Tag Archives: hope

Reflection

Living in Chaos

As the world knows by now of the dreadful events at Bondi in NSW, Australia on Sunday, 14 December 2025, it strikes me that there is so much chaos being unleashed in our world.

Look at what has been happening and continues to happen in Gaza. So much destruction, so much suffering and which appears to be never ending. Then look at how Russia has been attempting to take over Ukraine. And, that fight continues without resolution. In the USA there have been more shootings resulting in more death. In Africa there continues the most dreadful massacres in the Sudan, and ongoing attacks and massacre of Christians elsewhere in the continent. The list is endless.

Now we have the unleashing of a terror attack on a Jewish gathering here in Australia. The media reports endlessly, and often in gruesome detail and which sometimes feels like a deliberate stirring up of fear and anxiety.

I am currently reading Revelation. What a vivid prophetic word on what’s ahead! I don’t know what it all means but it certainly is giving a picture of the end of our time. Our present world chaos is nothing compared to what I read about in that last book of the Bible. How does the chaos in our world today and what God has revealed fit together? I don’t know. What I do know is that God is in control. None of this is a surprise to him. There is a plan and God’s purposes are and will be fulfilled.

I choose to trust Jesus in the midst of the chaos. He is my hope. He gives me peace. I rest in him.

Bless you as you read this and ponder.

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General

Been a while …

It’s been a while since I added anything here. Health issues are mostly to blame. I’m doing much better. It can be very challenging to want to do anything when feeling lousy. So many projects got left way back on the back burner. Now it’s a matter of trying to figure out where I was, where I am, and where I want to go. I’ve had plenty of time to think about the transitoriness of life generally and how fragile our existence really is. It is a very sobering experience.

Throughout my journey of these past couple of years I have felt God’s presence and loving care of me. I am so grateful. There were several things that I felt he showed me. Firstly, I was not alone. Jesus was with me, and would never leave me nor forsake me. Secondly, that he was carrying the bulk of my pain. I didn’t have to bear it by myself. Jesus is the true burden bearer. Phew, this has proved to be a real comfort and encouragement, and continues to be so. Thirdly, I am loved. And, nothing can change that. How wonderful!

So, there we are. We have hope because Jesus came as a human baby, lived a human life, and died to save us. Then marvelously he rose again shattering all the limitations that have keep us from being all we can be.

Life continues. Blessings this Christmas time.

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Reflection

Suffering of the Animals and the Land

I’ve been reading Hosea in the Old Testament. I’ve read it many times before but I’ve recently noticed a few verses in Hosea 4 (verses 1-3). Here’s what it says in the Living Translation:

“There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You curse and lie and kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, with one murder after another. That is why your land is not producing. It is filled with sadness, and all living things are becoming sick and dying. Even the animals, birds, and fish have begun to disappear.”

My goodness, this sounds like a description of what is happening today all around the world! Watching the news, reading the newspaper, reading the news online gets to be pretty distressing with such an increase in unnatural events like murder, war, embezzlement, greed, etc. These have the consequence of polluting the land, polluting the world, polluting the very air we breathe. How many species of animals, birds and fish are now extinct or close to extinction? It seems that what Hosea had to say so very long ago is so very true for our now. Sometimes it seems so hopeless and I feel a “what’s-the-point” feeling creeping up trying to overtake me.
The world is filled with sadness, the land itself is sad. What reason has the animal world to fight to survive?
It makes me sad too.
However, there is hope. Hosea has the answer. It might not be palatable to many but I believe it is the way we should go. In the last chapter (chapter 14 verses 1-7), he speaks of our returning to God and of turning from our sinful ways. There’s some good promises in there.
Hosea is a good book to read. With very good advice to put into practice.  I encourage you to do so.

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Reflection

In what do we hope?

Is the world moving closer to another world war? Current events being reported in the media are pretty harrowing. And, if the truth be told, rather fear inducing. It’s as if there is nothing to contain or stop the death and destruction being carried out by a growing group of terrorists without a moral compass. World leaders are looking at ways to stop the progress of this group, and how best to help those groups suffering the most there in the Middle East. Not an easy task and one fraught with the danger of igniting a conflagration.

I don’t have any magic words. My heart aches for those directly affected and I pray for God’s mercy and provision for them. I pray too that God will grant wisdom beyond human ability as the leaders consider what to do.

It has prompted me to listen carefully to what God might be saying in all this, and especially for myself. The thing that stands out is that God is in control. And though the foundations of law and order have collapsed… God is still God and he rules from heaven. (Psalm 11:3-4). I can trust his unfailing love, no matter what. My hope is in him!

This world is not the be all and end all of everything. Our hope (my hope) is in the promises of God that he has given in the Scriptures.

 

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Reflection

No matter the mess, God works for good!

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

When it seems like the world’s gone mad, don’t forget “God existed before anything else … and He holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, “God doesn’t know what you need!”, remember God promised to “meet all your needs”. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)

[from a friend]

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Reflection

God gives us hope

“…I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.” Jeremiah 29:11b NIRV

There’s an appointment on God’s calendar with your name on it. God has an appointed task for you to accomplish and appointed blessings for you to enjoy. He has called you with an “eternal purpose” and He will bring it to pass.

Isn’t that just great? What a hope!

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