Covenant Of Hope Ministries: Blessings

Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Hope Is the Hidden Blessing of God's Amazing Grace

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our sermon or midweek study. You will normally see us posted on Sunday and Wednesday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. It doesn’t conform to society’s wishes. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Those who know me well will recognize that there are definitive differences in the creation of every sermon from this point forward. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.

- Elder Cal Jennings and his family need prayers of solace after the loss of his mother Sylvia Jennings this past week or so. May they all be blessed and comforted by the Holy Spirit.

- Please pray for job opportunities or offers to help bless Sister Theresa Bogard.

- Please pray for a dear friend and colleague who continues to struggle with serious health problems. May the Holy Spirit surround her and ease her pain and worry. Help me help this friend of mine with strength of compassion and more.
- Please pray for continued strength for my brother as he continues to heal and get answers for his health.

- Please pray for another friend who is in a desperate search for a new place to live that is affordable for her and her family after the apartment she was in flooded and destroyed everything.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors, tragedies, and disasters that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

Prayer: Father in heaven, this is our prayer today for seriously needed relief of those in nearby places suffering from flooding and destruction, those suffering the aftereffects of armed gunmen, bombings, and so forth, that their spirits be lifted and calmed. We pray for those in mourning of close family members, including Elder Cal Jennings and his family. We pray for those who have been suffering illness or pain, that they will be given comfort and healing. We pray for blessings in the midst of pain, sorrow, terror, and more, so that this year is a better one for all around us. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Whispering Hope ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Yj_0N1mHo

Sermon: Today I am focusing on something that this world needs a whole lot of right now. That something is HOPE. So many of us ask for even a single drop of hope in our lives, whether it is from the death of a loved one, or a disaster of epic proportions. Hope is something that comes from desperation, and trying to cope with it. That’s why, when looking at Scripture, we find so much involving hope, over a hundred verses focusing on hope. Many of those are in the Scroll of Psalms. King David did not write all of the Psalms, he is its most prolific author with eighty of them credited to him. Other writers include Moses, Heman the Ezrahite, Ethan the Ezrahite, Solomon, Asaph, and the sons of Korah. Several of them do not come with any credit. We are focusing on Psalms because there is so much sorrow and despair in this world today. We need to focus on the greatness of God’s unconditional love, not the sorrows, the pains, and perils of this earthly world we live in.

Psalm 16:9 KJV – Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Notice how this speaks of the heart, and the flesh, knowing that God created us in His image, it says a lot to be able to hope with all parts of our being. This next verse shares how early we should recognize hope as being part of our daily lives.

Psalm 22:9 KJV – But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

Did you realize that holding on to hope is something that takes courage and strength in your own heart? It does, because without that ability to hang on through mind, spirit, heart, and soul, hope gets lost and forgotten. So remember that, as we are taught here.

Psalm 31:24 KJV – Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

We have heard, many times in our lives, about how hope and mercy are inextricably linked in so many ways. Here we see that hope has a mission, not just in our lives, but in God’s existence within our lives. That’s where this verse fits in.

Psalm 33:18 KJV – Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

So many have asked me what the fear of the Lord is. In the case of Scripture, it isn’t being scared of that part of Him. It is more like reverence for the fact that our God is a Mighty, Almighty, all powerful being. He wants us to recognize that there is that part of us that links us directly to Him, through the breath of life, the existence of Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the eternal comforter. That is where hope joins the conversation, as shared in these three verses.

Psalm 33:22 KJV – Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalm 38:15 KJV – For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

When there are trials and tribulations in life, many of us wonder where we should focus our thoughts. Finding solace when we are in despair is assuring that hope continues to exist in our lives, no matter what happens around us or even within us.

Psalm 39:7 KJV – And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

No matter what happens, we should continue to hold on to hope. Our hope should be part of us that automatically shares itself with God, the blessing that is the Holy Spirit, the gift Jesus Christ left for us to ensure hope in this terrible world we live in filled with pain, sorrow, and more. This next verse shows that even in the worst of times hope can still be held close.

Psalm 42:5 KJV – Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Hope and love are linked in billions of ways. Without hope, love gets lost. God never intends for us to lose hope, or forget what His Unconditional Love can do. That’s what is shared in these last two verses today.

Psalm 71:5 KJV – For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

Psalm 71:14 KJV – But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Notice, trust also comes into play with hope, and we should always hang on to that hope, no matter what happens, and, in fact, even in the midst of sorrow and despair, the hope that is God’s Unconditional Love continues to exist as part of us. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Closing Song: It Is Well With My Soul ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvnE6erj6I

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Elder Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Test Your Faith, and Believe His Unconditional Love for Each of Us

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter

- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. He has been in and out of the hospital many times this year. May the Lord continue to bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Please pray for my daughter, Deanna and son-in-law Douglas, as we all wait to bring my granddaughter home from the hospital. Deanna has been suffering with high blood pressure, and dizziness, due to the continued affects of eclampsia. Maria Kaye is gaining weight, 8 grams so far, and has gotten a bit stronger since her premature birth on November 1^st.

- Please pray for relief in the trials and tribulations for Sister Theresa due to continued pain from a terrible hit and run accident late last year.

- Please pray for my dear colleague and friend Janice as she has fallen again and done more damage to her spine, including a new fracture that can’t be fixed the way she needs it fixed at this time.

- Please pray for another friend, Karen, as she continues to fight cancer.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for those in suffering in northern California and other places due to the severe forest fires that are plaguing the area.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

- Pray for our veterans here in America as the country celebrates the sacrifices they made during their times of service.

Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing, and strength to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment and understanding while studying Your Word. We thank You for these gifts and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: El Shaddai ~ Amy Grant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qJMl95lb9k

Sermon: In days of old, through stories that we’ve heard over our lifetimes, and most likely, for some of us at least, the potential to see up front and in person the salvation that belief can create for our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. The thing is, we often forget how powerful belief in God, in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s where we start today, with this verse.

Hebrews 10:39 KJV – But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

What is Perdition? If you look in the dictionary, it is defined as a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of the soul, and eternal damnation. Nobody wants to literally bring this about, in truth, yet, so many end up being in this predicament. God gave us a path to follow to be righteous and keep that one up for every generation. Jesus showed us that path in His teachings while He lived, walked, and preached the Word here on earth. The challenge is to continue that teaching, preaching, walking, talking, up even thousands of years later. Believing in Him is much more than talking the talk, walking the walk, it’s strength from within that allows us to not just believe, but also to prove that belief in the things we say and do while on this earth. This is shared in our next verse.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This is one gigantic challenge for some people. Believing without seeing God or Jesus in person is something that many human beings struggle with while tragedies and tribulations occur on a minute-by-minute basis around this world. The difference between believing in that better place, and surviving this world filled with wickedness comes in one word. That word is FAITH. Believing is the first, often most difficult, leap toward the gift of eternal salvation. This verse shows it in matter-of-fact terms.

James 2:19 KJV – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Notice how many already believe in the salvation Jesus brought us. The devils, yes, those nasty little buggers that torment us here on earth, believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit, even as they fight to take humanity away from that salvation which was promised all the way back from the beginning of time, of human kind. Having doubt is something we all go through in our lifetimes. That’s why we have a physical, spiritual, tangible struggle with our belief in His truth in salvation for everyone who is willing to fight against that doubt and share that fact with each other.

1 Peter 1:21 KJV – Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Resurrection, we have, perhaps, realized and recognized this potential beyond just reading the words of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus thousands of years ago. There are many, many reasons to share the strength of our belief with those around us. We see miracles every day if we pay attention. The problem is, many of us forget what a miracle is, and how to see them in everyday life.

1 Peter 2:7 KJV – Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

We have heard many times in Scripture about the cornerstone of belief. The foundation upon which our belief is built, individually and collectively. Every view of belief is different, because every human being is different, unique, and should be recognized as such. Our belief begins in the realization that God created each of us to be ourselves, similar, but not fully identical. Our only commandment is one that is repeated all through Scripture, in many ways. That is this view here.

1 John 3:23 KJV – And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

The Apostle, John the Beloved, shared his personal belief, the very real connection he had with Jesus and the reason for the strength of John’s belief is obvious in the things which he suffered, and survived through in his lifetime.

1 John 4:1 KJV – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

What does it mean to try the spirits? It means to challenge their existence in each of our lives and how those lives are changed by those same spirits, because some of them have proven themselves to be false prophets, those who would steer us away from the truth that is God, the eternal view of unconditional love that is Jesus Christ, and the gifts that come from that unconditional love, including the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s what John the Beloved shares throughout his lifetime on earth and recorded here.

1 John 5:13 KJV – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Eternal life, it is a fulfilling gift of the Spirit, one that will bring us full circle and into the many mansions found in heaven, a gift we should not underestimate. It is there, for all of us to experience. All we have to do is believe with all of our hearts, our minds, our spirits, and our souls. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:

Closing Song: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbNiWUwsHI&list=OLAK5uy_mRiqELojxGv5EPIYijQc-pdu6fBlmY9Ys&index=12&t=0s

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Elder Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

About Us/

Welcome, we are Covenant of Hope Ministries. We celebrate the light in the darkness. There are those of us who need a connection, one to another, whether it is someone we want to learn about, or someone we know and wish to keep in touch with. Ministry is all about sharing faith, hope, and unconditional love. This all would offer peace from the heart. It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, if you are traveling a lot, or otherwise, we serve Christians and Others who are disabled, displaced, disadvantaged and disenchanted in today's world. Licensed Ordained Minister, Rev. Laura A. Neff, Evangelist, Cal Jennings, Outreach Ministers including Rev. Lisa, Pastor Stephen, Apostle Eric, and many others. I am licensed to perform Biblically Based Wedding Ceremonies in the state of Georgia, USA locally based in Savannah and surrounding areas. I was ordained in 2007 by Rev. Teresa Piercey-Gates. We established this ministry in October of 2008.