Category Archives: Hope

Confidence in and through Jesus Christ

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At times, we err in feeling as if God and His Word have let us down.
Instead, we must persevere in faith on earth before obtaining our crown.

We KNOW of and have seen times in our lives when God’s promises prevailed;
but we must trust the Lord even when it SEEMS as though they’ve “failed.”

For “LOVE NEVER FAILS,” and God, who is love, will always undergird us.
Keep the faith, knowing that when we prayed, He certainly heard us.

“Underneath are the everlasting arms” is an assuring promise to realize.
“To whom shall we go?” Peter asked of Christ.  He believed in Him, the Son of the living God, and that keeping faith in Him was truly wise.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” John 6:67-69 NKJV

“Love never fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms….” Deuteronomy 33:27 NKJV

“Then my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9 NASB

“O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful.”  Psalm 89:8 NLT

“Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive (the victor’s) crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by (what is) evil and He Himself tempts no one.” James 1:12-13 AMPC

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 NKJV

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! Don’t give up, certainly not on faith in God, for it’s never His desire to give up on you. And we’re living in days where staying close to and hearing from Him is essential. Remain strong in your prayers and praise.

For inspirational reading: “From Faith to Faith” is a daily devotional book available at http://www.kcm.org

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.”  Psalm 36:5 NLT

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”  Psalm 138:2 NLT

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A Morning Walk with Jesus

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“For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!” Psalm 84:11-12

Early this morning, I got up from the night’s rest
and stole quietly out to find day at its best.

It renewed and inspired to greet God’s morning sun,
and it spoke of His glory before my day had begun. 

I thought of this verse, how He’s a sun and a shield;
it’s in looking to Him that I’m guarded and healed.

He gives grace and glory–all good things are mine–
I just “receive” from His bountiful source of “Son” shine.

P. A. Oltrogge

“…Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” Matthew 17:1-2 

“…a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’” (verse 5)

“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” Mark 11:24

On a Desert Road

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Does this world seem like a desert–parched and offering little shade?
Thank God, we have an oasis, when our minds on Christ are stayed.

It’s there, we find “living water,” through God’s Holy Spirit and His Word.
Why struggle, as if in a desert, when the “rain” of God has occurred?

It’s said that very little water can cause desert seeds to flourish.
Likewise, you can be revived–just one word from God can nourish.

Troubles can bombard our minds through circumstances or daily news,
so turn to the life-giving Word of God, the blessed oasis that’s yours to use.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10 NASB

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalm 119:50 NLT

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV

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Calling things that be not as though they were….

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“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

How often we speak only of what we see, instead of the “good outcome” that we really mean.

“The mouth of the upright will deliver them” isn’t merely a Proverb that sounds good…

Jesus gave instruction on speaking to the “mountain,” so He surely was advocating that we should.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.” Romans 4:16-18 KJV

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

“But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, therefore also we speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13

“…but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6 (Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 18:20-21; Proverbs 21:23 and others)

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’” Mark 11:22-24 KJV

“And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed that very hour.” Matthew 8:13 (from the account in Matthew 8:5-13)

Jesus said, “Have faith in God….” as the following scripture from Isaiah also speaks of the surety of God and His Word:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

More on this at http://www.cappsministries.com with books, such as “Changing the Seen and Shaping the Unseen” or the booklet, “Calling Things That are Not.”

For a daily schedule of speakers at the Southwest Believers’ Convention, go to: http://www.kcm.org/swbc

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 KJV

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJV

May all God’s children persevere, continuing in His Word…. God bless!

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Southwest Believers’ Convention

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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16 (NKJV)

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”   John 1:12 (KJV)

“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” 1 John 3:1 (KJV)

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:22

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

You can view this week’s encouraging messages from Fort Worth, Texas, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, at www,govictory.com or the Victory Channel is also on DIRECTV, Channel 366, DISH, Channel 265, Apple TV 4th Generation, Amazon fireTV, and ROKU.

(August 2-7)

Rains can’t endure; God’s mercies are sure…

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After the rain, the sun will come out…
Of the Lord’s faithfulness, we must not doubt.

Rain is most often a life-giving thing…
May the “rains” of life be faith-strengthening.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103:1-5

Psalm 25:6; Psalm 40:11; Psalm 89:1;
Psalm 107; Psalm 136:1-26; Psalm 145:9

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”   Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy….”  Psalm 107:1-2

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”  Psalm 107:8-9

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3 NASB

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart….” Luke 18:1

Jesus said: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” 
…from Matthew 7:24-29

(Scriptures NKJV, or as noted)

In Everything Give Thanks

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When it looks to you, at times, like there’s simply no way out,
let thanking God, the Father, be your sure and chosen route.

When it seems that pressing problems have no known solution,
let thanking the Lord turn any worries into a grace revolution.

Paul and Silas were imprisoned but raised their praises high–
then found they were delivered, with praise their only cry.

When the way seems very foggy and you’re tempted to despair,
just know, though you can’t yet see it, the victory is there.

A great principle of the Bible is to walk by faith and not by sight–
so thank God for His presence when it’s dark and you need His light.

Like a pilot relies on instruments through weather good or bad–
let thankfulness be the “instrument” with which your life is clad.

P. A. Oltrogge

Acts 16:23-40:
“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (25-26)

“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:14-17 NKJV

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV and Hebrews 11:1

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57

Encouragement on Healing

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You’re going to be all right..
God can heal things overnight.

Let’s continue to observe the Covenant meal…
another way that the Lord can heal.

If medical becomes the way to go,
then, thereby, healing can also flow…

Put your hand in the Lord’s as you walk this course…
His power is the greatest healing force.

P. A. Oltrogge

The above was written for a family member who had been taking daily communion and ultimately went in for surgery, which was successful and was less extensive than thought.

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

I want to recommend a most encouraging true account told in the book, Healed Overnight by Amy Keesee Freudiger. You can read of her book when you visit Amy’s website at http://www.HealedOvernight.com

Inspired Words to Pray

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Photo/Porch of the Lord

Lord,
Make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred–let me sow love,
where there is injury–pardon,
where there is doubt–faith,
where there is despair–hope,
where there is darkness–light,
and where there is sadness–joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive–
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi

…Some versions of this prayer add “where there is friction, union, and where there is error, truth.” You may want to add those thoughts in praying the prayer, as well.

God bless you today,

P. A. Oltrogge

The Impact of Genuine Love

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by Jen Janssen,
Guest Contributor

I was driving down the road today with my sunroof open, tunes cranked, and the wind blowing my hair. Then, all of a sudden, something came over me, and I missed my mom. Now, the truth of the matter is I always think about my mom and I miss her in some way each day. But this, this was different…this was coming from that deep yearning to have her in the seat next to me to have one more conversation, to sing together, to just be together. I wanted to share all that is going on in life and hear her advice about it all. I wanted one more day to tell her what has happened over the last nineteen years since she has been gone. To have one more laugh over the silly things and to be able to cry over the moments of heartache. To be able to dream together and to mourn the things hoped for that had to die. It will be nineteen years this autumn that my mom has been gone; and, like I said, I always think of her. But then there are these moments that the grief is thick and washes over me. So I feel it, I cry for what I have lost, and I wait. I wait for the day we are reunited and I know even in these moments I am not alone. All of this to say if you have lost someone, something you are not alone. Helen Keller said, “We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world–the company of those who have known suffering.”

Forgive the long post, but I thought maybe someone else needed to hear this. Grief comes and goes in waves, and even nineteen years later, it can still sneak up on me and wrap around my heart. And that is okay. So if you are grieving something, someone please know you are not alone and this is not the end! ♥️

“…for He (Jesus) Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4