Dear Ones,
May you have a hope-filled day. It is donut day here and I plan to bake cookies and try another new recipe and later Bible study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Today when we look at our country, we see how far we have strayed from God and many people have lost hope. I pray daily for us to be a country under God again and hear of revival happening, especially amongst young people who have not given up but are looking to the Lord. Our Sunday School class has been showing the “Truth Rising” series. If you would like to be in on it, you can go to truthrising.com and watch the whole series for free. We have discussions at our tables after watching the video, helping us apply what we have seen.

It would seem things in our western culture have become chaotic and hope has been lost. I wonder: what do we have to offer the next generation, as we seem to have lost what once made our country great? But when we know the Lord, we are not to despair for our hope is in the Lord, which is based on certainty and reality. I’d like to share what we learned in Sunday’s class as we understand what is happening around us in light of scripture, seeing four realities:

1. Christ is risen and is the reason we have a living hope. Peter writes in I Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jeus from the dead.” He is writing to those who were exiled and scattered, reminding them of the hope in Christ even as they are persecuted.

2. Christ is Lord and He sees what is going on in our country and the world. He is not wringing His hands, but is sovereign and in control. We are not! Things rise and fall according to His sovereign will.

3. Christ is making all things new and we have much to look forward to, as it says in Rev. 21:5. One day there will be a new heaven and earth, with no more death or mourning, etc.

4. God has determined this moment for us. We live in the exact time God chose for us to live, not centuries before, but now. Al and I were sitting next to the pastor’s young son, and I felt apologetic that we hand him a world so full of chaos and not like the world we had entered. But this is God’s moment for him and for each of us, as He put us in this place and time for His glory.

So let none of us despair, but live in truth and deep hope based on reality of what we have in Christ. Instead of watching hours on TV of what is happening in our country, consider taking time off to spend in prayer and scripture to remember our hope is in Jesus.

Challenge for today: Spend some time praising the Lord that you have a living hope and help others not to despair.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy