Monthly Archives: September 2017

“Giving Hope Today”

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“Giving hope today,” it says on the leaflets distributed into our letter boxes this morning. The leaflets inform us also that The Salvation Army is collecting donated goods to share with the community through their Kaitaia store.

Just now they can use quality furniture, towels, cutlery, pots & pans, clothing & household items we no longer need, we are also told.

Reading “Giving Hope Today,” on that flier, made me look up what the Bible says about HOPE.

The Salvation Army at 100 Commerce Street, KAITAIA

WHERE DO WE PUT OUR HOPE?

Putting our hope in GOD.

Psalm 42:5 says, “Put your hope in God, …” (PLease read the whole verse.) In Psalm 130:7 we read, “O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, …” First Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth …” First Timothy 4:10 “…, that we have put our hope in the living God, …”

Putting our hope in his WORD.

In Psalm 119:74 the Psalmist says, “…, for I have put my hope in your word.” Also in Psalm 130:5 the Psalmist says, “…, and in his word I put my hope.”

Putting our hope in his UNFAILING LOVE.

Psalm 147:11 “the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

You are probably aware that The Salvation Army is sharing donated goods with the community, but do you also know that The Salvation Army is sharing also the Word of God? ( Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” In Philemon 6 Paul is praying for Philemon that he may be active in sharing his faith.)

The Salvation Army store in KAITAIA is at 100 Commerce Street, right in the middle of town.

This afternoon I read there in big letters not only: ‘CLOTHING  HOUSEWARE  BOOKS  FURNITURE,” but also “CHURCH SERVICE  SUNDAY  10.30 AM”

“ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD”

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“ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD,”  I think was written on the back of the delivery vehicle that passed by just now. (I was on my way to town this afternoon on the back road of Kaitaia.)

Seeing that reminded me that the Lord Jesus Christ always keeps his word. Here are two of his prayer promises.

ONE: Mark 11:24

“THEREFORE I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.”

TWO: John 15:7

“IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN YOU.”

And yes, “Always keep your word,” was written on the back of the delivery truck. You ask, “How do you know for sure?” The truck came actually back the same way and I had another good look.

Second Corinthians 1:20

“FOR NO MATTER HOW MANY PROMISES GOD HAS MADE, THEY ARE ‘YES’ IN CHRIST. AND SO THROUGH HIM THE ‘AMEN’ IS SPOKEN BY US TO THE GLORY OF GOD.”

“Thought For Today”

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“‘EACH OF US SHOULD PLEASE OUR NEIGHBOURS FOR THEIR GOOD, TO BUILD THEM UP.'”

That is the “Thought for today” in one of our papers. (Northern Advocate, Friday, September 15, 2017)

Readers of the Bible will know that the Apostle Paul wrote that to the saints in Rome. (Romans 15:2)

 

OBEDIENCE

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“The great need for obedience,” was the answer of the last of the brigadiers of the Salvation army when asked, what enduring lesson God had taught him. He said also, “If we don’t obey God, what’s the point?

I have asked myself for a long time, “What is the use of learning more, if I am not obedient to the things I have already learned? Or are you obedient to all the things you know?

In First Corinthians 7:19 the Apostle Paul says, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts,”

In Matthew 5:24-27 the Lord Jesus Christ speaks about people who hear his words. Now we have a choice to put them into practice or not to put them into practice.

The last of the brigadiers said also, “When you read Numbers and all these wonderful books of the Bible again, everything God promised these people were good things, wonderful things. They could have had so much, if only they had obeyed.”

We could have also had so much, if only we had obeyed.