“When our questions make us doubt God’s heart, our pain can lead to bitterness and bondage. Yet in the security of our relationship with Christ, God wants us to ask the hard questions and look for answers that usher us into the depths of His redeeming love. He wants us to live in the promise that He offers hope for our future despite the pain of our past. He knows our past and our pain can actually lead us to His plans and hope for our future.”
from Chapter 4, A Confident Heart
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Our Word for the week: HOPE
(Download in a PDF or download in MSWord). Please print it and post it everywhere so you can remember that God’s love can satisfy the thirst of your soul!
HIS Word for us this week:
“May the God of hope fill [me] with all joy and peace as [I] trust in him, so that [I] may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13, NIV
Today’s Assignment:
Start or continue reading chapter 4. Remember, take your time and highlight or underline sentences that resonate in your heart.
Connecting in Community:
Let’s commit to memorize this week’s verse together! If you are in, leave a comment by clicking on “share your thoughts” and tell us how you plan to memorize it. I’m writing mine on my mirror and on a ceramic plate in my kitchen for the week.
I’m still sick today but getting better slowly. Would treasure prayers for total healing. Meeting with video editor today to finalize this week’s message so I can share it with you. I’ll be back with a question or something else to we can talk about soon. I’ll just add it to this post (but I’ll email to let you know when I do. Praying for you today!
พูดว่า:Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was questioning your scenario; weve got developed some great techniques and we are looking to exchange options with other folks, be sure to fire me an e-mail if planning to pursue.
@inpressulum Das war ja auch schon bei FB so… jeder tweet der da als Status Update aufgeschlagen ist hat, aufgrund seines kryptischen Äußeren, nur für verwundertes Kopfschütteln gesorgt. Aber nach dem Launch von g+ scheint sich dort ja eine Commnity zu massieren, die sich durch Twitter digital hat sozialisieren lassen – ein Kauf würde, sofern diese Einschätzung stimmt, deshalb Sinn machen
Absolutely beautiful images Paula – love them all. The canvas challenge entry is truly lovely. Thanks so much for joining in with us again. Jean, Crafty Individuals
“God is not responsible for sins in the sense of causation.”In what sense then is He responsible for sins?(I am not sure I should interact with you given the yesterday’s treatment; but hey, it’s a new day)
Life is short, and this article saved vaalblue time on this Earth.
Kristin, i so agree with all your thoughts about praying for our online sisters. As we read each comment, we can lift that sister up to our Father God in prayer. How awesome it must be to our Lord for all these prayers to come floating up to Heaven for each other.
Online Sisters, I am praying for ya’ll! How awesome is it that we have embarked on this journey together!!! I love how we are in all different parts of the world, most of us not knowing one another, yet we are open-minded to share what’s on our hearts. How neat it is to know we are all growing through the challenges and excitements of this study together! I feel like I could type forever… Super excited about all that God is doing in our hearts and lives right this very minute!
Skipping to another thought: if anybody has other ideas on memorizing scripture, send it my way. This has always been a challenging part of my walk with the Lord. I am determined to conquer this! (I still haven’t given up on our other verses…) I enjoyed reading the ideas posted a while back. Still haven’t found the one that “clicks” with me best yet. I KNOW I CAN. I KNOW I CAN. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!
Try praying the scripture for your family, friends etc. Pray it over and over through the week or weeks- not only will you evenually learn it- it will be rooted in your heart and spirit. I not only insert my name but the the names of those I am praying for. Let God speak to your heart about those who needs the particular prayer. You can also write it on sticky pads or paper and stick it in your bible, journal, book you are reading- I move it around so when I open either If I see it I will stop and read it.
First of all, I pray for God’s continued healing for you, Renee. Being sick is not fun and it just takes time to heal. I love Matt 11:28 whenever I’m feeling sick or overworked and it just calms me down. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. I sure hope God has given you some rest this week 🙂 In my college years, it was very hard for me to trust in God’s promises for my future. I had gone down a road that led to nowhere. It started with excessive drinking to try to fit and look cool, that lead to being vulnerable to guys, still wanting to fit in. Thank God, it did not effect my grades or career choice that I had chosen. My junior year of college, I found out I had contracted a sexually transmitted disease, which totally disgusted me and I felt so ashames. That same year, my parents separated and later divorced. I didn’t know where God was in all this and why He allowed it to happen. My saving grace was my senior year when a good friend cared enough for me to show me the bible verses in Romans and pray with me for my salvation. I praise God for putting her in my life at that moment to show me that He had hope for me!! Over 8 years, God has been working in me and changing my perspective to deal with the issues of my past. He has restored me and now I’m praying that He will give me the confidence to share with other and connect with others. I am so thankful for the idea of the timeline you have given us and think it will help out alot. Please pray that I have the boldness to forgive those who have hurt me in the past so I can move on and comfort others.
I’ve had to deal with forgiveness as well and I can honestly say it is something that has to be done in order to move forward in life.
“There it is again”, I said as I saw Jeremiah 29:11. I have claimed this scripture for two of my precious grandson’s who were placed for adoption in 2007 and 2008. As hard as it was, my husband and I had to support our daughter in her decisions for placement. I knew God had wonderful plans for these two little boys as they were placed in loving Christian families. But where do I go from here? How do I totally heal from this and glorify God through my pain? God gave me Jeremiah 29:11 for myself, also. He uses our pain for His glory if we allow Him to. Through these untimely pregnancies and adoption placements God is bringing me up out of the ashes. But I wonder if I will always struggle with “grandparents just don’t do that to their grandchildren.” I am trusting my God for strength to choose to pray His promises when these moments come. God’s timing is perfect. He knew I needed this Bible Study and what a blessing it is. Thank you Renee for allowing God to use you. What an inspiration you are.
Hoping you and your family are feling better and praying for your speedy return to full health for you all. God bless you Renee
sorry meant feeling xx
My life verse! On Hope101.net, I interview recognized guests on how to process emotional pain. Renee was one of my first interviews. You can find her sharing on the archived pages of Hope101.net. As believers we never lose hope, it just gets buried under the pain. Thank you Renee for being a voice of hope on Hope101.net and through this amazing study…A Confident Heart!
Seeing so many people with so many needs, but nothing is too hard for God! Please pray for my husband, Mike, and I as we go through a financial crisis. We need the wisdom and help from above and for the Lord to keep us in the center of His will. Many decisions to be made. Thanks for your prayers! Renee, we will continue to pray for complete healing for you!
I recently read an inspiring thought from Joel Osteen that is neat to pass on. He in effect compared God to A GPS system. The GPS will tell you which direction to go, how far left to go, whats ahead. If you miss a direction, it will recalculate the directions for you. God has set our destination. With a heart to please him, we still may go in the wrong direction, not go far enough as His instructions say, nor head warnings as to what is ahead. He has already recalculated a different route , sometimes many times(without hollering, berating, or putting us down) He is still leading us there. He is soooo patient and loving. I am so glad that He is leading me. He is stronger, wiser, more loving and so filled with wisdom. To know that He is guiding is so comforting!
Dear Tera, I have been in your place so many times. I am praying that our Lord will grant you the healing and rest that you need today. This cold/flu bug is nationwide it seems, but know that he is the great physician and He alone can heal your heart, mind and body in Christ Jesus. Rest in the promises that Renee has in Chapter 12 that Renee keeps hinting about.
Shalom ~
I so am having a dfficult time today, i woke with a horrible headache and my throat is hurting apparently so is my heart. As i was reading chapter 4 the Lord is showing me some areas that i had not known were in need of repair. I have for a long time have been pushing some difficult memories down so that they would not hurt anymore and in doing so i pushed other memories down too. Now they are beginning to surface and like you Renee i am not wanting to sink into a hole of depression. However, like our memory verse reminds me: that God will fill me with all joy and peace as i trust in him, so that i may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Renee. Praying for healing for you! Enjoying this journey and seeing God speak to me in so many different ways about choosing to not throw away my confidence…even when life and people in this world mistreat us. I’m reminded of my own ability to mistreat and harm others and my heart is humbled to stay within the loving, merciful hands of God. I’m realizing the choice I have to obey and cling to truth during difficult emotions and trust Him!
I’m focusing on obeying Him and living in victory today–even though some circumstances are not as I would like them in my life…I know there is hope for my future and I am trusting that God is working it all out for my good…for I am loved!
I’m also thinking alot this weekend about forgiveness and have found great insight in another book http://www.mendingthesoul.org and how we move on even when reconciliation is not possible…when the other party doesn’t meet us at the feet of Jesus…there is still hope–God is here to strenghten me and help me and uphold me on this path that He has for me! I’m learning not to trust in my circumstance but trust in my loving God. Guarding my heart from the people in the world who will never be able to love me like my God does–by allowing God to fill me first, His love covers and protects my wounded heart! The God of hope is filling me with joy and peace as I trust in Him…so that I can overflow with hope! Also, no coincidence that this week’s Girflriendit Radio has a special guest sharing about her journey with forgiveness http://girlfriendit.com/?p=3893
It’s gonna be good!–God’s good timing for my heart too:)
Thank you! Will pray for you right now and I love the plate in the kitchen idea.