Hope 15 One Taken 10/30-31/20

30-31 October 2020 - Hope Series 15 

Theme: One will be Taken (Blessed Hope) 

I put together the verses about the teaching of Jesus and us meeting Him in the air. Our church called it, "The Rapture." While the word, rapture is not in the Bible, but the meaning of the phrase is the same, "caught up in the air." So I pray this will touch our hearts about that "Blessed Hope" Part two.
 
Matthew 24:40b
" . . . One will be taken . . . "

Who said that? It was Jesus who said, "Two men will be in the field. One will be taken, and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding grain with a mill. One will be taken, and the other will be left" (Matt.24:40-41).

Again, what was Jesus talking about? Paul wrote what Jesus meant. It was find in I Thessalonians 4:16-18 “v.16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. V.17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. V.18 So comfort and encourage each other with these words”. (QuickVerse Life Application Bible)  

And 1 Cor. 15:51 “But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. V.52 It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died, will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die.”

Wow! When I put the those words together, I see the picture of what will happen when Jesus said, "One will be taken . . . " Know what? That is our "Blessed Hope," "One will be taken." We will be taken up to meet Jesus in the air. There's a song about this.

"In the Great Triumphant Morning"
We shall all rise to meet Him,
we shall all rise to greet Him,
In the morning when the dead in Christ shall rise.
We shall all rise to meet Him,
we shall all rise to greet Him,
And shall have the marriage supper in the skies.
(R. E. Winsett, Sing His Praise)

He’s coming soon!

Dorothy

 

Hope 14 Blessed Hope 10/27-29/20

27-29 October 2020 Hope Series 14  

Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies
Theme: Blessed Hope!

Titus 2:13a "While we wait for the blessed hope . . ."

Acts 1:9-12 tells us about the time when the disciples had seen Jesus taken up into the sky while they were watching, and He disappeared into a cloud.  As they were straining their eyes to see Him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. The angels said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw Him go, He will return!" The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened so they walked the half mile or a day's journey back to Jerusalem. They began their ministry from Jerusalem.

So what is our blessed hope? "--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us . . ." (Titus 3:13b; 3:14a). There are many songs about His coming and the purpose of  those songs is to encourage one another to stay faithful to Him.  

Jesus said, "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always to be with Me where I am" (John 14:3). We can look forward to eternal life, that blessed hope, because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in Him.

The disciples at that time, didn't really fully understood what Jesus was talking about until after they saw Him go. They heard the angels saying that He will return. Then they realized that's the "Blessed Hope" that He is coming back to earth on the Mount of Olives.

Song: Looking for That Blessed Hope.
Looking for that blessed hope (that joyful hope),
Looking for that blessed hope (that glorious hope);
We know the hour is nearing,
The hour of His appearing;
We're looking for that blessed hope.
(Lyrics and Music: Thoro Harris, Sing His Praise)

He is coming back to earth to reign!  

Dorothy

Hope 13 - Give Answer 10/25-26/20

25-26 Oct 2020 - Hope 13 - Manna by Dot & Tony 

Theme: Be Ready to Give Answer

1 Peter 3:15b "My ASL Version"
" . . . Be ready ... to give an answer to why you have HOPE that is in you . . ."

You face a lot of problems and someone notice you and your faith in God. What is your secret that you don't give up so easily? What make you stand strong in all things? What kind of answer will you give to those who have been watching your life?

Let's read: 1 Peter 3:15a "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord" (NIV).  First thing you have is Jesus Christ in your heart as your personal Savior. Because you have Jesus in your heart, then you are "ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh (keep asking) you a reason of the HOPE that is in you . . ." (KJV).
 
What did you have? You quietly trust in God as the Lord of all. You believe that Christ is truly in control of all events. You have HOPE in Christ and you are prepared to tell them what Jesus has done in your life.  

We might say, "My hope in Christ is that He suffered when He died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners that He might bring us safely HOME TO GOD. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit. Now Christ has gone to heaven and is seated in the place of honor next to God. He is waiting for us to come home and that is my "Blessed Hope."

Prayer Song: Make Me a Blessing

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His power to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True every moment you live.
Chorus:
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life ... may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray ...
Make me a blessing to someone today.
(Lyrics: Ira Bishop Wilson, Sing His Praise)

 God bless you!

Dorothy

Hope 12 Lily of Valley 10/23-24/20

 23-24 October 2020 - Hope Series 12 - Manna from Dorothy & Tony Callies                   Theme: Lily of the Valley

Song of Solomon 2:1b "I am . . . the Lily of the Valley." 

            The flowers, the lilies are so small and they are found in the hidden valley. Jesus is our hidden "Lily of the Valley." You could only find Him in the hidden valley of our day to day activity. This is far more enriching experience than the mountaintop experience.

Song: The Lily of the Valley
*1. I have found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul; 
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He's the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star; 
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 

*2. He all my grief has taken and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He's my strong and mighty tower; 
I have all for Him forsaken and all my idols torn
From my heart, and He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore, 
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal; 
He's the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star; 
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 

*3. He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will; 
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear; 
With His manna He's my hungry soul to fill.
Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll! 
He's the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star; 
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. 
(Lyrics: Charles W. Fry; Music: William S. Hays) 

May the song bless your heart as it has blessed me! 

Dorothy

Hope 11 Door of Hope 10/21-22/20

21-22 October 2020 - Hope Series Eleven (2012) Manna by Dorothy & Tony                   Theme: The Valley of Achor, the Door of Hope

Hosea 2:15b "I will give her (Israel) . . . the valley of Achor for a door of HOPE: and she shall sing there, as in the days of youth . . ." 

The man in the story of Joshua 7 who caused Israel's trouble is Achan. Achor (Valley of Trouble) is the name given to the place where it happened. Achan died because of his disobedience and he had sinned against the Lord. The battle of Ai was lost because of Achan. Trouble, a valley near Jericho was the results of Israel lost the battle because of the sin of Achan.

The "valley of Achor" was called a "door of hope," because immediately after the execution of Achan, The Lord said to Joshua, "Fear not .... I will help you defeat ..." (Joshua 8:1). Joshua and his fighting men won the battle against the city of Ai. From that time Joshua went forward in the successful conquest into the Promised Land. 

Hosea 2:15 uses the expression in the same sense: "The valley of Achor for a door of hope," which stands for trouble would be turned into joy, despair into hope. Isaiah 65:10 used the same expression "the valley of Achor," a place for herds to lie down in which was the same sense that had been a source of trouble would become a source of blessing.  Is. 65:10 "The Plain of Sharon will be a field for flocks, and the Valley of Achor will be a place for herds to rest. They will be for the people who want to follow Me."

The word, valley has a very important meaning for us. It represents our day to day activity. We can only stay a very short time on the mountaintop of a wonderful experience with God, carefree troubles, and that everything goes well. Eventually, we come down into the valley where we make our day to day living. This is the reality of our daily lives of troubles. This is where God becomes our daily God of our living hope. 

God is speaking to us, "Fear not ... I will help you ... I am the Door ... And the door is opened in heaven" John 10:9; Rev. 4:1.

I, Dorothy, saw a vision of a "door opened in heaven" between Jan-March 1973 after forty days of fasting. So to say, after "forty years of wandering and trouble times" should now become our source of blessings.  Like Joshua, God is speaking to us, "Fear not ... I will help you ..." Like Joshua, we are going forward into the successful conquest against our enemies and they must move out of our way and allow God's blessing to flow through us from "the door of heaven." Can you say, amen? I say, amen! 

There's a song called, "The Lily of the Valley" and it will be on the next Hope 12. It is important to remember that our Savior was found in the lily of the valley. The flowers, the lilies are so small and they are found in the hidden valley. Jesus is our hidden "Lily of the Valley." You could only find Him in the hidden valley of our day to day activity. This is far more enriching experience than the mountaintop experience. It is different. I would say, it is more blessing to be in the valley of Achor (trouble) because that is where Jesus becomes our source of blessing. 

Amazing grace that God loves you and me! 
Dorothy

Hope 10 Lord Delights 10/19-20/20

19-20 October 2020 - Hope Series 10 (Oct. 2012) 

Manna from Dorothy & Tony Callies [**Add]                                                                      **Theme: The Lord Delights

Psalm 147:11 NIV “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”  [Fear Him: we show great respect toward our Creator]

 **The meaning of the word, delight: 1; to take great pleasure 2: to give joy or satisfaction to: please greatly. The words delight and pleasure suggest how the Lord feels toward us. The Lord is touched how we express our deep respect and love toward Him. As we open our hearts to Him allow His unfailing love to flow into our inner spirit. Allow the anointing of the Holy Spirit to bring healing … as we breathe His name, Jesus.

Prayer of Might and Grace of our Lord: 
Dear Abba Father in Heaven, how good it is to sing praise to You. You healed the brokenhearted and bind up our wounds. You know the number of the stars and call them each by name. So You know every one of our name personally. Lord, You are great and mighty in power. You delight those whose heart shows great respect toward You.  Lord, You lifted up the meek and humble in heart and You love them. Your love never fail. 

When we are overwhelmed with problems, we are able to call upon You because You are our hope and our support.  Lord, You delight in those who are of a humble spirit.  We earnestly pray for our spirit of humility so that we may continue to be pleasing to You.

We thank You, Father for Jesus' unfailing love that saved us from darkness of hell and deliver us from all afflictions of enemies and set us free with the anointing power of Holy Spirit upon us in Jesus' name we pray, amen! 

Song: O What a Wonder
O what a wonder that Jesus loves me
        Out in the darkness no light could I see; 
O what a wonder,
         He put His strong arm under
And wonder of wonders He saved even me. 
(Inspiring Choruses) 

Thank You Lord for being delight in us!

 Dorothy

Hope 9 Unfailing Love 10/17-18/20

17-18 October 2020 – Hope series Nine (Oct. 2012)

Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies (*Add)
Theme:  Unfailing Love (Never Stop Love)

Psalm 33:22 NIV: “May Your unfailing LOVE rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our HOPE in You.”  (*Mercy interpret “unfailing love,” and the meaning of mercy: an act of divine love.) *KJV: Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.” (*ASL: ‘never stop love’ or ‘never run out love’)

*As I read Psalm 33:22, I decided to seek deeper what the word, “unfailing” means.  I would think “not fail,” but here’s a deeper meaning. Fail means to lose strength so not to fail means not to lose strength. Now the word, unfailing means not likely to fail; not likely to run out of strength: impossible to get tire out; not likely to lose strength.

*In another words, it is impossible for God’s love ever to get tire out. God’s love “never run out.”  God’s love “never stop.”  That is so rich! Wow, Lord! Thank You! This helps me so much to feel Your “unfailing love.” Your mercy, Your unfailing love! Amazing!  

Prayer of Hope and Love: 
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in You.  We wait in hope for You, Lord. Why? Because You are our help and our shield. I will praise You forever for what You have done; in Your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise You in the presence of Your saints. [Reference: Ps. 39:7 KJV; 33:20; 52:9 NIV]

May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. I don't always understand why things happened to my friends, but my hope is in You. I ask You to open our hearts to see the wonders of Your love that never fail. Help us to grow into Your arm of unfailing love. 

We, Deaf people can't hear music and we depend on sight and sixth sense. Lord, I am asking You to reveal Your unfailing love so much more to us than ever before. Let Your words of hope dwell deeply inside of us and may our hope in You become alive as we speak Your Word. Let Your words of healing be upon my friends' troubled health be fulfilled in Jesus' name I pray, amen! 

Song: Never Failed Me Yet
Never failed me yet, 
Never failed me yet, 
Jesus' love never failed me yet.
This one thing I know 
That where ever I go
Jesus' love never failed me yet. 
(Inspiring Choruses) 

May the Lord's unfailing love rest upon us! 
Dorothy

Hope 8 Troubled Heart 10/15-16/20

15-16 Oct. 2020 - Hope Series Eight (Sept. 2012) Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Prayer for Troubled Heart

"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my HOPE in Your Word." Psalm 119:147 NIV

Prayer of a Troubled Heart:
O Lord God, hear my cry when I called for You. I will allow no trouble, crisis, or suffering to shake my HOPE in You. You are my Salvation and my deliverance. You are my strength.  In times of anxiety or threat of my situations, I will put myself unto You. And in my earnest prayer, I will tell You all that is in my heart. 

I will wait upon You, O Lord God of heaven, for miracles that Your Word have promised us. You are merciful and Your love is eternal. My heart longs to be near You and to have a talk with You. I am able to enter Thy court because it is through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ and through His blood which cleansed us from all unrighteousness. And through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us who helps us to draw near to You, O Abba, Daddy ...

You promised that I will be satisfied with Your goodness and blessings (Ps. 65:4). When I enter into Your Presence, I found peace from my troubled heart. For that I thank You and continue to put my HOPE in You. In Jesus' name, amen!

May God arise, may His enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before Him.  Psalm 68:1 NIV. In Jesus' name I pray, amen! 

Song: Faith in God
Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,
Faith in God can calm the troubled sea; 
Faith will make the desert like a fountain,
Faith will bring the victory.
(Inspiring Choruses) 

May the Lord bring peace to your troubled heart.

 Dorothy

PS. Oct.12, 2020 -This Manna reminds us to call for God when there’s a severe attacks from Satan and his demons because it is a Halloween month. We have the victory because Christ had already defeated Satan at the cross, Calvary. So there is hope in our faith in God. Amen!

Hope 7 Prayer Answer 10/13-14/20

13-14 October 2020 - Hope Series Seven

Manna from Sept. 24, 2012 by Dorothy & Tony

Theme: God Answered Prayer

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas." Psalm 65:5 NIV.

There are three words found: hope in NIV; confidence in KJV; trust in NCV. They are basically the same, but a little different in some way. I was surprised to see it was NIV when I thought I was going through KJV in technology Bible. NIV Psalm 65:5 touched my heart even more! 

Prayer and An Awesome Prayer Answered! 
Dear Father in Heaven, what an awesome timing!  You led me to study the notes and prayer on Hope Series 6 about "crying out to You" for several days. I felt impressed on Sunday early morning, the 23rd to send out HOPE 6 for Monday, Sept. 24^th, 2012. And then on Sunday noon, I receive news from Paula Hardy of Ottawa: A Prayer of Thanks for Victory, Psalm 118:1-4 "Give thanks to the Lord, because He is good, and His love is eternal. Let the people of Israel say, "His love is eternal." Let all who worship Him say, "His love is eternal."

Paula Hardy wrote: "We [deaf friends in Ottawa Valley Deaf Church] have reason for wanting to give our Lord praise for His love and goodness. One of our member had heart attack recently. He was in induced coma and yesterday (Saturday) he woke up and said to his wife "I love you." We who worship the Lord say, "His love is Eternal." Amen!"

O Lord, You gave us HOPE that You heard our disquieted souls. We praise You that Your face shine on us and that Your love is indeed eternal. We'll keep on praising You for others who need victory, also. In Jesus' name we pray, amen! 

Song: Faith is a Victory
Faith is a victory, 
Faith is a victory,
Oh glorious victory,
That overcomes the world. 
[Inspiring Choruses] 

May the Lord touch your heart today!
Dorothy

PS. What’s He done for others in 2012, He’ll do for you today in 2020, too! Hope thou in God! Our hope is in Him!

Hope 6 Cast down? 10/11-12/20

11-12 October 2020 - Hope Series Six – Manna by Dorothy & Tony
*Theme: Why Cast Down? (ASL: Why Depress?)

Psalm 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? HOPE THOU IN GOD: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (face). (Ps. 42:11; 43:5)  (Disquieted: restless; uneasy feeling; feel disturb or something that bother you). KJV

NCV:  “Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God and keep praising Him, my Savior and my God.” 

Prayer from Psalm 42:  'Wishing to be near God.'
“O Lord God, I cry to You from a broken heart and body. Sometimes I felt like David who said to You, "Why have You forgotten me?" My afflictions in my body are like enemies who troubled me again and again. They are saying, "Where is the God who heals you?" I asked my soul, "Why are you so discouraged? Why are you losing hope?" 

I tell my soul, "Look up to God and put your hope in Him, not in yourself. Keep praising God who is your Savior." O Lord God, my soul thirst for You like a deer thirsts for streams of water. I yearn for Your Presence with healing in its wings. By faith I will leap like calves released from the stall (Malachi 4:2). The stall that confined me like a prison, I shall be free my afflictions. I will praise You for anointing oil of Holy Spirit that flows through my body in Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!  "My soul, look up to God!"

Song: Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God. 
Chorus:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God. 
(Cleland Boyd McAfee, Sing His Praise)

May the Lord bless you and heal you today!
Dorothy 

*PS. I asked myself a question: What is hope? So here’s dictionary meaning: 1. To desire something and expect that it will happen <hope for a bicycle> 2. TRUST, RELIANCE <our hope is in the king> (End). So hope is really a trust and relying on God. Refreshing thought!