Category: hope

+

+ hope, thoughts

DAY 23 – HOW TO ‘TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE’

by

Paul says “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” But how do we do that? How do we get our thoughts in line with the Word of God?

+

+ blog, hope

How Hope Trumps Failure

by

The God we serve is different than any other. He loves you despite your sin, shortcomings, wrinkles, and fat cells. He loves you on bad hair days, and good ones too. Read more…

+

+ eternity, Faith, God, hope, lies, Satan

What if ISIS comes here?

by

I have a confession to make. I woke up in the middle of the night having a bad dream. The kind of dream that seems pretty real, and yet it was not. And I could feel anxiety come creeping out from under the bed and into my sweet lil’ head (because let’s be honest, anxiety is kinda creepy). It really shouldn’t surprise me. I … Read More What if ISIS comes here?

+

+ #Christianliving, Devotional, Faith, God, hope, religion, trust

What if?

by

What if we started living out what we say we believe… I mean, I wonder what would happen if we, as believers, started living differently. If rather than merely confessing with our mouth that these wonders found in Scripture are true. What if our hearts believed them also, and we chose to surrender, and to stand firm on His promises as truth. If we … Read More What if?

+

+ change, Faith, hope

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

by

If we spend all of our time, money, effort and thoughts on the things of this world…well, maybe we are placing our hope in the wrong things. If we are so caught up in today that we cannot fathom anything beyond tomorrow, maybe we need to reconsider what we are living for. Because let’s be honest with one another…this world can be pretty STINKY! … Read More WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

+ Faith, hope, Inspiration

How to Trust God More

by

When the Enemy starts turning up the heat, it is time to put up a fight. Why? Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

+

+ desires, hope, passion, unmet longings

But I Try

by

Life will present us with hundreds of opportunities in a single week to take a look at our internal world, to walk with God there, and to become more fully His.

BUY TODAY: I DIDN’T WANT TO BE THAT GIRL!


Looking for a Bible study? Grab a few friends or your favorite cup of jo as you dig in to God's Word to discover who you are in Christ. On sale now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, and more.

Follow Sue A. Allen on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,069 other followers

Instagram
Sometimes you just can’t wait for SUMMER to begin! Swimsuit or not! . @comerson_ #summer #schoolisout #finally #letthefunbegin #pool #swimming #lovingit
DAY 27 - TAKE THE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are the characteristics of a godly leader, mentor, or friend? Ask yourself... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What word comes first to mind: arrogance or humility? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do they tear you down, or build you up? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do they talk over you, putting you in your place? Or do you consider them a place of refuge and comfort? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do they brag about their self-accomplishments? Or their weakness that was made strong in Jesus? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do they want to hurry you on out the door? Or are they patient with you, filled with grace? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do they make every problem "your" problem? Or, do you find them relatable and human, willing to put themselves in your shoes? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Above everything else, do they point you to Jesus? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We need good friends and godly leaders today. People who are willing to take risks for others. People who will humbly take a stand, regardless of the fallout. People who are fearless faith-walkers to defend the truth. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why is it necessary to stand up for the truth? Why do we find it so difficult to do so? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #takethetest #friendship #leadership #church #deception #truth #love #2corinthians #verseoftheday #bible
DAY 27 - WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU, and WHY? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is the question that Stanford asks every year as part of their MBA admissions process. In a 750-word essay, the applicant is required to declare their primary objective in life and then demonstrate why their goal is imperative. Flippantly, one may answer a good cup of jo, raising respectful kids, watching the next episode of your fav show on Netflix, or reaching the pinnacle of retirement. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Think about it for a moment. What would you say? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The answer to this question begins to reveal a lot about you. How you spend your time. What you value. The impact you desire to have in the world. The calling to which you aspire. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You see, it becomes a question that cuts to the core of your heart matter. Not only must you answer what you deem important...but why? Why does this one thing matter more than anything else in the world? It is a question that requires honest self-evaluation, a touch of humility, & peeling back the layers of pride. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Read 2 Cor. 11:5-15. Much like our current culture, the Corinthians were looking for a leader who was powerful, strong, charismatic, funny, or famous. They were looking for someone to follow & emulate. So when tent-making, mediocre speaking Apostle Paul came around...they weren't impressed. They wanted the bling & the bang. Glitz & glamour. Paparazzi & more. Sound familiar to anyone? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We desperately need to be people who are following JESUS more than anything or anyone else. The wisdom & power of God are waaaay more impressive than what we can garner from the New-York top-selling book list. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We live in a world where people are looking for answers & desperate to find hope. They are hinging on the edge of their seat looking for satisfaction & joy. Many don't know why they are here, who they are living for, & what is the meaning of life. They don't have a clue. They are pleasure-seeking in the moment. Living for the here & now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What if we lived sharing the HOPE that we have? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This world needs you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It needs your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And your story needs #Jesus. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #verse #God #hope #faith #story
DAY 26-WHY DO WE WANDER? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Paul is begging the Corinthian church to get back on track and to resist the alluring tide of false teaching that so easily sweeps one away. The Corinthians are being derailed by intellectualism and performance-based Christianity. They were stuck in a comparison trap of "Who's Who and Who's Not." We see Paul's undeterred affection for their spiritual welfare reach a new height today. Read 2 Cor. 11:1-6. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” 2 Cor. 11:3. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We can be so startled and taken back by the physical presence of a snake and yet, when the Enemy strikes in serpent-like form, why are we so hesitant to run? Why do we struggle to recognize him? Did you notice how Paul describes the faith of his friends? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sincere. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pure Devotion. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Scary, isn't it? Paul's description here is not the non-religious or atheist, the infrequent “Christmas and Easter only” church attendee or even the superficial, carnal Christian. The person who can be seduced by the enemy is one who is wholeheartedly and sincerely pursuing devotion to Christ. I believe that none is safe or off limits from the seduction of the Enemy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do not be fooled into thinking that just because you are passionately pursuing Christ that you have received immunity from temptation. Even the godliest people have a propensity to sin. We can have a headful of knowledge about the Word of God and yet have a heart that is miles away. After all, isn't this exactly the example of the Pharisees and Sadducees in scripture? Their heads were full but their hearts were empty. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just like Eve was deceived by the serpent, we too can be tricked or misled. It happens subtly. It can be a slow decline. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In order to guard our hearts and minds against the wiles of the Enemy, we must saturate ourselves in the Word of God. How do you see the serpent sneaking into our current culture? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #counterculture #verseoftheday #faith #life #2corinthians #bible #blogger #focus #devoted
Are we crazy to let him play football?! He absolutely ❤️ it! He looks up to heroes like @timtebow @merci380 @jjwatt ... but we had to special order his xxxs size 😳! #westlakenation #popwarner #houstontexans #regentsknights #hookem #futurelonghorn #football #dreambig
DAY 25 - HEY, GREEN ENVY ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We're kinda funny people when you get down to the nitty-gritty of things. We determine our self-worth based on a thing called "comparison." Our identity is placed on how we fare in light of everyone else's success and/or failure. How much money do I make? Are my kids popular, athletic, musical, and/or academic? Am I pretty? How many Insta, twitter, and fb likes do I have? And ohhhh....where do I fit in? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We get caught up in a debilitating cycle of comparison. We're perpetually evaluating whether or not we will fit in...ultimately with a desire to be loved and accepted. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We critique. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Put down. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Compare. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Weigh ourselves in the balance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And when we don't measure up...we feel shame. Less than. Insecure. Anything but good. The standard by which we try to live by is so far above anything we can attain. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And we fail. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We fall short. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Read 2 Cor. 10:12-18. Paul offers another option. A better solution. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Cor. 10:12 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The world uses worldly standards to measure your worth. To value your identity. To say you matter. The world says "Their way is the right way." The world says they have a way that is better than anyone else. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ God calls this way "Pride." Pride says "I am better than you." Pride says "I am prettier than you, smarter than you, more successful than you, more self-righteous than you, more useful for the Kingdom than you." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But here is where Paul steps in and says, "Stop listening to the lies. The Enemy is deceiving you. Because you do have worth. Your identity is secure in the Lord. You matter!" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you see as the biggest comparison traps? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #facebook #instagram #focus #Jesus #faith #blogger #belong #acceptance #worth #women #christianblogger #2corinthians #sueaallen

Powered by WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: