Freelance writer Lupie Riley

Thought:  Most of us remember the lyrics to this ole time favorite hymn.  It goes like this:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me (Rom. 3:20)

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind, but now I see.

What does it mean to be lost?  The first emotions we experience is confusion, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness.  I experienced most of those emotions when I was separated from my family in a place called Disneyland surrounded by hundreds of strangers with only one minute left on my cell phone.  Sad to say, many people suffer from these emotions on a daily basis without hope or purpose.  How do we find these things in a world that’s ready to self-destruct?  We need to look beyond this world to a world God has promised his children that will last forever in a new home called Heaven.  I was blind but now I see the wonderful promise of this life beyond this earthly one in my relationship with Jesus.  When I asked him into my life, he gave me forgiveness, a purpose and a plan.  Psalms 139:13-16 “You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about.  Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.  You were there when I was being formed in utter seclusion!  You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breath.  Everyday was recorded in your book.”  This breath of life and plan were given to us through his love for mankind.   In the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we are forgiven along with peace, comfort, and hope all wrapped up in his love.

Forgiveness:  I Cor. 1:8 “And he guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when he returns.  God will surely do this for you for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord.”

Peace:  John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart!  And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Comfort:  Jer. 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”

Hope:  II Cor. 4:17-18 “These troubles and sufferings of ours, after all, quite small and won’t last very long.  Yet this short time of distress will result upon God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!” So, we do not look upon what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in Heaven which we have not yet seen.  The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” What the world needs now is a personal relationship with Jesus.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for forgiveness, peace, comfort, and hope all wrapped up in your free gift of love.”

Verse:  Rom. 15:13 “So I pray you Gentiles that God who gives you hope will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him.  I pray that God will help you to overflow with hope in him through the Holy Spirits power within you. “

Married 58 years, four children, nine grandchildren and three greats.  I've been a freelance writer for over 40 years.  Working on a book at the present.  My priorities are God first, family, country. Look me up on Google search by my name Lupie Riley, click on first link. Faithwriters.com