From Steadfast Hope… to Empowerment

"So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure,

be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work..." 1 Corinthians 15:58 

 
Last year (2014) my word was steadfast. This year’s has been hope.

Steadfast kept me going forward, not giving up, pressing on, unwavering, resolute, committed… and I did. By the strength of the Lord, the stresses of moving twice in 18 months and losing two brothers—mine & my husband’s—within 3 days, I did not fall completely apart.

However…

Moving Back to Normal Not-Normal

 

Then Jesus said to the man,

 “Stretch out your hand!”

He stretched it out,

and it was restored to normal...”

Matthew 12:13 nasb

Me: “I wish life would get back to normal.”

My neighbor: “There is no such thing as normal.”

Me: “Yeah, but I’d just like to get back to a more normal not-normal.”

Stalwart Power

“Now may the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing

so that you will abound in hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 nasb

The God of hope: Steadfast. Dependable. Unwavering. Resolute. Unshakable.

Joyous Pain

Pain can come in all types of packages. Physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain affect all of us at some time or another. Sometimes all at once.

However, the Bible tells us in several different places and ways that pain is a certainty. It will come. It will be hard to endure. For me, pain always seems worst when uncertainties come into play.

How we handle them is the proof of our faith.

Hold Fast to Wisdom

“Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away 

from the words of my mouth”

Proverbs 4:5 nasb

“Hold on to wisdom,

and it will take care of you.

Love it, and it will keep you safe.”

Proverbs 4:6 ncv

God’s Guidance through Grief

Ready to write again

Over the past week, I slipped into some depression and couldn’t bring myself to write. However, because of it, as God restored my strength to remain steadfast to the A-Z blogging challenge, He also redirected my original “G” post idea. So, here goes…

“When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,

I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before you.”

Psalm 73:21-22 niv

Despite having a 2-session bad experience with a counselor recently, she did give me one wise thing to ponder. 

GRIEF: Consider your losses, and grieve

Firmly Rooted, Established in Faith

“Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it…It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen.” Hebrews 11:1, 3 (ncv)

Encourage Another

“The scriptures—Old & New Testament—are for our instruction and encouragement, that by our steadfastness and encouragement, we might hold fast to and cherish Hope. God gives us perseverance and encouragement for unity on this journey of following Christ, empowering us with patient enduring steadfastness—So that with one voice we glorify and praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [Messiah]” Romans 15:4-6 (my paraphrase)

Determined – Decided - Dogged

“…Wherever you go, I will go;

 wherever you live, I will live

Your people will be my people,

and your God will be my God.

Wherever you die, I will die,

and there I will be buried.

May the Lord punish me severely

if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.” 

Ruth 1:16-18 (nlt)

Called to Live Out Loud 4 Jesus

“We have freedom now,

because Christ made us free.

So stand strong.

Do not change and go back 

into the slavery of the law.”

Galatians 5:1

Because Christ made me free through His death and resurrection, I am Called to live a life as a freed person. Free of the shackles of sin. Free from the slavery of the law handed down to Moses. Free to Live Out Loud 4 Jesus. Free to walk with Him. Free to enter His courts with praise.

Build Steadfast Endurance

 

To build our physical bodies we workout with isometrics, Pilates, aerobics, calisthenics, walk, and/or run. We discipline ourselves with healthy foods and lifestyles.

Sometimes we enlist the help of a partner or trainer. We join clubs or buy home-gym equipment. We set goals with timeline charts. We sign up for marathons and the like. All for the purpose of a healthier, mean-lean body.

Accept Adversity

“Walk in the Light of the His presence; stay on His path with steadfast steps” Ps. 89:15-16

 This year, God gave me the word Steadfastness to study and apply to my life. It’s been a tough year, but the study encouraged me to keep my eyes upon Him. So I decided to use my notes for this year’s A-Z Blog Challenge. I hope it helps you to keep your feet on the path and your eyes upon Him.

Steadfastness: disciplined, persistent, determined, stable, firm-standing; even paced, not running, not crawling

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“Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you?” Mrs. Job scorned her husband has he scrapped the ulcerous sores covering his body. “Curse God and be done with it…die!”