Easter and the Hopes for Tomorrow

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do know WHO knows and as long as I maintain my "God perspective" on just about everything this life doles out, I know I will make it through every triumph and even what may look like a tragedy. How do I know that? It was because of what happened YESTERDAY! Christ rose from the dead. We celebrated His miraculous Comeback Story, and BECAUSE HE LIVES, each of our days can be filled with hope and expectancy.

This Easter weekend was filled with many personal triumphs:
1) After a delay from the hailstorm which resulted in a new roof before closing on the home I was buying, we finally closed on Good Friday. It was a GOOD, Good Friday. Oh, yes, my God perspective, gives God the credit. "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father...." James 1:17

2) 2) To some seeing my girl belting and singing out "Hosanna" in her church's Easter production on Saturday and Sunday, could be just be an ordinary occasion, but I know that girl was miraculously healed from cystic fibrosis as a baby, and now those lungs have great capacity to declare "By His stripes, I was healed". I Peter 2:24. Oh, yes, my God perspective, gives God the credit. This was the first song she wrote, sang and produced. It talks about God's Brand New Life! This new life was for her and you and me today! http://staciwallace.com/brand-new-life/

3) Yesterday, it was an early morning drive for me to Austin to meet up with my boys at church. Big brother, Barrett, did a great job seeing after the boys, then Nana took over. It was a beautiful Easter service with Ryan and Shawntel's dearest friends, Pastor Ryan and Dana Malouff, at their gorgeous church building that was miraculously given to them and their congregation, after having had services for three years in a school. "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10. Oh, yes, their/our God perspective gives God the credit.

4) Remembering 5 years ago, that Ryan and Shawntel were at the Boston Marathon -- Ryan ran the marathon and Shawntel was in the grandstands. Ryan just passed the Finish Line, when the bomb went off directly across the street from Shawntel. They were both supernaturally protected. Today, he'll run that marathon again, and once again, I am afforded the peace and protection of my kids that comes with my God perspective. "For He will give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11

I loved Pastor Ryan Malouff's words in his Easter message: "Jesus said He would be back, but the disciples didn't believe Him. They forgot that He had never lied to them, so why would this be a lie?" If Jesus said it, it will be. Hebrews 10:23 says "Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the One who made the promise is faithful." It's time to stop listening to the voices that say "You can't" and it's time to tell those voices to be silent. Oh, yes, our God perspective causes us to look at each day as miraculous, because the Risen Lord keeps His promises.

Hiding His Word in Our Hearts

Day 160 of Photo Inspirations -- Hiding His Word in Our Hearts
Memorization of scriptures has been pivotal in my having a joy-filled life, unwavering faith (most of the time), perseverance in tough times and learning to jump high hurdles (obstacles).  I sincerely believe that God's Word represents life and power, and is the greatest treasure we have in living an overcoming life.  

In Kids Church, we had "Sword" Drills -- that's when the leader would call out a book of the Bible, chapter and verse, and then we'd hustle to be the first one to find it in our Bible, stand up and read it.  That fun game taught us how to find scriptures, and it taught us the words of the scriptures.  Then we'd memorize scriptures during Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  I learned so many scriptures.  Why were my parents and teachers so convinced that we should commit ourselves to scripture memory?  Because they knew it was the greatest key to our future success.  Early on, those scriptures were simply "words", but facing responsibilities and the normal challenges of "living life", those "words" became more valuable than the greatest treasure I could ever have.

In Proverbs 7:2, we read "Guard My words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.”  One of the most powerful ways that we can transform our lives, resist temptation, make wise decisions, and counterattack the enemy when he comes knocking on our door with his dumb fear tactics -- is knowing God's Word. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”

The more we know what God says, the more we are going to know how God thinks, because the will of God is found in the Word of God. It strengthens us when we're weary.  It comforts us when we're sad.  It gives us hope during times of crisis. 

A couple of days ago, I was called back to the medical center for an ultrasound as they found abnormalities on a "routine" test they'd done a couple of days before. Before the test, during the test, and waiting for the results of the test, I recalled so many scriptures:  "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me."  "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." "Peace, be still."  "Peace be with you."  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD my God is with me, wherever I go,"  

By the way, the report came back -- "nothing to be concerned about". I praised and thanked God.  But what if the report had come back the other way?  Then I expect the same would hold true.  I would trust and believe and meditate on God's Word that would give me comfort, hope, healing, and strength.  I encourage you today to take this prescription:  "Read, meditate and memorize God's Word for it will be sweet music to your heart. light for your pathway, and healing to your soul in your best of times and in the lowest of times.