A Cup of Hope

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Arrow

I’d like a cup of hope, please.

Wouldn’t that be a nice way to jumpstart your day? Is hope something I can stir up when feeling discouraged? Where can I find it?

The NIV Study Bible describes hope as “unshakable confidence concerning the future”, “not a mere wish.” NIV notes on Romans 5:5 explain, “The believer’s hope is not to be equated with unfounded optimism. On the contrary, it is the blessed assurance of our future destiny and is based on God’s love, which is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and objectively demonstrated to us in the death of Christ.”

The Scriptures below answer where hope can be found and teach what or whom to put our hope in: God, His Word, and His love.

  • “Why are you downcast [depressed], O my soul? Why so disturbed [with grumbling and complaining] within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).
  • “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
  • “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18).

In other verses, hope and waiting or hope and faith go hand in hand:

  • “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).
  • “[W]e wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
  • “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

When needing a helping of hope, may we look to the One who is our hope, the hope that does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5)

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Graduation or Summer School?

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Arrow

Here we are, that time of year where many are graduating, receiving that long-sought-after diploma. The lessons learned have hopefully equipped scholars to successfully embark on their choice career.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

Sometimes, a life of lessons learned can feel like a series of graduations. Other times, we may experience feeling stuck in a series of repeated summer school sessions.

Challenges or seasons of difficulty give us the opportunity to grow in our faith and experience a closer walk with God. Remember, He knows exactly what we need in order to mature in our relationship with Him.

Maturing or “graduating” is up to us. When we refuse to learn the lessons God has for us, we become stuck in a summer school cycle.

That’s what the Israelites did after they left Egypt. God wanted them to understand that He was trustworthy. He was with them and would meet all their needs.

But they repeatedly panicked, grumbled, and complained. Instead of waiting to see how God would provide for them, they went to Moses and whined or took matters into their own hands causing epic failures.

The Israelites were such slow learners that they stayed in the desert for 40 “summer school sessions.” It was the next generation who finally entered God’s promised land.

May we learn from their example and heed the words of James: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

I figure, becoming “mature and complete” takes a multitude of mini-graduations and hopefully fewer summer school sessions to learn our lessons.

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I Could Never Do That!

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Arrow

What do you do when you know within your spirit that God has given you a specific task, but in your mind, you know that you are completely incapable of accomplishing it? The very thought of it conjures up fear and a feeling of weight too heavy to bear.

But that’s the thing, God is our burden bearer. King David wrote, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). The New Testament parallel verse is this: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I love that we are called to come and learn from Jesus. When we ‘take’ His yoke, we accept His teaching and answer the call. We agree to do the work He has for us.

As one of Christ’s followers, we may sense unsteadiness, like standing in a boat on a lake in a storm. But be assured of His presence and hear His call to step out of the boat. We must move out of our comfort zone and step into the unknown with Him.

And then it happens! We find ourselves doing the work He assigned. We experience His help, guidance, and strength, and we complete our assignment for the day.

The next day, we find ourselves in the same ‘boat’. Each day, we must muster the faith to again step out.

Gradually, stepping out isn’t such a heavy task. We recall His faithfulness and somehow the ‘work’ becomes a ‘walk’ that is doable with our Lord.

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One Thing

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Arrow

In my observations, I find that it typically takes more than one thing to be truly successful, stay healthy, have a thriving marriage, or even warrant off deep wrinkles.

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Jennifer Rothschild, an author of Bible studies, identifies four “one thing” Scriptures that I had never linked together. Here they are.

Jesus told Martha: “[Y]ou are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed” (Luke 10:41b-42a). Jesus was referring to the example of Martha’s sister, Mary, who had made the better choice. Rather that fussing over preparations, Mary spent time at the Lord’s feet listening to His teaching.

Similarly, we find King David praying, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). David wholeheartedly longed to be in the Lord’s presence.

Now, peek at Paul’s focus. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14).

Finally, we hear the testimony of a man born blind. Unable to explain the miracle, he simply testified, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25b).

When the blind man gained his sight, I hope the one thing he did was follow the examples of Mary, David, and Paul. To choose to live for the Lord and spend time in His presence sounds like the best “thing” of all. (Oops, that might be two things!)  Oh well, let’s do it!

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Check Your Sensors

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Arrow

It was late winter and I found myself driving in falling snow for the first time ever! A retreat had called me from our warm, wet valley higher to the mountains where the precipitation quickly turned to snow. I thank God the roads were clear, visibility was good, and drivers were taking their time. But soon I learned that some of my car’s guidance and driving features were not working. Warnings flashed letting me know among other things that I had no radar and therefore no cruise control. Snow-covered sensors were inoperable.

We drive into similar situations in our spiritual lives. Our senses or spiritual awareness becomes dull, our vision blurred, and hearing muffled or muted. It seems difficult to receive God’s guidance or sense His nearness.

That means, time for a checkup. James says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). The truth is God promises throughout Scripture that He will never leave us so we remind ourselves of this fact. Then we examine our hearts. Is there disobedience or sin we are hanging on to? When we ask earnestly, the Holy Spirit will reveal areas that need a good washing or adjustment.

Paul points out that believers are no longer immoral or evil doers. He says, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11b). Since God has cleansed us, may we regularly check to make sure our hearts and actions are aligned with Him and His Word. Our spiritual clarity increases as we cruise where He leads with our senses fixed on Him.

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Freedom Offered

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Arrow

The toddler balanced securely on her crib railing, feet firmly woven around the bars and hand holding the end panel. She was determined that she would not leave her crib until her parents got home from their brief outing. Awaking early from her nap, the little one refused to take the outstretched arms of Papa or Grammy. Instead, she stubbornly retreated back into her crib, content with waiting and rejecting the freedom offered.

Wow, do we act like this sometimes? Choosing to stay stuck in our little “habitat”, perhaps mad that what’s coming to “greet” us isn’t our first choice or particular preference for the moment? Instead of leaning forward in freedom, we retreat into a sulking disappointment, missing out on new or different experiences or blessings.

Listen as Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus announced that He was fulfilling that very prophecy.

Jesus set us free from sin, free from the bondage and burden of sin. We have been set free to walk a new life with Him when we accept Him as Savior.

As believers, do we live in Christ’s freedom? Do we lean into Him, trusting His open arms, believing He knows best? Have we risked stepping into the new thing He has prepared for us to do, remembering that He is always with us?

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1a).

The prison doors have been opened, my friend. May we move forward into the life-giving freedom of Christ.

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Unexpected Blessings

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Arrow

We have had some unexpected problems lately. First, I realized many of my spreadsheets were missing data and “history versions” came up with nothing. Then, we noticed our 19-year-old refrigerator wasn’t running right. Freezer foods began to thaw!

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Thank the Lord we found help online for both problems. Soon, we were blessed to locate complete documents and after a good vacuuming of condenser coils, the fridge began to cool efficiently once again!

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we find his father Jacob (AKA Israel) experiencing unexpected blessings. After decades of believing his son was dead, Jacob learns Joseph is a man of prominence in Egypt. Jacob moves his household to Egypt to escape a famine and reunite his family. At the end of his life, “Israel said to Joseph, ‘I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too” (Genesis 48:11).

Truly, God blesses us beyond what we can imagine. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work” (CSB).

Digging into this verse, we find:

  • The word every appears four times, plus one always.
  • The verse begins with God. God is able.
  • Then we find grace overflows to us. Grace is a gift we receive that we don’t deserve.
  • God promises to provide everything we need.
  • Finally, we learn why we receive unexpected blessings or grace. So that, “[we] may excel in every good work.”

We receive blessings so that we can bless others. God has given us a work to do and He makes sure we have everything we need to do that work.

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His Hand for Mine

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Arrow

I awoke from my nap, lying still to inhale the peace and quiet. A little reading, a little contemplating. Then I noticed a hand. Whose hand was this . . . at the end of my arm? And when did it start looking so aged? Thinning skin, wrinkly-er than I remembered.

As I studied this hand, I thought, “Hands are amazing! Hands could never be the result of some chance formation in a random universe. No. Not this beautiful blend of bones, flesh, muscles, tendons, joints, four long fingers, and one stumpy thumb.

Think of what hands can do! Grasp, grab, stroke, squeeze, pet, point, pinch, punch, touch, give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’, feel, make a fist, cross fingers, help a little one count, and so much more. Recalling my sign language skills, a single hand can communicate numbers, letters, fingerspell, and sign a great many words, including “I love you!”

If I turn my hand over, I see a palm. Palm and fingerprint markings unlike anyone else’s in the entire world. A God-created and God-drawn palm.

But the most amazing thing is that this palm, and the wrist it is attached to, has no hole or scar left by a seven-to-nine-inch-long heavy iron, square-edged spike. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus lovingly slid our hand aside and offered His on the crossbeam instead.

After His resurrection, Jesus showed the disciples His scars (John 20:20). And Jesus referred to us when He said, “[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (John 20:29b).

This Easter, may we gaze gratefully at our hands, remembering the cost of our forgiveness and salvation, and praise God for sending His Son to die to reestablish His original plan, for all people to have a personal relationship with Him.

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Our Burden Bearer

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Arrow

Backpacking anyone . . . anyone? I can’t imagine the strain of carrying everything I need for days at a time on my back! I would totally fail! I would either be begging someone to carry my water (8.35 lbs. per gallon) or renting a pack mule to haul my “necessities”.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA


So, you’ll understand my delight when I came across the following Bible verse: “Praise be to the LORD, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah” (Psalm 68:19). Oh, what a relief! The Lord who is always with me says that He will daily help me.

I close my eyes and imagine. Me and my pack. I watch as Jesus takes a peek at the busting-at-the-seams load I have bundled for the day. He encourages me to take off the pack so He can get a better look. He removes a hefty item asking, “Why is this in here? This is for someone else’s pack.” Unburying a couple of other odd objects, He adds, “And so is this . . . and this.” His eyebrows rise as He opens an over-sized container. I had crammed in enough of that item for multiple days instead of the amount needed for only today. Finally, Jesus gently prods His fingers through the remaining pockets and nods approvingly at the gear that I would need to complete my tasks for today.

He helps me lift the now roomier and lighter pack, the just-right-for-me pack. Then as Jesus walks beside me, He slides the straps over His shoulders. True, the pack contains all I need to successfully do my work for today, but Jesus is carrying the load beside me.

Praise God! He bears our burdens as we walk with Him.

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Imaginations Run Wild!

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Arrow

I love that God blessed people with imaginations! Authors create new worlds, artists compose stunning works, and grandmothers dream up tasty desserts.

Brainstorming can yield brilliant results with the right guidance, but without boundaries, our imaginations can run wild, landing us in a world of worry. This is what I found when reading the narrative of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.

Joseph’s jealous brothers had sold him into slavery, so he was carted off to Egypt. He eventually rose to power when, with God’s help, he interpreted Pharaoh’s daunting dreams. Joseph was then assigned the task of overseeing the storage of grain during Egypt’s plentiful years so there would be food for the upcoming years of famine (which Pharoah had dreamt about).

Eventually, the famine hit Canaan where Joseph’s family lived, and his brothers traveled to Egypt for grain. (Though Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.) Joseph tested his brothers to see if their attitudes had changed and arranged for the guys to be taken to his home. Their imaginations went wild. They thought, “He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys” (Genesis 43:18b). Count ’em. Four fears!

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In their panic, Joseph’s steward set them straight. “‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver’” (Genesis 43:23). Note that none of what the brothers imagined happened.

God replaced what they feared with treasure. I hope we can learn that lesson as well. Instead of imagining reasons to panic, let’s imagine peaceful blessings. Since God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20), let’s imagine His best!

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