31 Days of Hope - October 31

On this last day of writing about HOPE, I do hope that God touched your heart with His HOPE, His love and His truth. This was a wonderful thing for me to do as it made me focus on HOPE, too. This month has had it's up and downs but as I struggled on those days that were bad, I would think of the Scriptures that I had written here and meditated on and it would give me HOPE. I pray that it did the same for you!

My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope

Acts 2:26 

I do love this Scripture so much and it truly sums up the 31 Days of Hope perfectly. As someone who lives with daily pain, to know that my body can rest in HOPE is such a comfort!!! 

Yes, my heart and my tongue rejoice and I share this HOPE willingly because I see what He has done in my life He can do in yours. 

Praying you go forward in HOPE!!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 30

I had a few days of pain after my horrible swelling and pain the other day. Thankfully, my pain is better and my HOPE is higher than ever that the Lord is working through all this. I had someone text me the other day and she said, "I believe that God is using you right where you are to impact lives for Him!" My heart has a hard time taking that in but I pray that it's always true and that God can use me to touch others always. It's people speaking words of HOPE and love into my life that really keeps me going!

I want to encourage you that God is using you right where you are to impact lives, too! Sometimes we just don't see how we can be when we're home bound or in a job that doesn't feel like it's making much of an impact of any kind. Let me assure you that if you're living your life for God and staying grounded in His word, you're bringing HOPE to others through your light!

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-15

As our light shines, we glorify the Lord and, hopefully, bring others into a desire to know Him more. That is a huge impact, my friend! I pray that we will both shine brightly for Him!

Blessings - Julie 

31 Days of Hope - October 29

 

I'm going to share with you, what I think, is one of the most HOPE filled Scriptures of the Bible:

 "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33 

In this Scripture, Jesus is sharing that He has overcome this world. When we are seeing suffering in this world or when we ourselves are suffering, we can know that Jesus is in control. For me knowing this does exactly what Jesus commands us to do here - be courageous! If I thought I was in control of everything, I would be overwhelmed and, quite frankly, lost. Knowing I don't have to figure it all out gives me so much HOPE and courage. I'm so thankful that I don't have to depend on myself! 

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 28

This was a hard day so I'm going to deviate a little on this post from what I've been doing. It's still going to be about HOPE because even in the hard things, there's HOPE.

I went to my pain management doctor today and the nurse practitioner I've been seeing since 2008 is no longer there. They just sprung it on me and to say I was shocked and sad is a huge understatement. Lisa has seen me through my three herniated discs and then the knee replacement when my artery got cut. She called me in the hospital I was flown to to check on me. She's the one that first realized I had an infection and sent me straight to the hospital. I thought of her as not only my NP, but my friend. I'm devastated that she's gone and evidently moving out of state. I would have liked to have hugged her neck and said goodbye. 

The new NP was nice, but he's a young man and time will tell how we relate. The unfortunate thing is I had to wait 45 minutes to see him, then we went over everything, which took time, and then he left the room to see another patient before coming back to finish with me. I was there over two hours, sitting in a chair with my legs down, and of course, they ballooned up. I came home and did my vasopneumatic machine right away, but it was not very helpful. I then decided to go in and lie down with my legs on pillows and hoped that would help, but the pain just got worse and worse and I was crying from the pain. I can take a lot of pain so for me to cry, it's bad. My sweet hubby came in and rubbed my legs which helped, but as I was lying there, it was 10:15pm and I was wishing that it wasn't so late so I could text someone to ask for prayer. Then it happened...a God thing!

My dear friend texted me to see how my doctor appointment went! I couldn't believe it! Such a blessing from God! I told her as much! I think I scared her, though, because she texted back but I was getting ready for bed and didn't get back to my phone for a few minutes. I'm sure she thought something horrible was going on! I won't do that again. The phone will go with me where I go! Anyway, she prayed for me, texted sweet words of comfort and Scripture. By the time we got done, I was feeling so much better! You have to understand how really special this is. My friend just had surgery and infections herself and here she was pouring herself onto me! I am in tears just thinking about this. It makes me think of this amazing song I love by Needtobreath called "Brother". It's about Jesus being our shelter, but to me it's also about those sisters in Christ that stand with us when we need them. There a line that says, "I can be the one you call, when you're low", and I think of this friend who pours the love of Jesus into me. I am so thankful for the gift of her friendship! I'm thankful that she gives me HOPE!

Here is the song I'm talking about. Please listen as I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do. Knowing God is always near is so amazing and gives me so much HOPE!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 27

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, 

our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory 

beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen

 but to the things that are unseen. 

For the things that are seen are transient, 

 but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

So we don't lose heart...so we don't lose heart. Let those words sink in to your heart and soul. God knew that it would be so easy to lose heart as our bodies start betraying us. We start to notice things we could do yesterday, we can't do today; and yes, it is disheartening. It can be something as simple as not being able to sit in a regular chair for too long to something as complicated as not being able to play the sports we once could. It can be that we can't hold that needle to stitch or climb those stairs we used to be able to climb. Whatever it is, it can be discouraging. However, did you notice in this verse that God isn't especially interested in our outer self but our inner self?

He is giving us HOPE by telling us that these momentary afflictions are preparing us for the day of glory! It is preparing us for the great things that we will be a part of eternally. He reminds us that the eternal things are unseen by us now but that there will be a time when we will see them and be a part of them, too, when we put our HOPE and trust in Jesus. 

I won't kid you and tell you that I don't bemoan the fact that I can't do a lot of things I could before. Simple things that seem ridiculous when I tell people I can't do anymore. Just today, my son got enough of the porch he's been working on done so I could sit out there. Unfortunately, I sat out there too long and now my leg looks like someone tried to blow it up like a balloon. Does this make me sad? You bet! However, when I focus on this Scripture and know that there is something more glorious coming my way, it does take the sting out and give me so much comfort. It gives me HOPE for my future when I will stand with Jesus, whole, not in pain, and with no balloon legs! 

Here is the view that I had today

Did I just freak you out? LOL Well, I'm not lying. This huge creature was sitting not too far from me as I was trying to enjoy my time on the porch. I have never seen one of these before and hope I never do again! I'm thinking I will, though, as this is a female and she more than likely laid an egg sac containing 1000 eggs inside somewhere around my porch. Oh joy! I just have to remember she is one of God's creations, too!

Here's a picture of the other view I had today.

Is there anything better? I think not. I am so blessed and so thankful for all that God does for me and for all the HOPE He brings into my life! Please trust in Him so that you can experience this kind of HOPE, too!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 26

I'm a day behind again, dear readers, but I'm going to catch up again! I wasn't feeling real well yesterday and went to bed quite early and still didn't get up until 10 am! I think I'm still needing sleep to heal and I just listen to my body and do what I need to do. 

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

I know I have shared this Scripture more times than I can count but I just have to meditate on it over and over. In fact, I have 3 copies of this Scripture framed next to my bed where I can open my eyes and look at it. It gives me HOPE to know that what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen. is all part of God's glorious plan for me. He has promised that He will be with me through all these things and I have to trust and put my HOPE in Him! Quite frankly, if I didn't have this HOPE, I think I would definitely have a break-down. It is because of Him that I can look up instead of breaking down!

I want to show you something that I sat down and made the other day. It was quite an ordeal making this because I was feeling so bad, but I was determined and knew that if I got it made, I would feel so much better having something joyful to use!

It's my fauxdori! Some of you may not know what this is, but I'll explain. It's a fabric folder (of sorts) that has elastics inside that hold my Moleskin books that my hubby bought me to write in. I didn't take a picture of the inside yet, but I will and will share that on another post. I also made the pen holder on the side. There is a interfacing between the two layers of fabric that give it the sturdiness to use as a fauxdori and then the elastic comes around to hold it closed. I just love it and did you notice what it on that fabric? POODLES! I love this fabric!!!

Praying you're finding HOPE in your day!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 25

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

This is one of my favorite Scriptures. I do love that God gives us such a beautiful promise when we HOPE in Him! I have had my weary days (months, really) and I have seen the Lord give me strength when I had none of my own. 

Have you had weary days? Are you going through something difficult? I want to encourage you to HOPE in the Lord - put your trust in Him because He will be there for you. He will give you strength and help you to get through your difficulties. He will not only give you strength, He will comfort you when you feel you can't be comforted. The Holy Spirit knows how to build us up in ways that we can't do for ourselves. I can't explain it, I just know it's true. God has given me so much HOPE and love - it brings tears to my eyes. I HOPE that you will feel that same kind of love and HOPE in your own life!

I want to leave you with a little smile again. Here's that adorable Mitzi! 

She's resting here with me while I watch some TV. I love watching the old, classic shows like The Honeymooners and The Perry Mason Show. I usually watch these in the evening and we sit together in the recliner and relax. She brings me such joy!

Blessings - Julie

 

31 Days of Hope - October 24

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Psalms 139:8

What a difference a day makes! Isn't there a song by that name? Yes, but I digress. 

Yesterday, I was feeling quite low, as you all know, but was encouraged by my son. Then this morning, I received a beautiful message from someone and it encouraged me so much! Sometimes people can send a message or an email and it's like being lifted high on the mountain. I have received several such messages this week and I truly feel that the Lord is encouraging me in an area of my life and giving me great HOPE as only He can do! 

The lovely thing is, it is as the Scripture says...whether I am on that mountain top or in those depths, God is there. He is watching, listening, and giving encouragement not only through His Scriptures but through other people. I am so grateful that God cared enough to give me these nuggets of HOPE and so thankful to those who took the time to share these nuggets. They could have decided it was too much trouble to email or message me, but they didn't. They took the time to listen to God's nudge and share HOPE with me. I am blessed!

One of these very nice things that happened to me was winning this!

Aren't they lovely? I had entered a giveaway by Kregel Publications and was so thrilled to win! This coloring book is full of gorgeous pictures, including Scriptures, and it's just amazing! This is a new favorite thing for me to do - color. Actually, it's not new at all. I remember coloring in high school and in my early years of marriage. It's so fun and such a stress reliever! I love that there are so many beautiful coloring books available these days! This is one of the most beautiful I've seen, though. Here's a picture of some inside pages.

Isn't this the cutest thing? And yes, tea is always a good idea, in my humble opinion! ;) I can't wait to start coloring in this beautiful book and will share some of the pages as I do. Many thanks to Kregel Publications for giving me this beautiful book and all those wonderful pencils!

Even coloring these pages with Scriptures will bring HOPE because it will keep me focused on God's Word! You sit and color these pages, look at the Scripture and meditate on it. There's something about the process of coloring and meditating that helps me to really put these Scriptures in my heart. I HOPE this makes sense because I really encourage you to try this wonderful pastime.

I HOPE that God is sending you special thoughts, Scriptures and messages from others that will encourage you and give you HOPE! I also HOPE that you will think of some people in your life that could use some encouragement and HOPE and be the messenger that brings it to them. A card in the mail, a text message or an email can really brighten someone's day and bring them HOPE from God!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days Of Hope - October 23

I'm changing up my format a bit today. I had a rather tough day today all because an extended family member decided last night to push all my buttons. She knows exactly how to make me feel "less than" and, even though I tell myself I won't allow her to affect me, she does. Every. Time. Does this ever happen to you? 

These are the types of things that at can make us lose HOPE. I'm telling you, these are the type of people that satan loves to use in our life. They can make us take out eyes off the road, so to speak. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." If my eyes aren't focused on Jesus and the goal He has set for me, then evil wins. 

I'm better tonight but it's really hard being around someone who wants to do nothing but tear you down. I'm blessed that I don't live with, or even in the same city, as this person that wants me to feel like a failure. I know the reason she does this is to make herself feel better about herself, but it doesn't make it easier to be her victim. My heart aches for those out there that live with someone like that. I've been there and done that and I'm so thankful I knew the Lord because He is the One that truly got me through those years. I spent a lot of time on my knees in prayer and He was with me. I'm also grateful that I don't have to live with someone like that now. 

I'm sharing a picture of Mitzi as a change because she always makes my heart happy and I hope she will lighten your heart as well! 

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 22

The Lord values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.

Psalm 147:11

When we put our HOPE in the Lord, when we have awe of Him, He values us. He loves all His children, but those of us who give our lives to Him, hold a special value. When we trust Him, He is able to work in our lives. When we have HOPE in Him, we are opening our heart to allow Him to work in our life and do what is best for us. 

It may not always look the way we want it to look. God works in our lives in ways that will bless us. His concern is our relationship with Him. As we are going through a difficult situation or have a stronghold in our life we want to change, we need to try and remember to put Him first. I'm not going to lie and tell you this is easy. Personally, when I have had my hard days, I've wanted to crawl into a ball and sleep. Sleep has always been my first choice of escape. For you, it may be something different, but can I encourage us both to make our first choice Jesus? 

Do something easy; meditate on a favorite Scripture and pray over it. I know I've shared the one that gave me so much HOPE was Psalms 91:4. 

(This is a special gift I received from a friend)

I would read it over and over until I had it memorized. I would pray this Scripture and believe that God was covering me. It comforted me to imagine Him protecting me from all the things that frightened me. As you are able to do more, do more. Memorize and meditate on more Scriptures, follow a plan to read through your Bible and above all else, pray! 

God give us so much HOPE - He loves us with more love than anyone else ever has. Trust in Him as you go through your difficult time and sit back and watch Him work miracles in your life!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 21

I wait for the Lord; I wait, and put my hope in His word.

Psalm 130:5

Do you ever feel like you're waiting forever for something to change? Do you feel like you're going to be stuck in the same situation forever? I know exactly how you feel. When I had my open wounds, I would wait each nurse visit for those bandages to come off and then I would HOPE and pray that I was going to see healing. Unfortunately, most of the time there was no healing or the healing would be the wrong type of healing and I would be devastated again. My HOPE would be dashed and the tears would flow. I had to wait...I had to wait for the Lord and HOPE in Him!

Now the wounds are healed but there is still the healing of my body and emotions to be done and I'm waiting again. Waiting with fervent HOPE and faith in the Lord who has shown me so many times how amazing and faithful He is! I want to rush the healing - I want to get on with my life, but I know that God has my healing under His perfect timing. I have to have the trust and HOPE in Him and know that He has this under control! 

On those days I need to stay in my jammies with a good book and read, I do! I have learned to be gentle with myself. There is nothing so urgent to do that I need to delay my healing. The dust bunnies will stay where they are (even if they do grow a few more, who cares?), the elaborate meals won't be made, and the laundry pile may get a little higher, but I won't be able to do anything if I don't get better. I do what I can do when I can do it...and it's okay! The world hasn't stopped, my family is okay and, little by little, I'm getting better.

If you're healing right now, be patient with God and keep your HOPE. Be gentle with yourself and remember that you can let things go until you're feeling better. Do what you can, but don't make yourself worse. It is all in His hands and that can give us the greatest HOPE!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 20

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a difficult time.

Proverbs 17:17

Friends are so important - especially to us women. We need to share our hearts with each other and know we have a safe place to share. This is especially important when we're hurting. Our friends can give us HOPE and, if we have a friend that's especially close, that friend can be more like a sister. Our sisters are there for us in difficult times and stand by us in times of real trouble. They love us when we feel unlovable and make us feel okay when we are in a pit of heartache. 

It's important to be that kind of friend, too. I'm learning this more and more as I go through the heartaches of life. When we need that kind of a friend, we want to be that kind of a friend. I want to be that kind of friend. I am working on reaching out more to the women in my life. I'm an introvert by nature and it's not easy for me to reach out. I really want to reach out, but I'm not always sure how. The thing I'm realizing is it's just important to reach out. Reach out in kindness but just reach out!

Like myself, my friends need HOPE, too. They need to know that I care about them. It can be a simple as a text saying I care or as elaborate as making a meal for her family. The important thing is to let our friends know we care. We don't always know what our friends are going through. I found that out the hard way this week when a friend contacted me and I found out she has been going through a very hard situation. I felt so bad because I didn't know before but so glad she let me know now! I love this friend so much and I want to be a sister to her, too. I want to pray for her, be there for her and bring her the HOPE of Jesus. 

 

I have other friends that aren't going through things, but I'm working on keeping in touch with them, too. I have one friend that I'm emailing, another I'm texting, and another I call. It doesn't matter how we nurture our relationships, we just need to do it! Some friends are harder to get to know than others. Some of my friends are introverts, like me. I'm sure some of the people I know would say I'm hard to get to know and they would be right! It's not that I don't want them to know me, I'm just the way I am. I'm trying to be better about this, too, as it gives me HOPE to have these women in my life. 

 

 

I encourage you to nurture your friendships or make new friendships. It gives us so much HOPE to have women we can share with!

 

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 19

As we HOPE for a change in our circumstances, it can be difficult to remember how greatly we are loved. We may feel so alone and, at times, so sad. Yet, if we just focus on this Scripture...

Now these three remain:

faith, hope, and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

The greatest of these is love. Dear one - you are loved. You are loved by the One who is love - God. 

Sometimes this is hard to accept. We may feel that we are being punished for some great sin we have committed or that we are unlovable. I remember feeling that way many days when I was deep in the healing process. Even now, there are days when the pain comes and I wonder why God has forgotten me? Why is He punishing me? We mustn't forget Job! His afflictions were purely spiritual warfare going on around him. We don't know what's happening in the Spiritual world but we know that something is happening all the time - all around us. I believe by reading the Scriptures, that those of us who are believers in Christ have warfare being fought for us all the time. What greater thing for the evil one than to discourage or even turn God's children? He's not interested in those that already follow him - he's interested in those he doesn't have. 

There are three things that are powerful as we go through our difficult times - Faith, HOPE, and Love. We need all three to form a powerful rope that can't be broken when times of trouble come. One strengthens the other and they each build one another up. They do the same for us. We get strength from each of these. Our faith in Jesus is the cornerstone and our HOPE and love is built on Him for, without Him, there is nothing. 

God bless you - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 18

For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.

Romans 15:4

Endurance through pain. This is something I never really thought I would end up having to deal with. When we're young (if we're blessed), our bodies work and there isn't the pain issues. Now, it's all I deal with...day after day. Tonight, I'm struggling but there is HOPE.

The Scripture above gives us a key to having HOPE. It's through the Scriptures - those in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Both Testaments point to the One who gives us the only true HOPE there is - Jesus. 

I call on Him when I feel like I can't go on and He is there. I pray for healing and this gives me HOPE. He may not ever heal me, but He always comforts me and I know that He understands what it is to suffer. He suffered so much for us on the cross.

If you are suffering with something that is too much for you to handle, give it to Jesus who will carry your burden and give you HOPE. We are not alone. 

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 17

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

When my children were in second and fourth grade, we realized that the school they were going to was not working for them. My oldest son, in particular, was being tormented (this is not too strong of a word) by his teacher. She did not like boys and she really didn't like my son. He was in tears many days when I would pick him up and he went from being a A student to struggling to do his school work. We tried, in vain, to talk to the principal and teacher so we made the decision to homeschool our sons. This was absolutely the best decision we ever made!

I had never thought of homeschooling but I looked at it as a calling from God and treated it as such. I really loved that we could make Jesus the center of our schooling, too! Proverbs 22:6 became our school Scripture and we tried very hard to train our children in the way that God would want us to.

Now that my children are grown, I see evidence of the that training. I also see two men who love God and try to live their lives in such a way as to honor Him. This gives me HOPE for the future!

It's easy to look around our world and lose HOPE for our future. However, when I look at my sons, I still have HOPE. There are some in my son's generation who are living their lives for Christ, who are standing strong in their faith despite the chance of persecution, or as we saw in Oregon, the chance of death. They are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will stand for Him.

As I have gone through so many health issues in the past few years - mostly pain - both of my sons have shown compassion and love. They have never made me feel like a burden but have loved me unconditionally. They have encouraged me to see and use my talents. They have given me HOPE on days when I felt hopeless.

I am so proud of my sons and love them so much. They work hard and yet always have time for fun and laughter. They both put Jesus first in their lives and have taught me to be a better person, too. I have HOPE that they will make their worlds a little better for having been in them. I have HOPE that they will bring others to Christ just by observing them. I am thankful that through their love of Jesus, they will show others that there is HOPE in Him!

Blessings - Julie 

31 Days of Hope - October 16

Today is beautiful here. Thunder in the distance and cool breezes coming through my open window. I love days like this. After the heat of the summer, it's so comforting to have these gorgeous, cool days. Naps on a day like today are a must...curling up in bed with a good book, a special treat!

It's the little things in life that bring pleasure and HOPE. We can find comfort in the little pleasantries and blessings that God provides us. I am so very thankful that I can take these much needed naps and that I have these wonderful books that I read. I am also thankful for a husband that takes care of me and allows me what I need to heal. I realize how very blessed I am.

I hope your day is filled with the little treats and blessings that God gives us and that you are full of HOPE for your future days, too!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 15

I'm having some really tired days! Last night I was up all night until 5 am, so is it any wonder? Part of it's age, part of it is pain. The only good thing was that my hubby was up, too, and we sat and had a midnight snack and watched old game shows together. We can always make the best of a bad situation.

When we're tired, though, it can cause our HOPE to get foggy, too. It's easy to see the gloomy side of things when we're tired and it's a time that satan will double his attacks. I have to really be in prayer during these tired days - short, heart-felt prayers help a lot. When you're tired, you don't always have the energy to pray long prayers. God hears our little prayers, too!

   Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Romans 12:12

I love this Scripture. It puts in a nutshell exactly what we need to do when we are afflicted. Whether inflicted in pain, a situation in our lives that we find it hard to deal with, or insomnia, or something else, God tells us to be patient. Then he tells us to rejoice in our HOPE! When we have HOPE we can rejoice, right? Finally, and most important, we must be persistent in prayer. 

I love how God gives us exactly what we need to do in His Word. God is so good and loving! I'm so thankful that my HOPE is in Him alone!

Blessings - Julie

31 Days of Hope - October 14

Each day brings more HOPE. As I get better, physically and emotionally, HOPE is stronger. I am so thankful for what the Lord does through His healing and His strong presence in my life.

But I will hope continually

and will praise You more and more.

Psalm 71:14

The more I praise the Lord, the more my HOPE flows. Focusing on the Lord, and not myself, is the key. This isn't easy - I don't want to pretend it it! When I'm hurting, it's really hard not to focus on that pain or that problem. It's hard not to feel depressed or sad, but I know that I have to stop this self-destructive behavior because it's like a bottomless pit where there is no HOPE! 

I hope you'll focus on the Lord, too, when you're feeling hopeless because through Him, there is HOPE!!!

Here's a picture of sweet Cookie. She is such a dear and she gives me so much love. Between Mitzi and Cookie, I'm swamped in unconditional poodle love! :)

Many blessings and lots of poodle hugs - Julie