Hold on to Hope

Have you ever noticed at Christmas time many people dread the holidays? It's a time when expectations seem to exceed the reality, and cause many to give up hope. What do we hope for?

Doesn’t everyone hope for good to come to them? For some measure of happiness? For someone to love them? To notice them?

Can you be truly healthy or happy without hope? I don’t believe so. Hope keeps us going day after day. Without it we get bogged down in the drudgeries of life. We feel forgotten and alone. We feel nothing to go on for. But wait –remember there is hope! While there is life there is hope.

 God has great hope for you. In the book, Waking the Dead, John Eldredge, writes “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Did you get that? God wants you to live! To prosper, be well and be happy. He is for us and not against us. Many people think that God is out to get them. The extreme opposite is true. Jesus said, “I have come that they (you) might have life and have it to the full”.

God coming down to this earth in the form of a man, Jesus, was to show His endless love, which is what the holiday we call Christmas is all about. And as a Christ follower, we observe and remember what He did everyday, not only at Christmas. God came to give us life to the full in giving us Himself. What hope! Hope for life here and hope for eternal life when we die.

The following story which I heard years ago, on Moody Bible Radio, may help you to better understand what God has done for us. It is a poor example of such a great transaction, but gives us some idea.

On a cold snowy day an old farmer put out bird seed in a protected area near his barn for the birds. He tried everything he could do to lure the birds in the direction of the food and shelter. But nothing availed. They couldn’t understand as he tried to call to them, whistle to them, and even flap his arms as he went toward the barn. “That’s it!” he thought, “if only I could become a bird, I could speak their language and show them the way to life.”

This is just what God did when He came to earth in the form of baby Jesus. He came as a human being (yet He was 100% God) to show us the way to life- to His love. He gave His pure and perfect life for you and for me. We cannot bridge the gap to God on our own. Our only Hope is to accept God’s gift of His Son, Jesus. Then we are to trust Him and live each day in His presence by acknowledging Him and asking Him to be in our life. He left Heaven to come here to show us the way to a life of joy and peace connected with God and each other. But He doesn’t make us or force Himself on us in any way. He lets us choose. This choice is a free gift to us. Will you receive your gifts? Will you choose to accept His gifts of love and abundant life -a life of hope?   

To God it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, how much you weigh, what is in your bank account, what you have accomplished, who you know, or how many times you have failed. You are His beloved child. He came to give you hope for whatever circumstance you are in, even if you got yourself there. He came to this earth for you.

If you look to God instead of the trials, He will give you new life right now. Looking to Him means trusting Him and His Word to change you and your life. If you have the hope and faith to even consider this - He is already at work in you. Doesn’t that feel good as you consider that? He is real. He will give you amazing strength, wisdom, peace, and joy as you trust Him and put Him first in your life. Remember too, God loves you just as you are, but does not leave you that way. He makes us new inside with new desires -and new hope.

Yet, how can we have hope when we have so much trouble? Life comes with trouble, look at what happened to Jesus. He was the Son of God and was crucified on the cross. In troubles and trials our hope can grow. Trouble shows us what we are made of. Trials teach us and train us to look to God and not to ourselves. Trouble and trial grows us up, and helps us think about more than just ourselves. Everyone is sick or hurting in some way. Put your hope in God, and try trusting Him when trouble comes, because it will come, and you will be armed and prepared!

Many lose hope because they misunderstand God. Contrary to what many believe, God will never let you down. He never has. However, He works differently than we think He should, then we think He doesn’t care. Don’t blame God for the sorrows in life. Someday He will explain it all. Just remember the most important things: He is with you. He cares more than you will ever know.  He will give you His strength to go through whatever comes. He understands you. He loves you no matter what.

Are you filled with hope? Do you really have peace? Are you enjoying your life? Is the way you are living working? Even if you have tried “God” before- Are you willing to try something different and put your hope in Jesus? Quit trying to do it yourself! When you fail, God doesn't love you any less. His grace never runs out. As you keep looking to Jesus a new way of doing life will emerge - you will start to look for the good. Your hope will grow as you learn to believe God’s love for you and your needs. Then will you will reach out to someone else in need? Will you give them the hope you have?  His unconditional love is the best gift- anyone could ever hope for.

Natural ways to rid slugs from the garden

Summer is finally here. I love the warmth. This coastal heat feels so good, and is usually accompanied by a small breeze. Just wish it lasted 11 more months. Finally sunshine will bring growth in the garden, yea! I have planted several times, several places, and each time the slugs seem to get it all.The slug population this year is out of bounds! I have used a natural slug bait called Sluggo, a natural cinnamon slug and snail spray from Grandpa's Feed, eggshells ground up, salting them, tossing them over the fence onto the road, and going out each evening and uh- well, stabbing them, which is very unpalatable, messy, and time consuming.

 This time I am armed and ready- not with anything toxic, but still dangerous to slugs -diatomaceous earth, which someone mentioned slugs won't cross. I had some from when we tried to protect our dog from fleas naturally with it. (which turned out to be total mess-wear a mask!) So today I am putting it a jar with holes in the lid and sprinkling it around the garden areas.

 I am adamant about not using chemicals on or near plants you are going to be having as food! If a chemical hurts a creature, such as slugs, insects, or weeds, it could also cause harm to you, a child, or an animal such as your cat or dog. Since we were created by God from the dust of the earth it is only common sense to live in harmony with nature. And doing things naturally is the only way when it comes to the food we eat. If we ever get any to eat. lol

It is now a year after I wrote the above about using the diatomaceous earth. It didn't seem to do much good, and watering and rain make it ineffective! I still want a garden so I heard of yet another method to get rid of slugs- setting out shallow pans of beer. I hadn't bought beer in over 35 years, but decided it was worth a try. The slugs are attracted to the beer so crawl in. And yep, it works.

Our slug population in our yard and garden is dramatically declining. Yay! I appreciate these slugs for what they were made by God to do- to clean up "stuff". They aren't very discerning since we see them on a pile of 'you know what' in the yard, and then also on our strawberries. Strange palate. Yuk.

Since using the beer bait for a month we already see good results. We're picking strawberries without holes in them! And the buds on the flowers actually get a chance to bloom. I never thought I'd be thankful for beer.

Lessons on Control

     One morning as I opened the window shades on the large windows overlooking the lake it was brilliant white and gleaming in the sunrise. What a picture of beauty! Snow comes rarely on the Oregon coast, so I grabbed my camera, went outside and took some pictures. The early morning pristine snow with colors of gold, pink, and various hues of blue in the sunrise made a sight to behold. When the day was mostly gone the snow was a dingy brown on the roads and has a mottled look everywhere else. A melting mess. The day took its toll on its beauty and the substance of it, there was hardly a trace left.

     Our days at times are similiar. We start out early feeling sure and solid, and even a little beautiful at times, then as our day wears on we get worn and discouraged, with our hope and strength melting as we wonder  wondering where our plans for this great day went. It happens to all of us more days than we want to admit. Does it need to? At least on such a regular basis? How about if we have a sure fire plan and we stick to it and let nothing detour us from our goals? You know - "try harder". Then life's problems enter in, and we get this sense of out of control once again.

     What if we aren't supposed to be in control in the first place? But who will be if we're not?- we cry out! When that out of control feeling hits and you are melting fast, would you be willing to try something different? Ho about listening quietly in your spirit, mind, and heart, and ask God, your Creator, to be in control? And invite Him to be with you? (He already is of course, however He will enter into your life in many more ways when you ask and want a closer relationship with Him.

     Did you know that the Creator of all things has a beautiful plan for you? He wants you to be at rest in  your spirit, and to enjoy the days He has given you on this earth. A day of beauty with sparkling white snow comes from His Hand, and although it won't last, it is something to behold and enjoy while we can. Receive strength from it and go forward looking for the next wonder.

     "This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) Be glad? Even with melting snow, and a personal melt down? Yes, because He is with us, He knows our struggles, and sees our frailness. His longs for us to be who He made us to be- not phony trying to be perfect - but to come as we are, and lean on Him. He gives us grace, favor we don't deserve because He is love. He wants us to trust when life seems out of control. He will provide everything we need. (Philippians 4:19)

     Meltdowns may come occasionally, and when they do, allow Jesus to scoop you up to restore you with hope. Put your trust and hope in Him, not in circumstances, people, or even yourself. He has each new morning all dressed up like a fresh snow, and even when the day wears on -like our energy- it is still a beautiful day in which we can rest assured will be okay as we trust His control and relax ours.