Month: September 2025

There Is Always Hope

/ James Penner / 1 Comment

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I can feel the anxiety in the air. Be it conversations in the public market, or on television, or on social media. I keep hearing, “It’s never been this bad before – the conflict, the environment, politics, financial challenges”. The list is endless. Jesus once said, “in this world you will have tribulations…” He was right. Pick any generation. How about living in the harsh Old Testament days, or in Jesus time when Roman rule was brutal, or through the Crusades in the Medieval period, or the black plague of Europe and Asia in the 1300’s, or even just the past 100 or so years with the great depression and the dust bowl era. Surely during World War I and II everyone thought the end was near. I grew up in the Cold War era with the threat of nuclear war making me wonder if I would ever see the age of 25. Thankfully

Jesus said, I Have Overcome The World!

The truth is there will always be something to fear. If you are living with fear about tomorrow, join hands with Jesus and start trusting His promises, of which we’ve covered a myriad of them here in the Faith Proposition. By deciding to trust your tomorrows to Jesus you have nothing to lose except your fears.

I Am Loved

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“But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel unloveable? Why would anyone love me?

You Are Lovable Because God Says You Are.

Romans 5:8 reminds us that while we were still hopelessly lost in sin and completely unlovable, God still sent Christ to die for us. Such unbelievable love from God is given freely. It’s called the gift of Grace. All we have to do is reach out and accept this love from God. The truth is you are lovable. God demonstrated that and who are we to argue with the Almighty? Think about that the next time your self esteem meter feels a little low.

Unlocking Doors

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Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

Ever lose your keys and found them hiding in the sofa cushion or a night stand or the even the refrigerator? You have the keys, you know they are close by in your home, you just can’t seem to find them. When Jesus said to Peter I am handing you the keys he was actually speaking to all of us who believe. For once you have accepted Jesus as your Savior an incredible world opens up to you. You just didn’t realize the keys to life were right in front of you. So the question must be asked,

What Door Do You Need Opened Today?

Start with a key called prayer. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours.” It’s time to unlock some doors.

Our Supply

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“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.” James 1:17

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. In the Old Testament book of Haggai chapter 2 verse 8 God says, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine.” John 3:16 declares that “God so loved this world that He (God) gave us His only Son.” Then Jesus says in Matthew 7:11 “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Then we come to James 1:17, which declares, “Every good gift comes from the Father.” From these references across the entire scriptures we have just learned something.

God’s Supply Is Endless, and He Loves To Give!

This revelation should warm your heart. God, who created you, and loves you, has an endless supply of whatever you need, just when you need it. Beyond that, God loves to give! Oh, but you don’t understand my situation, you might say. I will agree with you there, but I don’t have to understand what you are going through. God already knows. You are His child and He has a perfect plan for you. Your job is to trust in Him. Trust is probably the hardest lesson to learn in life, but it is only a decision and nothing more. Proverbs 3:5-6 says it best, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him (God) and He will make your paths straight.”

Lovingkindness

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“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.” Psalm 42:8

There is nothing more powerful we can do in life than pray to God. If you are ready to have God command His lovingkindness upon your life

The Key Is Prayer. 

Feeling the warmth of His embrace comes as simple as a song of praise is upon your lips. Before you ask God for anything, praise Him. Look around you. All that your eyes survey comes from Him. Praise Him for it, then be prepared to feel His loving kindness shower down upon you.

Seek

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“For thus says the Lord…“And you will seek me and find me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Many consider God a mystery. I hear things like, how do I know He is listening when I pray to Him? I’ve been there myself, but at one point during a dark period of my life so far away from God I remembered a single bible verse, where God makes a promise. He said, “If with all your heart you seek Me,

You Will Find Me”

So I looked, and I found Him literally right in front of me. I simply said with all my heart, “God, I believe in you,” and suddenly He took it from there. Instantly I knew He was real. And contrary to popular belief, God is not passive. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. In fact, the greatest lie that you can ever tell yourself is that God is apathetic, disinterested or disengaged from you and your life. Daily living with that kind of lie breeds hopelessness, despair, and loneliness. Seeking God with all your heart brings joy, happiness, and peace! This week, every day, start a conversation with God. It is as simple as breathing. “God, I believe in you. How amazing You are! That You, the Creator of Heaven and earth, would want to have a conversation with me. Thank you! Can I tell you about my day?” Tell the Lord what are you going through. Seek His council. Seek His blessing. Don’t be shy or feel awkward. Remember God’s promise, “if with all your heart you seek Me, you will find Me!”

 

Be Still

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“Be Still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

As Jesus hung on the cross His mother, His disciples, and His followers believed all was lost. This was it. The end was at hand. All the patience in the world was not going to stop this crucifixion. Jesus was going to die. Their hope was gone. Yet they forgot one very important scripture. God alone said in Psalm 46:10,

“Be Still, And Know That I Am God!”

Because what seems hopeless on Friday is resurrected on Sunday when we have the patience to let God’s perfect plan unfold! The same is true in your life. What seems hopeless for you one day will be resurrected the next by the loving, guiding, masterful hand of your Savior Jesus Christ. Today, every time you look at a cross, or wear a cross, or see a cross, remember these calming words from God and take the advice to heart, “Be still, and know that I am God”.

                   

Turn The Page

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“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:5

I find baseball fascinating. It’s the only sport where a 30% success rate in hitting a baseball is worth a big money contract for its players. That’s right, a major league hitter who can average a hit 30% of the time is considered elite. That means a 70% failure rate. In the midst of all that failure, there’s a saying that players use. When asked about the failure, they will respond by saying,

“Turn The Page”

It means, just put the failure behind you and move on. Another chance will come soon enough. In Luke chapter 5, Jesus commands His disciples to launch out into the deep water and let down their nets for a catch. Simon’s response was much like ours seems to be much of the time today. “But Jesus, I tried that. I tried and failed, so why would it work this time?” Yet Simon was also wise enough to “turn the page” on yesterday’s failures and submit to Jesus’ command by saying, “nevertheless, at your command we will let down our nets.” What followed was a catch large enough to swamp their boat! Are you willing to turn the page on yesterday’s failures? Failure is only final if you give in to the negative thoughts flooding your mind that it will always be for you as it has been in the past. Why settle for mediocrity when Jesus is commanding you to launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch! 

Wisdom

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“Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3

Solomon was a man who found favor with God. So much so that in 1 Kings 3:5 God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give to you?” Solomon’s answer was actually an unlikely one. In 1 Kings 3:9 Solomon answered “Give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The world was laid at his doorstep and Solomon chose to ask for Wisdom. God response? “because you have asked for such a thing, and have not asked for long life for yourself, nor have asked for riches for yourself, nor have asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold I have done according to your words: see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have given to you what you have not asked; both riches and honor.” The moral of the story is very simple, we should continually,

Pray For Wisdom To Understand God’s Desire For Our Lives

As I read the Proverbs of Solomon I often think that here’s the wisest person we shall ever know. A man endowed with wisdom from God himself. And here, among the great statements of Solomon’s Proverbs is a gem for us to live by. “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.” Do you commit your works to the Lord each day? Putting your hand to whatever you do in life, is it done with the thought of doing it for God’s glory? I know this is a standard I certainly don’t live up to. But what’s interesting is, when I do commit something to the Lord, my thoughts are established. Performing a task for the honor and glory of God becomes effortless because our mind set changes, for God himself changes it. Try it in your own life. Commit whatever it is that you do to the Lord, and then witness the results. Be prepared to be amazed.   

Abundance

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“Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase.” Psalm 67:5

Are you ready to live a life of abundance? Are you tired of fear and anxiety and circumstances pulling you in all different directions? One thing I am sure of is that you will always have trials in your life. Jesus himself said, “in this world you will have tribulations”. That may sound like a dire statement until you read what Jesus said next, “but be not dismayed for I have overcome the world!” Because Jesus is on the throne I think of trials as nothing more than mosquito bites. Some irritate more than others. Some cause more pain than others. Some swell and get more infected than others. But just as with time that bite will heal, so time spent in prayer and praise has the ability to repair and heal the scattered circumstances in your life. 

The Secret To Abundant Living Is Worship!

I vividly remember my father going through the painful time of closing his business, yet I saw him in the choir loft every Sunday singing with a smile. I remember my grandmother slowly losing her husband to Alzheimer’s yet she would sing from a heart of love. Today when life throws me curve balls, I swat them away with one simple phrase, Jesus, I trust you. Be thankful in all situations. Give praise in all situations. Give praise not out of selfish ambition, but out of a heart filled with love for Jesus. “Let all the peoples praise You, O God” the Psalmist says. “Then the earth shall yield her increase.”