5 Minutes of Hope

Okay campers … picture this:

You’re finally at the campsite. Your gear has been unloaded. Your tent has been pitched. You’ve gathered ample wood for the fire. You’ve placed the frying pan teeming with beans and franks on the metal grate. You’re cold and hungry so you reach into your pocket for a match and … you only have ONE! Peering down at that one, lonely matchstick you say, “Fire, please don’t fail me now!” You strike it and …

Hello friend and welcome to: “5 Minutes of Hope!”

Are you doing okay today? I really do hope so!

Now, wouldn’t it be marvelous if things and people didn’t fail?

NEVER a broken water pipe!

NO MORE repairs to the washing machine.

EVERY and ALL promises ALWAYS kept.

Meanwhile, back at the campsite:

The sun is setting. The temperature is dropping. Your stomach is growling. You strike that one, last, match and … the glob of potassium chlorate and sulfur mix falls off the end without igniting. You gasp!

Friend, toys and trinkets and tools and … stuff breaks! People fail. Humans are PRONE to failure.

Which brings us to today’s topic: GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE

WORD

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

Fellow potato pickers … how many times did the potato digger break down?

Computer users … how often has your high-tech, super, duper, sluper computer crashed?

Dear one … how many times has a friend’s failure, or your own failure, disappointed you?

So often … we are let down because SOMETHING or SOMEONE …has failed.

BEAUTIFUL SONG

In the early 80’s a young lady named Evie Tornquist sang this song:

♫ Unfailing love flows from His heart and heals my soul,

in spite of who I am, He loves and makes me whole,

I almost can’t believe it’s true,

unfailing love and yet I know

He gave His life to give to me unfailing love.

If the highest mountains turn to ashes

If the mighty rivers should run dry

Should sun and moon grow dim

I still will trust in Him

He’s watching from above

I’m resting in his love.

A few years before she wrote and sang this beautiful song Frederick M. Lehman penned these timeless words:

♫ Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

♫ Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

Dear one, maybe someone you love has failed you miserably! A spouse, a parent, a child, a close friend. God loves YOU and will NEVER fail you!

A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

Many moons ago, a precious, little bundle born to Mary was a gift of love from the God of love. And … His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me!

Dear one, when we pray … “Dear God, I recognize I need you. Please forgive me of my sin and come into my life to be my Lord and Savior.” … the God of love and the love of God come on the scene.

DAILY DEVOTIONS

Some of us may need to read and meditate in Romans chapter 8 over and over again until we get it.

Paul declared For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38, 39

PROJECT HOPE

God Loves You

God loves to right a tipped ship.

God’s love will rescue the drowning soul.

God’s love can redeem the fallen

And make us every bit whole.

PRAYER

Dear Father today, may Your unfailing love that flows from Your throne flow to me and through me that others may be blessed. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Friend, may you be filled with hope today and share it with others.