From time to time I may share on here thoughts from my husband, but before I do I want to share little bit about him. Joe is his name, we have been married for 11 years this coming March, it has been a blessing to grow with him. We have learned so much together getting us to this point in our lives.

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Our marriage is something I really cherish, having someone beside you to love and support, and share good times and bad with is truly what I believe God designed marriage to be for (helpers) Genesis 2:18. Someone, who, not only is there for the love that we all long to have in our lives, but also someone, who knows you, who is committed to you, and who wants to help you grow to be the best that you can be.

Who is honest with you about your flaws, but gives you grace, forgiveness and support when you do make mistakes.

Who is patient that you are growing, and understands that they are growing to.

Someone who can help you by praying for you. Seeing how they can better themselves and motivates you also to do better.

That is this man for me. My husband ❤️😍

Im very blessed, but I don’t say this to boast because I believe we all have something special, God really has blessed us all, I don’t believe the Bible would be so universal if I didn’t really believe in that.

It is so important that we dont get focused on others, but we look to our lives and what God has given us and work with that, because each of us has something that is very special, whether it is something about you, your spouse, your family, friends, life….anything… we can not focus on what we dont have but rather what we do.

so as I count my blessings I’m very thankful for my husband, who I can as his wife honestly say that, he doesn’t do this stuff part time, he truly does practice what he preaches, and that is evident in our home and I am so grateful, but on the same token we are still human and we are like I said before

growing,

trying each day and may make mistakes along the way.

Our prayer is this, that we…

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

So here is something from my best friend, partner in life, my husband and Im sure you will see more from him in my future posts as well.

LIVING HOPE

BY: JOE MURDOCK

It has been said that the Gospel writer John is the apostle of love and Paul is the apostle of faith and Peter is the apostle of hope. Peter specifically talks about a living hope. I find this to be an interesting idea since hope only seems to be a word that means waiting for something. But is that all that this hope means? Let us examine this living hope that Peter mentions in 1 Peter.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

So my initial thought is, how does one live out hope? I think it is important to first understand how hope is defined scripturally. Biblical hope means much more than what man has mindlessly limited it down to or has over zealously used it. In some instances hope today is used as no more than wishing and in other cases has be made to seem so far beyond our comprehension that it is impossible to understand. Yet Peter tells the first century Christians and us to have a living hope! Hope according to the Strong’s concordance is to anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence-faith hope. Isn’t that interesting a faithful hope. Just like everything in Scripture, faith is always going to be connected to the words that are pleasing to God.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6

Since we now understand what hope is biblically and Peter mentions a living hope, a question I have is with a living hope is there a dead hope? Guy N Woods in his commentary on 1 Peter writes when He (Christ) allowed himself to fall into the hands of the Romans and to die on the cross, the hope of the disciples was blasted and their faith failed. Peter with his faith gone, returned to his nets John 21:3. Sadly for too many when things start to get tough, they will give up. This attitude or mindset must be defeated. But without a proper understanding of what we hope in, our hope can easily die and we go back to doing what we did before we had hope in Christ. Friends that only leads to empty promises and a life full of sadness. Remember what Paul said in Ephesians

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:6-10

Empty words come from those who have a dead hope which is no hope at all! We must continue to press onward towards the goal that is set before us and not allow the snares of this world to trip us up.

Finally as we have defined hope the way God would have us to understand it, let us now live it out. That is what God would have us to do and what Peter means when he says to have a living hope. A hope that is not dead but one that is thriving and producing fruit in ourselves and in others. What an encouragement it is, to be able to share in a living hope with our church family.

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Romans 8:24-25

Are we willing to eagerly wait for the coming of Christ? Not idly but full of faithful anticipation and excitement for the time when we are redeemed!

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14