Sept 7-13-08 Gods Love

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Today's world is full of pain and bitterness. So many groups feel deep disappointment. So many problems

seem to defy solutions.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

A glance at the daily headlines reveals a tide of distrust, discord, and

disharmony sweeping the planet. Can Christians be effective in such an

environment?

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Not unless they recognize the pain and perplexities that abound wherever real people encounter the real struggles of

everyday existence.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Jeremiah serves as a model for how to make a sober, realistic appraisal of human need. As he witnessed the devastation left

in the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall, he reflected on the darkness and despair that

covered the city.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Lamentations 3:1 NET א (Alef) I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath. 2 He drove me

into captivity and made me walkin darkness and not light.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

3 He repeatedly attacks me,he turns his hand against me all day

long. (Bet) ב 4

He has made my mortal skin waste away;

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he has broken my bones. 5 He has besieged and surrounded me with

bitter hardship. 6 He has made me reside in deepest

darknesslike those who died long ago.

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He has walled me in so that I (Gimel) ג 7cannot get out;

he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains.

8 Also, when I cry out desperately for help,

he has shut out my prayer.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

9 He has blocked every road I take with a wall of hewn stones;

he has made every path impassable. To me he is like a bear lying in (Dalet) ד 10

ambush, like a hidden lion stalking its prey.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

11 He has obstructed my paths and torn me to pieces;

he has made me desolate. 12 He drew his bow and made me the target for

his arrow.

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He shot his arrows into my (He) ה 13heart. 14 I have become the

laughingstock of all people, their mocking song all day long.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

15 He has given me my fill of bitter herbs and made me drunk with bitterness.

(Vav) ו 16He ground my teeth in gravel;he trampled me in the dust. 17 I am deprived of peace;

Messengers Of Bright Hope

I have forgotten what happiness is. 18 So I said, "My endurance has expired;I have lost all hope of deliverance from

the LORD."

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Yet having looked that harsh reality in the eye, he then turned an eye toward God. He recognized that the only hope that remained for his people was hope in

God's mercy, compassion, faithfulness, and goodness.

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Lamentations 3:22 NET ח (Khet) The LORD's loyal kindness never

ceases;his compassions never end. 23 They

are fresh every morning;

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your faithfulness is abundant! 24 “My portion is the LORD," I have said to

myself,so I will put my hope in him.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Like Jeremiah, Christians today have a message of hope to offer the world—

the hope that is in Jesus Christ. We do not have all the answers to today's

needs and problems, but we have the Lord.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

He is the light of the world, and we are called to bring His light into this dark

world. Matthew 5:14 NET You are the light of the

world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.

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15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it

gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before

people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in

heaven.

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John 1:4 NET In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the

light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

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1 John 1:5 NET Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in

him there is no darkness at all.

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God could have used angels, miracles, or numerous other means to announce His message. Instead, He has chosen

everyday people to carry His message.

Messengers Of Bright Hope

Working through ordinary people facing the ordinary issues of day-to-day life. God

intends to let the world know that there is hope beyond the problems and

frustrations of the here and now.Are you fulfilling this calling in your life?

(Word in Life Study Bible)

Jeremiah saw hope in God

Jeremiah's sorrow and consolation represented the nation's agony. Surrounded by sin and sorrow,

Jeremiah saw hope in God's steadfast love and mercy.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

God renews our lives day by day. The fog of the broken heart. It's a dark fog

that slyly imprisons the soul and refuses easy escape. It's a silent mist that eclipses the sun and beckons the

darkness.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

It's a heavy cloud that honors no hour and respects no person.

Depression, discouragement, disappointment, doubt... all are

companions of this dreaded presence.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

The fog of the broken heart disorients our life. It makes it hard to see the road. Dim your lights. Wipe off the

windshield. Slow down. Do what you wish, nothing helps.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

When this fog encircles us, our vision is blocked and tomorrow is a forever away. When this billowy blackness

envelops us, the most earnest words of help and hope are but vacant

phrases.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

If you have ever been betrayed by a friend, you know what I mean. If you have ever been dumped by a spouse or abandoned by a parent, you have

seen this fog.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

If you have ever placed a spade of dirt on a loved one's casket or kept vigil at

a dear one's bedside, you, too, recognize this cloud.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

If you have been in this fog, or are in it now, you can be sure of one thing—you are not

alone. Even the saltiest of sea captains have lost their bearings because of the appearance of this unwanted cloud....

Jeremiah saw hope in God

Think back over the last two or three months. How many broken hearts did you encounter? How many wounded spirits did you witness? How many

stories of tragedy did you read about?...

Jeremiah saw hope in God

The list goes on and on, doesn't it? Foggy tragedies. How they blind our

vision and destroy our dreams. Forget any great hopes of reaching the world. Forget any plans of changing society.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

Forget any aspirations of moving mountains. Forget all that. Just help

me make it through the night!The suffering of the broken heart....

Jeremiah saw hope in God

Seeing God ... does wonders for our own suffering. God was never more human than at this hour. God was

never nearer to us than when he hurt. The Incarnation was never so fulfilled

as in the garden.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

As a result, time spent in the fog of pain could be God's greatest gift. It could be the hour that we finally see our

Maker.... Maybe in our suffering we can see God like never before.

Jeremiah saw hope in God

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you'll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very

well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

(From No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)

Jeremiah saw hope in God

Send a note to someone who is overwhelmed by his or her lot in life. Assure that friend of your prayers.

Include a Scripture verse that tells of God's love.

(Max Lucado Devotional Bible)

God's Love

Proverbs 13:24 NET The one who spares his rod hates his child,

but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.

God's Love

Luke 12:7 NET In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be

afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

God's Love

Romans 8:35 NET Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or

nakedness, or danger, or sword?

God's Love

36 As it is written, "For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be

slaughtered."

God's Love

37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor

powers,

God's Love

39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus

our Lord.

God's Love

Ephesians 3:17 NET that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that,

because you have been rooted and grounded in love,

God's Love

18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length

and height and depth, 19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses

knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

God's Love

1 John 4:9 NET By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so

that we may live through him.

God's Love

10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our

sins.