APRIL-JUNE 2019
RUNYOURRACE+
You have a destiny to fulfill. It is time to dream and believe again!
FLIGHT+
Will you open your heart to Him, to see Him seeing you?
THEPATHOFLIFE+
Are you still looking for your correct path?
+ Momentum's
POWER
ONSPIRITUAL MATTER
MELISSA' S W elcome to this issue of Point of H ope! I am so excited for what God is doing in this season of our lives. T here is a movement of God occurring right now, and many have been feeling very displaced, disoriented, and even hidden or lost. T hese feelings are not because you have disappointed God, or that you have missed the mark with H im. T he fact of the matter is that God has orchestrated these things within your life to take you on a new journey of intimacy with H im. H e is breaking off hindrances of ?legalism? that have infiltrated you. W e can interpret this time as the pruning season. Pruning is the removing of dead areas (e.g. from a plant) that is either stunting or hindering growth. Pruning is essential for growth! In this season of pruning, legalism is being removed so we can move into greater depths of intimacy with God. 17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Chr ist will be r eleased deep inside you, and the r esting place of his love will becom e the ver y sour ce and r oot of your life. 18?19 Then you will be em power ed to discover what ever y holy one exper iences? the gr eat m agnitude[a] of the
O U R T EA M Founder/ President Rev. Melissa D. Pearce
ContributingWriters Toni Hembree
H EA RT astonishing love of Chr ist in all its dim ensions. H ow deeply intim ate and far -r eaching is his love! H ow endur ing and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond m easur em ent that tr anscends our under standing? this extr avagant love pour s into you until you ar e filled to over flowing with the fullness of God! (T PT - Ephesians
3:17- 19) God desires for our root systems to be grounded in H im and not for what we do for H im. T ake your position in God, abiding in H is love, and allow H is love to transform every part of your being. Do not allow the spirit of despair or hopelessness to set in. Stop listening to the lies and listen to the voice of T ruth. God is not ashamed of you, angry with you, disappointed in you, nor has H e rejected you. On the contrary, H e is preparing you for what is to come! I hope that you glean from others who have journeyed similar paths as you, and that you become inspired and filled with H is hope! H e?s not through with you, H e?s only beginning! In H im, Rev. M elissa Pearce
W A N T M O RE? Checkout more happenings at:
Endur ingHopeMinist r ies.com
Rev. Melissa D. Pearce
Copy Editor
Mary Beth Pecora
Ginny Gates
Colette White
G ET CO N N EC T ED / ENDURINGHOPEMINISTRIES
@EHMHOPEENDURES
Point of Hope is published by Enduring Hope Ministries, a non-profit organization, Fort Myers, FL Š USA 2019 Enduring Hope Ministries, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited by federal law. Point of Hope has no subscription price and is supported through the contributions of our supporters. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies) For more information: please call (239) 362-1050 or visit www.enduringhopeministries.com
POH MAGAZINE
JULY-SEPT 2019
RUN YOUR RACE You have a destiny to fulfill. It is time to dream and believe again!
M OM ENTUM 'S POWER
FLIGHT Will you open your heart to Him, to see Him seeing you?
THE PATH OF LIFE Are you still looking for your correct path?
Magazine Layout & Designs created by: L ogicWebDesigns.com | contact@logicwebdesigns.com Point of Hope is a publication dedicated to encouraging and equipping people of all ages with the Word of God. Our Goal is to provide readers with life applicable articles that will edify and strengthen their personal walks.
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
'
RUN YOUR
RACE It's time WRITTEN BY: REV. MELISSA PEARCE
to dr eam again
Upon waking this morning, I heard the Lord say this phrase, ?Run your race!? At first, I was caught off guard. As I inquired of Him as to what He meant, I heard Him say, ?In times past, the enemy has tried to keep you from forging ahead, but this is My appointed time over your life to run the race I have destined for you! I have placed My dream within you to reveal My glory.? We are in God?s appointed time to run the race He has destined for us. The enemy wants to use past disappointments, failures and discouragement to hinder you, but God is decreeing for renewal over you. Now is not the time to give up nor give in. As you stay hydrated in Him, the Living Water, He will give you the strength to push forward. Run your race is God?s commission to you to embrace the dreams, that were once tabled, with a new passion and fervor.
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
05
God's Appointed Time ?For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry? (NKJV- Habakkuk 2:3). God does not release a dream within your heart to be squashed, squandered or silenced. God releases His visions so that we will partner with Him in His appointed time. When we execute His intentions, His glory will be revealed. God?s appointed time is His designated period in which He has decreed in the heavenlies to be executed on the earth. ?Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son? (NKJV- Genesis 18:14). It was God?s appointed time to fulfill His covenant promise to Abraham. The appointed time was for Sarah, Abraham?s wife to birth a son. For many of you, this is your appointed time to birth the dream that God has placed within you. However, there has been past circumstances that have been tripping you up, causing you to stumble, fumble and fall. God is releasing a renewal over your mind. You will no longer be bound to what was; it?s now time to be filled with anticipation, expectation, hope and promise. This renewal is going to cancel the spirit of unbelief off your life as it relates to your abilities. You are going to see the true value you possess. Where doubt had ensnared you in the past, it will no longer keep you hostage. The lies you once believed that you were not capable, not adequate, not enough, or not ready will be muzzled and replaced with God?s truth. It?s time to strip doubt from your mind and build yourself in the faith, seizing God?s absolute faithfulness. It?s time for you to birth your dream to run your race.
Your Appointed Time ?Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God?s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let
06
2019 July-Sept Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us? (NKJV- Hebrews 12:1). This is your appointed time to birth the promises of what God has given to you. You cannot allow past failures, disappointments, and discouragement to become the unnecessary weight you carry. Some may have ridiculed you for believing, judged you for past failures or belittled you for trying. You cannot allow the actions of others to determine nor define what God had given to you. If you do, you can quickly fall into a pit of despair, defeat and hopelessness. This is your season to partner with God and to strip off this unnecessary weight that is entangling you to start running again! God?s renewal is causing a revitalization to occur with your faith. You see yourself in a new light His light! You are dusting off your running shoes and training with Him again. God is breaking off discouragement and replacing it with courage. You are forging ahead and forgetting what is behind, because He has placed His passion within your heart to run this race with endurance, persistence and determination.
You Have A Destiny To Fulfill Your dream isn?t just for you, but the dream God has given to you is to reach the lives of others. Your dream is to have an impact for His glory and honor. ?Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us" (AMP ? Ephesians 3:20). You have a destiny to fulfill. It is time to dream and believe again! It is time to place your expectation and anticipation in God. This is your appointed time! So, run your race with your eyes like flint on Him, the Author and Finisher, knowing what He started, He will bring it to completion. In Him, Rev. Melissa Pearce
GOD HAS PLACED HIS PASSION WITHIN YOUR HEART TO RUN THIS RACE WITH ENDURANCE, PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION.
Toni Hem bree
Am u sem en t par k s ar e on e of m y favor ite th in gs abou t su m m er. I h ave fon d m em or ies of an xiou sl y weavin g in an d ou t of th e cr owds to get to m y favor ite r ides, del igh tfu l sm el l s of cotton can dy an d fu n n el cak e in th e air ,win n in g stu ffed an im al s bigger th an m y pin t-sized body,an d con qu er in g m y fir st r ol l er coaster r ide. I h ad ju st tu r n ed seven (an d too big for th e k iddies?r ides), an d I k n ew it was tim e to face m y u l tim ate fear. I tr ied to avoid it al l day,bu t m y m oth er wou l dn ?t l et m e back down . W h en sh e gr abbed m y sweaty l ittl e pal m an d l ed m e to th e fr on t of th e l in e, I k n ew th er e was n o tu r n in g back . Bu t as l on g as sh e was th er e, I k n ew ever yth in g was goin g to be ok ay. After th at, it so h appen ed th at r ol l er coaster s becam e th e r eason I wen t to th e am u sem en t par k ! Som etim es h avin g an oth er per son by you r side is al l th e m om en tu m you n eed. On ce you ar e set in to m otion , it?s easier to k eep goin g. ? ? ? ? M om en tu m is th e im petu s gain ed by a m ovin g object. If an object is stil l , it is n ot goin g to gain m om en tu m . You can ?t r ide th e r ol l er coaster if you don ?t get in l in e. You ?ve got to m ove towar d it to get on it. Som etim es, th at r equ ir es an oth er per son ?s m om en tu m , i.e., m y m om , to star t you r s. Th e sam e pr in cipl e appl ies in spir itu al m atter s wh en ou r wal k with Ch r ist is stal l ed ? som etim es it tak es an oth er per son to get u s m ovin g again . Fear ,dou bt, distr action , an d in secu r ity ar e m om en tu m k il l er s th at can stop u s in ou r tr ack s. Th ey r epl ace ou r h eaven l y zeal with ear th l y l ogic. W e n ot on l y depr ive th e Spir it of com m u n ion with God, bu t al so H is Kin gdom of its wor k . Bel ieve it or n ot, M oses h ad exper ien ced th is for a good par t of h is l ife.
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
? ? ? ? M ost of u s th in k of M oses as on e of th e gr eatest l eader s in th e Ol d Testam en t. Bu t h e didn ?t get th at r ol e u n til h e was wel l in to th e l atter year s of h is l ife. W h en M oses fl ed to M idian ar ou n d th e age of 40, I do n ot th in k h e was con ten t to stay th er e for 40 year s. After al l , h e spen t h is fir st 40 year s in a position of l eader sh ip, n ext to Ph ar aoh n on eth el ess. Bu t h is m om en tu m died wh en h is fear an d gu il t took th e dr iver ?s seat. H e r esol ved to l ive in th e sh adows of th e m ou n tain s u n til God r eign ited h is path (l iter al l y,in th e bu r n in g bu sh !) In th eir fir st en cou n ter ,God r eassu r in gl y tel l s M oses m or e th an on ce th at H e wil l be with h im as M oses l eads th e Isr ael ites ou t of Egypt, bu t M oses can ?t get past th e l ogic of wh y: ?Suppose I go to the I sr aelites and say to them , ?The God of your father s has sent m e to you,?and they ask m e, ?W hat is his nam e??Then what shall I tell them ?? (NIV - Exodu s 3:13). W h il e God?s in itial r espon se is an yth in g bu t l ogical , [tel l th em ] ?I am has sent m e to you.?? (NIV - Exodu s 3:14) H e even tu al l y gives M oses an ear th l y sol u tion ? th en tak e you r br oth er with you ! (Exodu s 4:14-17). ? ? ? ? As a r esu l t, M oses?br oth er Aar on becom es th e k ick star ter for M oses? m in istr y. H e was al r eady on h is way to m eet M oses (Exodu s 4:15), h en ce, h e was th e object in m otion ! Fr om th is poin t on , M oses is u n stoppabl e: th e Isr ael ites ar e fr eed, th e Red Sea is par ted, th e Ten Com m an dm en ts ar e r eceived, th e 613 H ebr ew Laws ar e wr itten , th e Taber n acl e is bu il t, an d th e Pen tateu ch is assem bl ed. Even after h is death , M oses?zeal in spir es Josh u a to do gr eat th in gs in th e Pr om ised Lan d! Despite th e fact th at M oses faced som e pr etty big m om en tu m k il l er s al on g th e way l ik e com pl ain in g Isr ael ites, 40 year s in th e wil der n ess, an d n o adm ittan ce to th e Pr om ised Lan d, h e n ever l ost h is passion for doin g God?s wor k . Each adven tu r e l ed to th e n ext, an d each with a gr eater pu r pose th an th e l ast. H er e ar e a few r eason s wh y I bel ieve M oses r em ain ed m or e m otivated in th e fin al year s ver su s th e for m er year s of h is l ife:
10
2019 July-Sept Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
FEAR,DOUBT,DISTRACTION,AND INSECURITYAREMOMENTUMKILLERS THATCANSTOPUSINOURTRACKS
1) H e i d en t i f i ed h i s l i m i t at i on s an d
bur den of the people with [M oses] so
h esi t at i on s: ?I have never been
that [he] will not have to car r y it
eloquent, neither in the past nor
alone.? An d in Exodu s 17:12, ?W hen
since you have spoken to your
M oses' ar m s gr ew tir ed, Aar on and
ser vant. I am slow of speech and
H ur br ought a stone for him to sit on,
tongue.? (NIV -Exodu s 4:10)
while they stood beside him and held
2) H e d i d w h at God sai d t o d o ev en
up his ar m s, holding them steady
t h ou gh h e d i d i t af r ai d : But M oses
until the sun went down.?
said to the Lor d, ?I f the I sr aelites will
? ? ? ? Th e accom pl ish m en ts of
not listen to m e, why would Phar aoh
M oses in th e l atter 40 year s of h is l ife
listen to m e, since I speak with
ar e tr u l y astou n din g. On ce h e was set
falter ing lips?? (NIV - Exodu s 6:12).
in m otion , h e was l ik e th e sn owbal l
Bu t M oses pu ts h is tr u st in th e Lor d
effect in h u m an for m . W h eth er in th e
ah ead of h is fear an d dem an ds th at
wil der n ess or on a m ou n tain , M oses?
Ph ar aoh l ets th e Isr ael ites go, n ot
m om en tu m cou l d n ot be stopped ? h e
on ce, bu t sever al tim es over (Exodu s
even h ad im peccabl e vision an d
7-11).
m ain tain ed h is str en gth u n til th e day
3) H e d i d n ?t d w el l on d i scou r agem en t bu t gav e i t t o God : ?One day the I sr aelites star ted com plaining about their tr oubles. The Lor d hear d them and becam e so angr y that he destr oyed the outer edges of their cam p with fir e. W hen the people begged M oses to help, he pr ayed, and the fir e went out." (CEV Nu m ber s 11:1-2)
h e died! (Deu ter on om y 34:7). If you r m om en tu m h as stal l ed, ask God to sh ow you wh y an d h ow to over com e it. Be specific abou t wh atever h esitation s you h ave m ovin g for war d in th e th in g(s) God h as cal l ed you to do. If you 'r e u n cer tain abou t tack l in g it al on e, th en pr ay for an Aar on to com e by you r side, tak e you by th e h an d, an d l ead you over th e m ou n tain . An d if you ar e fear fu l of th e th in g God h as cal l ed
4) H e w as abl e t o d el egat e
you to do, do it afr aid. If H e cal l ed you
r esp on si bi l i t i es an d r el y on ot h er s
to it, H e will see you th r ou gh it!
f or h el p : In Nu m ber s 11:16-30 God appoin ts 70 el der s to ?shar e the
~Ton i H em br ee? ? ? ?
Th e stor y of H agar is a fascin atin g on e. Sh e h el d a cam eo r ol e in th e gr eater stor y of Abr am an d Sar ai. M ost often , th e Gen esis 16 accou n t is tol d to r em in d u s n ot to ju m p ah ead of God?s tim in g wh en we ar e bein g im patien t abou t th e m an ifestation of H is pr om ises. Bu t dig a l ittl e deeper ,an d you ?l l fin d th at h er stor y is on e of pr om ises given an d God?s m agn ificen t pu r su it of ever yday,or din ar y peopl e. H agar was Sar ai?s m aidser van t. Appar en tl y,for th is cu l tu r e an d tim e, it was per fectl y n or m al for m aidser van ts to act as a type of su r r ogate for th eir m istr ess wh en it cam e to ch il dbear in g. An d th at?s wh at H agar did for Sar ai wh en Sar ai r eal ized th at sh e was n ot becom in g pr egn an t in accor dan ce to God?s pr om ise of Abr am h avin g h is own son . Th e pl an was h atch ed an d H agar was given to Abr am as a wife. Sh e becam e pr egn an t.
FLIGHT Co le tte W h ite
Can you im agin e h ow qu ick l y th in gs
u n til sh e fl ed.
ch an ged for H agar ? On e m om en t, bein g
M aybe you can r el ate. You ?ve don e th e best
ch il dl ess an d a sl ave, an d th e n ext to bear in g
you can in you r situ ation , don e al l th at was
th e son of pr om ise for th is God-br eath ed
ask ed of you , an d m ade som e pr etty h u ge
em er gin g fam il y dyn asty of a ch osen n ation .
sacr ifices in th e m iddl e of it al l . You ?ve tak en
Bu t it didn ?t go wel l . For wh atever r eason ,
car e of ever yon e, got th e job don e, an d th en
wh eth er sh e got a l ittl e too big for h er boots,
su dden l y,som eth in g back fir es. An d it?s n ot
or per h aps becau se sh e was deepl y gr ievin g
n ecessar il y you r fau l t. Th e peopl e wh o ar e
th e l oss of h er on l y ch il d to an oth er wom an ,
su pposed to cover or pr otect you stan d back
H agar star ted to despise Sar ai. Sar ai took th e
an d do n oth in g, or wor se yet, poin t th e bl am e
issu e to Abr am , an d h e deftl y abdicated,
at you . You fin d you r sel f as col l ater al
sayin g ?Do with her whatever you think is
dam age. W h at do you do wh en th e
best.? Sar ai r espon ded by m istr eatin g H agar
u n in vited stor m s of l ife begin to settl e in ?
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
17
GODKNOWSTHEANSWERS, BUTHEWILL ASKYOUQUESTIONSASANINVITETOCOME INTOACONVERSATIONWITHHIM. FI GH T OR FL I GH T
?H agar , (H e k n ows h er n am e!!)
H agar ?s n am e m ean s ?fl igh t.? It?s par t
ser vant of Sar ai, (H e k n ows h er
of a r espon se to str ess an d tr au m a we
stor y!!), wher e ar e you com ing
al l h ave ? figh t or fl igh t. W e eith er get
fr om and wher e ar e you going??
back in th e r in g with fists swin gin g at an yon e wh o dar es to com e cl ose, or we r u n as far away as we can fr om th e pr obl em , or per h aps we ju st h ide in a cor n er an d h ope it wil l al l pass over. Non e of th ese ar e good option s, even if th ey ar e gu t in stin ct for al l of u s. Th e good n ews is, God?s got oth er pl an s.
L ET'S H AVE A CH AT God k n ows th e an swer s, bu t th ese ar e qu estion s th at in vite h er in to a con ver sation an d pl ace of tr u st with H im . It?s as th ou gh H e?s sayin g, ?H ey H on ey,l et?s sl ow down a l ittl e. W h at is goin g on in you r l ittl e h ear t? Let?s h ave a ch at.? I su spect th er e was a m u ch l on ger con ver sation th at
In H agar ?s stor y,God l iter al l y goes
u l tim atel y tr an spir ed th an we r ead in
l ook in g for h er. In fact, th e fir st tim e
th e accou n t. I bel ieve God was givin g
th e an gel of th e Lor d is m en tion ed in
H agar th e tim e, space an d awar en ess
th e Bibl e, it is in th is ver y accou n t.
to sl ow down fr om h er fl igh t, an d
Som e sch ol ar s bel ieve th at th is is
r eal l y tak e a good l ook at wh at h ad
Jesu s in car n ate du r in g th e Ol d
been goin g on in h er wor l d an d wh at
Testam en t er a? eith er way,th is
sh e was h opin g to ach ieve with h er
ph en om en al en cou n ter h appen s
cu r r en t exit str ategy. I bel ieve H e
becau se God is in pu r su it of a m er e
wan ts to ask you th ose qu estion s too
sl ave gir l , wh o got stu ck in th e wr on g
as you watch th e stor m cl ou ds
pl ace at th e wr on g tim e. Does th at n ot
swir l in g over h ead. W h at if you stop
m ak e you r h ear t wan t to ju m p ju st a
you r figh t, fl igh t or fr eeze for ju st a
l ittl e? In Gen esis 16:8, H e says,
m in u te, tak e a few deep br eath s, an d
l et you r th ou gh ts an d you r h ear t catch u p to th e m om en t you h ave fou n d you r sel f in ? H ave a l ittl e ch at with God an d en tr u st H im with you r h ear t in th is pl ace.
EL ROI As th is par t of H agar ?s stor y com es to a cl ose, we h ave an oth er stu n n in g m om en t ? in th e pr ocess of th is con ver sation an d
In H agar ?s stor y,God h as a str ategy for h er ,
bl essin g sh e h as h ad with God, sh e h as a
an d even th ou gh H e ask s h er to do a ver y
r evel ation of wh o God is to h er. Sh e n am es
difficu l t th in g by r etu r n in g to Sar ai, I see
H im , El Roi, wh ich m ean s ?the God who sees
com pl ete pr ovision in th is dir ective. You
m e? ? becau se sh e saw th e On e wh o sees
see, Ish m ael wil l be bor n , an d even tu al l y,
h er. God saw h er ,an d th en sh e saw H im
H agar wil l be tol d to l eave again . Bu t in th is
seein g h er. Th e H ebr ew wor d im pl ies a
in -between season , Ish m ael wil l l ive as
m u tu al seein g. Rem em ber ,sh e wen t fr om
Abr am ?s on l y son for 14 year s. H e wou l d
bein g th e bear er of th e pr om ised ch il d to
h ave r eceived al l th e tr ain in g an d n ecessar y
bein g m istr eated an d r ejected an d r u n n in g.
sk il l s to be th e m an th at God was cal l in g
Bu t El Roi saw h er. H e saw h er in fl igh t fr om
H im to be, an d to u l tim atel y fu l fil l th e
h er stor m an d H e cam e after h er. H e cam e
bl essin g th at God was givin g to H agar in
to bl ess h er ,to defen d h er an d give h er a
th at ver y pain fu l m om en t ? th at h er
pr om ise of h er own .
descen dan ts wou l d be too n u m er ou s to cou n t.
Can you see God seein g you r igh t n ow? W h at does H e see abou t you in th is stor m y
God h as a wor d for you too. It cou l d be
m om en t? Does H e see wh at oth er s h ave
str ategy. It cou l d be a pr om ise. It cou l d be
said or accu sed you of? Or does H e h ave
an oth er qu estion to open you r h ear t
H is ver sion th at H e wan ts you to see, to l ean
fu r th er. Eith er way,H e is al ways pr esen t for
in to an d step in to?
u s in th e stor m s of l ife, an d al ways l ean in g in cl oser to wh isper h ope, com for t an d
El Roi is l ook in g for you . W il l you open you r h ear t to H im , to see H im seein g you ?
str en gth . ~Col ette W h ite
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
19
22
2019 July-Sept Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
THE PATH OF LIFE B y : M ary Beth Pecora
Ar e y ou st i l l l ook i n g f or y ou r cor r ect p at h ? Ar e y ou seek i n g a p at h , n ot ju st t o w al k on , bu t a p at h f or y ou r l i f e? Ou r l ives h ave tak en u s down m an y path s, som e th at ar e good an d som e th at ar e n ot so good. W e al l h ave wal k ed down th ose l on g, dar k ?n ot-so-good? path s. Be en cou r aged th at you ar e n ot al on e in you r pu r su it of wal k in g on th e r igh t path . Let m e in tr odu ce you to a path th at l eads to fu l fil l m en t in l ife, for ever ! Th is path was m ade k n own to m e, so it can be m ade k n own to you . I?ve r ead th is scr iptu r e m an y tim es befor e, bu t th is tim e I saw it differ en tl y. ?You have m ade known to m e the path of life; you will fill m e with joy in your pr esence, with eter nal pleasur es at your r ight hand.? (NIV-Psal m 16:11)
In th e H ebr ew l an gu age, th er e is n ot an y tr an sl ation for th e wor d ?pr esence.? W h en th e Psal m ist was speak in g of God?s pr esen ce, h e u sed th e wor d for ?face.? Yes, God?s pr esen ce br in gs u s face-to-face, u pfr on t an d per son al with H im . W h y wou l d we wan t a r el ation sh ip fr om afar ? Distan t r el ation sh ips u su al l y don ?t wor k .
only ON E way to God, by a r elationship with Jesus Chr ist. H e is the way--the pathway!?
I n m y p u r su i t of God ?s p r esen ce, I h ave fou n d th at m an y ar e afr aid to get cl ose to God, so th ey k eep H im at a distan ce. Th is h as pu zzl ed m e for year s, n ot fu l l y u n der stan din g wh y n ear n ess to God wou l d n ot be a pr ior ity in on e?s l ife. In m y n eed of u n der stan din g th is, I l ear n ed th at if we don ?t k n ow th e tr u e, u n con dition al , l ovin g ch ar acter of God (of al ways bein g good), th en we wil l m isu n der stan d H is n atu r e an d ju st wh o H e is. God is l ove.
Ou r p at h of l i f e i s a jou r n ey of get t i n g cl oser an d cl oser t o God . H e so l on gs for a deep, in tim ate, per son al r el ation sh ip. W h y? W e ar e H is ch il dr en . H e wan ts u s to k n ow H is secu r ity, l ove an d pr otection as a Fath er ,a good, good Fath er. H e is awaitin g to r el ease, fr om H is h an ds, in to ou r h an ds, eter n al pl easu r es. H e wan ts u s to exper ien ce H is joy, wh en we com e face-to-face (ver y n ear ) with H im . H e h as con tin u al bl essin gs to sh ar e with u s.
I on ce h ear d a wel l -k n own tal k sh ow h ost say,?Ther e ar e m any paths to God.? W h en sh e m ade th at statem en t, som eth in g in side of m e scr eam ed, ?N o! Ther e is
Listen to th e secu r ity an d pr otection H e h as pr om ised wh en we con tin u al l y pu r su e H im . You h ave h ear d th e ph r ase, ?H e?s got
24
2019 July-Sept Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
If you str u ggl e with wh at you r path of l ife is an d n ot u n der stan din g wh o you r path way is, th is cou l d be th e r eason wh y you ar e str u ggl in g. Let?s l ook a l ittl e deeper in to th e scr iptu r e above.
?But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.? (N IV- Psalm 10:14) the whole wor ld in H is hands.? Th er e is som e tr u th to th at son g. Pr otection an d secu r ity ar e in H is h an d, H is r igh t h an d. ?I have set the Lor d always befor e m e. Because H e is at m y r ight hand, I will not be shaken.? (NIV-Psal m 16:8) Th e r igh t h an d sign ifies su stain er an d pr otector. Th at?s wh o H e is! H er e?s an oth er pr om ise: ?Yet I am always with you; you hold m e by m y r ight hand.? (NIV- Psal m 73:23)
Yet, an oth er on e: ?For he stands at the r ight hand of the needy one, to save his life fr om those who condem n him .? (NIV-Psal m 109:31) Ar e you n eedy or in n eed of bein g r escu ed or fr ee fr om bein g con dem n ed? H e stan ds at YOUR r igh t h an d. God k n ow s ev er y st r u ggl e, ev er y h u r t , an d t r ou bl e. H er e?s wh at H e does abou t it: ?But you, O God, do see tr ouble and gr ief; you consider it to take it in hand.? (NIV-Psal m 10:14) H e tak es it u pon H im sel f, in to H is h an ds.
Point Of Hope His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
25
W h en w e ap p eal t o God , H e r u l es. H er e is H is r u l in g: ?For you ar e not a God who takes pleasur e in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.? (NIV-Psal m 5:4) Ever y attack , H e sh al l r esol ve. Appeal to H im . W h y? W e n eed H im . H e h as eter n al pl easu r es at H is r igh t h an d. Th is is th e on l y type of ?pleasur e? H e oper ates an d car r ies. Th ese ?eter n al pl easu r es? ar e in dicatin g bl essin g u pon bl essin g, u pon bl essin g. If you ar e stil l ask in g abou t th is path of l ife, be wise; l et th is settl e in : ?The path of life leads upwar d for the wise.? (NIV-Pr over bs 15:24) God is ou r r igh t-h an d m an ! H e is th e on e wh o h el ps u s th e m ost, even m or e th an a tr u sted fr ien d or con fidan t. H e is th e on e th at we can depen d on an d tr u st. H e is ou r in dispen sabl e h el per ,wh o is al ways with u s, tak in g u s by ou r r igh t h an d, pu l l in g u s cl ose so we can exper ien ce H is pr esen ce, H is l ove an d H is joy. Let H im tak e you by th e h an d an d l et H im get cl oser ,even cl oser th an you r sk in ! Lettin g H im get ?u n der you r sk in ? wil l al l eviate an yth in g or an yon e el se fr om gettin g th er e. H is special ty is cover in g sk in . H e h ad to pr ovide cover in g for H is fir st son an d dau gh ter ,Adam an d Eve. After th ey m essed u p, ?And the Lor d God m ade clothing fr om anim al skins for Adam and his wife.? (NLT-Gen esis 3:21) H e?s been cover in g m an k in d, sin ce! Lettin g God Be M y Righ t-H an d, Cover in g M an , ~M ar y Beth Pecor a
26
2019 July-Sept Point Of Hope Magazine EnduringHopeMinistries.com
NOWAVAILABLE!
Purchase Your Copy Today:
EnduringHopeMinistries.com/Store
EnduringHopeMinistries.com
Copyright approvals: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.? Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The ?NIV? and ?New International Version? are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.? Scriptures being referenced are from NKJV, NIV and ESV translations.