Grace, Mercy & Miracles

On February 6, 2008 my mother passed away after a horrific series of events that spiraled out of control with a urinary tract infection.  I won’t go into all the details, because the events are so appalling that they are hard to believe that they could ever happen.  The last week of my mother’s life she was taken off of all life support, and basically forced to die of starvation.  We were told that keeping her alive was selfish and cruel by all of the medical staff at the hospice where she was taken after the hospital said they couldn’t do anything else for her.  My dad, my two sisters and I stayed at the hospice the entire week waiting for her to die.  It was the worst thing that I had ever experienced at that point in my life, but six months later when we received the report from UCLA on the research data collected from my mom’s brain, even worse news arrived.  My mother’s death certificate lists the cause of death as complications from late stages of Alzheimer’s, but the brain bank discovered that my mother didn’t have Alzheimer’s or any other dementia type illness.  Her brain was normal, and had no signs of what the hospital and doctors had all told us was the issue, and the reason that we should let our mother starve to death to save her from further suffering.

Her death and the two months of suffering in ICU were bad enough, but then to find out that it was all a lie, and the doctors just used that as a means to keep her from ever telling the truth about what happened at that hospital that she went into with bladder infection or UTI, and ended up septic and fighting for her life, was simply a weight and sorrow too heavy for me to carry.

The enemy made sure that not only did I lose my mother at age 54, but that I also felt a guilt-burdened grief that just wouldn’t let up for two years.  Finally I heard a New Year’s Eve sermon at Cornerstone Church in Chandler on the message of HOPE.  The service was led by a Pastor that had a three or four year old daughter in ICU with a brain tumor.  His family had no idea if their baby would live or die, but somehow the man got up and gave a broken congregation a message on hope.

The congregation was broken, because it was during the worst economic downturn the country had ever seen.  Thousands of people were losing homes, jobs, and all that they had saved and worked for years to attain.  It was so bad that people had to call a business to make sure they were still open before going anywhere then.  Like most families, my family was struggling to keep up with the massive burden of our mortgage and IRS bills, but those issues were nothing compared to what I was suffering over the torment of the images that played over and over in my mind of my mother dying in front of my eyes for a week.

Although I was in church to hear the message, I had never known God before then.  I always wanted to believe that there was something more, but I had never seen any evidence or even found a church that wasn’t filled with a bunch of bitter and judgmental people shaming anyone that wanted to believe.  That was all about to change with just one glimpse of hope from Pastor Aaron McRae though.  I remember he caught my attention immediately when he said that most people believe that God won’t give us more than we can handle, but that was not actually in scripture.  He said that people didn’t understand that God never said that we wouldn’t suffer.  In fact, he said that we will suffer, and he warned us, so that we would be ready when those trials and tests come.  Who knew?  Not me or anyone else in the crowd obviously, because that would mean that we actually read our bibles.  (Of course, I have read it many times since then)

He said that God didn’t want us to suffer, and he gave us a way to get through the worst situations, because he said that we should cast our cares on him, because he cares for us. That seemed a little too easy to me, but I listened intently, because I was desperate to escape the weight that was causing me so much suffering from condemnation and guilt over not doing more to keep my mother alive.

Pastor McRae went on to show how we could literally take every burden and worry and pretend like we were throwing a baseball with the issue in our hand and tossing it straight to God.  He said that it might not seem like it was enough, but he made it clear that it was the only way that he and his wife could manage to keep going everyday as their daughter was clinging on for her young life with negative reports filling their ears about her chances of survival.  The Pastor said that God’s word is true, and if the people would just try this casting of their cares to God, then they would be filled with peace and God would work on the issue that the people couldn’t do anything to change anyway.

I went home ready to give it a try.  As I started to speak to God, I was sobbing and told him that I knew that I wasn’t a good daughter, and I should have done so much more to help my mom, but after bearing the guilt and grief for two years, I couldn’t stand the thought of my own children having to suffer from my state of depression.   I said, “God if you are real, and Pastor McRae was right about you wanting to take my burdens, I am asking if you will please remove this pain and suffering from me, so that I can be a mother and wife to my family again.”  Before I had even finished the words, I felt this massive weight lifting out of my body.  It went right from my shoulders and it was 100% gone!  It was unbelievable to me, and I could never deny what happened, because it was so clearly felt when it left my body.  From that moment on, I have never been able to cry or feel that grief over my mother’s death.  I no longer focused on the days before her death, but I was finally able to remember all of the better days of her life, and I had peace in place of the pain.

My dad died on June 20, 2017, and it was a bit of a shock even though he had been sick and in and out of the hospital for years.  I just assumed that God was keeping him alive for something bigger, and that he would be completely healed at some point.  I realized that he was actually just waiting for my dad to have time to spend with my older sister and her children before departing.  He went to live with my sister for the first time ever about a month before he died.  They had never been close, and I guess that God wanted to give my dad the chance to spend time with her family, so he kept him alive until that happened.  My dad had everything from a brain aneurysm to lung Cancer and all sorts of stuff in between, but he seemed to be invincible.  I guess we are all invincible until God says we can go home, and so my dad passed away while my sister was at work.

My sister came home to discover my dad on the floor of her living room.  She was consumed with unbearable guilt, because my dad had asked her to stay home that day, but she had to go to work, and told him that she would be off all weekend to spend with him.  My nephew was also bearing the weight of feeling like he was somehow to blame, because his phone was dead when my dad called and left him a voicemail that day.  I knew what was happening immediately, because I could see right through Satan’s tricks of deception now.  I began praying for peace for all of my family and specifically for her and her son.  I did my best to comfort her and told her that God was actually in control when he sent her to work that day.  I know if she would have stayed home to see him dying and not be able to save him that would have been far more traumatizing.  She had other friends share the same thing  with her, and one that told her how bad it was to watch her mother die in a similar situation, so my sister was able to see God’s love for her by making her go to work that day.

I never had any tears after the initial shock of just hearing that my dad was gone.  I only cried, because I thought that God had abandoned me and my family for the first five minutes of hearing about his death, but I quickly understood that wasn’t what happened at all.  I was filled with a peace that I can only describe as love that just kept pouring over me.  I was laughing and serving food to 200 homeless people in Phoenix a few days before the funeral.  I didn’t cry at the service, and I actually felt bad for not looking more pathetic for the people who were there to comfort and support my sisters and I.  I wore sunglasses so no one would notice that I had no tears in my eyes.

I just wanted to share this story, because everyone goes through the death of a loved one at some point in life, and I have experienced the worst and the best.  The worst being without knowing God yet, and the best being so closely connected to my Heavenly Father that even the passing of my dad whom I loved more than anyone most of my life, simply couldn’t shake me.  Proverbs 3:5 was my dad’s favorite scripture.

Do you want to know how to change the world?
It is through kindness, acts of mercy and being generous to others even if it means doing without that extra pair of shoes or night out for dinner.

What if this year everyone gave up just one thing, and that thing they gave to someone that would never have it otherwise.

For example, tonight I could go to dinner with my husband and kids, but instead our family takes that money and buys dinner for a family that would never have the means to eat a meal at a nice restaurant or any restaurant for that matter.
Instead of taking a week long vacation, we take six days and the money saved from the seventh day, we use to give a family a trip to a local water park or trip to the movies and dinner.

It doesn’t have to be money, your talents and time are precious and should be used for more than just self indulgence or working. Give the gift of time to a child who has no family to support them and encourage them. If you can play the guitar, teach a child who is in a group home or has no means to pay you, how to play for free.

What if we all just did something wonderful for the people that we know could never repay us?
That could also be providing help with an electric bill or school clothes for a family or any number of things that you can come up with to be generous to others out of acts of selfless giving.
Teach someone how to read! Help a homeless young adult get an ID card and access to resources to help them get off the streets. Stop and pray with a person that is hurting and feels abandoned and alone. Be the loving arms that wrap around the broken-hearted. Just pour out love and blessing everywhere you go! That is how the world changes! It takes love to destroy evil. If you are tired of the evil, then stop speaking oppression and start loving and blessing others.
Just a thought

“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God. Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning. Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.

The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. “I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant.

I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.

From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.”Zephaniah 3:1-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/zep.3.1-20.esv

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.

And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

Psalms 107:1-43 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.107.1-43.esv

Psalms 37:25-26 ESV

Yesterday my children and I were traveling to California, and we stopped at a gas station. While I was inside my 16 year old son, 9 year old daughter and 22 year old (soon to be adopted) daughter were outside feeding a homeless man and his dog.

I had no idea that the food the homeless man was eating as I passed by him was the same food that I had just purchased across the road for my daughter, so when the man said, “thank you!” as I passed by him, I was a little taken back. I was pretty sure he said thank you with a sincere smile, but I had only been thinking about how to help him at that point, so I didn’t know why he would say that unless he was being sarcastic.
As I went to my car, I reached in my purse to see how much cash I had, but I wasn’t sure if that was all that I should give him, so I looked around for something of value in my car such as scripture cards for encouragement and water to drink.

At that point, I mentioned the man to the kids, and I asked them if they could see if he had anything to drink or not. They said that he was finishing the food they gave him, but they didn’t see a drink. I laughed and told them thank you for sharing their food with him, and I told them to bring him some cold water and some money to make sure he could eat later. They said that they already gave him the money they had left over from the food, but it was all they had to share with him.
My heart melted inside as I realized that they didn’t just see my actions of helping others. They all wanted to do their part and bless the lives around them too.

Many young people can’t think of anything besides themselves, and they seem to just be worried about what their friends will think about them.  I realize now that those young people are merely doing the same behaviors they were taught by the adults and people of influence in their lives.

We blame teens for not caring enough about the world around them, but are we teaching them by example what really has value in this world? Teach them to love people with a pure heart by loving others, because all lives matter. 

Every life is important to God. Even the drunk that cheated on his wife and left his children matters to God. We need to help others without judgement. When we judge others we cause shame and condemnation to cover those lives and that becomes a mask that blocks them from coming to God for healing and wholeness.

We are all in this world together whether we like each other or not, so why not start asking God to bless all of those people that we don’t like, so that we can be surrounded by blessed people?  Blessed people are kind and feel loved, but the people that we curse with our words that we speak against them, feel the stinging impact of those cursed words and the result is a lot of angry, hurt people that cause more hurt in the world.

“Bless those who curse and revile you…” God is not trying to cause us suffering by saying that.  He is trying to help us make the world around us better by creating a blessed world with loving people for us to enjoy an abundant life.  

http://bible.com/59/psa.37.25-26.esv

God is good.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136 23-26

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;

Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.

But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,

To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.

Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!

Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.

Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 103

Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart.  Don’t rely on your own understanding,  but seek God in all matters.  He will lead you on the correct way.  Proverbs 3:5-6

“My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:2-4, ESV)

The shame and condemnation filled with guilt and unworthiness causes a people to loose sight of love.  They seek to be free,  but they end up in bondage of the mind, the body and the soul, as the addictions, mental health, sickness and suffering entangle their lives so treacherously, that they no longer feel anything.

Hardened hearts set in stone must be cracked open with perfect love!
Love that doesn’t judge, condemn or blame, but heals, helps and creates hope !
Perfect Love=God

Look around and understand that fear has taken hold of every nation and the entire world has fallen captive to the fears that we are fed by media, politicians, drug companies, the medical industry, news reporters, non profits, schools, movies, advertisers, people and businesses!

We have gone so far in the wrong direction of trusting God that we can’t even see how ridiculous the things we say and do really are.  If we say that we believe in God, and that we  are Christians, how can we live in fear?   Fear means that we are doubting God, and His word.  That is a sin, and there are consequences for sins in our lives.  The first being that it allows an open door for Satan to enter.   Satan hates all mankind and his plan is to steal, kill and destroy every human life that he finds to devour!

As we go about our lives, we hear and see many opportunities that are trying to instill fear in us, but we don’t have to allow that fear to gain a foot hold into our lives.  You can choose to believe a bad medical report that you receive, or you can deny that news and speak God’s word over any sickness in your life.  God’s word is truth, and Spirit filled life, so if you stand firmly rooted in God’s truths, nothing can destroy you, not even Cancer or natural disasters!

As we walk through these days on the earth, God has only given us two crucial commandments that will keep us secure.  The first being to love Him with all our heart, soul and minds.  The second is to love each other.  If the only thing that God wants us to know is love, what would be the reason for this?  Is it not because love is the only thing that is able to destroy evil completely?  Perfect love casts out fear, and that perfect love comes straight from God.  Once we know the love of God, it is then possible that we can love others without confinement.  Love forgives, love is generous, love is peaceful, love is uplifting, love is merciful, love is kindness, love is God.  If you have everything, but don’t have love, you have nothing.

I copied several scriptures below to help remind any readers of how God’s word is our confidence and reassurance to not live in fear, and to not fall victim to the lies of what we see, is what we have to have.  Speak life over your hurt, sickness and sorrow.  God’s word is Spirit filled life.

Here are scriptures that you can speak over sickness:

Exodus 15:26  I am the LORD that healeth thee [Jehovah Rapha]. This is the verse where God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who heals you). The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Chaldea. In the original Hebrew text, the Jewish National Name of God “Yahweh or Jehovah” is translated into the English as “LORD” (all caps). The Hebrew word “rapha” means: “healing, cure, mending, stitching up, medicine, physician, repair, to be made whole, to invigorate.”

Exodus 23:25-26  Worship the LORD your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deuteronomy 7:15  And the LORD will remove from you all sickness.

Psalms 30:2  O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Psalms 92:12-15  The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalms 103:2-5  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalms 107:20  He sent his Word, and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.

Psalms 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Psalms 147:2-3  The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Proverbs 3:7-8  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 4:20-22  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 12:18b  The tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 13:12  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:17b  A faithful ambassador is health.

Proverbs 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh.

Proverbs 15:4a  The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.

Proverbs 15:30  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

Proverbs 18:21  Death and Life is in the power of the tongue.

Isaiah 38:16  You restored me to health and let me live.

Isaiah 53:5  But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes [from the scourging and beatings] we are healed.

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:11  So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 57:18-19  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating the praise of the lips. Peace, Peace to him who is far and to him who is near, says the LORD, and I will heal him.

Isaiah 58:8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Isaiah 58:11  The LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought. And strengthen your bones. You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (xref Luke 4:18-19)  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees [oaks] of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:7-8a  Instead of your shame you will have a double portion; and instead of humiliation you will shout for joy over your portion. Therefore, you shall possess a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. For I, the LORD, love justice.

Jeremiah 17:14  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future.

Jeremiah 30:17  For I will restore health unto thee and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Jeremiah 31:3-4  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt … again you will take up your tambourines, and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.

Jeremiah 33:6  Behold, I will bring you health and cure, and I will cure you, and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth.

Ezekiel 34:16  I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.

Ezekiel 37:3-10  And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD!’ Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.” Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these smitten, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet. (The breath of God refers to the Holy Spirit who quickens our mortal bodies—Romans 8:11.)

Ezekiel 47:12 (xref Rev 22:1-2)  All kinds of fruit trees will grow along the riverbanks. The leaves will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit. There will be a new crop every month—without fail!  For they are watered by the river flowing from the Sanctuary. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for medicine.

Joel 3:10  Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

Nahum 1:9  Affliction will not rise up a second time.

Malachi 4:2  But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.

Scriptures of Hope :

Psalms 30:5  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalms 34:18  The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 42:11  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalms 69:32b  Your heart shall live (be rejuvenated) that seek God.

Zechariah 4:6-7  This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a [level] plain. xref Mark 11:23

Isaiah 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 66:14  You shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like new grass.

Jeremiah 1:12  Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

Psalms 91:9-11  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalms 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.