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As many of you know, the community I live in was rocked last week when a workplace shooting took place in our small community of Hesston.  We appreciate your prayers as we come together to mourn and support those affected by the tragedy.  Today's song is one that brings hope in the midst of suffering. I've been running through rain That I thought would never end Trying to make it on faith In a struggle against the wind I've seen the dark and the broken places But I know in my soul No matter how bad it gets I'll be alright There's hope in front of me There's a light, I still see it There's a hand still holding me Even when I don't believe it I might be down but I'm not dead There's better days still up ahead Even after all I've seen There's hope in front of me There's a place at the end of the storm You finally find Where the hurt and the tears and the pain All fall behind You open up your eyes and up ahead There's a b...

We are continuing our series on songs on the radio that remind us of the gospel. These songs are full of grace and point us to a God who is good and loving.  Today's song is by Big Daddy Weave and is called My Story. Lyrics are below. If I told you my story You would hear Hope that wouldn't let go And if I told you my story You would hear Love that never gave up And if I told you my story You would hear Life, but it wasn't mine If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin Of when justice was served and where mercy wins Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him If I told you my story You would hear victory over the enemy And if I told you my story You would hear freedom that was won for me And if I told you my story You would hear Life overcome the grave If I should speak then let it be Of the grace that is greater than all my sin Of when justice was served and where mercy...

4 Affirmations of how to be free as God intends from 1 John 3: 1. Know the Love of Father 2. Rest in God's commitment to bring to completion what He began Anchor love in what God thinks about us not what we think about God 3. Hope & Surrender to the process of gospel transformation An anchor can weigh you down or secure you.  Hope Definition-Remember God's future in our present Language of maturity, purity, sanctification--Hebrew word focuses on "being set apart"  God loves you as He loves Jesus & we can't change it! Move from being condemned by your sin to be convicted of it. Gospel repentance is quicker. Repentance is collapsing on Christ. Obedience is often driven by pride, fear or guilt. Gospel obedience is driven by faith & love.  Grace frees us to be more generous, loving, etc. Jesus is making all things new, not me. 4. Love broken & messy people

I love this verse from Romans 15:13.  What a great reminder that God fills us and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can share with others out of the overflow. 13  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 NIV)

Listen to who God is and the victory He has won in this song by Jeremy Camp:

Here is another song to encourage you today:

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

My hope is built. . . Christ alone.  Be reminded of our Savior.

I had a great lunch at SmashBurger with Jared.  Now, back for afternoon session with Robert Morgan. As he was writing a book on parenting, his thesis was Deuteronomy 6 as the seminal passage on raising children. Sometimes we learn more from our children than they do from us. Psalm 121; 2 Samuel 14:14-words of comfort during difficult season in parenting L15 Parenting-Luke 15-Parable of the Prodigal Son Jesus is making one point in Luke 15-we should celebrate when anyone makes a change for Christ in their lives The older brother is the true prodigal in the story.  He was the one the Lord was most concerned about.  A prayer for the prodigal, "Lord, bring them back to their senses." The Lord turned the grief cycle into a grace cycle. Grace cycle Pain Prayer -James 5:16-Best verse on prayer in Bible. I could alter situation through praying Scripture. Patience -Time is on our side in the area of prodigals because of process of maturation-Romans 12:19 Pe...

I can't wait to read these two books.

I am continuing to use Hidden in Christ for my devotional times.  I highly recommend this book.  Here are some thoughts on hope from James Bryan Smith: Hope is not wishful thinking; it is being certain that the future is bright. Hope gives us confidence. Hope gives us assurance. Hope enables us to trust, to have faith in the present moment, no matter how bleak. Hope gives us peace in the midst of strife. Hope brings us joy in times of sadness. Confidence, assurance, trust, faith, peace, and joy are things that make life wonderful, that give us strength and courage, realities that make us sleep well and work hard. As long as we have hope we will never give up.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have been blessed by Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  I enjoy the perspective she offers as she shares God's Word as if God is speaking to us.  I have bought multiple copies and given them away.  I finally decided to buy it for my phone. She has come out with other devotionals, but the one I am reading each morning now is Jesus Today: Experiencing Hope through His Presence. It was written during a difficult time in her life when she was dealing with health issues. I am only six days in, but would recommend it based on what I have read so far.  Here is a quote from today's reading: “So dare to ask great things of Me, remembering who I am. I am able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think. Pondering My limitless ability to help you will strengthen your faith and encourage you to pray boldly.”

This is the title of Chapter 9 in Tchividjian's book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything.   He shares some important truths for us to understand here as well as for the future.  I hope this post is an encouragement of what is yours now. "That's because the gospel isn't the first step in a stairway of truths but more like the hub in a wheel of truth." "The daily reality of the gospel is the reason we can enjoy and revel in the fact that "all the promises of God find their Yes in him"-in Christ. (2 Corin. 1:20)" "It's all there for us--in his promises! Everything we need for life and godliness is there." "The gospel liberatingly declares that in Christ "we already are." If you're a Christian, here's the good news: who you really are has nothing to do with you--how much you can accomplish, who you can become, your behavior (good or bad), your strengths, your weaknesses, your sordid past, your family background, your...