying by Reminding

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"In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all this according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory."  (Eph. 1:11-12, ESV)

Hello and happy Tuesday, friends!

As we continue in our search for meaning and purpose in our quarantine, there are just a couple of things (well, actually just one thing) that I'd like to help us all call to mind.  This may seem repetitive, but I think you'll find that there is significance and importance in repetition - especially in God's Word, the Bible.  

Why do you think that is?

I can only imagine just how patient and kind the Lord is as He waits for us daily to call on Him.  I can only imagine just how compassionately He bids us to Himself, drawing us into the comfort by which only He is able to comfort.
Because COVID 19 continues to sweep the nation, permeating even our more rural landscapes, we can't help but think about it:  each time we step outside; each time we re-enter our occupational arena, potentially for the last time; every time we schedule a Zoom date with a friend, colleagues, classroom; each time we plan a trip to the store or bank; all postings on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter; every print out of lessons for children being educated in the home; all the commands to "wash your hands;" every sneeze, cough, and visit to the toilet...
The list is truly endless.  We are inundated in a way that our country has never known.

As often as we are reminded of the hazard that claims the mind of all, the fear of many, the health of some, and the lives of others, it is to our peace of heart and mind that we CONTINUE to remind ourselves of the Gospel. 
First and foremost (which is the most significant in our daily battles with fear and anxiety) is the deity of Christ.
Christ our God and Savior. (Titus 2:13)

Christ our King. (John 12:15)

Christ our Victor. (1 Cor. 15:57)

Christ our Hope of glory. (Col. 1:27)

Christ our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Refuge, Shield, Horn of Salvation, & Stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

He is ALL of these, and so much more, and ALL of scripture points to this One who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Rev. 22:13)
He's the point of the Bible, the Word become flesh.  (John 1:14)
He's the Founder and Creator of ALL things for Him, and through Him ALL things exist. (Col. 1:16)

Let's dive into scripture where we will find not only the stunning, awe-inspiring, royal and powerful attributes of Jesus Christ, but also give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to minister to our souls in this very time.  He IS the Helper, after all.  He IS the gift that we are given as a seal of who we are - the mark that we belong to the family of God.  He IS the teacher that renews our minds, changes our hearts, and calms our souls. 

What are we truly waiting for? 
The virus spreads far and wide, but the love of God is wider, longer, higher and deeper! (Eph. 3:18)

What are we truly waiting for?

With every reminder of our mortality, there is power of remembering the hope of our eternity! (2 Cor. 4:17)

What are we truly waiting for?

Life changes by the minute, but our God is an everlasting God, with whom there is no shadow of change! (James 1:17)

Deeds! Too many Bible verses!
GOOD!  

Go read them; go highlight them; go share them with another; go write them on the doorposts and mantles of your homes (or on an index card, a post-it note, or chalkboard in plain sight)!
Our hope for peace, life, and joy lies in these verses. 
Anxiety, fear, confusion and worry can be countered with the focus on the Gospel - the determined meditation and deliberate rehearsal of God, who He is, what He has done and what He will do.  

It is your life. (Col. 3:4)

"For God SO LOVED THE WORLD that He GAVE His ONLY SON, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE."  John 3:16

Gospel truth is important for ANY day, let alone throughout the outbreak of something our medical and scientific fields are still clamoring to understand.

As the "wildfire" of COVID 19 consumes our world, remember the God who (according to the Biblical narrative) remains the Fire that has never gone out, never goes away and never gives up.

Fight fear with fire!

Fight panic with praise!

Fight confusion with truth!

Fight worry with the Word!

Fight!

And remedy your shaken soul with rock-solid reminders of our good, good Father.

Faithful, holy Father,

We are a people of amnesia - we forget.  We forget and need the constant reminder in Your Word of who You are and just how needless our fear truly is.  Lord, as we battle daily, fighting for the understanding of our present state and the peace of our troubled hearts, help us!  Help us!  Remind us!  Let us come to You and remember!  Let us fall on You and be at peace.  Let us call on You and find joy!  Let us lift our hands to You and worship!
For You are our God!

In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.  And, amen.

So much more love than you know,

Deeds

**Entire Early Bird special (that goes until 4/9) is here!  Enjoy and God bless!

With Love Alpha

Your Story

Grow Hope

Winter is a tough season for many people.  The shorter, colder days (and in some places, lots of snow) keep us from getting out anymore than necessary.  Thankfully, signs of spring are starting to pop up in many areas.  One of the earliest signs that winter is losing it's cold grip are daffodils pushing their cheerful yellow heads out of the frosty ground.  It seems this year, they are emerging earlier than usual in my area, but none to soon for my warm weather loving heart.  They were the inspiration for my page today.  

As one of the first flowers of spring, daffodils symbolize rebirth and new beginnings.  Daffodils are often given on 10 year wedding anniversaries to mean joy, cheerfulness, and happiness.  They represent hope for a cure for cancer for the American Cancer Society and are the March birth flower.  

As the daffodils grow and bloom, we have hope that the winter is coming to an end and spring is coming.

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

Friends, we should have hope for a far greater reason than the end of winter, however.  We have hope for eternal life in Heaven!  If we believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins and rose again after 3 days, we are promised a place in Heaven.  He sits at the right hand of God, covering us with His grace.  What greater hope is there?!?

If you are without hope today, pray for God to fill you up with His overflowing peace, love and joy.  Grow the hope your soul longs for by watering it with the Word of God.  Trust that He is the fountain of hope that never runs dry.  Give your fears and worries over to the one who can wash way every burden and sin.   

Page Details:

To create this page, I traced an outline image of some daffodils from a free download.  I added some line detail to the image with a micron pen and colored in loosely using Inktense blocks.  I splattered some paint on the page and used the script stamp from Texture Tiles 1 in the background.  I stamped my title using the Loop da Loop Alpha and added a dragonfly using the Dragonfly Dreams set.  I finished it off with some washi tape, a bow clip and my date stamp.

Until next time friends, you can catch up with me on Instagram @simplyjillsjourney. 

Praying you are abounding in joy & peace,

Jill

Source of Hope

Who needs a bit of encouragement from time to time? I know I do. We live in such a busy, crazy time, with life spinning all around us. Sometimes, when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at circumstances, things can get hopeless.

Several years ago, Chuck Swindoll said “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” Isn’t that true with hope as well? We can’t control all that is going on, but we can choose our responses. If we choose to trust in Him, the Bible tells us in Romans that we will “overflow with confident hope.”

All too often, we want to react to the situation instead of choosing to respond with what we know to do. Paul goes on to say in Romans chapter fifteen, that we already “know these things so well” and that we “can teach teach each other all about them.”

So, why if we know these things do we not do them? For me, it’s because I sometimes forget from who...and from where hope comes. Hope doesn’t come from the world around me, it comes directly from my Father...”the source of hope.”

Perhaps today, you or someone you know, might need this reminder as well.



“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Art behind the story:

As I pondered this passage, I couldn’t think of a more joy filled representation of hope than a pot of spring flowers. We plant bulbs in the fall with the hope of blossoms in the spring!

I used Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Spring Blossoms and stamped the tulips and daffodils on patterned card stock. I drew leaves and the flower pot on coordinating card stock. Then, the fun part...fussy cutting all the pieces and then designing the arrangement as I pondered this passage! Next, I stamped the word hope from the Choose Faith set. Lastly, I hand lettered the rest of the sentiment.