• DON’T QUIT IN THE dip

    “There’s hope for tomorrow and healing from yesterday. For emptiness, I have given hope. For brokenness, I have given healing.” The quote above is the core of the author’s church. Have you given your best attempt at the chess game of life but still felt cornered? Checkmated. Have you wished a chess champion would shout out the move that would turn things around? Shaun Nepstad is a fifth generation preacher on both sides of his family. His message in this book is relatable because like he says, we’ve all been in a dip at one point or another. Maybe you’re there now. The slumped-down place in life is what he…

  • The God of Hope…

    NOTE TO SELF: THE GOD OF HOPE HAS PLENTY OF IT; THE GOD OF HOPE IS THE SUPPLIER OF MINE. He’s active and alert for every action and operation. God’s very existence and all that He lovingly does, is to keep hope living. It is to keep the fire burning, to keep our affections alive and to keep us passionate for the Christ. Don’t think for a minute that the Creator of all has lost all His creativity, energy, and excitement. Think Well. Think Strength. Think Healing. Think Safe. Connection. Communion. Life. Hope. Psalm 46:1 says “God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need Him.”…

  • Harvesting Hope

    NOTE TO SELF: STOP BEING SO RESTLESS. REST. PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE ONE WHO MADE THE SKY. Reflecting on the big Gatlinburg sky lift, I posted a picture in The Monday Mentor Facebook group of a young girl we met in line on our recent trip. We briefly discussed courage and shared a few laughs. Then the man at the control handle continued to repeat himself, hollering out: “Step up to the line! As the seat comes up behind you, sit down! Let it take you forward.” Once we got in our seats and ever so slowly headed back down the mountain, there were two things available to us:…

  • KEEP HOPE ALIVE

    Lately I’ve been telling everyone including myself, to keep hope alive. In the Fall, we see the word HARVEST a lot. There’s a huge harvest for us if we won’t give up or give in. It’ll find its way to us and we will live in it. That harvest is something I am counting on. What about you? Where are you right now? Start to plant seeds, cultivate good things and good belief systems. It will bring you a harvest you’re going to need in time.  In the last blog, 2 Tim. 4:5 encouraged us with a task to spread hope. Here’s an expanded version of it: “Keep your eye…