Refreshing

"We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
(Demolish evil thoughts and let God transform and renew your mind)


"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." Ephesians 6:18
(Pray all the time!!!)


"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
(What God requires: to do right, love mercy, and walk humbly)


"Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in your confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying." Romans 12:11-12
(Never be lazy and PRAY)


"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6
(Don't worry and PRAY)


"...let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses...let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious Go.d There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:14b-16
(Hold firmly, He understands our weaknesses, Come boldly to receive mercy and find grace)


"For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:19
(better hope-->Draw near to God)

Hope

Tonight I was going through my school stuff because I am going to get my classroom ready early...yes I am the overachieving new teacher. :P I came across a magazine my friends puts together so I decided to flip through the pages and I stopped an article my friend wrote. The article had to do with hope...which is a "kawinkydink" because we talked about hope and wish on a long journey of ours.

Hope:1. (noun) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment: 2. (verb) to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. 3. (verb) to believe, desire, or trust

Wish: 1. (verb) to want; desire; long for; 2. (noun) a request or command

"Without Hope there is nothing to push us onward; nothing that will cause us to desire more or when we need to be diligent when life is hard and we do not feel like doing anything.... Hope and faith in a future, is not 'wishful thinking,' it is so much more concrete than that. When we look at what it means to have hope that is given by God it means that we have confidence knowing that we have a future promised to us. We can be confident because God told us we have hope just like we have air....hope does not mean that there are never any hard times; ..."

So many times we toss around the word hope so freely and I think in most cases what we really mean is we wish for this or we wish for that. God promised a future which he already has all planned out for us and I believe the closer our relationship with Christ can determine how and how much we accept those plans. My friend asked me what I had hoped my future looked like and I could not give her a "good" answer because I never really sat down and thought more in depth than just wishing that I will have this or that in my future... love these conversations with my friends because they definitely make me think and reevaluate myself.

"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

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:5

"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

I ask that my God of hope overflows my heart with his love, joy, peace, strength, grace, mercy, faith, and HOPE. My summer has been me traveling ALL over the place but now I am hungry for Him!!!



Great song which helps us realize that it is God's love we need and it sets us free