Meditate. Think about HOPE—and your relationship with God.
This letter is from Paul, an
apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and
Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. 1 Timothy 1:1
Hope is the anticipation of a good thing. It usually makes us feel good…even if it is something we can’t see or touch. Hope can be a feeling that someone has for someone else. “Hope you have a great birthday!” or Hope all is going well for you. Spiritually speaking we have a hope of Rapture, Christ’s Return and Eternity in Heaven. Hope. We don’t know when those things will happen…but we are hopeful. God gives us hope—just as Paul writing to Timothy begins this letter in our scripture today.
Hope. Without hope we feel
discouraged, lost and disconnected. This is the root cause of suicides—like the
ones that are occurring due to this COVID pandemic. What can we do? Talk to
your friend or loved one. Find out if they are serious…and have a plan. This is
not a joking matter—take it seriously. Call the National Suicide Prevention
Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Do not leave them alone. Here are the Suicide
Warning Signs from the
National Institute of Mental Health website. See that website for additional information on
suicide awareness.
The
behaviors listed below may be signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
·
Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
·
Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or having no reason to
live
·
Making a plan or looking for a way to kill themselves, such as
searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun
·
Talking about great guilt or shame
·
Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no
solutions
·
Feeling unbearable pain (emotional pain or physical pain)
·
Talking about being a burden to others
·
Using alcohol or drugs more often
·
Acting anxious or agitated
·
Withdrawing from family and friends
·
Changing eating and/or sleeping habits
·
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
·
Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving
extremely fast
·
Talking or thinking about death often
·
Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad
to very calm or happy
·
Giving away important possessions
·
Saying goodbye to friends and family
·
Putting affairs in order, making a will
If
these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as
possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. If in
doubt, call the Hotline, 1-800-273-8255.
Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, Thank You for the hope you give us. Help us to help others that they would truly feel the love and caring of the Holy Spirit…as well that of Christians in their lives. May your love flow through us as we love our neighbors as ourselves.
Verse of Salvation ~ We can
rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help
us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and
character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not
lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has
given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5
Happy Birthday, Kim!
May God Continue to bless you because we are blessed.
You are the best Son-In-Law ever.
Available as an e-book or paperback at Amazon.com
God wants you, your children and grandchildren to be like His Son, Jesus.
How can you learn about Jesus characteristics...and apply them to your life?
This devotional gives some practical guidance and suggestion.
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