New Hope Church

FOCUS ON THE ETERNAL, NOT THE TEMPORARY In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. —Proverbs 21:1 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.  —Proverbs 21:30 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. —II Corinthians 4:18             Where is our focus— on that which is seen or that which is unseen— on that which is temporary or that which is eternal.  Let us focus on those things that are eternal.  Yes, we live…

LIARS = SPEAKING ONE THING WITHOUT THE INTENT OF DOING IT— INTENTIONAL DECEPTION Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. —Proverbs 19:1 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. —Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. —Proverbs 19:9 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. —Proverbs 19:21 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. —Proverbs 19:28…

DO JUSTICE  Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both. —Proverbs 17:15 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. —Proverbs 18:18             Does your tongue encourage the fruit of life or death?  It is very clear that our Lord detests acquitting the guilty.  Oh, how often our legal system does that!  He also detests condemning the innocent.  This type of judicial system is one that our Lord, obviously, is not pleased with.  Oh, that we would have people in positions of justices that would do right.  Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of…

QUESTIONS… COMPLAINTS… TRUST HIM! The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. —Proverbs 15:3 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. —Proverbs 15:9 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. —Proverbs 15:29 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. —Proverbs 16:4             God has purpose in everything and so much we do not understand, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that…

MEN! ACT LIKE MEN! The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. —Proverbs 13:9  Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. —Proverbs 14:2 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. —Proverbs 14:34 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. —I Corinthians 15:13             Men, act like men!  Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be strong.  These are the type of men our Lord desires.  He desires men who are living righteously in the light.  Men who are rejoicing in the light. …

BE A TREE OF LIFE! The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. —-Proverbs 11:30             A few years ago, when I turned 65 years old, I was talking with our Lord and mentioned that I wanted to be more of an impact for His glory than I had been up to that point.  Although I was grateful for all our Lord has done with and through me up to that point, I wanted to honor Him more with the time I had left to live.             I was actually thinking of this verse above along with Mark 8:24 when Jesus healed…

LIFE’S FOCUS— SILVER AND GOLD OR GOD’S WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE… Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. —Proverbs 8:10-11             How important is God’s Word to you?  How much do you value His instruction?  How often are you being instructed by Him?  Where you spend your time, talent and treasures reveal the answer to these questions.             Godly Wisdom’s instruction and knowledge— Should be taken instead of silver Should be taken rather than choice gold Is better than jewels Is better than anything compared to her (Wisdom) So, will we…

JESUS SET ME FREE! The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. —Proverbs 5:22-23 People need to “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (II Timothy 2:28).  They are doing the devil’s will.  They are ensnared by him and are “held fast in the cords of his sin.”  This person in this predicament has a lack of discipline and because of his great follow, “he is led astray.” How does one…

TRUST HIM! Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. —Proverbs 3:5-6  Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. —Proverbs 3:9-10             Are you and I truly trusting our Lord?  Are we with all our heart?  Or, are we leaning on our own understanding?  Are we trying to figure things out and live according to our own thinking?  Are we trusting Him with our life which includes our…

PERSEVERE IN THE MIDST OF A DECLINING WORLD! Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. —Proverbs 1:29-31             Our Lord God Almighty will not force Himself on anyone.  He invites people into a relationship with Him.  This is what we should be doing as well.  We are not to force ourselves on people, but invite them to Jesus.             It is so sad when people hate the knowledge of our Lord and do “not choose the fear of…