Hope Series 25 Part 2

Job 38:1 - The Lord answered Job from the whirlwind, "Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorant words."

        Theme: Job's Patience -  Who is This?
Here are the few things I notice of how God deals with the situation with Job. This shows me that God was aware of all kind of conversations between Job and his four friends. It was when Job and his four friends were finally at silence for the lost of words at the end of chapter 37. Then "BOOM" . . .  God entered the scene with a grand opening with His appearance of whirlwind to Job.  Whoa! That must be something! We would love this, won't we? The Lord answered Job from the whirlwind, "Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorant words" (Job 38:1).

Surprisingly, God didn't answer any of Job's questions; Job's questions were not at the heart of issue. Instead, God used Job's ignorance (lack of knowledge, education, or awareness) of the earth's natural order to reveal Job's ignorance of God's moral order. If Job did not understand the workings of God's physical creation, how could he possibly understand God's mind and character?

So God asked him questions. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? (38:4).  Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? (39:1a). Take a look at the mighty hippopotamus. I made it, just like I MADE YOU (39:15). God asked Job several questions about the animal kingdom in order to demonstrate how limited Job's knowledge really was. God was not seeking answers from Job. Instead, He was getting Job to recognize and submit to God's power and sovereignty. Only then could Job hear what God was really saying to him.

Then the Lord said to Job, "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You (Job) are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" (40:1-2) We could reply with Job to the Lord and say, "I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say." (40:3-5 QVLAB)

Then Job replied to the Lord. "I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. You ask, 'Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me. I have heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance" (Job 42:1-3, 5-6 QVLAB).

Job humbled himself to the Lord and because Job kept trusting God, God rewarded Job. Job lived 140 years. After that, Job lived to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. He died an old man who had lived a long good life (Job 42:16-17).

You will be rewarded when you keep your HOPE in God and keep trusting Him! He loves you that much!

Dorothy

Hope Series 24 Part 1

James 5:8 - "You, too, must be patient. DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE because the Lord is coming soon."

                    Theme: Job's Patience
In the New Testament, James used Job as an example of encouragement. James 5:11:a "You have heard about Job’s patience, and you know the Lord’s purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is kind" (NCV).  James 5:8 " You, too, must be patient. DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE because the Lord is coming soon."

When Job was in grief, he wanted to give up, to be freed from his comfort, and to die. Do you ever felt like that? Know something? God did not grant Job's request. Maybe that's why God did not alway grant our wishes. God had a greater plan for Job so God has a greater plan for you as well.  Job trusted God when things were easy and he had everything. But when difficult times came, Job was tested and often beyond his limits.

So I would like to share a few things I noticed of how God dealt the situations with Job. His friends tried to figure out "why Job was suffering." After many days of speeches from his four friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu to Job, they had came to the end when they could not find the "word of wisdoms" to comfort Job's suffering. Job was miserable and despair and he began to lose hope. Sometimes we might felt like Job and questioned, "Does God care when I am suffering?" Surprisingly, the Bible will tell us that. (The next Hope 25, Part 2 will lead to deeper subject).

Suddenly, the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind, "Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorant words" (Job 38:1).  Out of a whirlwind, God spoke! He cares! Oh yes He cares! There's a song called, "Does Jesus Care?"

 Chorus: Does Jesus Care?
O yes, He cares; I know He cares;
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
the long night dreary,
I know my Savior cares. . . .
(Lyrics: Frank E. Graeff)

Yes, God is a caring God!  Believe this!

Dorothy

Hope Series 23

1 Peter 1:3-4 KJV
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a LIVELY HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

                Theme: Lively Hope and/or Living Hope
 
Tony and I were reading Billy Graham's book, "Nearing Home," and he wrote about the closing part on "Don't live without hope." A short story about a young man who wrote to Billy that he believed that once you are dead, that's it. Life after death is just a myth.

Billy's reply came from his heart. "Your letter deeply saddened me," he wrote, "because it means you are living without hope--hope for this life, and hope for the life to come. Have you honestly faced how empty and meaningless this will make your life?" Then Billy urged the young man to turn to Jesus Christ and put his life into His hands, for He alone can give us hope for the future. What would our lives be like without any hope of life beyond the grave? (Note from page 167, Nearing Home by Billy Graham).

It is good to repeat the scriptures and read it again, the "living hope" from NCV: 1 Peter 1:3-4 --3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a LIVING HOPE, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. 4Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children. These blessings, which cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty, are kept in heaven for you."

It reminds me of the words in song: "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand." It is written by Edward Mote from Sing His Praise, "The Solid Rock."

May the Lord bless our  lively hope because Jesus Christ rose from the dead!

Dorothy

Hope Series 22

Colossians 1:27 " . . . Christ in you, the HOPE of glory."
Theme: Hope of Glory and Songs

Christ's living in me is my HOPE and my assurance of future glory and eternal life. It is only through His indwelling (living in my heart) and my continual close communion with Him can remove my doubts about my home in heaven. To have Jesus in my heart is to have life in Him. That is my hope of glory, hope of my heavenly home. I like the songs that gives me "hope of glory, my heavenly home" with Christ.

Song: Heavenly Sunlight
In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,
Pressing my way to mansions above;
Singing His praises gladly I'm walking,
Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.
Chorus:
Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Flooding my soul with glory divine;
Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.
(Henry J. Zelley, Sing His Praise)

Song: I Feel Like Traveling On
1. My heavenly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on.
Nor pain, nor death can enter there,
I feel like traveling on.
Chorus:
Yes, I feel like traveling on,
I feel like traveling on;
My heavenly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on.

2. The Lord has been so good to me,
I feel like traveling on.
Until that blessed home I see,
I feel like traveling on.
Chorus:
Yes, I feel like traveling on,
I feel like traveling on;
My heavenly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on.
(Lyrics: William Hunter, Sing His Praise)

I remember Johnny Berry, Rev. Bea Berry's husband who loves to sing that song, "I Feel Like Traveling On" during my time in 1960's in the former Riverside Deaf Church in California (the deaf church moved in different town where Rev. Tom and Joyce Mathers are now the pastors. They build a new deaf church.)

May the Lord bring hope of glory in your heart today!

Dorothy

Hope Series 21

Colossians 1:23b
" . . . be not moved away from the HOPE of the gospel . . . "

Theme: Be Not Moved Away from Hope.

The second topic that impressed me was, "be not moved away from the hope of the gospel." Colossians 1:23 "If ye continued in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I, Paul am made a minister."

What would that be which might cause us to "be moved away from the hope of the gospel?" What was Paul, the Epistle writer, talked about? Let's search the scriptures.

There are two words, grounded and settled. Paul used those words that our faith can be grounded and settled with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that our faith would not be shaken so easily when someone comes to us with the different kind of teachings. It is important to "be grounded and settled" with the "doctrines of Jesus Christ."

"... He (you) that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he (you) have both the Father and the Son" (2 John 1:9).  Where do we find the doctrines or the teachings of Jesus Christ? The four books of the gospel are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And the book of Acts which was the evidence of the gospel.

For example: Someone comes to you and say, "There is another kind of gospel . . . " which has a different kind of teachings that are not of Christ.

What would you do? I would search the scriptures like Galatians 1:7-12. These verses explained that the Bible clearly affirms that there is only one gospel, "the gospel of Christ".  It has to come through "the revelation of Jesus Christ" and "the inspiration of the Holy Spirit". Also John, the Beloved said, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God" 2John 1:9.

When you know there's only one way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. Then let us not be moved away from our hope of the gospel which is our Savior and our Redeemer!

So let us be true to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Dorothy

Hope Series 20

Colossians 1:23b
" . . . be not moved away from the HOPE of the gospel, which ye have heard . . . "

Do you remember when you first heard the gospel of Jesus  Christ? What did you used to believe before? For me, I used to believe that I, automatically, was a Christian when I went with my family to church while I was growing up. The theme, "the  gospel of Jesus Christ" did not have any impact on me. While growing up, I wore hearing aid, but the words were not always clear to my concept of understanding. I didn't learn sign language then.

I went to California School for Deaf in Riverside and there I learned sign language at the age of 13. I went to Deaf Family Camp at Pinecrest and there was a lady evangelist who preached in sign language, came to me personally, "Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart"? I respond that I go to "church" and that I was a Christian. She asked me again, and again until I realized that I did not ask Jesus to come into my heart. I was really surprised that this was what "the gospel of Jesus Christ" was all about.

So the question is, "Have you truly invite Jesus to come into your heart?" Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . ." Where would Jesus do that? At your heart! So when you open your heart to Jesus, you would say, "Come into my heart!" Jesus said, "I will come in . . ." and He will fellowship with you.

This is our hope of the gospel was when we first heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and this is when we invited Him into our life. This is my favorite song, "Come Into My Heart."

Song: Into My Heart
Into my heart, into my heart
Come into my heart Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay.
Come into my heart Lord Jesus.
(Inspiring Choruses)

So let's invite Him today!

Dorothy

PS. If someone say: Well, Jesus already lives in my heart. Yes, that is true! This is a simple reminder of how we have asked Jesus into our hearts. I just love to do this because this inspired me again and again just to feel closer to Him. And just so I don't lose out with Him when we might easily forget. Like Bread + Wine Communion, Jesus said, "Do this often to remember Me."

Hope Series 19

Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose HOPE the Lord is.

What would happen if a person decided not to put his or her hope in God? Sometimes there might be questions: "Is it worth to keep our hope in God? What  if I decided that it would be easier just to give it up?" Surprise that God has something to say to us about that!

"This is what The Lord says: Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, WITH NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. They will live in the barren wilderness on the salty flats where no one lives." Jeremiah 17:5-6 NLT.

What would we as a person be like when we keep on trusting the Lord and keep our hope in God?

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They shall be like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT.

This should encourage us that we did the right thing to keep on trusting the Lord and our hope is in God who promised to meet our needs.

So let us keep trusting the Lord!

Dorothy

Song: Keep Me True
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;
There's a race that I must run,
There are victories to be won.
Give me power, every hour, to be true.
(Inspiring Choruses)

Hope Series 18

Ephesians 6:17
"And take the helmet of salvation . . . "

 Theme: Helmet of Hope
Are you struggling with problems within yourself? What are you thinking of? Sometimes our mind are open to any thought that comes our ways unexpectedly.  Even if you may wonder, "Where did those thoughts came from?"

Paul, the epistle writer,  knows this so well which he advised us to take the helmet of salvation. The word salvation means, saving a person from danger or evil or even sins. Saving us from whom? Our fight are against the devil's tricks (Eph. 6:11). How do we do something about it?  If you know the powerful word, TAKE. It means to lay hold of. It is like 'grasp' such as 'take my hand'. Another meaning for TAKE is to capture every thought and put it under the helmet of saving us from downfall with wrong thoughts.

 So Holy Spirit is encouraging us to TAKE "the helmet of salvation”, which is “the hope of salvation” (1 Thess. 5:8). When we struggle with our thoughts, we have the power to speak God's word, "I put on the helmet which is the hope of salvation for me." It feels good to know that God's Word is there for us.

So praise the Lord, we have helmet of hope!

Dorothy

Hope Series 17

Our Guest is Dean Hardy of Canada and his testimony of hope about Jonathan.

God’s Everlasting Faithfulness Gives Us Hope Each Day

Psalm 111:1-4 ncv – 1 Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people. 2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them. 3 Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. 4 He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

These past few weeks have been quite a rollercoaster ride for those of us who are family and friends of Jonathan, one of our new leaders in Ottawa Valley Deaf Church.

Several weeks ago—Sunday, September 16—I was out of town at a family wedding with my wife and oldest daughter. While we were waiting for the reception to start,  I received some bad news—Jonathan had collapsed in a store and was without a heartbeat for at least 25 minutes. Someone tried CPR, then paramedics arrived 10 minutes later, but it took another 15 minutes of working on him to get his heart going again. At the hospital they put him into a medically induced coma and kept his body as cool as possible to protect the brain from possible swelling. At that time it was not looking good. We immediately began to pray and asked many others churches to pray. Jon would need a miracle. But the Lord was already at work. Ruth his new wife of less than one year was at work and Jon decided to go to the store to pick up a few things before church. If he had been at home there would have been no one to call 911 and Jon would not be with us.

I was unable to get to the hospital until Monday evening, Sept 17, but a couple of our Deaf church leaders had already been to the hospital to spend time supporting Ruth and the family in prayer and encouragement. Jon became a Christian only a year and a half ago, but has been growing in his faith. Just recently he had taken on leadership responsibilities in our church. He and Ruth were looking forward to celebrating their first anniversary which falls on October 8th.  My son and I married this wonderful couple outdoors on a beautiful fall day on October 8th—God truly has blessed them. Now this!

There were many questions—would Jon ever wake up again—had he suffered brain damage from being out for so long—would he ever be the same—would he be able to go back to work (he’s only 50)???? So all week long we waited and prayed—waited and prayed—waited and prayed some more. People all over were praying. Someone even called the local Christian radio station to ask people to pray. The doctors and nurses were positive and encouraging, but with the brain no one could say anything definite until he woke up. But the Lord encouraged us all week to keep trusting Him to take care of Jon. Dorothy Callies’ devotional series on hope during this time was a very timely encouragement.

As I prayed over Jon on Wednesday evening, Sept. 19th during the first week of our vigil, a peace settled on my heart. On the drive home, about ten minutes in, I decided to turn on my MP3 player on my phone. The first song that came on was Twila Paris’ The Battle is the Lord’s. This was an encouraging reminder of God’s sovereignty. Young David declared this to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:47. Goliath had been mocking David—who was only a young teenager with no battle experience—and his God. He told Goliath that God was in control and would give him the victory in this situation which seemed humanly impossible. Our friend Jonathan’s situation seemed impossible, but again and again God assured us He was in control.

The doctors postponed waking him up several times to make sure the conditions were right. There was concern he would wake up in a panic like many patients do. We prayed for the peace of Jesus to settle on his heart. After another postponement on Friday, Sept. 21st, we all went home thinking it would be another 2-3 days. But Saturday morning—September 22nd—after sleeping for 6 days, Jon woke up quietly, peacefully. After he was able to focus a little he signed “I love you” to his wife, Ruth. What joy we experienced as one by one, we rushed back to the hospital to watch this miracle unfold. Even though he was still very groggy and confused, Jonathan recognized everyone who came into the room and signed ILY to each one. The next day, Sunday, Sept. 23rd, he was still in a very confused state—but all day he did two things repeatedly. He said, “Praise the Lord” and insisted on laying hands on each person who visited to ask God’s blessing on them. Even though some of the details were still mixed up it was amazing how much he remembered—names, places, events. A close cousin who visited commented at how free and uninhibited his praise and worship of God was—it was a joy to watch.

The following Monday, Sept. 24th, he was talking much more, but still somewhat confused—however, each day he was a little better than the day before. On Wednesday, September 26th Jonathan was moved out of the Coronary Care Unit into a regular room. When I visited him on the Thursday, Sept. 27th, of that week he was himself, the Jon we all know and love. He was communicating clearly and seemed back to normal. The doctors still don’t know why he collapsed so suddenly on September the 16th, or how he recovered so well. But we who are the Lord’s people know—it was our God, the Great Physician who protected Jon’s mind and has brought him back to us. Although they are still unsure of what caused the 25 minute heart stoppage the doctors put in an internal defibrillator as a precaution if this happens again. Jonathan finally went home Friday, October 5th just before Canadian Thanksgiving and their 1st anniversary on October 8th—Thanksgiving Monday. We all had much to be thankful for with that extra blessing—thank You Lord.

A verse that came to me on the Sunday morning after he woke up, was 2 Chronicles 16:9a ncv.“The Lord searches all the earth for people who have given themselves completely to Him. He wants to make them strong. . . .” In the NKJV it says He wants “to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” God is looking for opportunities to show the world His power, grace and mercy through those who trust Him. His gracious actions give us hope each day—even those days which seem dark, frightening, when God appears silent. We know we can trust Him no matter what happens—Our God reigns and He is fully in control!  (End)

I hope you read this far. Prayer for Jonathan is needed as he will see his doctor for his first check up this week. We pray, oh Lord for Your continuing mighty miracles on Jonathan's life. We believed and we received. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Dorothy Callies

Hope Series 16

We have a guest, Rhoda Nelson of Minnesota who wrote the song and she said:
"Can't wait! Want to send you one of my favorite songs I wrote. Its how I feel!"

November 2, 2012
Hope Series 16 Song for the Day

Colossians 3:16
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly . . . singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

"Homesick For Heaven"
 1. God made this world its beauty you can see;
He made the stars. He made the honey bee.
He gave His life for every human heart.
That's why I sing My God How Great Thou Art!
Chorus:
Now I'm homesick for heaven.
 I long my dear Saviour to see.
I know He will greet me when the pearly gates open for me.

2. Christ promised me a mansion over there.
He said "be true and trust me everywhere".
And though the path be rugged to that land,
I long to see the nail prints in His hand.
Chorus:
That's why I'm homesick for heaven.
I long my dear Saviour to see.
I know He will greet me when the pearly gates open for me.

3. I kneel in prayer; I look up in His face.
Then I thank the Lord for His redeeming Grace,
But how my heart longs for that blessed day,
When up in Heaven all tears are wiped away.
Chorus:
That's why I'm homesick for heaven.
I long my dear Saviour to see,
I know He will greet me when the pearly gates open for me.

4. Down here below my body's wracked with pain,
My spirit's free for peace within me reigns.
But someday soon upon that golden shore,
There'll be no pain, no suffering evermore.
Chorus:
That's why I'm homesick for heaven.
I long my dear Saviour to see,
I know He will greet me when the pearly gates open for me.
(Song written and Copyright by Rhoda Nelson)

There are other favorite songs of Rhoda:
Chorus medley:
1. My Home is in Heaven
2. I've Got a Mansion
3 It Will Be Worth it All.

Oh may the Lord bless you real good!

Dorothy