Our Hope Is In The Lord

FAITH:

Seems like more and more people are losing hope these days, but that makes you wonder what they are trying to put their hope in. The Hope of the world is Jesus Christ. Our Hope is found in our Father's Word.

Psalm 39:7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

Psalm 119:81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Peter1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope

Titus 1:2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 9:8 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

Psalms 16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave,

Psalms 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalms 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalms 71:5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.

Psalms 71:14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Psalms 119:74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.

Psalms 119:81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

Psalms 119:116 Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

2 Thes 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

FRIENDS:

Dear Lord, touch those of us today who feel hopeless. Lord, reveal Your hope to them today. Give them the strength they need to feel Your Hope and Your love. Father, we thank you for our Hope, our Savior, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. In His hope filled name we pray, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

19. LUKE 19:1-10; TITUS 1:10-16; PROVERBS 14:19-35; NEHEMIAH 13
20. LUKE 19 11-27; TITUS 2:1-10; PROVERBS 15:1-17; ESTHER 1

~ ESTHER ~
The Book of Esther. Some things about it you love. Some things you admire. but there is some thing about it that leaves you scratching your head.

You love the story. A Jewish girl raised in Persia by a cousin named Mordecai. She becomes the wife of the king by winning the Miss Persia contest. Her husband is Xerxes. (Better known to some as Ahasuerus, which sounds like something you do when you have a bad cold.)

It is a rags-to-riches romance, though you've got to wonder how much romance could occur when you are married to a a guy who would chop your head off if you popped into his office without an appointment. But that's what Esther did. She took the chance at the chance it would save her nation.

That is the part of Esther you admire. Aside from being a beauty, she was gutsy. Xerxes's right-hand man is Haman. (A name that, as you'll soon see, sounds curiously close to "hangman.") Haman was a raging Nazi. Nothing would suit him better than annihilation of the Jews. One day he got his chance. Mordecai, Esther's foster father, refused to bow before Haman. Haman was so mad he convinced Xerxes to let him do away with the whole nation.

That's where Esther comes in. Literally. She comes into the king's chambers uninvited but not unprepared. After getting the Jews to pray and fast for three days, she puts on her royal robes and stands at the door. Xerxes likes what he sees and invites her in. One invitation leads to another, and by the time she finishes, Xerxes not only agrees to call off the massacre but orders Haman to hang from the same gallows Haman had built for Mordecai.

Whew! Quite a lady, this Esther. You have to love her story. But there is one thing that is tough to figure. God name never appears in the entire book. His actions do. His thoughts do. His plan does. His fingerprints are on every page. But his name never appears. Could it be that God is more concerned about getting the job done than getting credit?

FOOD:

Walnut-Strawberry (or Rhubarb) Quick Bread
Everyone loves this bread no matter which way it's made: all strawberry; all rhubarb, or a combination of the two. We also used half a cup of applesauce in one recipe with great success, when we ran short of strawberries.

1/2 cup (2 ounces) chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups (6 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon lemon zest OR 1/4 teaspoon lemon oil
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) mashed strawberries*
1/2 cup (3 7/8 ounces) vegetable oil

*Note: Use 1 1/4 cups cooked rhubarb in place of the strawberries, to make a slightly tart bread. Start with 2 1/2 cups sliced rhubarb. Cook over medium heat (or in the microwave) to make about 1 1/4 cups unsweetened rhubarb sauce. You may also substitute rhubarb for just some of the strawberries, to make strawberry-rhubarb bread.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (or spray with non-stick vegetable oil spray) a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the walnuts, flour, sugar, soda, salt and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lemon, eggs, strawberries and vegetable oil. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, whisking until well-blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a rack to cool completely, 1 hour or longer. For best flavor and easiest slicing, wrap the bread while still slightly warm and let it sit overnight.

FUN:
This is very relaxing to look at...
http://www.greatdanepro.com/Western%20Paintings/index.htm