Hope and Enduring Love

Heavenly Father we give thanks for You are Lord, and You are good; Your love endures forever.  Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the people of the United States say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cry to You and You bring me into a spacious place.  You are with me, I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me? You are with me, You are my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge with You, O Lord, than to trust in humans.  It is better to take refuge with You, than to put my trust in politicians…The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to You.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous enter, I will give thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.  The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the alter. You are my God, and I will praise you; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.(Psa. 118:1-9,18-29)

Holy Spirit help me to embrace and comprehend what John writes in his epistle, John 3:16-21—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Thank You Father for sending the Son to be our Salvation.  Thank You Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to be our comfort and our companion.  Teach us to forgive, to offer grace, to remain humble and know that no one is greater than another in this world except for Jesus Christ and He humbled himself to die on a cross to bear our sins so that we could live and have eternal life.  He did not stay in the grave but rose again which gives our lives meaning and hope. Help us to live on this hope, especially when we walk through dry, arid times in our lives.  Help us to cling to this hope when we grieve.  Teach us to become bold because of this hope, so that others may learn of Your salvation and kingdom. Help us to learn to enjoy and take time in this life to know the precious gift You have given us.  

Holy Spirit give encouragement to my friend Louise, lift her up and hold her today.  Holy Spirit we ask that You be with and heal Kara and Eileen as they see doctors today and have stuff done to improve their health.  Continue to watch over Trinity, and touch her little body.  We pray this with confidence that You hear us and that Your will, will be done today.  

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  1Peter 5:6-11