More on Hope and a Future

I thought I’d share some notes I’ve taken over the past few Sundays at church. It seems that everywhere I look, I find more on this topic. Is the Lord trying to teach me something or what?
The words in italics are from the notes; the ‘regular’ print is my own.

Excerpt of teaching given by Mr. Frank Wallace; May 18th, 2008.
Who/what is driving you? What is your purpose?
If you don’t have a purpose, you’ll only drift and drift, like a ship with no sail; only drifting where the tide goes.
A purpose fulfills us.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. Think about it; if you know what your purpose is, you won’t have to wander about looking for it….you can get right down to business; you don’t have to focus on many things-wondering if that’s the purpose for you!-but just on one thing; your purpose. Right there you’ve already simplified your life.
Philippians 3:12-16;”Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the gaol for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect (redeemed) have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Keep your purpose in mind, and keep it in your focus. Don’t let other things distract you.
Colossians 3:1-2; “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Know what your purpose is; know what your focus is and should be!

Knowing what your purpose is can fill you with hope, giving you security for the future.

Excerpt of teaching given by Mr. Virgil Culver; May 25th, 2008.
There is tremendous power in the spoken word-positive and encouraging OR negative and devastating.
Psalm 39:1; “I said, ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.’”
Psalm 19:4; “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
What we say and how we say it can bring life and hope…or cause despair and destruction.
Think about this; the difference between how you say “I’m sorry”; “Thank you”; and “I love you” can have a profound effect on those you say these words to. When you say them, are you speaking in sarcasm, or from sincerity?
Sometimes we say too much.
Sometimes, we say too little.
Did you know that children three years and under need to hear 30,000 words each day?! Studies show that women speak an average of 20,000-30,000 words a day (over half of those words could actually be only spoken in their minds! Self-Talk, Soul Talk.); while men speak an average of 7,000-15,000 words each day. The average of both men and women is 16,000 wpd (words per day).
But it’s not the volume (or quantity!) of words we need to be concerned about. It’s the impact of the words we speak.
Ephesians 4:29-”Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to thee need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

What comes out of our mouths can affect hope. It not only affects the hope of others, but our own. Words can rob us and others of joy, life, happiness, and hope. So next time an unwholesome word comes to the tip of your tongue, think twice about it. Don’t let it out to rob yourself and anyone else around you at the time.