11.20.2012

an enemy of hope...

this is no time to be discouraged

the main reason so many of us feel discouraged is because of seeking greatness either in ourselves or anythings else other than God

we are not here for ourselves, or kids, or husband, or the earth

we are here for God....it is as simple as that

this is no time to think otherwise

we need to build up our strength in Him...not be discouraged because of a man or men or ourselves

a perfection of hope and fear is found in the poor in spirit
this doesn't mean we trod around with our heads hung low all depressed and saddened and submissive like a kitten against a wolf........
the poor in spirit seek happiness only in God

hope is the reward


the wolf........the enemy of this hope is despair and presumption


losing trust in God's goodness and mercy towards us is despair in it's fullest

presumption is the opposite...thinking that God will give happiness to you when you aren't entitled to it....like when you commit a sin, think God will forgive you without repenting from this sin

despair is more dangerous for us than any unbelief in God....because this means that man has given up hope

what are you living for if you do not have hope?  can you have respect for yourself? respect for others? love for God??

every bad thing we do will send us into a tailspin right into despair, and we will try to fill that void of hope with (most likely) material items........

but despair can also be caused by being lustful - it truly blinds a person to only see pleasures of the flesh...aaaahhhh...the flesh......we see it all over creation don't we? it's on tv, the news, the computer, when we are shopping on the advertisements.....but when you only see that, and don't see the good, your desire is not for spiritual good....but a desire to please the flesh

this is a lot to think about i know...but there is no better time than the present to begin anew...

 it is certainly not difficult to attain!

laziness or being a sloth causes you to think it is just too difficult to be otherwise, and you fall into despair



pride was the fall of one in particular being.....

hope destroys violence and peace rules over them

that is what most of us want isn't it?  happiness and peace

we will be in the pursuit of happiness all through the season of Advent - that is quickly approaching.....but I'm pulling the reigns on the world even more and showing my God I am here for Him and no one else

everything else will fall into place........into the quiet rhythm within each and everyone of ourselves...

xo+ hopeful blessings,
 

12 comments:

  1. I love the season of Advent and can't wait for it's arrival.

    Thank you for these reminders!

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  2. WOW! What a wonderful blog Anne Marie! Thank you for these words of wisdom ~ we need to think on these things to keep our focus on HIM and HIM alone. Heavenly blessings to you and your family! Happy Thanksgiving! Cathy in Idaho

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  3. Oh this is beautiful..absolutely beautiful and so filled with truth for the heart. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  4. Loved today's post, Anne Marie. Such truth and beauty in your words. It reminds me of this quote from Mother Teresa...

    “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
    If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
    If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
    If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
    The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
    Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
    For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

    I have seen this often...but usually without the very last line...

    "For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." WOW.

    Whenever I find myself slipping into a tailspin of depression or despair, it is then that I realize that I have been making the focus about ME rather than on HIM. How has MY behavior hurt HIM? How can I be the hands and feet of HIM to others.

    Blessings sweet friend,

    Val

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  5. Thank you....

    Debbie Addie

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  6. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. First things first.

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  7. First your pictures calmed my soul then your words sparked my fire. Thank you!

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  8. Ah, this is what I longed to hear for after what happened this past few days. Really glad I've read your post. :) Sending warm hugs from here, blessings to you too. buy wow account

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  9. Thank you for your post. DIscovering similar things in my own life as well. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
    Suzy
    http://bitsofthepastandpresent.wordpress.com/
    for some reason I could not publish under wordpress, so I did under anonymous. Sorry!

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  10. I have fallen into unbelievable laziness and sloth. I was not always this way. Please pray for me.

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  11. Beautifully said and a refreshing reminder especially at this time of year...
    Blessings of the season*
    xo
    Gail
    http://www.casualloveselegance.blogspot.com

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  12. I would LOVE to win the latest issure of Where Women Cook!!! I have bought them before , if I 'know' a couple of the ladies on the cover! They are very pricey, so winning this would be the ultimate! Merry Christmas to you and your delightful family!!!! Donna K.

    kelly809@comcast.net

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