Tag: encouragement

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Hope in the Battle

The Kedge Anchor
Are the waves of life crashing in around you? If you’re looking for hope, read on.

This blog is all about Hope. God, the giver of Hope. When we find ourselves in troubled waters we need assurance there is Hope. God is in the troubled waters. The troubled waters can last for days to years. I know that doesn’t sound very hopeful. Take heart, things do change, some things take time to change and God is in control of that change. It’s in the movement, the uncomfortable places of transformation that we can find hope.

We all want to be in places of peace and calm, where there are no worries and things are going swimmingly. Our plans are unfolding nicely and we think we have it all figured out. Then, the tide changes. A storm suddenly wells up and churns our calm sea. Stop and pause for a moment. Where is the battle raging? The sea (your situation) or your mind? If you’re fighting the rough waters, trying to navigate, losing your way, trying to find some light, a way out and you’re starting lose hope, becoming weary and tired, depleted and discouraged, if that’s where you are, you’re fighting the wrong battle. You’re fighting something you have no control over. Stop.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

If God is in control, then you are wrestling God. Stop. Stop fighting God. Not that, that’s wrong. Now you’re probably about to say, “And just let the waters take me and toss me around?” Well, no. There are some things you can do. First recognize where the battle is really taking place. Be it a health issue, the loss of a loved one, a financial issue, an issue with a child, relationship, job related; those all represent the churning sea. God is using those situations to transform us. So what we need to do next, is fix our eyes, (verse) minds on Jesus, by the renewing of our minds (renewing of the mind verse) There is going to be little we can do to change our situation and wrestling God or the lies of Satan, that will just wear us out. Know that Satan is at work trying to keep you one degree off your navigation, but God says He will never leave us or forsake us. (verse) Sometimes the battle is harder to fight when the lines blur and we are trying to justify our situation so that we don’t have to change, because it’s just easier not to change. And really, who wants to change an already comfortable situation, perhaps? But, look at how hard you’re working NOT to change. Transformation can be painful. but, it’s worth it and once the transformation happens, life becomes easier. But, KNOW that God is working to use whatever situation you are in to transform you into more like Him. That’s His ultimate goal, but He is also working in other areas of our lives to grow us. – Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” NIV

Next, it’s the movement, even if you need to wrestle with God, and sometimes that’s ok, you’re not gonna win but what will come out of it is newness. Sitting in those calm still waters we can become stagnant, no change, no growth, really going nowhere. But it’s in the movement of those churning waters we learn to navigate uncharted waters or a new way to navigate in the same churning waters.

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#hope #hopeanchor #thekedgeanchor #jesusiscoming #hopeanchorforthesoul #hebrewssixnineteen #encouragement #wordsofencouragement #hardtimes #scripture #scriptureverse #wordsofencouragementforall #foreveryone #liveagodlylife #lovegod #wrestlewithgod #troubledwaters

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There Will Be Terrible Times.

The Kedge Anchor

It’s crazy. Isn’t it? The way things are going? What once was good is now considered bad. What once was bad is now good. And the Bible teaches us through prophesy in the Old Testament and in the book of Revelation about the end times. But yet, sometimes I gotta shake my head and say to myself, “Really?” Yah, really.

Often times, I am at a loss how to deal with things. It’s really confusing. And praying. Well, I really am not sure how to pray in these times. How does one pray for the days that are to come, if we are, and I believe we are embarking on the outskirts of the last days.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure …”

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (NIV) “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

The KJV uses the word perilous for terrible. The greek word for perilous, *chalepos – hard to do or bear, 5467 xalepós (an adjective, derived from xaleptō, “to oppress, annoy,” J. Thayer) – properly, irksomely hard to bear (LS); fiercely difficult to cope with because so harsh (even injurious). Kinda what we are seeing and experiencing today, isn’t it?

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) – “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Well, the Bible does teach us how we should live and be. Self-controlled, upright and live godly lives. But we need each other, we need encouragement from each other as Paul encouraged the people of Corinth and as he received letters of encouragement from the people whilst in prison.

The book of Titus goes on to say in verse 13, “… while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, there is Hope. Hope for the soul, Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure …”

It’s hard not to be discouraged and just sad at the events that take place, the headlines, the social media posts, the injustice. And the Bible does tell us to not be discouraged. Joshua 1:19 reminds of that as well as Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” There’s that word again, hope. We have HOPE! And that HOPE will be with us wherever we go! The future I believe is our home in Heaven and for the present day, God has plans for us today, to live self controlled and upright godly lives. If we just love the Lord our God and our neighbor, the rest falls into place.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.“

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

It sounds simple, huh? It is and it isn’t. Seek God and His Word for answers and comfort. And I encourage to seek counseling. There are many Christian counselors out there and meetings can be done remotely. If we try to do it in our own strength we won’t make it. There will be days we want to lash out, scream, shout, ggggrrrrrr! It’s not easy some days. We need encouragement in these terrible, perilous times. We don’t have to like it or agree with it. We need to resolve with ourselves to lead godly and upright lives. And we can only do that by walking with God and by encouraging each other.

#hope #hopeanchor #thekedgeanchor #endtimes #jesusiscoming #hopeanchorforthesoul #hebrewssixnineteen #encouragement #wordsofencouragement #hardtimes #scripture #scriptureverse #wordsofencouragementforall #foreveryone #liveagodlylife #lovegod #loveyourneighbor

Please click the button in the top right corner or click the following links to learn more About Contact Knowing Jesus

#hope #hopeanchor #thekedgeanchor #endtimes #jesusiscoming #hopeanchorforthesoul #hebrewssixnineteen #encouragement #wordsofencouragement #hardtimes #scripture #scriptureverse #wordsofencouragementforall #foreveryone #liveagodlylife #lovegod #loveyourneighbor

Resources

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5467.htm

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Happy New Year! 2020

The Kedge Anchor

AHOY! Welcome to the Kedge Anchor.

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Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

Happy New Year! WOW the year 2020. Sounds so futuristic. Then there’s all the 2020 jokes, 20/20 vision in the new year. LOL The future can be exciting. And it can be scary. Simply because we don’t know what the future holds.

But it doesn’t have to be scary. The Bible tells us “be anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (NIV) You can ask God anything. He already knows what’s on your mind and heart. So why ask, you may be thinking. Because he loves you, he wants to hear from you. Just like you want to hear your spouse, your parents, your friends or those you love to say “I love you.” You know it, but you want to hear it. Jesus is the same way.

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV) Sometimes this is easier said than done.

But when you think about it, like verse 27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry isn’t changing anything. It’s just stealing your peace.

We can have confidence in the future. Confident that God knows all, he is omniscient. Psalm 139:1-4 “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.” Job 28:24 ” for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.” He knows us in the past, Psalm 139:13 “For you created me my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” He knows us in the present ” Matthew 10:30 ” And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” And we shed hair constantly, don’t we? So, he knows at any given time how many hairs on our heads, even the gray ones. And he knows our future, Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD…”

“Worry is assuming responsibilities that God never intended for you to handle, …” I’m not sure where this quote originated, other than Facebook, but that’s exactly what we are doing when we worry. It’s hard NOT to worry, I’ve been there, but I have also been there in total surrender to God and HE HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH!!! YAY!! VICTORY! WHo doesn’t want that? Sometimes things turned out totally different than how I planned, but it always turned out for the best. Sometimes I was in a holding pattern and for a reason. Usually to transform me and grow me and time for him to just do his work. Because, 1 Corinthians 2:9 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him. (NIV).

Every time a hard situation comes up, try to let go and give it to God. And fill that void of no worry with praise and prayer. Reach out to someone in need and watch those plans he has for you unfold. The future doesn’t have to be scary. Not when you know who holds it. It’s hard, I know, but trust, little by little that trust will grow and VICTORY will be yours!
Happy New Year! 

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