Advent Hope Theme: It seems hope is most difficult when most necessary.
Take a few quiet moments to ask God to strengthen your faith, make positive your attitude and give you hope whenever you are faced with challenges and pitfalls.
He shall not fear an ill report; his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
Advent Hope Theme: When you awaken your awareness of God’s presence within you, you realize that all blessings are not only possible, but probable.
Hope is more than wishful thinking. Pray, read God’s word, practice Christ’s teaching, and open your heart to others – all these will help you to better understand the true meaning of hope.
Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall throb and overflow. For the riches of the sea shall be poured out before you, the wealth of nations shall come to you.
Isaiah 60:5
Faith grows in the field of uncertainty.
Nurture your faith each day by feeding it with prayer, scripture and praise. Do so, and you can be certain of a bountiful harvest of grace and love.
V. Examples, Discipline, Disobedience Chapter 11 - Faith of the Ancients. Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, set in the hearts of honest men. Be careful that you don't take the day and leave out the gratitude."
Start your Thanksgiving day with prayful gratitude to God for all his blessings. Remember to say a heart filled prayer before taking your knife and fork upon your Thanksgiving feast. And finally, leave this blessed day with prayer once again. Happy Thanksgiving – the TAGteam!
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name;
Psalm 100:4
Patience is a strong antidote to anger.
Practice patience. In times of anger or frustration, pause before reacting. You will find a calming effect and discover that you need not react in anger, but instead react with the peace that thoughts of Jesus bring to mind.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
The soul, while itself invisible, is vividly seen by what it does through the body.
Let your soul shine today. The kindness of your soul can pour out through a smile, a hug or a kind word to someone who is down.
[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Ephesians 4:32
He who waits for God fails to understand that he possesses Him.
What are you waiting for? Believe that God and happiness are one, and put all your happiness in the present moment. Enjoy the moment.
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Life in the Christian Community.
Acts 4:31
Wise men talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
Talk about your faith and the blessings God has provided you. If you feel like you have to say something, praise God.
Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with strings and pipes. Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!
Psalm 150:4-6
God thought about you before you ever thought about Him.
Before you were even born, God set forth a purpose for your life. He created you with intentionality. Through daily prayer, ask God to continue to reveal the purpose He intended for you.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
Jeremiah 1:5
Once you choose hope, anything is possible.
Choose hope, which is a blessing from God, and your glass is not only half full, but completely full. Take this energy to extend hope to someone else today.
Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for:
Job 6:8
"Be the living expression of God’s kindness: Kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." - Mother Teresa
Begin immediately being kinder. It will have a multiplying effect that goes beyond your wildest dreams.
Delivered in Babylon by Elasah, son of Shaphan, and by Gemariah, son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, sent to the king of Babylon, the letter read:
Jeremiah 29:3
We trust our times with the One who is trustable.
Today, or any day you are feeling scared or weak, simply repeat the Psalm below. Take comfort knowing you have a loving God who cares for you.
I hear the whispers of the crowd; terrors are all around me. They conspire together against me; they plot to take my life.
Psalm 31:14
There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning.
We are often tempted to slack off when we think our shortcut or lack of effort will go undetected. God sees us every minute of every day. Ask God for the strength and the attitude to do everything you can today as a gift to Him.
The plans of the diligent end in profit, but those of the hasty end in loss.
Proverbs 21:5
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity is not without many comforts and hopes. - Francis Bacon
Among the greatest gifts we receive from God in this life are comfort and hope during tough times. Turn to God whenever you face adversity and also be an instrument of His comfort to someone in need today.
Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.
2 Corinthians 1:7
He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy of sin will meet him everywhere.
The value of true friends is immeasurable with no point of diminishing returns, but the ill will that will germinate within us from sin is difficult to escape. Find a way today to clear the air and cleanse your soul of any transgressions that are weighing heavy on your mind.
You must know, my brothers, that through him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, [and] in regard to everything from which you could not be justified under the law of Moses,
Acts 13:38
Lost yesterday, somewhere between Sunrise and Sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.
Time is one of life's most precious blessings. Ask God to give you the wisdom and discipline to live "in the moment" and to take full advantage of each day because time offers no second chances.
God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts so they cannot find out, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
It is said, "He who dies with the most toys wins"... but what if you lose your soul in the process?
We all get caught up in the "keeping up with the neighbors" race. Remember that your goal is to gather riches in heaven, not on earth. Think of at least one of your earthly possessions, and trade it in for a heavenly bounty by giving it to someone in need.
Treasure in Heaven. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. The Light of the Body.
Matthew 6:19-21
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Fill your attitude with the Holy Spirit throughout your day. It will make a big difference to everyone you meet (and to yourself).
Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
You can’t stay where you are and go with God.
God wants to do great things through you, but you may have to reevaluate your priorities. Open your heart and allow God into your decision making process today. Make this a recurring task on your daily to-do list.
Incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.
Psalm 31:3
No great change comes to the world without suffering.
Early Christians, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King - all suffered to advance noble causes. The ultimate suffering and sacrifice was experienced by Jesus as he was crucified to bring about the greatest change mankind will ever know – a personal relationship with His Father. Consider what sacrifice you can make today in service to God.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church,
Colossians 1:24
In prayer, we create a space in which God can act.
As you pray today, create more space for God. Relax, say nothing and ask for nothing. Simply allow some time for God to speak to you.
Show us, LORD, your mercy; grant us your salvation.
Psalm 85:8