Three years ago today Hannah packed up and moved to heaven. We will spend today celebrating Hannah’s life by pressing on “as usual” on the path that Lord has placed us at Hannah’s Hope Ministries. Because of Hannah’s life and her passing to heaven, we have a mandate to carry on her legacy. She had a faith that was tested in some very hot flames, very rough waters, and Hannah passed her test - with flying colors! She did not coward back from the heat of the flames or the enormity of the waters. She dug her heels of faith into God’s grace and she withstood it all. We watched as her physical body wasted away, yet her faith grew and grew and grew. By the time she took her last breath here, Hannah’s faith and hope in Christ were as strong and solid as a rock. Because her faith and hope were not based on her circumstances. Her hope did not rest in whether or not God chose to heal her on this earth of a horrible cancer. Her faith and hope were planted firmly in her relationship with Jesus Christ, the Rock of her salvation.

Today we celebrate Hannah…her beautiful life, and the legacy of faith that she left behind. I remember Clay saying when Hannah was first diagnosed, “It’s not “Why Hannah?”, it’s “Of course Hannah!” So now three years later we don’t ask, “Why Hannah’s Hope Ministries?” We simply say, “Of course Hannah’s Hope Ministries!” Providing hope - the hope that Hannah had - to individuals and families in life crisis.

Celebrate Hannah with us today. November 9th - a beautiful day to pack up and move to heaven!

“My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge” (Psalm 62:7).

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).

Hope

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” II Cor. 9:6

“Sow hope and you shall reap fulfillment. Sow praise and you shall reap joy, well being and a strong faith.” Oh, Father, I read that one morning in Come Away, My Beloved  this week while we were in Jacksonville for Judgment House. Oh Father, I love that! I want to remember it! “Sow hope and you will reap fulfillment!” Oh Father, it is true! What joy, what blessing, what a rush to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ with others who need that hope! I don’t believe there is any greater fulfillment on this earth than sharing the hope You give! How fulfilling!! Oh Father, it was like You gave that to me to show me exactly where I was! I was so fulfilled in sharing hope over the last two weeks! And  Father, I pray that You will open doors for me to share hope every day for as long as I live on this earth! Surprise me Lord! Open doors I would never have thought about! You are my hope! I know that! I have absolutely no hope without You! The scripture says, “My hope comes from You!” Ps. 62:5 And it does Lord!!

And the next truth was “Sow praise and you shall reap joy, well being and a strong faith.” Oh Father, more and more I am understanding the importance of praising You! You fill me up with great joy as I praise You! Every situation I find myself in changes completely when I look to You and praise You! When I gaze upon Your face, Your character - my whole demeanor changes! You place every situation in right perspective as I look upon Your face! You are trustworthy and You are faithful!

Through praising You, You absolutely strengthen me - You strengthen me spiritually, You strengthen me physically, You strengthen me emotionally! Praise is vital to my well being!  “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Neh. 8:10  It was amazing how You strengthened mother physically during our trip! We listened to John MacArthur’s “The Sufficiency of Scripture” most of the way home and You just carried us home on angel wings as we listened to Your word being spoken and were filled with praise! Your word is sufficient! And Father, Your word strengthens our faith to believe You more!

In my journal I wrote - 10/31/09

Duval Station Baptist Church - Jacksonville, FL  

“Lord, I am getting bolder in asking you to take me to scriptures, pages so I can get the word You have for me. This morning, after sharing in Judgment House last night, You took me to this page - Oh Father, You are giving me amazing fulfillment as you allow me to sow in the closing room. You are filling me with much joy, health and an even stronger faith! And I bless Your name! Oh Jesus, thank You for the privilege of sowing. I want to sow bountifully! Open doors so I can! Great satisfaction!”

You know Lord, at the last minute our plans changed. We had planned for several weeks to share in Indiana. We had been planning toward that! But You had a different plan all along - we just didn’t know it! The week before we were to leave we received word that a member of their church, very involved with Judgment House, had died of cancer and Hannah’s story was too fresh and real for their church right now. They had made the decision to use another script. I pray for that church body Father. Use this in the life of their church to bring forth eternal fruit through the lives of those who remain. Knit that church body close together and bring the healing that only comes through Your word and Your Spirit.

And so You took us to Jacksonville to share with a precious body of Christ there. Nine months previously, their church had gone through the loss of one of their 17 year old girls, Lisa, as the result of a car accident.  She was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and had been saved through the ministry of Judgment House a few years ago and had afterwards become very involved with JH. I met her precious parents and the night before we arrived her mother had given her heart to you after going through JH. We knew early on that You had placed us in that very place. That church body continues to heal from Lisa’s passing. I met her best friend - now a senior in high school - finishing her last year without her best friend. Oh Father, only You can bring healing from that loss, only You can bring forth much fruit from this kernel of wheat that has fallen into the ground and died. And Father, we ask that You do just that. Use this for Your glory and to strengthen the body of Christ. Only You know the specific details and the loss that each one is experiencing - meet each one at the point of their need!

Oh Father, there were so many things that only You could have orchestrated - I stood amazed at Your attention to every detail. They played the last verse of “Hannah’s Song” in the heaven scene and I was later to find out that Eighth Day had been in that church 5 months previously and had sung “Hannah’s Song.”  Wow, Lord, of all the churches in Jacksonville and we ended up in the same one! I don’t think that was unnoticed by You!

It was a blessing to go to each scene with the pastor and pray with the cast before JH began the first evening. The love of Christ “disarms” and You knit hearts for eternity!

For three evenings, You gave me the privilege of sharing with the pastor in the closing room - inviting folks to respond to what they had just witnessed. What a blessing Father! You prepared hearts and many responded to Your invitation! Transform those lives by Your truth and use them to win many others! I will never forget the conversation I had with a young man who made a decision for You early in his life and is now questioning the reality of You and his decision. We had the best conversation between groups - he is a brilliant young man and had great questions! I know You have Your hand over his life - I told him that You weren’t afraid of his questions and that if he seeks You with all of his heart that he will not be disappointed - You will reveal Yourself to him! Raise him up to be a strong godly young man!

Many in that church were walking their own journeys of suffering. I have pictures of many of them in my minds eye and they will not be soon erased! What an incredible blessing to stand and share Hannah’s story and interview clips three years later and watch You continue to bring forth eternal fruit! Bless Your name! Only You Father can accomplish such things! You re-energized my life! I pray You will open more doors to share the hope Hannah had in You! Bless that church body and bring many to a saving knowledge of Yourself!

We left there and went to Gainesville, FL where mother has a dear college friend that she had been desiring to visit many years. Betty has two children in heaven with You - Carol Ann died at 6 weeks old from SIDS and David came to live with You 5 years ago at age 40 after a bout with melanoma leaving behind a wife and two young children. Oh Father, we weren’t there many seconds before her praise to You had us both in tears and had our hands lifted to heaven! What a precious godly woman who has suffered much in this life but she absolutely radiates the reality of who You are! What a precious time of sharing with her! The next evening we met her beautiful daughter and the four of us went to dinner. You allowed me to share my testimony and the journey we have been on and You used that time to knit our hearts together in a very special way. Thank You for allowing me to share that moment in time with my mother and another mother and daughter! Use their lives to continue to bring forth eternal fruit and use Anna Marie’s heart for the homeless and hungry to bring many to You!

Oh Father, I would love to share somewhere every weekend! What a blessing the last two weekends have been! I am so glad You know each heart and life and You will continue to pursue and heal each one! You have once again gone ahead of me to fill me up with praise and thanksgiving before we celebrate Hannah’s three year anniversary in heaven with You tomorrow! Bless You Father!!

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…” (Colossians 1:13).

I thought I was finished with Colossians 1:13. You did, too didn’t you? You’d think three days is sufficient to cover one passage of scripture that is only one sentence. But I thought about the pastor’s message in Claxton, GA this past Sunday and was reminded of his personal illustration, one that I share in similarity.

Last Christmas I ordered from eBay a Wii for Caleb and a Wii Fit for Clay and myself. I received confirmation of the order and shortly after that an email for tracking purposes. That was so exciting! I logged on to the UPS website everyday and watched the package as it left Sacramento, California, took a short stay in Arizona, stopped by Texas for a day or so, then jumped a few states and hung out in Atlanta, Ga until it finally registered as Arrived in Greenville, SC. Everyday I grew more and more anxious about the arrival of that package. Then I started getting very concerned. Clay was in England on business, Caleb was in the middle of basketball season and I was at the office. What if someone else signed for it and stole it before I got home? What if they didn’t require a signature and just dropped it off on my front porch? There are so many “stories” of packages being stolen during the holiday season. What was I going to do? Then I found a note on my door that they could not leave the package without my signature. I had to sign for my long awaited package. I had something going on that next day and I could not work from home in order to be there to receive the package. Finally I thought to have my nephew who worked second shift hang out at my house and wait for UPS to deliver. Next day I received an email update from UPS and when I clicked on order status, there it was - Delivered! Woo Hoo! My packaged had been signed for, sealed with UPS confirmation and marked delivered just in time for Christmas!

You know we don’t have to be so anxious about our status with the Lord. We don’t have to watch it everyday to make sure there’s no change. Jesus Christ hung on the cross, His blood dripped down onto the ground, dried up and rotted so that you and I could be sealed for eternity! He signed for us with His own blood, sealed the deal with His death, and delivered us into the kingdom of glory with the resurrection. Can I get an Amen! There are no problems with the process, no fear of someone snatching us from His hand. We are signed, sealed, delivered, we’re His! No problems!

I hope you all have a great relaxing weekend. You’re going to be really surprised to hear this but Clay and I are going to be out of town. We’re going to Pigeon Forge, TN this weekend for a Sunday School retreat. Yep, you heard me right. We’re going to be gone again. Caleb has a youth retreat in NC so we’ll all be off retreating, pulling back from the cares of this life, regrouping, regaining our focus. Sounds inviting, huh?

Hope

First, let me apologize for not posting yesterday. I was not in the office or anywhere near a computer the entire day. So here is Part 3…

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

We’ve talked about the fact that God has delivered us, what He delivered us from, but what has He delivered us to? God has brought us into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. What does that mean just exactly? Well we know that the ultimate Kingdom of God is heaven, the sweet bye and bye. However, we are already part of the kingdom of Jesus Christ if we have accepted Him. That simply means that we are allowed to take advantage of the benefits while we’re still hanging out here in the nasty now and now. Whatever Jesus has, we have access to. He tells us to come to Him and He will meet our needs. He meets our emotional needs by giving peace in times of trouble, joy in times of sadness, hope in times of despair, comfort in times of heartache, laughter in times of disappointment!

He also promises to meet our physical needs. He tells us in His word to consider the sparrows, not one falls from the sky but what God knows about it. If He is so aware of their needs, surely He can provide our needs as well. All we have to do is call out to Him and then sit back and watch Him work. It’s called trust.

Whatever Jesus has in His kingdom, it’s all ours. God has delivered us from the grip of this world into the glorious kingdom offered through His son. It’s all ours! Take advantage of the fringe benefits today!

I want to share with you that Clay and I have had our own storm over the past almost three years and the details are not important. But this week we watched God fulfill the scriptures that we have prayed over and over and over. God is faithful and He is merciful and He loves His own. He vindicates and sets free those who are in Him. Praise His name for loving us and for being merciful. A storm cloud that has rested over our heads for almost three years was lifted yesterday and we praise His name! It’s all ours!

Hope

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

We have been signed, sealed, and delivered from what? From the dominion of darkness. As believers, we no longer walk in the darkness but have been delivered to walk in the light. Christ is the Light of the world and we are to walk in that light. How many times have you tried to get from one room to the other at night after all the lights are out and have taken a toe out or stumbled over a piece of furniture? I do it often and after the pain subsides, I always wonder why in the world I didn’t just turn on the light. It’s right there at my disposal to use at any time. All I have to do is take advantage of it.

Satan would love to deceive us into thinking that our troubles and trials are so many that we must grope around in darkness as one with no hope. Not so! There’s no groping! We don’t have to wander around with our hands outstretched feeling our way, fearful of what lies ahead, hoping we don’t run into anything that’ll take us out. We’re Christians - children of the Living God! Heirs of the King! The Light is there at our disposal to use at any time. There’s no groping! Walk in His light today.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD” (Psalm 89:15).

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Hope

I have good news for you today - we have been delivered through Christ Jesus! Check this out…

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

I’ll probably do a three-day devotional on this one verse. The first part of that verse reminds us that we have been delivered. The Bible doesn”t say, “When God delivers us” or “If God delivers us” it says that He has delivered us. If you have prayed to receive Christ as your personal Savior, the deliverance has already taken place.

Maybe you feel trapped today, trapped by the worries of a job - or the loss of a job, trapped by the fear of a medical report, trapped by the despair of a broken relationship, trapped by the grief from the death of a loved one, trapped by the anxieties of an uncertain future. I have good news for you! Christ signed for you, He’s already taken claim of you His package, He sealed the deal with His blood, and He delivered you from anything that threatens to hold you in bondage! You have been set free - live a life of deliverance today!

We had an AWESOME weekend at the Rehoboth Baptist Church in Claxton, GA. They beautifully depicted Hannah’s story through Judgement House and they were right on the mark! The seven “Hannah’s” were just beautiful and they took their role very seriously. The entire cast was gracious and had done their homework on Hannah and her family. It was rather sobering to arrive and meet the Aunt Hopes and Uncle Clays. They treated us as celebrities which is crazy! But our hearts were instantly knit together and we shared kindred spirits with all that we came in contact with at that church. They couldn’t hear enough “Hannah” stories and the Pastor opened wide his pulpit to us Sunday morning to share about Hannah’s Hope Ministries. We had not been there long on Friday night until our spiritual jars were refilled, our fire rekindled, our tanks refueled for the cause. God was gracious and He poured out His love and Spirit into hearts and lives all weekend. Deb and her mother, Grandma Ellen had a similar experience in Jacksonville, FL. I’m sure she’ll journal about that when they return. Twelve churches from Lake Forest, CA to Callahan, FL told Hannah’s story through Judgement House this past weekend and next week Dudley Baptist Church in Dudley, GA will perform it as well. Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. God is good - all the time!

Hope

My Home - Great Blessing from the Lord!

Paula Rhinehart, Author and Speaker defines home as a place that never changes and where you are always loved, accepted and recieved. Man, that sounds like where I want to be! Clay and I stay so busy that we rarely have a full weekend at home. This weekend is no exception. There are 12 churches all over the country telling Hannah’s story through the dramatic presentation of Judgement House. Deb and Grandma Ellen are traveling to Jacksonville, FL this weekend to be with Duval Station Baptist Church, and Clay and I are traveling to Claxton, GA to Rehoboth Baptist Church. We are very excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what all God is going to do in hearts and lives. But sometimes I’d love to just stay home.

The good news is we can carry home inside us. If our “home” rests in Jesus, we’re always home - even when we’re never home! It is in Jesus that we find a “constant”, a place that never changes. In a world where things never stay the same, Jesus never changes. And our status with Him never changes. We are His children and in Him we can chill out and rest even when we’re running wide open. And it is in Jesus that we are always loved, always accepted, and always welcomed with open arms. When we travel with Jesus, we find that whatever path we’re on, it is full of steadfast, never changing love. I want to be there - resting in His presence. I just want to be home.

“All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25:10).

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5).

Hope

Are you feeling a little anxious this morning? Are things in your life somewhat uncertain? Maybe you’re trying too hard to make things happen. Maybe you’re trusting in your own strength rather than the Lord’s mighty strength. The Lord is calling us to relax in Him and to trust Him with all of the uncertainties of life. He is doing a great work even when we can’t see His hand at all.

Don’t be anxious, don’t be discouraged, don’t give up. Stay the course. Stand still and see what great things God will do. Take your hands off of it and just relax in Him today…and get ready - because He will show up and when He does you’ll be amazed at what happens right before your very eyes!

“In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

“…stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!” (1 Samuel 12:16).

Hope

This should be my last day on the woman at the well, maybe. I never know what the Lord is going to give me! In looking back over my notes from the women’s conference, I’m reminded that this Samaritan woman had an encounter that day…an encounter that changed her life. She was parched from life’s struggles, life’s disappointments. She had looked to relationships to satisfy her thirsty condition. She’d had five husbands and the man she was living with was someone other than her husband. She was looking for love in all the wrong places. This Samaritan woman needed water, but not the water she thought she was seeking. She was more spiritually parched than physically. She was in need of an encounter with the Master.

How about you? Are you in need of an encounter? Are you looking to a relationship to satisfy your needs? Close friends, family, co-workers, fellow church members can satisfy certain needs that you may have. But only Jesus can give you the Living Water that will satisfy your deepest most inner thirst. If you are parched from all the blows that life continues to pound on you, look to the Lord and allow Him to quench your thirsty soul. Have a personal encounter with the Master.

“Jesus answered her (the Samaritan woman), ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water’” (John 4:10).

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38).

Hope

Continuing on the topic of the woman at the well…Jesus knows your business. Jesus told the woman to go back to town and get her husband and bring him back. Jesus was testing the woman. He already knew her business. She answered, “I don’t have a husband.” Jesus said, “I know you don’t. As a matter of fact, you’ve had five husbands and the one you’re living with now is not your husband.” That’s when the Samaritan woman realized she had come face to face with someone who was not your ordinary passer-by.

I don’t know if you have anything going on in your life that you think you’re hiding from everyone but let me remind you that Jesus knows your business. There’s nothing hid from the Lord. He sees all. Or maybe you feel like you’re flying solo with no support and no one has a clue how bad things are for you. Good news - He knows your business. He sees all. He loves you and He wants to set you free from whatever you’re holding onto in the deepest, most hidden places of your heart.

Jesus getting all in the Samaritan woman’s business changed her life forever. Acknowledge Him today, and watch Him change your life forever.

“He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’ ‘I have no husband,’ she replied. Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true’” (John 4:16-18).

“My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes” (Jeremiah 16:17).

“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3).

Hope