encouragement

Hold On!

April 22, 2023 by Bill Leave a Comment

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1)

I know some of us are going through a hard time right now. But we have to,” Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” (Hebrews 12:2), and hold on to our faith, hope and the Word of God. We are in a race and we have this “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on. It may seem hopeless now while we’re in the middle of this thing but we have to look forward with faith and hope to what God has planned for us. Remember the “valley of the shadow of death” in Psalms? Fear no evil for God is with us!

I’m reminded of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-43. Joseph was repeatedly in “a hard place” but the Bible says, “But the Lord was with Joseph”, (Genesis 39:21). Joseph made it through several trials to the victory God had planned for him and his people. God has the same plan for us.

It also mentions in Hebrews that some didn’t get to experience the victory but they could “see” it by faith. Future generations got to experience the victory because they kept their eyes on the prize by faith. As a former track coach, this reminds me of a relay race where one runner passes the baton on to the next person. The last runner crosses the finish line as the winner but the other three runners shared in the victory.

As I mentioned earlier, many of us are in the “dark valley” now but, be assured, God is with us. We can’t quit. We can’t give up. We must look forward by faith and with hope that our victory lies ahead. And, one very important thing to remember: we are in this together. We can help each other, (Ecclesiastes 4:10). And don’t listen to the lies of the enemy that will always try to distract us from God’s purpose of our lives. Submit to God and resist! (James 4:7).

If you need prayer or would like to be encouraged by fellow Christians who have gone through a hard time or are in one themselves now, reach out to someone today. God has a plan for you.

The Past

March 17, 2022 by Bill Leave a Comment

I recently waved at someone on the street corner as I passed by in my car. I remembered that someone had told me that person had done some bad things in the past and they didn’t like them. Well, I didn’t know or didn’t remember what they’d done so I waved at them. I didn’t know their past so I thought it was friendly to wave. Some people will keep remembering what someone did in the past, to them or in general, and won’t have anything to do with them. Have they changed? Are they still doing bad things? Do we know anyone like that? What are we supposed to do? What would Jesus do?

Paul said in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, we’re in that group, right? And Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7). Here is this woman who was caught in adultery and Jesus doesn’t cast her aside, He has compassion on her and encourages her to, “Go and sin no more.” (v. 11). Jesus knew her past; He knows ours too, but He was there to help her. Can we take a lesson from that? Jesus told His disciples when they asked Him how to pray, “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Luke 11:4). And how many times are we supposed to forgive? It’s unlimited, (Matthew 18:22).

And who knows, even if the person has not sinned directly against you or your family, you just know something, or “heard” something about them, your being kind to them may be just what they need to change their life. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Love one another, (John 13:34), be kind, help them, wave at them. Be like Jesus!

Looking Forward

April 24, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

Is there anything you’re looking forward to? I can remember in my working days before retirement, if there was something out there that was good, no matter what came up during my week I could think about that event and look forward to it. It helped me make it through the hard days if I could focus on the future good. And, as life moves on, things that we look forward to change. I used to look forward to the weekend but now, in retirement, I sometimes get my days mixed up. Sorry for you all still working. Oh, and vacation! We could have that thing planned months in advance but the thought of the beach, the theme park or a Cincinnati Reds ball game could dispel any stressful times I had. So, what are we looking forward to?

As I began thinking about this topic, I made a mental list of things I look forward to now. I look forward to walking in my field and down in the woods. I look forward to taking a ride in the country, going out to eat…yes, I like to eat, and actually I look forward to mowing the grass. I look forward to visits with my family, watching a movie with my wife and laying down on clean sheets at bedtime and doing some devotional reading. I look forward to my morning time with God, to speaking to different groups and telling Pawpaw’s Bible Stories to kids. And now, I really look forward to going to church and prayer time. That is more important to me now than it was in the earlier years. Our family always went to church but those years were crowded with work, coaching, raising boys and going to sports events. I had so many things crowded into my life that having something to look forward to was a real help. Think about your life.

One thing we should all be looking forward to is Heaven. I was saved at 12 years old but looking forward to Heaven now seems to be more important than it was then. Maybe because I’ve learned more about Heaven and I’m closer to the time. We don’t know when our time is but whether it’s when we die or when Jesus comes back to get us, that’s something to look forward to. “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

But while we’re here on earth, God has some things for us to do as we look forward. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11). That future is what we look forward to. And it’s very important for us to prepare our children, grandchildren and others so they can look forward with hope with us. So, what do we do? “So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Let’s all be looking forward to eternity. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:” (Lamentations 3:21).

It’s Over!

January 23, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

Have you ever had this feeling? In spite of everything you’ve planned, prepared, done, and even prayed for, you feel that it was all of no use. There’s no way out, it’s over. Yes, I think we’ve all had that feeling. We may be feeling that now. But I want to encourage us, me included, that it’s not over. We may not understand it, “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). God is in control and we just haven’t seen the results of His plan yet. A great praise song by Israel and New Breed, “It’s Not Over” says, “It’s not over, it’s not finished. It’s not ending, it’s only the beginning. When God is in it, all things are new.” If we have humbled ourselves, prayed, sought His face and turned from our wicked ways, (2 Chronicles 7:14), God is in it. We may not understand the timing, but God is in control and we must thank Him.

As I was thinking about this topic, several examples from the Bible came to my mind.

Job’s wife, in Job 2:9, summed up their problems by saying, “Curse God and die!” Basically, she was saying, “It’s over!” But Job’s attitude was, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15). It wasn’t over!

Think of the Israelites at the Red Sea. The impassible sea before them, the Egyptian army behind them; there was no way for survival. They probably said, “It’s over! We should have stayed in Egypt.” But God told Moses to tell the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today:” (Exodus 13:14). It wasn’t over!

The king of Aram was after the prophet Elisha because he had always revealed Aram’s battle plans against the Israelites. He found out where Elisha was and sent his army there. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, went out on the balcony that morning and saw the enemy army surrounding them. He was afraid and said to Elisha, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). “It’s over!” But Elisha replied, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (V. 16). “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” (V. 17) “It wasn’t over!”

There are many more examples of God showing up when it seemed it was over, but I want to share maybe the most important one of all. Jesus’ disciples were huddled up in a room fearful for their lives after the crucifixion of Jesus. They had walked with Him, learned from Him, did miracles in His name for over three years with great hopes that He was going to deliver them all from oppression. But now, He was gone, the Romans and Jewish religious leaders were going to come after them. “Oh no, it’s over!”, they were thinking and saying. Then… “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”, (John 20:19). The doors were locked but, there was Jesus! “Hey, you all, It’s not over, it’s only the beginning.”

“Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever.”, (Hebrews 13:8). No matter what we are going through, trust the Lord, lean on Him, thank Him, and declare, IT’S NOT OVER!

Fan Support

January 9, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

“For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.” (1 Chronicles 12:22)

During my devotion time recently, I was thinking about those who are troubled, fearful or in a battle they think they can’t win. Then I got a vision related to my coaching days. See if you can visualize this.

The vision was in a football stadium with the players on the field. They were on the 20-yard line and were behind on the scoreboard with 30 seconds to go in the game. It seemed like the opponent was going to win. The coach called a timeout and went out to talk to the team. There were eleven players on the field and 30+ on the sidelines. The players were all discouraged, tired, and weak. Then as the coach tried to encourage the team, something strange began to happen. Fans began to come out of the home stands, walk onto the field and assemble behind the team huddle. Others were also coming through the gates from town and some even came from the visitor bleachers. Shortly, there were hundreds of supporters standing behind the team on the field cheering and giving them encouragement. In my vision, I don’t know if the team went on to score and win but I do know they were encouraged by the unprecedented support they had received.

We know those who are in the same position as this team and we can encourage them if we’ll get out of the stands and go to them. Isaiah 35:3 says, “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.” The prophet Elisha told his servant Gehazi when he thought they were surrounded by the enemy, “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16). The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 verse 1 reminds me of my vision: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, (supporters) let us lay aside every weight, (worry) and the sin, (fear) which doth so easily beset us, and let us run (play) with patience the race (game) that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1). And, it will be good for us as well. “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” – Plato.