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Give Hope

3 Powerful Verses That Will Give You Hope

by Sarah Crockett April 5, 2022

It today’s world there are so many situations and circumstances that can steal our hope, but we don’t have to live that way. The Word of God is full of hope-filled scriptures that can give you hope regardless of any circumstance.

#1 – Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19-20 contains some of Jesus’ last words on the earth. These famous verses are what we now call the Great Commission, but did you notice? The last portion includes a promise that will surely give you hope, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

That’s right! Jesus promises to be “with you always”. That means that there isn’t one situation or circumstance, valley or mountain top, biggest loss or greatest win where Jesus hasn’t been with you. You are not alone. Choose to stand on the promise that He is with you always!

#2 – Jeremiah 33:3

Jeremiah 33:3 is another promise in the Word of God that can surely give you hope. In this verse God promises Jeremiah, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Here Jeremiah is instructed to call out to God and God promises to answer in return.

Do you ever feel alone? Maybe you don’t feel like you have anyone you can talk to about things going on in your life. Well, the truth is God is always available to you AND He promises to answer. You might feel like God doesn’t speak to you, but I would like to propose that maybe He is speaking and it’s simply of you recognizing His voice? He can speak through the Word of God, the inner audible voice, through an external picture or sound. God can speak through knowing, sensing, feelings, and even pictures we see in our minds eye.

Let God’s promise to Jeremiah give you hope today, knowing that when you call out to God, He will answer you!

#3 – John 11:35

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible and it says, “Jesus wept.” This simple verse is so powerful because it reveals Jesus’ ability to relate to humanity – He felt emotions.

If having emotions was something Jesus had, doesn’t it give you hope – and permission – to feel emotions too? It should! Jesus came to earth to show us how to live the abundant life and having emotions is part of the way we are wired. Give yourself permission to feel, as Jesus did, by letting yourself feel your emotions.

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Church in Iowa Makes Blankets for Local Hospital

by Emily Wheelock September 29, 2019

written by Emily Wheelock

In the little town of Waverly, Iowa at the tiny church of First Baptist, members have joined together to make blankets for the local hospital. Ashley Shipp, the coordinator, began Blanket Blessings Waverly after losing her mother last summer.

“My mom received a crocheted blanket and I received a prayer shawl. I was amazed someone would spend all that time making them and then donate them to someone they didn’t know,” Shipp said.

That following Christmas, after finding her mothers crochet book and materials, Shipp taught herself to crochet. She found that she loved it and began looking for an organization that she could help.

The Beginning

“I found the Waverly Hospital needed blankets. They give them to babies that are born there, children who have surgery, and anyone who would benefit from one.” After speaking with the volunteer coordinator at the hospital, where they have a huge need for blankets right now, Shipp decided she would put a group together to make blankets. Her motivation was her mother.

She spoke with the outreach at her church, First Baptist Church, and was able to get the word out. Soon donations for and of materials were coming in. The group is made up of 10-15 ladies. Shipp says the group is open to anyone who wants to help. She says that “all skill levels are welcome and if you want to learn, we’ll teach you.” Her hope is that people in the group will invite someone they know who maybe are not saved and could use that kind of fellowship. Even if they don’t go to church, she hopes to build those relationships and make them want to come to church.

Donations

If you don’t feel that you are very crafty you can certainly donate materials like yarn and fabrics. The group could also use financial support to purchase fleece and batting. If you’d like to help out by donating or you’re for more information, you can contact Ashley Shipp at the email [email protected] or you can contact the church.

Since June, Blanket Blessings Waverly has donated 80 blankets to the local hospital, and 3 quilts to Cedar Valley Friends of the Family. Shipp said that knowing someone cares about you could be a comfort and help you get through the hard times, and make something that is traumatic slightly less traumatic.

“God has totally provided every step of the way,” Shipp said, “I don’t know what the future holds. I never envisioned that God would take me finding my moms crochet book and turn it into a ministry through church and the hospital.”

September 29, 2019 0 comment

Faith

You Step… He Steps… Hope Has A Name

by Lesa Henderson June 28, 2019

written by Lesa Henderson

Hope Has A Name

Often, if not always, when God asks us to do something it is not only a stretch of our faith, it’s above our pay grade, talent, and ability. In the natural, it seems impossible. And without God – it is! Fortunately for us, hope has a name.

In the summer of 2016, we received one of those challenges. We felt the Lord asking us to step out in faith, with very little money, a camera, and a couple of contacts to film a documentary movie about ordinary women around the world making hope come alive.

The idea of it – the dream of making the film – wasn’t a new idea. It was something we’d carried in our hearts since 2012 – from the time when we met Mrs. Mary Lanier at the drug recovery program our son, Brandon was in. The ministry this 80 plus year-old woman was doing with hardened addicts, gang members, and criminals left us speechless. It was incredibly inspiring. And, it took away excuses of age and gender.

Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. ~ Mary McLeod Bethune

Hope Has a Name

The encounter with her, coupled with ministering in an impoverished housing project in Bartow, FL with Jessica Goodman, sparked the idea for the movie.

There are women around the world, who are unknown, without big platforms or budgets who are bringing hope in hopeless situations. The idea of women working and ministering to people around the world without notoriety and often without resources was the motivating story we were compelled to share. We knew it should be called Hope.

Armed with the desire to motivate average people to action, with the purpose of sharing the love of Christ, the journey began… at least in our hearts. And that’s where it stayed for four years.

Wake-Up call – Hope Has A Name

However, in 2016, during a time of prayer, the Lord spoke, “I gave this to you, but if you don’t do it, I’m giving it to someone else.” This was a wake-up call. A reminder of other lost opportunities.

Our response was, “Lord, we will do this!” But how? As pastors of a small church in Florida, this venture exceeded our budget…it would take more time, money and ability than we had. The Lord wasn’t concerned with any of that!

“You know the money you have in your account,” He pointed out, “Start there. You step…I step. I’ll lead you to the women.”

He knows how much is in your bank account, folks! He knew how much was in ours and He wasn’t intimidated by it at all!

As Pastor Jentezen Franklin says, “We serve a motion-sensitive God.” He is moved by our faith. And when we move in obedience and faith, He moves in response.

Obedience

As we stepped in obedience, God did lead us to the women He wanted in this film (literally taking us around the world to film them) – Heidi Baker, Cassandra Lee, Amy Lancaster, Deena Vant’Hul, Jessica Goodman, Mary Lanier, Shara Chalmers, and a woman in a closed nation so dangerous we couldn’t show her face. The stories of hope and the ripple effect of their ministries is beyond inspiring.

Ken and Lesa Henderson with Heidi Baker

There were many hardships and much resistance…including, but not limited to, two hurricanes, the fire of TN where the condo where we were staying burned to the ground and we lost film equipment and a lot of footage. We were also hit with a tornado and a flood (x2)… but God.

Hope Has A Name has won multiple awards, is being seen around the world and on GOD TV and has been endorsed by Dr Tim Hill, Perry Stone, Jentezen Franklin, and Lisa Bevere.

We don’t boast in this but in God’s ability to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

What we learned from making this film and the women we featured in it is:

Age nor gender exempts you from being used of God.
If you step out in faith and use what’s in your hand, He will multiply it.
Never give up! Don’t quit just because things are hard. (More on this later)
Never give up on your dreams.

“…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.” (Philippians 1:6)

What has God been calling you to do? As you step out to do what He has called you to, He will not only meet you, He will enable you!

1 MASTER 1 MIN TEASER HopeHasAName

Watch this video on YouTube

June 28, 2019 0 comment

Faith

Be Hope To Someone This Christmas

by Corine Channell December 11, 2018

written by Corine Channell

Contrary to what we would like to believe, not everyone likes Christmas. It’s not that some people don’t like the elements of the holiday – the gifts, the cookies, the music. The deepest intricate meaning of Christmas is HOPE. Unfortunately, a lot of people are just plum out of hope.

Enter “bah humbug” feelings. It’s easy to shrug off and ignore those who are not enjoying the wonder of the season like you. Think of the movie, Elf – there are those of us (clearing throat….) who truly LOVE Christmas and would sing at the top of our lungs in the subway (if we lived near one… and smile till our face hurts. I want to be very sensitive though, to those who simply are… sad.

I want to live out what I think HOPE looks like. It’s easy to talk, give someone a speech, or a glib cliché. But, what mankind needs most this Christmas season is to SEE what HOPE looks like.

I believe HOPE should look a lot like LOVE

If you get a hug (after years of NOT getting one) – that is HOPE.

If someone asks you your name after so many years (and you really have to stop and think what it is) – that is HOPE.

If a stranger offers you a large cup of peppermint hot chocolate (for no reason) – that is HOPE.

If you wonder how you are going to buy your child a present (and someone who picked their name off an Angel tree gets that child EXACTLY what they wanted) – that is HOPE.

If you are lying alone in the dark, in a nursing home (and a stranger appears at your door to sing a song you have long forgotten) – that is HOPE.

What can we each do to live out the true message of Christmas? That light has shone in the darkness, that music has silenced the fear, that love has given us all a reason to get up and try one more time.

#HopeSpringsEternalThruHumanHandsAndHearts

December 11, 2018 0 comment