Thursday Thoughts From Hope

Thursday Thoughts From Hope

A couple of days late.  Slowly getting back into blogging, at least a little.

Thursday Thoughts From Hope

 

Here's to 2015!

Thursday Thoughts From Hope

So, I was busy. Here are thoughts from yesterday. Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Have a great 2015.

Monday Music

Here's where I'll share some of my favorite songs or something I find that inspires me or just seems fun. So, being Christmas, here is Carol of the Bells, Acapella by Barlow Girl

Sunday Sermon Snippets

I'm going to share just a few notes from Sunday's sermons that jump out at me or I just feel like sharing. Today Elder Ed Lee spoke on "Which Way to Heaven?"

The most important decision that anybody will ever make is regarding their eternal destiny. Everyone will live somewhere forever without end. It will either be hell and eternal punishment or Heaven and eternal joy.

There are two gates - Wide and Narrow. Jesus says "Enter (a command) by the narrow gate," the gate that leads to eternal life.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the Truth and the Life,

no man comes to the Father but by Me." John 14:6

It's amazing how popular it is to assume that there are all kinds of different ways to heaven, even among Evangelicals. The Narrow gate is like a turnstile, admitting only one person at a time...it is intensely personal.

The Wide gate lets everyone through at once with all their ideas of how to get to heaven - "we're all getting there eventually". And it usually has nothing to do with what Jesus did on the cross - the Divine accomplishment that saves us...It Is Finished!

"You and your sins must separate (can't even have one),

or you and your God cannot come together..."  Charles Spurgeon

You need to forsake, abhor and ask God to overcome them.

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, 

choose this day whom you will serve...

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

Thursday Thoughts From Hope

Well, I've neglected my blog for so long, and I keep trying to get back to it. So, here I am. I'll try to do it a few days a week since I don't think I could think of things to say for seven days a week. haha  Well, today will normally be Thursday Thoughts from Hope which is basically the one-liners from Hope Chapel's marquee. For now it will show the Christmas Eve services, so if you're in Hermosa Beach, or close by, please join Hope for Christmas Eve and regular services.

Sunday Hope

Sunday Hope

Sunday Hope

SUNDAY HOPE

Three Things About One Word - Silence

Silence: absence of sound or noise; stillness

When you sit in silence, what do you hear? Nothing? What about your thoughts? My mind never seems to shut down no matter how many times I tell it to 'hush up'! The day's troubles come to mind; tomorrow's tasks join in. One way I try to change the 'noise' is by praying or reading the Bible. But the devil doesn't want us to do that, so he continues to try to distract us. But God is stronger than any distraction that comes.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Be still - and you just might hear His voice saying, "Everything is okay. I'm here for you always. Trust Me."

Silence is golden, so the saying goes. Think how 'golden' silence is when we refrain from gossiping, lying or slander, etc. Never thought about that and then I saw these words and the following verse: 

For, He that would love life, 

And see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, 

And his lips that they speak no guile:

And let him turn away from evil, and do good; 

Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:10-11

Seek peace and pursue it. Life for my Compassion child is made better through Compassion and the Center that cares for his needs: medical care, meals, teaching good hygiene habits. Those who are caring for him are not silent about God's Word and His love for them. They share their lives and show the love of God to him. I'm thankful to be able to be a part of this work. Won't you join Compassion and sponsor a child and help save another little life? I couldn't say 'no' to this little guy?

From the lips of children and infants 

you have ordained praise because of your enemies, 

to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

Children's Hospital

What a day and it’s only half over. I decided to give platelets (partly selfish on my part). I saw this psa from the LA Kings and thought it would be a good idea, and maybe I can win tickets to a playoff game. Well, they checked my veins and they didn’t feel they were “good enough” to do platelets, but I could give blood if I wanted. This meant I didn't qualify for the drawings they were going to have. Oh well, since I was there, I decided to give blood anyway.

Even before this time, as I entered LA Children's Hospital , I was amazed at immenseness of this place and I saw more kids who needed the care of this place than I have ever seen. I have just a few friends with special needs kids and I don’t even have a clue what they go through when their children have “episodes” or weaken from their disease. The only way I have even learned a little about this is through Jeannett. How my heart hurts reading her story. I’ve been so blessed to have healthy children (who by the way are 30 and 28 – Oy!). I’d like to think that I could be like Jeannett KNOWING that God is Good – No Matter What. I DO KNOW that.  And her kids are amazing. I don’t know them up close and personal, but I feel I know them through her blogs and pictures and stories. With God’s strength, she is doing good by her kids. And her husband, Andy, right there by her side, is an amazing dad.

I walked around a little bit, bought a shirt and a Grande Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato. I watched as parents were pushing their kids in their wheelchairs, as a young teenage girl walked the halls with, I think a volunteer, while pushing her IV next to her and, while giving blood, a mom with her daughter was giving blood next to me. She was from Long Beach and when she comes up for her daughter’s doctor appointments, gives blood when she can. Her daughter sat there next to her in her wheelchair, with barely a peep out of her.  Cute little gal wearing a headband with a bow, pink striped socks and flower dress.  I’m one of those people who doesn’t know how to start a conversation to find out their story and I’m mad at myself that I didn’t stick around a little longer to get to know her. Made me think more about volunteering at CHLA…even if I do hate driving in LA traffic and it would take me an hour to get there (depending on traffic). It’s only a half hour away, said it would take about 45 minutes and it still took me an hour to get there, and it was hot outside. But, the more I think about it, the more I want to explore this option because it would be worth the drive.

So, it’s been a productive day and I look forward to seeing how God might lead me as far as volunteering at CHLA or maybe something closer – it would be a blessing not to have to drive. J

Sunday Hope

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANIELLE

A post from the past. Danielle is 27 years old today. She is still in OR working as a Supervisor at the new Starbucks drive-through. She's thinking of maybe going back to school to get her Master's. But whatever she does, she will do well and succeed. I love and miss this Baby Girl of mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANIELLE!!! LOVE AND HUGS

Plea for Lebron to do the dunk contest

Couldn't resist. I'm not a Lebron fan, but this kid is so cute in making his plea for Lebron to get in the dunk contest.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/middle-schooler-dunk-contest-plea-lebron-james-pitch-200306074.html

Where have I been?

Well, it has been awhile since I've written and read blogs. I see I've missed over 20 of some friends' blogs. I'll have to catch up sometime. I'm finding my time is filled with FB instead. I didn't used to read so much over there, but now I read, then I play games. How did that happen? Distractions happen all the time. I see that on January 1, I said I was going to be better about blogging. Well, I did get to the 16th. We'll see what happens from now on. I do want to keep up with friends and I want to continue churning out little tidbits. If I don't, at least you know you can find me on FB to see what's happening.

One thing that's happening is that I'm still working. My job isn't as secure as it could be, but I know I at least have a job month-to-month. From what I hear about the project we're doing, I should be good through October. So far, so good. We will be heading up to SLO the next two weekends for short visits during Missions Conference. Want to see some people we haven't seen for ages, including my good friend, Noonie. CAN'T WAIT!!!

Hope you all are doing well. Find me at FB once in awhile and say hi. :)

Monday Musings

This is the first wooden pulpit. 

Here are a few tidbits from Sunday service at Hope Chapel:

God doesn't call you to church to sit on your hands. He calls you to church to raise your hands and lift Him up. Pastor Steve

When you think about cutting your tithe: "You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house."  Haggai 1:9 (ESV)

"For most people, the disaster of life is that they give up just one effort too soon." Will Barclay 

When I cut myself, I run to get a bandaid. It hurts and I don't want to bleed. To give blood to someone else is not something I think about. Some people do give their blood by transfusion. To give all your blood, is to die. Jesus gave His all for all of us. An Elder(?) at Hope Chapel

Sunday Hope

Monday Musings

"To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

NOT ONE OF THEM IS MISSING.

Isaiah 40:25-26