Hope Among the Decay

Hope Among the Decay

"And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee." Psalm 39:7

She’s waiting.
I’m worried.

If one more soccer ball crashes against our disintegrating patio cover, it might collapse. At our house, that’s every 2 minutes.  I’ve learned not to judge other mammas. But, seriously...why did this sweetie choose such a precarious place to nest her egg?!

We named her Penelope. She’s the best little mamma, tirelessly tending to the hope beneath her. She wants to be ready when life breaks through. Her delicate frame flutters about, eyes watching for the slightest movement. She rests, but not for long.

Her focus is constant.

My focus has changed.

Instead of wishing we’d tear down our patio cover and replace it with beautiful wood, now I’m praying it stays up. I’m rooting for the budding life, cupped in splintered hands. My eyes go straight to the nest now.

I no longer look at the defective, but at the life I’ve detected.  I love sitting under my creaky shade--cup of coffee in hand--watching with my feathered soul sister for the birth of new life.

We’re so eager to tear down things that aren’t perfectly lovely in our life. We don’t want to look at rickety boards and chipped paint. We don’t want to have awkward conversations and squint to see potential.

Nurturing hope is intentional work. The world doesn’t have patience for this. It preaches,

If your marriage is struggling, tear it down.
If your friend betrays you, close the door.
If your dream shreds easily, throw it out.
If your ministry doesn’t grow, give up.

STOP.

This is the world’s way. It is not God’s way.

Don’t bring in the demolition crew so quickly. Look for life--even if the promise is huddled in a fragile shell.

When the Lord brought Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones, he asked,

“Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel answered, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:3)

And God did know.

He spoke to the bones,

“I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37:6b)

Ezekiel saw dry bones. God saw an opportunity for a miracle. Anyone can bring death to a situation. Only God can bring life.

Walking away from a valley of dry bones is not God’s way.
Breathing life into them is God’s way.
Raising the dead is His way.
Letting a baby bird hatch in a termite palace, is His way.

Hover over these truths. Be patient. Keep praying. Ask for God’s spirit to breathe into every situation.

Try not to focus on broken boards framing the circumstances. Choose to find the nesting egg, the dry bones that God can bring to life.

Always tend to the hope among the decay.

If you do, you’ll be ready to welcome new life like Penelope.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

by Jenna Masters

Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. " 1 Corinthians 1:18

The CCEA Heart to Heart widow’s ministry held an Ice Cream Social at Beth Ferrari’s home on Sunday June 24th. Everyone enjoyed a bowl of yummy ice cream with a mouthwatering array of toppings.

Cindy Snelling gave a brief devotion about the power of the cross from I Corinthians 1:18, and everyone received a handmade wooden cross with our Heart to Heart ministry logo and the scripture reference included.

Cynthia Stakely shared her testimony about God’s faithful presence in her life, how she met her husband, and the many miracles she experienced throughout her walk with the Lord. It was heartfelt and inspiring. 

Beth’s garden was the perfect spot for an afternoon of relaxing fellowship among truly amazing natural beauty. Beth, Debbie, Susan and Cindy wish everyone a summer of fun family get-togethers and good health.

All widows of any age are invited to join us for encouraging fellowship. If you would like to connect with us or you have any specific prayer requests, please email heart2heart@gmail.com.

Check your email inbox for the next Heart to Heart event coming up in the fall!

Offered by Cindy Snelling

Reassurance

Reassurance

"You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him." Psalm 4:3

When I'm troubled over something, this is one of the verses that gives me comfort. Because I believe Jesus' death and resurrection was for me--a sinner--I qualify as "godly." If you believe in Jesus, you qualify as godly, too. God has set us apart for himself. Can we comprehend that blessing?

In another Psalm, David says God knows everything about him--everything he thinks, everything he does. And he blesses the godly. David's God-inspired words are meant for us, too.

"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" Psalm 139:5-6

When I'm still before God and he speaks his words of love to me, I'm overwhelmed. I agree with David, such knowledge is too great for me to understand.

His thoughts toward you and me are so precious and so many they can't be counted. When we're awake or asleep, he's thinking of us.

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!"
Psalm 139:17-18

He thinks about us all the time. He's not thinking about how to discipline us. He thinks about how to bless us.

"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." Jeremiah 29:11

He considers us today and plans for our future.

It's thought David wrote the 3rd and 4th Psalms when he was running from Absalom's treacherous attempt to take over the kingdom. In the midst of this trial, he comforted himself with the knowledge he belonged to God and had been set apart by him for something good.

Can you look at your life and see how God has set you apart for his plans? Can you see him working out the circumstances of your life? That they are better than you had planned? That the outcome of your trials and testings bring him glory?

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus--that by his sacrificial death and resurrection we are transformed from sinner into godly--and you set apart the godly for yourself. You set us apart from the world so you may use us for your purposes. You loved the world so much you sent your one and only Son to give us the opportunity to become a "whosoever"...
whosoever believes in him will have eternal life, (John 3:16)
whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father... (Matthew 10:32)
whosoever drinks of the water I give shall never thirst (John 4:14)
whosoever believes on me shall not live in darkness (John 12:46)
whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21)
whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed (Romans 10:11)
whosoever confesses Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him (1 John 4:15) 
and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17
As you have set us apart for your good pleasure, may we fill the skies with our praise and thanksgiving to our Holy God, our Abba Father.

by Marilyn Allison

Love that Saves

Love That Saves

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Our Saviour was beaten, broken, scarred, close to death. He was stumbled, falling--until someone had to carry His cross--then he was nailed to it. Arms opened wide in surrender. A crown of thorns drew blood from his brow. King of the Jews signified his crime. 

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Darkness fell and our sins held Him until He cried, “It is finished!.” Droplets of blood fell from His body onto the ground.

Mankind beaten, broken, scarred, close to death. Stumbling--falling under a burden too heavy to carry--struggling forward. sin darkening our hearts. We fall, arms opened wide in surrender. “God... Jesus, please take my life, my will, my way, my sin. Forgive me. I didn’t know.”

With each word, the sin that nailed us is pulled from our hearts. Chains and shackles of pride and compromise fall away. We lay face down, barely breathing. The Risen Saviour touches our tear stained faces with His nail scarred hands. He lifts our burden and, looking into the eyes of His beloved child, says “It is finished; your sins are washed away by my blood.”

I can’t help but see the parallel of a body beaten and broken for us and lives that are beaten and broken in need of a Saviour. Let the light of Jesus shine into your life. Read the Bible, ask questions and find out how to be delivered from the burden of your sins into the hands of Jesus. 

If you think that God is a harsh judge and is punishing you--nothing is further from the truth.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world but that the world might be saved through Him." John 3:17

Jesus died a horrific death so that He could demonstrate the extent of His love for us. No condemnation, no pointing fingers, and no reminders of your sins. His love saved my life – let Jesus save yours as well.

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

by Eve Montano

Shield and Glory

Shield and Glory

"But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy mountain." Psalm 3:3-4

Sometimes I cry out to God and I don't hear an answer. Nothing. Absolute. Silence.

It lasts long enough for me to question, why am I not hearing from God?

Am I praying for the outcome I want--what I think is right?

"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."
Proverbs 14:12, 16:25

Jesus taught us to pray...

"May Your Kingdom come soon May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

Beside that, His way is better than mine.

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD. 'And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Am I praying with the right motive?

"People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives." Proverbs 16:2

Am I holding sin in my heart? That's a real impediment to God even hearing my prayers.

"Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call. It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore." Isaiah 59:1-2

David wasn't a perfect man. When he wrote Psalm 3 he was running for his life from his son. Absalom had turned enough people against his father and thought he had the power and influence to replace him as king. In the beginning verses, David's eyes were on his circumstances.

"O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!" Psalm 3:1-2

Though David sinned, he was quick to repent. God called him "a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do." (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) He remembered God is the answer. As in most instances in life, his circumstances didn't change for some time. Yet, David was able to sleep, knowing God was watching over him (verse 5).

Whenever we are in a position similar to David's--hounded by the enemy of our circumstances (health issues, threat to security, emotional wound from someone close)--the beginning of the answer is remembering God and who we are to Him. Because Jesus bought and paid for us with His blood, each of us is God's precious child. He doesn't go to sleep on guard duty.

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the One who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps." Psalm 121:2-4

Yes, it is God, our shield, watching over us and, in His time, He will reveal the answer to us.

"The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." Psalm 121:5-8

We just need to wait until He is ready to speak.

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me." Psalm 62:5-7

The answer, the victory, comes from Him.

"Victory comes from You, O LORD. May You bless Your people." Psalm 3:8

by Marilyn Allison