Hope Radio Blog
Posts from our library, Ask the Pastor, Holding on to Reason, and our newest addition: Pondering Hope.
“You are still God
You are still God
When my world shakes
I won’t be afraid
’Cause You are still God”
“Praise the One Who walks beside me through
Mountain high and valley low
My hope is found in this forever Truth
Jesus loves me this I know
Jesus loves me this I know”
“I am on the edge of my seat
And I can feel the wonder rushing over me
You are opening my eyes
You're opening my eyes, Lord
To brand new possibilities”
Come see what’s new at Cross Reference Library in the KCMI studio building (209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff)! We’re open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.
Your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently experiencing. If you are satisfied with those results, you don’t need this book. If not, it’s time for a change. Like your own personal trainer, 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner & Lane Jones is an insightful guide for any leader who yearns for a simpler, more effective approach to ministry. In this book, you’ll find seven strategic principles that, when put into play, will bring focus and clarity to everything you do and turn your ministry into a winning team.
When Mark D. McDonough, MD was a teen, a catastrophic fire claimed the lives of his mother and younger brother; it also left Mark with burns on over 65% of his body. During a long and painful recovery, his faltering faith in God was strengthened by a remarkable near-death experience. Numerous reconstructive surgeries and postoperative rehabilitation motivated him to become a physical therapist, and then a reconstructive surgeon. If you or a loved one has suffered from personal trauma, disease, or loss that has tested your faith and exhausted your emotional resources, you’ll find real hope in this redemptive story, Forged Through Fire.
It's not easy being a teen today. There’s constant pressure to stay connected but fewer guardrails for navigating life. From the internet and social media to interactions with friends, teens are encouraged to pursue what feels good over what is good. But there’s reason for hope: God chose you to be the greatest influencer in the life of your teen. In Raising Successful Teens, Jeffrey Dean gives you the biblical truth and practical advice you need to help your teen thrive today and set a solid foundation for the future.
Hard conversations challenge everyone. Maybe you’re the person who makes every effort to avoid them. Or maybe you dive in enthusiastically, not noticing that your eagerness can damage relationships. Is there a more effective path? A biblical model for navigating touchy talks with the potential for conflict? In The Art of Hard Conversations, Lori Roeleveld’s experience and wisdom will help you have meaningful conversations that rely on the wisdom of the Bible rather than the prevailing culture. Through her motivation, inspiration, and practical, readily applied skills, you’ll learn to have those tricky talks more effectively. Funny and vulnerable personal stories, sound biblical teaching, and sections of tips and assignments guarantee that the principles here will increase your confidence and competence in discussing sensitive topics of every kind. Discover how your next conversation could impact someone’s life forever - or change your own.
We have a lot to worry about - children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of the anxiety, as if we could. Instead we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love and a sound mind. Sharing her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others, Dr. Michelle Bengtson uses Breaking Anxiety’s Grip to remind you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace He promises you in spite of everything. She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace so you can break anxiety’s grip.
In Finding The Bright Side, Fox News personality Shannon Bream engages in a conversation about authenticity, humility, and trusting in God. She shares behind the scenes stories from Washington, D.C., revelations from her time reporting on the Supreme Court, and lessons learned from the most challenging moments of her life - from the time she was fired from her first job and told, “You’re the worst person I’ve ever seen on TV,” to the time she was told “There is no cure.” But through all of this, faith (and a little bit of stubbornness!) has helped Shannon keep hope, find purpose in the pain, and find laughter along the way.
Think Before You Look by Daniel Henderson provides a useful and timeless approach to avoiding the temptations of pornography before it is too late. The content springs from the author’s experiences working with thousands of men and counseling many about the painful issues revolving around the porn industry. Each brief chapter explains the practical rationale and biblical basis for steering clear of pornography’s clutches. The chapters are succinct and sometimes humorous, though meaty enough to offer solid biblical equipping for the battle. Its approach leads to a fast-paced read that avoids academic and clinical terminology, yet is designed to further your personal study or a group Bible study. This book promises to help those drowning and warn others who are considering the shadowy water.
Sarah Laughed breathes life into the legends of the Biblical matriarchs, as Vanessa L. Ochs, PH.D. fills in the gaps in their stories and makes their trials, tribulations, and triumphs relevant for women today. Intimate, familiar, and wise, the heroines you’ll find here are revealed to be uplifting role models, from Eve’s rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job’s wife. By embracing the gifts of these ancient women, you’ll discover exhilarating ways to embrace your own personal gifts and gain fresh insight on your life.
Bestselling author Stormie Omartian addresses the deeper issues of marriage, such as communication breakdown, misplaced priorities, infidelity, and the challenge of children in Only Prayer Can Change Your Marriage. It’s hard to change yourself, and you can’t change your spouse. But by His power working through our prayers, God can change you both. When you invite the Lord to rule in your marriage, He will transform both of your lives in ways you never thought possible. Whether you are a husband or a wife, if you want your marriage to be strong and protected, this book is for you. Your marriage can last a lifetime - seek God in prayer, pray specifically as He leads you, and watch a miracle take place in your heart, your spouse, and your relationship.
“Lord, I want to be whole”. These words are the hearty-cry of many Christians who, in spite of their relationship with the Lord, find themselves dealing with overwhelming anger, guilt, depression, and perhaps the nagging feeling that something inside them is just not right. In Lord, I Want To Be Whole, Stormie Omartian shares the principles she learned during her struggle for real and lasting peace. She outlines seven solidly biblical steps to wholeness, based on the power of prayer and Scripture to change your life. Stormie doesn’t give you a formula for a quick fix, though. Instead, she offers a positive approach that is both spiritual and practical. Her advice and encouragement will help you find and keep wholeness in all areas of your life.
Genesis Apologetics has created a series of videos discussing and debunking seven myths you often hear about the Bible, Genesis, and Noah’s flood. Watch the next part of this series below, and come back to the Hope Radio blog next week for the final installment in this series about the truth of God’s Word!
“Take me from where I've been
Into something new
I'm giving up control
I need a breakthrough
All of my dreams and fears
Are crashing into You
You're waking up my hope
You are my breakthrough
Come breakthrough”
“You take me as I am
You came into my life
You make me whole again
Like I was part of the plan
And you take me as I am
Just as I am”
“Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings”
“Almost home
Brother it won't be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home”
“I’m dreaming of paradise
I’m ready for the after life
Tell me is this over yet
Cause I know what happens next”
Genesis Apologetics has created a series of videos discussing and debunking seven myths you often hear about the Bible, Genesis, and Noah’s flood. Watch the next part of this series below, and come back to the Hope Radio blog every Thursday for the next 2 weeks as we learn more about these myths and the truth of God’s Word!
“Smile, when you think you can't
Smile, get up and dance
Smile, there's a bigger plan
The storm only lasts for a while
So smile”
“Your forgiveness
Is like sweet, sweet honey
On my lips
Like the sound of a symphony
To my ears
Like Holy water on my skin”
“I am on the edge of my seat
And I can feel the wonder rushing over me
You are opening my eyes
You're opening my eyes, Lord
To brand new possibilities”
“I just wanna like myself
I just wanna, I just wanna like myself
God, I need Your help
Change the way I see myself
Oh, I just wanna like myself”
Genesis Apologetics has created a series of videos discussing and debunking seven myths you often hear about the Bible, Genesis, and Noah’s flood. Watch the next part of this series below, and come back to the Hope Radio blog every Thursday for the next 3 weeks as we learn more about these myths and the truth of God’s Word!
If you are trying to get into Heaven by being good enough, you will not succeed.
In my opinion, this is the most important question you could ever ask. God gave us the Bible in order to teach us about Him and how He works in the world, which includes telling us what He expects from us in order for Him to let us have a relationship with him and get into Heaven. The answer to this question is all over the place in the Bible; and most of the stories in the Bible are meant to point you towards this answer. So, the more you read and study the Bible, the more you will understand the answer to this question.
I am going to answer this question by starting out with saying something you may find crazy: if you are trying to get into Heaven by being good enough, you will not succeed. God says you cannot be good enough to get into Heaven. But, don’t get too worried, because you can still get into Heaven.
Now, it’s time for me to prove this to you by showing you what the Bible says.
The first verse we will look at is Isaiah 64:6
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
This verse is saying that even the good things we do are considered unclean, or bad, to God.
Now you may be wondering, “If that’s the case, then why did God give us the law and ten commandments? If following them still leaves us unclean, then why do we have them?”
God answers that question in Romans 3:19-20
Romans 3:19-20 (NLT) Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
So, The Bible says that God gave us the law so that he could prove to us that we are not good enough to be successful at keeping the law. He also says the following in James 2:10
James 2:10 (NLT) For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
In other words if you have ever broken any of God’s laws you have already messed up badly enough to never be able to be good enough to get into Heaven. So what now? Is it hopeless? No, you can still get into Heaven, Let’s look at Romans 3:21-28 to see God’s instructions on how to get into Heaven.
Romans 3:21-28 (NLT) But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Even more so, Galatians 2:16-21 tell us this:
Galatians 2:16-21 (NIV) Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
“But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners; doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
So, let me review what we learned. The question was, “How does God decide if we’ve been good enough to get into Heaven?” The answer is: God knows we cannot be good enough to get to Heaven. So, He gave us the law in order to prove to us that we cannot be good enough and to let us know that we need help, specifically, help from God, Himself. This is why Jesus came down to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross in order to buy us all tickets into Heaven.
Now you have a choice. You can choose to try to be good enough and then pay God for your sins yourself. But this will mean you cannot make it into Heaven. Or you can choose to admit that you cannot be good enough to get into Heaven on your own and accept Jesus’ free gift of entry into Heaven.
If you want to accept Jesus as your Savior and receive your free “ticket” into Heaven, all you have to do is believe in those truths. God knows what is in your heart even if you don’t know what to say. However, if you would like to pray to God, it’s as easy as thinking and talking. I will give you an example of what you can say to Him right now:
Dear God, I am so sorry that I have messed up and sinned. I know I deserve punishment and that Jesus took that punishment for me. I know that I need your forgiveness and your help. I am putting my faith in Jesus and in His payment for my sins. Thank you for forgiving me and for wanting a relationship with me.
In Jesus name, Amen
If you accept Jesus’ payment for your sins, you are adopted as a son/daughter of God and are on your way to Heaven no matter what, because we can know for sure that if God says something will happen, it will happen. God is not a liar and He always keeps His promises.
This series of blog posts titled, “Holding on to Reason”, is named after Amanda’s favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”
“Hallelujah, there will be healing
From this heartbreak we've been feeling
We'll sing in the darkest night
'cause we know that the light will come
And there will be healing, hallelujah”
“On the other side of everything I'm afraid of
You are standing with Your arms wide open, wide open
Even in my deepest doubts and wonder
You are standing with your arms wide open, wide open”
“I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again”
“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is life
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
Like a river running wild
Like a never-ending fight
Where the spirit of the Lord is”
“I ain’t with none of that
I ain’t with none of that extra
Where I be getting my treasure
Right from that store up in heaven
I shop in that store up in heaven
First thing I get is some blessings
Then I go back for some seconds
But I ain’t with none of that extra”
“Even through the darkest night
Your light will shine in all our hearts
No matter what life throws our way
We’ll shout Your name
We are the unashamed”
Genesis Apologetics has created a series of videos discussing and debunking seven myths you often hear about the Bible, Genesis, and Noah’s flood. Watch the next part of this series below, and come back to the Hope Radio blog every Thursday for the next 4 weeks as we learn more about these myths and the truth of God’s Word!
