hope | Revelations From The Road

There Is Hope

June 28, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 26, 2015

There are times in our lives when things are not going well and we can’t see how we’ll ever get through it. The situation seems hopeless. I know there are some of you who are in a situation like this right now. Today let’s look at five things to remember at times like these.

1. God is with you. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” (Psalm 23:4). “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). You are not alone, God is there, talk to Him.
2. God cares about you. “The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; Lord, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The Lord is mine, so I hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). If you feel like no one cares about you, God does! Talk to Him.
3. God knows your situation. ”Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take?” (Job 31:4). “Every hair on your head has been counted” (Luke 12:7). Also, that “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 12:1, who made it through some terrible things, is cheering you on. Ask God what you should do.
4. God has power that you don’t have. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.“. (Romans 4:18). Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18). Abraham was 100 years old and God told him he was going to have many offspring? Was that hopeless? Turn your situation over to God and let Him handle it.
5. God has promised to help you. “I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). “My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81). Seek out God’s promise for your situation and trust Him. “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18).

There is hope in your situation, let God handle it.

The Light

November 6, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 16, 2008

While visiting son #3 in Shenzhen, China, I was lounging on his couch after a long day of sight-seeing and great Chinese food. Just before falling into snooze land, I was thinking about my retirement job in workforce development and the students we have working to obtain their G.E.D.

I saw a G.E.D. guy standing at the mouth of a dark tunnel. Maybe he could see a small light at the other end but it was a long way off. Where he stands is the beginning. As he begins his journey toward the light, he may lose sight of the it momentarily and may be encouraged to turn back. It reminded me that when we lose sight of the light, that’s when we need to depend on God and keep going. The enemy will do all he can to make you turn back. Don’t do it!

David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Psalm 23:4“. The key here is to keep walking. In order for there to be a shadow, there must be a light. “For thou art with me.” The light of the world is with you. Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, keep your eyes on the light and when the shadows creep in, go on auto-pilot and depend on God to lead you. You’ll make it to the end and realize the full power of…the Light!

The Big Picture

October 19, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 13, 2008

This is the first post from a trip my wife and I took to Senzhen, China to visit our third son who lives and works there. Flying out of Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson airport, as were climbing to cruising altitude, I noticed the beautiful mountains and land of East Tennessee below. You could see a lot! It made me realize how much I could see compared to someone on the ground. From my perspective, I could see so much more than a guy standing at the base of one of those mountains. If it was cloudy over his head, I could see that the clouds broke jus a few miles away. I could say, “Wait awhile, it’ll clear up soon.” He may be dejected that he was under a cloud of despair. It was my location and perspective that made the difference.

We, as humans, down low on the earth, are very limited as to what we can actually see. We have to trust and rely on someone who is much higher than we are who sees the big picture. That’s God. He sees it all and, if we trust Him to guide us, we will make it through. Even though what we see may look impossible, God sees it from a higher perspective and knows what we should do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.“We must not “lean on our own understanding” but trust the all-seeing God to guide us.

God has told us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9“.

Trust Him, He sees it all.

I Will Heal Their Land

September 24, 2008 by Bill 1 Comment

Given September 20, 2008

“…I will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Does our land need healing? Can politicians and the government heal our land? Is the economy, the war, or health care really the issues? Who is responsible for this mess and who is responsible for cleaning it up? Does God want it cleaned up?

You may have heard of an “If-Then” statement. It says that IF a certain condition happens or is present THEN an expected outcome will occur. The THEN depends on the IF. “IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,”. Are we God’s people? Yes, we are! Are we called by His Name? Yes we are! “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful”. 1 Corinthians 1:9. We’re the ones!

To “humble ourselves” means to get off our high political horse, get on our knees, submit to God and pray. As we “pray”, we “seek His face”; and when we earnestly do that, He will show us what our “wicked ways” are. Then we must turn from our allegiance to a political party, a family tradition, or the influence of a slick TV ad and ask God what He would have us do.

“THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s up to us; we are the responsible party. God is listening for and watching His people, ready to act on our behalf. If we, God’s people, will do what we’re called to do, the economy, threats from evil, our health, and everything else will be taken care of!

“If my people….I will”. He promised!

Look Up

May 5, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 31, 2007

As I read my devotion this morning, I received another aspect of a revelation the Lord had showed me previously. It has to do with “looking up”.

Today, I read of a fatally injured eagle on the ground and how he gazed at the sky, longing for the “home of his heart”. His place was not on the ground where danger lurked but soaring in the sky where he was free to be what God had created him to be.

Looking up is a good thing; up is positive, down is negative. I’m reminded of the guys who took their sick friend to see Jesus, (Mark 2). They couldn’t get in the door so, as they pondered how to get help for their friend, they looked up; “Hey, the roof!”

Peter, in his exuberance and faith at seeing Jesus, jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water, (Matthew 14). As long as he focused on Jesus who had said to him, “Come.”, (v. 29), he was OK. Then…he looked down.

My wife was recovering from out-patient surgery and the nurse had gotten her up to walk for the first time. She was still rather groggy and unsteady from the anesthesia as she tried to walk but the nurse told her, “Don’t’ look down, look up. You’ll do better if you look up.”

There are many examples in scripture of the benefits of looking up but I’ll close with the words of an old hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace, (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922). If you’re going through something right now…”Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28“.