HOPE International

HOPE International https://hope-international.us Tue, 19 May 2020 11:28:20 +0000 Tue, 19 May 2020 11:28:20 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Available "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here. Type your new text here....]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/02/03/available Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:24:45 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/02/03/available

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

How many of you all have ever tried to find a sitter for your kids and there’s just no one available?! Well that’s me a lot. Emergencies come up and it seems like there is just no one around to help out! I end up feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and tired. lol.
How many times do we feel this way just in normal day life but yet we never call on Jesus. We can call on people to see if they can do us a favor, and no one is ever available. But we rarely call on Jesus to just give us peace, or calm our fears, or help us in business, or our marriages. We try to fix everything on our own. You know what’s so crazy about that?! Jesus is always available. He’s there just waiting on us to call on Him and tell Him we need Him. That’s an amazing God.

Every time you feel overwhelmed or stressed or have fear about anything, call on Him. He’s ready to feel you up with undeniable overflowing peace and goodness.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for always being available. For loving me so much and forgiving me when I try to do it all on my own. I give you all my doubts and fears and ask that you consume me and fill me up. In Jesus name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/02/03/available#comments 0 Satisfied "For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." Psalm 107:9 My son drinks an enormous amount of "wa wa". Like maybe more than my whole family combined! Most kids have a passy or blanky for comfort, but mine loves his water. If it is almost empty I will take it and refill it. As I take it, he starts to cry. He thinks I am taking what he cherishes so much away fro...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/01/19/satisfied Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:58:09 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/01/19/satisfied

Satisfied

"For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." Psalm 107:9

My son drinks an enormous amount of "wa wa". Like maybe more than my whole family combined! Most kids have a passy or blanky for comfort, but mine loves his water. If it is almost empty I will take it and refill it. As I take it, he starts to cry. He thinks I am taking what he cherishes so much away from him, only to find out that I am giving Him MORE of what he wants.
Is that not how we operate every day? When God says "NO" to something or delays a bit, it is usually because His will is better. What we think satisfies us, is nothing compared to His goodness for our lives. We spend so much time complaining about what God is not doing for us when the whole time, He is preparing us for better.

Take time this week to reflect on this. Maybe change your outlook on situations in your life, and let God work.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful even when I am not. Thank you for loving me and always giving me the best. Give me wisdom to do your will and then I know what you have in store for me will come to pass. I love you and trust you with every thing in my life. In Jesus name. Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2022/01/19/satisfied#comments 0 Falling In Love Again "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love never fails." I Cor 13:4-8 Hope everyone is staying safe and warm this week as we have seen much weather come in. I was thinking about what t...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2021/02/16/falling-in-love-again Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:32:39 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2021/02/16/falling-in-love-again

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm this week as we have seen much weather come in. I was thinking about what to write and couldn't escape the message "Falling In Love Again" that Pastor Tim spoke on Sunday.

Think about the time you met your spouse/mate for the first time. The countless hours you poured in to getting to know each other. You learned about their likes, dislikes, heart, passions, dreams, heartaches. Now think about the first time you fell in love with Jesus. How much time you spent just loving on Him, talking to him, and reading about Him. You KNEW His voice and most importantly, you knew His heart. In knowing His heart, you knew His love for you and how to truly love others.

I will relate this to my life. If I do not continually lean on God for everything, I will fall short every single day. In the way I love my kids, my friends, my spouse, how I work, or lead, in every thing. There are some days were I don't feel like my love offers any of those things in the scripture above. Why? Because I am human and if I am distant from the one who IS love, how will I be able to operate IN it. We will continue going through life struggling in all relationships if we aren't seeking the one who created it himself. We end up trying to find our value in the way people love or treat us, and because they are humans like us, they will fail sometimes. If we don't seek to find our joy, love, hope, and strength from God, our love tanks are completely empty and we have nothing left to give. It is time to fill up those tanks.

God is desiring your heart to come back to Him again. He doesn't want you to do this on your own. All you have to do is give it all to Him. He wants you to know His heart again. The one that is patient, kind, giving, selfless, forgiving, slow to anger, faithful, unwavering, and one that never fails us. After seeking His heart and falling madly in love with Him again, we will then be able to love others with that SAME love.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I need you. God I am so sorry for not spending time with you. I am sorry for always trying to do life on my own when I know I need you. I know you are the only way my marriage will last. I know you are the only one that can give me wisdom on how to raise my kids. I know you are the only one that can give me wisdom when in comes to business and finances. I give it all to you. I love you. Please take my whole heart and consume me with yours. In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2021/02/16/falling-in-love-again#comments 0 Called To Give “The generous person will prosper, and whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 Christmas is here!! Every kid is overly excited and every parent is kind of relieved it will be over. Or maybe that is just me. Ha! We say this every year but I think most of us miss the mark on what this "giving season" really means.I don't know about you, but I stress out over Christmas. I ...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/23/called-to-give Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:12:22 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/23/called-to-give

“The generous person will prosper, and whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

Christmas is here!! Every kid is overly excited and every parent is kind of relieved it will be over. Or maybe that is just me. Ha! We say this every year but I think most of us miss the mark on what this "giving season" really means.

I don't know about you, but I stress out over Christmas. I always want everyone to have the best Christmas ever and I always think that I have to go above and beyond to make that happen. I love to give and that makes me happy! BUT...people....there is so much more to it.

If we look at the story of Jesus's birth, God chose Mary to GIVE birth to Jesus. To GIVE up her life and her reputation because God trusted her. He knew she could handle it. He saw her faith, her will power, diligence, trust, love, selflessness. Mary trusted God and knew that no matter what people said about her, He would uphold her. Mary and Joseph GAVE up their lives and familiarity for God. How many of us would truly do that today? No matter the cost?

What if we took this season as chance to GIVE Jesus. After all, He is the ultimate gift anyways. What if we really looked for opportunities to BE His hands and feet? To GIVE up being comfortable and really step out and make a difference. We are so use to our every day hustle and bustle that we often miss the mark of what God created us for in the first place. To show Him and His love to others. That is it! Maybe you need to start at home with your spouse or children. Maybe it is starting with your estranged in laws or parents that you just can never seem to get along with. What if it is teaching your children that there are kids out there that might not get anything and showing them how to give themselves. Whatever you feel it might be, do it! I can promise you, that if that is your heart this season and every season in between, the stressors of life will soon fade.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for GIVING the ultimate gift so we can have eternal life. No matter our faults and failures. May we never forget what this life is truly about. It is all about you and showing your love to others. We are so sorry for making life about everything but you. We love you more than anything. In your son's name, amen!

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/23/called-to-give#comments 0 Content In The Chaos "A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and ...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/09/content-in-the-chaos Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:07:03 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/09/content-in-the-chaos

"A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!" Acts 16:22-26

God spoke so plainly to me and this is what He said; Paul learned to be content with what he had. Which was remarkable since he had so little. He had a jail cell instead of a house. He had four walls instead of a mission field. He had chains instead of jewelry, a prison guard instead of a wife. How could he be so content? How could he praise God after being beaten? Simple. He focused on something different, and that was eternal life. He had the surety of salvation. He had Christ, and Christ was enough. What he had in Christ, was far greater than what he didn't have and the current chaos of a situation he was in.

God is enough. He is more than enough. He supplies all of our needs. Just like your friends or family has your back, He has your back a million times more. He wants the absolute best for your future and your life. If you are down and in a chaotic and stressful situation, keep your head high. When you are so lost and scared, just seek Him. When we seek Him, we find Him. When we find Him, we then KNOW Him and His voice.

Prayer:
Father, I love you and thank you for all you do and for who you are. When my mind is a whirlwind and I feel lost, give me the strength to seek you harder and praise through the toughest times. You have the best in store for me. I trust you and I will be content with my life how it is right now. Even if I am unsure of what the future holds, I know YOU hold it. I love you! In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/09/content-in-the-chaos#comments 0 Heart of Gratitude "Having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:7 Here we are and Christmas is right around the corner. Holidays look a lot different this year than ever before and normal seems like it will never get here. Even though this year has come with a lot of trials, what if at the end of th...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/01/heart-of-gratitude Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:54:14 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/01/heart-of-gratitude

"Having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:7

Here we are and Christmas is right around the corner. Holidays look a lot different this year than ever before and normal seems like it will never get here. Even though this year has come with a lot of trials, what if at the end of the day we would focus on what we have to be grateful for?! Have you ever heard of the phrase, "What you focus on grows." Well, it isn't more true. When you focus on all that has gone wrong or what might go wrong, more will tend to go wrong. If you wake up thanking God for all you DO have, then that suddenly becomes your focus. Did you know that speaking those things out loud is even MORE powerful?! I woke up this morning. My kids are healthy. I have a roof over my head. I have a family that loves me. I have a God that is faithful. Wow! Life is pretty great I would say. Maybe you are not so blessed with all of that. Maybe some decisions in your life has lead you down a path leaving you feeling extremely alone. Well, I have some great news. I know a God that is always there. One who's love is unconditional. One that is faithful and no matter what, will never leave us nor forsake us. One who loves YOU and created you for Him to love Him. So if you find yourself wondering what exactly you have to be grateful for....Him. How he has brought you through your most difficult times and how He will do it again.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, give me a heart of gratefulness. When I wake up every day, help remind me of all the good that is in my life and to focus on it continually. I am sorry for always focusing on the negative and letting the devil have his way with me and my mind. He can no longer have control and I give it to you. Thank you so much for all you are and all you have blessed me with. I love you so much. In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/12/01/heart-of-gratitude#comments 0 I Am Not Alone “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41:10 There is a song I use to sing that I feel is very relevant for these times we are facing. Here are some of the lyrics:When I walk through deep waters, I know that You will be with meWhen I'm standing in the fire, I will no...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/17/i-am-not-alone Tue, 17 Nov 2020 11:46:26 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/17/i-am-not-alone

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41:10

There is a song I use to sing that I feel is very relevant for these times we are facing. Here are some of the lyrics:

When I walk through deep waters, I know that You will be with me
When I'm standing in the fire, I will not be overcome
Through the valley of the shadow, I will not fear
I am not alone, I am not alone
You will go before me, You will never leave me

It is so easy to feel alone in this time. I haven't seen my family in over a month and a half. I use to see them multiple times a week. People are losing there jobs, family members are dying, kids are home from school, and quarantine is causing complete isolation. All these these can cause stress, depression, and loneliness. The curse of comparison is now at all time high with social media at the source of our fingertips. Things that use to keep us busy aren't anymore and we are filling our time with things that are causing us to sink deeper into the state of loneliness that we were already feeling. So many hearts thirsty for attention and things that they think will fill this emptiness they are feeling. After seeking and obtaining these worldly things, it makes us feel better for a minute and we are left still as empty as before, if not worse.

What if we dug deep and used this time to evaluate ourselves? To change bad habits and to seek God like never before. To love our kids, our spouses, our family, our friends, and strangers like we never have. What if we chose to wake up and water our grass where we are. To be present where our feet are. As we give love to others, that loneliness will soon fade away. We can then stop focusing on how bad it is for us and start focusing on what we can do for others. Also, do not be afraid to just cry out to God and tell Him you need Him. He yearns for you and to give you that peace you are longing for.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you right now feeling so alone. I need you. I need you more than I ever have before. Give me strength to love others and to be there for them right now. As I give, God strengthen me and fill me up with your love and peace. I know I am not alone. I know you are here. I know you will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you for always being faithful and reminding me of your goodness. I love you, in your Son's name, Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/17/i-am-not-alone#comments 0 He Is The Healer "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 I was sitting in my bath tub the other night thinking about everything. How much healing there needs to be in our nation. Both with the virus, and with all the immortality...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/11/he-is-the-healer Wed, 11 Nov 2020 09:49:18 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/11/he-is-the-healer

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I was sitting in my bath tub the other night thinking about everything. How much healing there needs to be in our nation. Both with the virus, and with all the immortality. How did we get here? How could so many "Christians" let the world consume them and not fight for what we believe in. I thought about how bad this virus truly was, and that It had consumed my body after months and months of not thinking my family would get it. But here we are, weak and miserable.

As I started praying, God put the song Healer on my heart. I started singing right there in the bath with my ten month old staring at me from the side. As I sang the words, I couldn't help but cry.

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You, I trust in You
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

In that moment, God spoke so plainly. He holds my every moment, and He can calm this raging storm. He will be in the fire with me and He can heal our land, this sickness, this mess of a nation right now. He is our healer. He is our portion. He is EVERYTHING we need. All He is asking is that we trust Him. That is something we all struggle with every single day. He has the best in store for us, we just have to give it to Him. Nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible for Him.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today with heavy hearts for our nation. We seek you more than ever. We trust you, but we also know that we have to be active. Faith without action is dead. So God we act and we work towards what you have called us to be and do. We stand on your word and your promises. We cry out for healing in this nation, both physically and spiritually. We love you. Thank you for always being so faithful. We call it done. In Your son's name, Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/11/he-is-the-healer#comments 0 Make America Great Again "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. " Psalms 33:12 America is great because America's God is great. Just as it says in scripture above, BLESSED is the nation whose God is the Lord. It is so obvious in the writings of the founding fathers of this nation that they worshipped and served on God, who is Jesus Christ. Patrick Henry, the governor of Virg...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/03/make-america-great-again Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:25:09 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/03/make-america-great-again

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. " Psalms 33:12

America is great because America's God is great. Just as it says in the scripture above, BLESSED is the nation whose God is the Lord. It is so obvious in the writings of the founding fathers of this nation that they worshipped and served one God, who is Jesus Christ. Patrick Henry, the governor of Virginia, said "It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not by religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." None of them were perfect and all made mistakes but it was evident that the majority of them did believe in God and adopted laws that were founded on the Word of God.

Why has America went down hill? We have taken God out of the equation. Christians have stood on the sidelines just watching instead of acting. We have become so complacent with things just "changing with the times". That is never how God intended it to be. The scripture in Romans 12:2 that says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." It is our responsibility to live, walk, and talk as He would. To be His hands and feet in this lost and dying world.

Calling all Christians to raise up. To pray for our nation. To act like true daughters and sons of Jesus. To no longer sit on the sidelines, but to get in the game and WIN! It is not one man's responsibility to "Make America Great Again", it is all of ours.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for sitting on the sidelines. Give me courage and strength to be bold for you. To always stand up for what I believe in. To follow you and your guidance for my life. To operate as the Bible says to operate and to not conform to this world. God we thank you for your faithfulness and we cry out to you for our nation. We raise up as Christians and we will fight and win. We love you so much, in your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/11/03/make-america-great-again#comments 0 Harvest Time "You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest." John 4:35 I heard a story the other day about two friends. Sarah had a deep relationship with God and only assumed her friend Laura did as well. Laura ended up disappearing for a few days and Sarah couldn't get ahold of her. After three days, she finally c...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/28/harvest-time Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:18:00 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/28/harvest-time

"You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest." John 4:35

I heard a story the other day about two friends. Sarah had a deep relationship with God and only assumed her friend Laura did as well. Laura ended up disappearing for a few days and Sarah couldn't get ahold of her. After three days, she finally came back and explained that she went to a party and these people gave her a drug that gave her peace and joy and freedom like she has never felt before. Laura offered Sarah some, but Sarah simply declined and walked away. After that moment, Sarah left bawling feeling like she had let God down. She knew a God and Savior that was the only source of peace, joy, and freedom. She never mentioned any of this to her friend. She never even talked about how good He was or that Laura could experience a love and peace like never before through Him.

Isn't this us every day?! How many times have we had the opportunity to show Jesus to people but didn't. There are so many friends and even family members that we talk to every single day that have no idea about this type of relationship with Jesus. They have no idea that His love for us is unconditional, and that He is the father to the fatherless. He is the only peace that can calm storms.

What if we decided to step up. Just like it says in this verse, to wake up. We do not have time, for the time is NOW. It is Harvest Time. It is time for us to be His living and breathing hands and feet. To operate in His love and to talk about His goodness. You might be the only Jesus they will ever see.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, give me such a boldness for you. I want to show your goodness and love to everyone that needs you. Please forgive me for passing up so many opportunities to help change lives. I am ready to be used, so God, use me. Use my hands and feet to show people that there is no other source of peace and joy other than through you. Thank you for your continual grace and thank you for choosing me to help build your Kingdom. I love you. In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/28/harvest-time#comments 0 Thirsty "Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35 My husband drinks water like a fish. He NEEDS it and without it, he gets super dehydrated and it makes him physically sick. Oh, and super cranky! Ha! Imagine this type of need for Jesus. What if we needed Him so bad all the time where it would make us p...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/19/thirsty Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:33:05 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/19/thirsty

"Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35

My husband drinks water like a fish. He NEEDS it and without it, he gets super dehydrated and it makes him physically sick. Oh, and super cranky! Ha!

Imagine this type of need for Jesus. What if we needed Him so bad all the time where it would make us physically sick if we did not have Him. We already physically and spiritually NEED Him, but we seek other things instead of Him. We get so weighted down by life's struggles that we thirst for worldly things like medication, alcohol, people, drugs, work, hobbies..to fill voids in our lives. What if we just stopped and said, "GOD I NEED YOU!" We have made Him such a religion instead of seeking a true relationship with Him. Going to church just to say you go. That is like getting married but never seeing your spouse or talking to them. God wants your heart and a relationship with you. He wants and yearns for you to spend time with Him. When we get to know Him and His love, we realize that we can trust Him. We then know that no matter where we have been, He still has big promises for us. Once we realize he is the greatest friend we will ever have, we will truly never thirst again.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you consume me and give me the hunger and thirst to need for you more than anything. I want to wake up needing you before I can even start my day. Please forgive me for putting so much in front of you and not letting you consume every area of my heart. I cannot do anything without you. Thank you for your unfailing love and grace. I love you. In your son's name. Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/19/thirsty#comments 0 Make Room "My gifts will continue to make room for me as I make room for Him." Let that statement sink in a little bit. How often do we let our gifts, talents, and callings take up so much room in our lives. Always trying to achieve better or more and doing bigger than before. We start operating on our own instead of letting God use them for a greater purpose than we could ever imagine. We are left with zer...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/15/make-room Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:48:55 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/15/make-room

"My gifts will continue to make room for me as I make room for Him."

Let that statement sink in a little bit. How often do we let our gifts, talents, and callings take up so much room in our lives. Always trying to achieve better or more and doing bigger than before. We start operating on our own instead of letting God use them for a greater purpose than we could ever imagine. We are left with zero room for Him to even operate in our lives. If we realize He is the one that will make room for greater, bigger, unfathomable dreams. I encourage you to take time to rid of all distractions or things that is taking up room in your life. It is time to make lots of room for Jesus to work!

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful and never giving up on me even when I try to do everything on my own. God, I ask that you remove any distractions and anything taking up room in my life. I want you to reside and fill me with your love, your grace, your will, your plans. Thank you for always having my best interest. I love you so much. Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/10/15/make-room#comments 0 Focused "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." Proverbs 4:25 "What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny." Robin S. SharmaWow! What a powerful statement. Have you ever thought about that? What we focus on and spend time on will grow. Often times our focus can get completely off track and we give all of our ti...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/19/focused Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:15:03 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/19/focused

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." Proverbs 4:25

"What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny." Robin S. Sharma

Wow! What a powerful statement. Have you ever thought about that? What we focus on and spend time on will grow. Often times our focus can get completely off track and we give all of our time and energy to things that will eventually ruin our lives. What about in relationships?! If we focus on the negative things, then that is what is going stick out. If we focus on all the positive things, then THAT is what will grow. If you invest yourself into your marriage, it will flourish. If you invest yourself into your kids, your relationship with them will get better. If you pour yourself into your business, it then expands. If you seek God with all your heart, and spend time with Him, your life will be forever changed. But if we are doing all the opposite and consuming our lives with time stealers, then whatever that may be, will determine your destiny. Whenever it is put in that perspective, it makes me think about my life and what my energy is focused on. Are you focusing on the good things that God has blessed you with or are you focusing on the bad? Are you letting little things steal your time?

Take time the rest of this week to think of ways you can improve your thinking. Let's change our focus. Challenging myself and you to start focusing on all the good in your life and all the positives in your spouse, friends, kids, work, ..etc. God has so many big things in store for you and it is time to get our focus right!

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I am so sorry for letting myself get out of focus. I often focus on the negative instead of all the positives in my life. Please forgive me and change my heart. Let me see all that you are doing good in me and my life. Thank you for all the wonderful things you have given me and continue to bless me with. I love you so much. In your son's name, Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/19/focused#comments 0 Behind The Mask "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, you works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before ...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/12/behind-the-mask Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:39:12 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/12/behind-the-mask

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalms 139:13-16

I saw a picture the other day and it was this girl with a mask on and she had stunning eyes and beautiful hair. The top of it said "never fall in love during COVID". The other picture following was her without the mask on and she had like ten missing teeth. Hilarious!!!

So funny aside. I moved to a different town, had a baby, and then COVID happened. I went from seeing so many faces every day to not seeing anyone. Let me tell you, that can make anyone feel lonely and super purposeless. I am SUCH a people person, and to be stripped from people is hard for me. My daily interaction with humans consists of my 7 year old and my 7 month old. Talking about poop and changing poopy diapers are my top ten daily tasks. Trips to Walmart or any store would be exciting for me to just see other people. Then put a mask on that, and that purpose then fades. No one can see me. No one knows who I am, or that I am even smiling. No one knows what is behind the mask.

That is when I really had to shake myself. I was falling into such a pit and needed to focus on WHO I am in Christ and the PURPOSE He has for me instead of the current situation at hand. Sure no one knows me but how can they if I never get to know anyone?! I am not making a difference so in what ways can I start every day trying?! How can I fulfill God's purpose for my life right now in SOME way?!

If you are feeling lonely in this time or that you have no purpose, do not let the enemy lie to you. That is exactly where He wants you. If we focus on what is NOT happening right now, then we will never ever MAKE things happen.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I love you. Please help me remember the purpose you have for me. I might feel lonely but let me know that you know who is behind the mask and that person is fearfully and wonderfully made. I love you and I am so thankful for your love and your strength that you continue to give me every day. I want to be more effective and to be used by you. Thank you for all of these things. Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/08/12/behind-the-mask#comments 0 Make A U-turn "Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 Have you taken a long trip and lost service along the way? Siri is suddenly no longer in commission. Instead of asking for directions you just decide to play the guessing game and take the route that you THINK is right. Only to fi...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/29/make-a-u-turn Wed, 29 Jul 2020 09:24:13 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/29/make-a-u-turn

"Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Have you taken a long trip and lost service along the way? Siri is suddenly no longer in commission. Instead of asking for directions you just decide to play the guessing game and take the route that you THINK is right. Only to find yourself going 60 miles in the wrong direction.

Whew! That sounds a lot like my life. God tells me to go a certain direction and because at some point I can't hear Him, I try taking my own route. Let me tell you, that destination isn't the right one. There are so times in my life that if I would have just been patient and just followed what He said to do, I would have reached many destinations and surpassed goals and places way before I did. Why? Because I thought my way was going to take me there faster.

If you have been here or are here now, just stop and listen. If you can't hear Him, think about what He has told you in the past and walk towards that. God never forgets what He tells you and always keeps His promise. Most of the time, our promises are delayed because we get in the way. I want to tell you today that God hasn't forgotten what He has promised you and if you are going in the wrong direction just stop and make a U-turn.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I love you so much and I thank you for loving me past my mistakes. Even when I try to do everything on my own, you still love me enough to get me back on track. I give my life to you and I give you the wheel. Have your way with my life. I am tired of going the wrong direction and trying to do everything my own way. You have my best interest and you know the perfect plan for my life. Thank you for your unconditional love. In Jesus Name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/29/make-a-u-turn#comments 0 No Means No "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In thos days when you pray, I will listen." Jeremiah 29:11 Right now I am trying to teach my six month old that it is no ok to pul my air out or throw things off the counter. Teaching him NO is tasking and sometimes results in him just laughing at me and doing it a...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/22/no-means-no Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:33:08 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/22/no-means-no

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen."
Jeremiah 29:11

Right now, I am trying to teach my six month old that it is not ok to pull my hair out or throw things off the counter. Teaching him "NO" is tasking and sometimes results in him just laughing at me and doing it anyway or him crying because I took it away from him.

Isn't that how it is with us? When God tells us "no", we sometimes do it our own way or we get mad at him for taking it away; when we think it is what we need. We always forget that God has our best interest and He knows exactly what we need and when we need it.

Last year, there was a farm for sale that my husband wanted. This farm was super nice and would have added greatly to their already successful business, but it came at a pretty price. They put in an offer and we prayed hard about it. That God would open the door or close the door according to His will. They ended up not taking the offer. The door was closed. I remember my husband so upset over it. He was so excited about something, just to be let down, by a NO. What Sam didn't know was that there would be a massive flood that year and that farm would be completely flooded out and a total financial loss. But because God said no, it saved them.

God knows what we need and when we need it. He wants the absolute best for us. He has an amazing future instore for us and we have to trust His "NO's" because someday we will receive a huge YES.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me, even when I get frustrated when you say no. Thank you for always protecting me from things that would harm me or direct me to the wrong path. I know you have the best in store for me and I am so thankful that I can always trust you to protect me. I love you so much. Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/22/no-means-no#comments 0 Motivate or Inspire "And they exceeded all our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." 2 Corinthians 8:5 Being a trainer I have found that you can only "motivate" someone for so long. You can encourage them to eat better, exercise, and drink more water, but at the end of the day it is always their choice to do so. On the other hand...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/06/motivate-or-inspire Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:30:03 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/06/motivate-or-inspire

"And they exceeded all our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." 2 Corinthians 8:5

Being a trainer I have found that you can only "motivate" someone for so long. You can encourage them to eat better, exercise, and drink more water, but at the end of the day it is always their choice to do so. On the other hand, if someone sees how hard you work and sees you eating better and exercising then you inspire them to want to make those changes as well. For an example, I hate running for long periods of time. I usually just take the HIIT route and knock it out. My sister has been running lately and for miles and miles and I am over here like dannnnng!! Now that is inspiring! If she were to tell me to go run I would say heck no, but her actually doing it herself makes me want to as well.

How about taking it to Christianity. If I tell people Jesus is the answer to their problems and tell them to pray and it will be ok but my life is not a living example, how on earth will that help at all?! But if my faith is strong and if people see me day in and day out living and operating through Jesus, that is an inspiration. I want to be inspirational. I do not want to just motivate people. I want people to see my marriage, business, family, relationship with God, and love for others to be such an inspiration that they want what I have. The "goods" and that is Jesus! Who wants to be inspirational with me? Let us strive every day to challenge ourselves to operate more in Him than in ourselves.

Prayer:
God, I love you. Thank you for loving me when I fall short. thank you for giving me the tools to be an inspiration to people to show them you. Let me live my life in such a way that makes others want to be like you. I love you so much. In your son's name, amen!

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/07/06/motivate-or-inspire#comments 0 Comparison Kills "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each should carry their own load."Galatians 6:4-5 How many of you all are like me and get stuck in the comparison game? I kept hearing all these moms talk about how organized they have gotten since quarantine life and how clean their houses are. I am over here st...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/29/comparison-kills Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:43:43 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/29/comparison-kills

"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each should carry their own load."
Galatians 6:4-5

How many of you all are like me and get stuck in the comparison game? I kept hearing all these moms talk about how organized they have gotten since quarantine life and how clean their houses are. I am over here stepping on Legos and wearing puke as my #ootd every day. It is not just moms. It is business owners, pastors, teenagers seeking validations, marriages, kids, etc. Comparison kills all ages, all people, in all stages of life. In comparing our every day and successes, we often feel like we are failures. Someone will always be prettier, richer, more organized, better parents, I could go on forever. The truth is that if we spend our time comparing our lives to others, we can never give our own the full potential it needs. Most of the time the people we think are thriving, usually have many downfalls as well. God created you to be uniquely you. He created you to be the mom you are, to take care of your kids the way they need. God created you to be the business man or woman you need to be, to give you the ideas for the company to flourish. God created your unique qualities to fulfill what he has for YOU. No one else is you and no one can achieve what God wants for YOU to achieve. Let's stop comparing and start focusing on who God wants us to be.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me just the way I am. Help me to love who you have perfectly designed me to be. I will continue to seek you and in seeking you, may I become a better me to do your work. Give me the confidence I need to do what you have called me to do. Help me to not compare myself to others and to value myself more than I do. In loving myself, I know I can love others more effectively. I love you and thank you for all you do and continue to do in my life and in others. In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/29/comparison-kills#comments 0 Running On Empty "and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and you night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy you needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be likee a well- watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Have you ever felt exhaus...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/22/running-on-empty Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:13:08 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/22/running-on-empty

"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and you night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy you needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be likee a well- watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Have you ever felt exhausted from serving? You continue pouring out when you have absolutely nothing else to give, then all of a sudden you have a break down. Give should not be like this. Are we expecting for the people we pour into, to give back? That would be the perfect world, but let us be honest - it rarely works that way. We often forget to allow Jesus to fill us up with His strength and then we operate on our own. Those short prayers throughout the day do not seem to cut it and we end up feeling like a sponge that has been completely rung out. When we look for others for that fulfillment, we will never get satisfied and it will always leave us empty. God is longing for us to spend time with Him. To serve Him. To seek Him more. In do that, our sponge gets sopping wet. So when you serve your husband, wife, kids, family, friends, people in need, at your workplace, in your ministry, etc.. God is replenishing you, when others cannot. When we let the Lord guide us and when we operate out of His strength, He promises us that He will guide and strengthen us. We will be like a well-watered garden whose spring will not fail. Wow! What an amazing promise.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me even when I try to do things on my own. Thank you for your grace and love that looks past all my failures and weaknesses. God, I can no longer do it on my own and I need your strength to consume me. Let me love others the way that you love them. Let me seek for only your approval and replenishment. Thank you for allowing me to serve others for I know that is what will help build your kingdom. I love you. In your son's name, amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/22/running-on-empty#comments 0 Facing Your Fears “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭When you were little were you ever scared of the dark? Well that was me. I would sleep in the dead center of my bed with all the blankets over my head because I swore the monster would get me if they could see any part of my...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/11/facing-your-fears Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:05:29 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/11/facing-your-fears

"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

When you were little were you ever scared of the dark? Well that was me. I would sleep in the dead center of my bed with all the blankets over my head because I swore the monster would get me if they could see any part of my body hanging off the bed.

Fast forward to now, is that what we still do? Instead of facing our fears, we hide and cover them up- only to live with inner torment. We think that we are protecting ourselves but what we are really doing is constantly living a vicious cycle that is only keeping us from the plans and callings God has for us. Maybe it is fear of failure. Maybe it's fear of getting hurt again. Maybe anxiety in work or relationships. Whatever it is, hiding the fear and covering it up and trying to conquer it on your own is not the answer. What is that solving? Just a band-aid until the next day when you live it all over again. God says to cast all your cares on him for his yoke is easy and burden is light. He wants to take your fear so you can fulfill the plans he has for you. How are your relationships going to flourish if you are constantly being held back by fear? How is your business going to succeed if you're too scared to take steps forward for it to grow? How will you ever win if your always scared of losing? God also says for I KNOW the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper. He wants us to succeed and wants us to live a life free of fear. It's not easy but let's take the first step and give it to God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father I love you and thank you for all you're doing in my life. God I ask that you consume my mind and fill me with your peace. I know that your thoughts are higher than mine and your ways are higher than mine. I know your love for me is unconditional and I know you want me to prosper. So God I ask that you remove fear and anxiety from my life every single day and I make it a conscious effort to take captive every thought and make it obedient to your words and your will. Satan I bind you off of my mind and out of my thoughts. You are a liar and a thief and I take notice on you. God, fill me up with your peace and consume me with your presence. In your son's name, Amen.

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/06/11/facing-your-fears#comments 0 Trials or Triumphs " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9Ever feel like life comes at you at all angles?! Never can seem to make enough money, never enough time in the day, your kids are always sick or driving you crazy, your job is draining you, you wish your spouse would leave you alone...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/trials-or-triumphs Tue, 19 May 2020 11:48:25 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/trials-or-triumphs

" We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Ever feel like life comes at you at all angles? Never can seem to make enough money, never enough time in the day, your kids are always sick or driving you crazy, your job is draining you, you wish your spouse would leave you alone or maybe you actually need them to be more present, you feel like your friends have all let you down. I can go on and on all day long of every day life and things that can weigh us down. The mental battle and our thoughts have a HUGE impact on our lives. Yes, maybe all the statements above are true, but if we focus on the negative all the time then it's what we always see. And, if we always see the negative, then how will that ever bring happiness? In life, there will be many troubles and opposition, but if you're reading this then God keeps sparing your life in some way ...every single day.

In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul takes the trials of life and makes them triumphs.
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
What if we applied this to our trials we are facing right now?! Every area we are feeling defeated in, look and see what positives there are in every situation. But even digging deeper in that, what does God say about that situation?! In speaking out the positive and believing that God's plan and purpose for your life is GOOD, you will begin to see things completely shift in every area of your life. Yes there will be trials. Yes they will drain you. Yes they will make you want to give up the fight, BUT search deep for those triumphs. Look for the positives and you will win every time.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for today. May I be reminded to look for the positives in every situation, even if I can not see them at the time. Your word says to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." So that means, that even though, I can't see it, I fix my eyes on the positive and the good. I love you and I'm in awe of your love for me. Thank you for your never ending grace. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Meagan Schneider

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/trials-or-triumphs#comments 0 Crazy Love "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Cor 13:4-8As a parent I find myself completely in awe of ...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/crazy-love Tue, 19 May 2020 11:41:46 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/crazy-love

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Cor 13:4-8

As a parent, I find myself completely in awe of how perfect my children are when they are sleeping. (Hints the words "when sleeping" ) I often find myself just staring and smiling, while the whole time just thinking how unbelievably proud I am that God chose me to raise them. There is absolutely no denying my love for them and I cannot fathom ever doing anything that would ever take that away. If you are a mom and dad reading this, you know exactly what I mean. Now imagine a love like that for the lost. Obviously the love we have for our kids is different and will be different, but if we could take a fraction of that love and love others with it, it could really change so many lives. That love that, no matter the circumstance, we choose to listen, we choose to trust, we choose to be slow to anger, we choose to be selfless, we choose to be givers, we choose to be patient, kind, encouraging, and we forgive every day over and over. Why? Because God is Love. Because it's our job to be his hands and feet, to love the broken and hurting. It won't be easy and it will be a daily, even minute by minute decision. That sacrifice of self will be worth it all in the end. Take time today to choose to love past ourselves. To see how God sees others and to love them with a heart like His. Maybe it is your spouse or family member that you are finding hard to love at the moment. Ask God to search your heart and let Him take over the situation. God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, but we have to completely seek Him and a heart like His.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for your unconditional love, that you see past all my faults and failures. I seek a heart like yours. Give me the burning desire to love others with a love so pure and selfless. Search my heart and forgive me of everything holding me back from what you have in store for me. I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Meagan Schneider

]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/crazy-love#comments 0 Billboards "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Phil 2:5"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. " Romans 12:2How many times have you seen a commercial, billboard, or ad on your social media that grabbed your attent...]]> https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/billboards Tue, 19 May 2020 11:28:20 +0000 https://hope-international.us/blog/2020/05/19/billboards

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Phil 2:5

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. "

Romans 12:2

How many times have you seen a commercial, billboard, or ad on your social media that grabbed your attention? The commercials of the big and juicy burger that immediately makes your mouth water. Those darn shopping sites make that certain outfit look so bomb that you break out your debit/credit card right then because you now have to have it. They advertise them so well to grab our attention and entice us to buy their product. How clever! It is sad to say that most of the time you drive through to order that burger you saw on the commercial that was so juicy and delightful ends up being about 1/4 of the size and "juicy" is pretty far from the description. And that outfit that you HAD TO HAVE is awful on and now just hangs in your closet and hasn't seen the outside of it. What if there was a product that was the best product this world has known. You would want to advertise it in the best way possible right?! A product that you are so proud of, you would want to show it off the best way you could. A product that has changed your life in every way. Yes! I would promote the heck out of it! What if this product I'm speaking of is Jesus? How is your life and every day walk advertising how great He is? Are you the best ad for Him? When people experience you from day to day does it make them want to run to Him or away from Him? People aren't turning down Jesus, they are turning down your advertisement. Because if they truly experience Jesus, they wouldn't want anything else. We need to live in such a way that when people see us they see Him. Our lives matter so much and our every day walk and display of Christ is so very important to this world. You are sitting there thinking "God what is my purpose? " ..well that is a huge purpose! We are living billboards for Jesus! The way we live matters and could change so many souls. Our lives won't be perfect, but it should point to someone who is. God is not asking you to be perfect, he's just asking you to make a new commercial. Today, take time to think about your life and every area of it. What are things in your life that aren't the best representation of Him? Are you portraying Him in the best way to everyone you encounter? Let's make it a priority to make it known how truly amazing our God is. Challenge yourself to set a standard of your "billboard" for Jesus and make a new one!

Meagan Schneider

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