Author: Jacquelin Stoner

Jacqui is a writer, teacher, life coach, and an encourager. She walks alongside of individuals who need help navigating to the better place God has envisioned for their lives. She has discovered that God is central to genuine lasting life change.

THE SIREN CALL

Suddenly, I heard a siren behind me. I pulled over assuming the police officer needed to pass by. Surely, he was not stopping me! 

Newly licensed and driving home from school on Rt. 222 south. I possessed not a care in the world. I inherited my heavy foot on the gas from my father. Suddenly, I heard a siren behind me. I pulled over assuming the police officer needed to pass by. Surely, he was not stopping me! 

He climbed out of his cruiser and yelled, “I have been following you for ½ a mile with my lights flashing and you ignored me!!”.  No way could I talk myself out of that ticket.

LITTLE SAMUEL’S SIREN CALL

That brings us to the story of little Samuel in I Samuel chapter 3.  He isn’t sixteen years old speeding down the highway, but he doesn’t realize the significance of his “siren call” in the middle of the night.  Samuel always slept, ready to wake up at the quiet voice of elderly Eli when Eli needed assistance.  Samuel doesn’t know that this siren call is different. This call is directly from God. 

THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE

To actually hear the voice of God is pretty exceptional.  The beginning of the passage says that “In those days the Word of the Lord was rare.”  Samuel was always eager to obey his foster father, Eli, but it never entered his mind that the voice he was hearing was God Himself. 

ISRAEL WAY OFF TRACK

Historically, Israel was way off track.  Spiritual oversight broke down with Eli, the High Priest of Shiloh, the second-to-last Israelite judge.  His progeny, Hophni and Phinehas, were expected to take up the torch of leadership, however both sons are corrupt to the core. They ignored their father’s corrections. Like most of Israel, they ignored God.

EVERY DID WHAT SEEMED RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES

“In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). No wonder, in those days the Word of the Lord was rare.  Israel is bopping toward spiritual destruction, without a care in the world, totally disregarding God.

ARE YOU MISSING THE CALL OF GOD?

Have you been bopping down the highway of life, speeding along, ignoring the spiritual potholes?  Are you so wrapped up in your own life and concerns that you missed the warning lights from God and the siren call of His Word?  It is not too late.  Go before God, let Him deep clean any sin that has been clouding your spiritual eyesight. Beg Him to deepen your time with Him so that You can understand His written Word.  Miracles happen when we listen to God. 

GOD’S BEST FOR YOU

The Apostle Paul prayed for you:  “That your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, 10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized] (Philippians 1:9-11).  Heed God’s siren!

SINGING ROCKS

Jesus was not just the King of the Jews or the Savior of the Jews, He was the King of the cosmos

Are you humming along? Catchy song, happy thoughts, nothing specific on your mind? The jubilant crowd beckons you to join along, but what if someone sarcastically asks, “Praise Him for what”? Read Luke 19:28-40. For the life of them, the Pharisees cannot see what all the praise and celebration is all about. All that concerns them is the noise. What will the Romans think? A week ago, Judas blew a gasket when Mary “wasted” expensive perfume anointing and worshipping Jesus. This week, the crowd calls Jesus “King.”  What is coming next? Singing rocks?

HOW DUMB IS A BOX OF ROCKS?

What is God up to? Jesus knows the significance of this moment.  He knows what is coming: a spiritual regime change that will transform our world. R.C. Sproul writes, “It didn’t matter that the Pharisees thought the crowd was ‘dumber than a box of rocks,’ or something to that extent. How dumb is a box of rocks? Jesus knew the answer to that question because, touching His divine nature, He made the rocks. There was not a stone on the pathway between Bethany and Jerusalem that the divine Logos had not formed and shaped by the power of His creation. They were His stones, His rocks, and He understood that the whole creation groaned in agony waiting for the redemption that Christ and Christ alone could bring. Jesus was not just the King of the Jews or the Savior of the Jews, He was the King of the cosmos, the cosmic King that the unintelligent animals recognized but the very people did not want.”

THE FICKLE CHORUS

The crowd sings as Jesus passes by. They cry, “Blessed (celebrated, praised) is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory (majesty, splendor) in the highest [heaven]!” But as crowds go, they are fickle. They presume Jesus is their ticket out of bondage to the Romans. All they see is their political future. They care less about eternity.

PRAISES FOR WHAT?

Jesus, as always, does the unexpected. He does not bow to the crowd’s, the disciples’, or the Pharisees’ wishes. Jesus only bows to the Father. To the Father go all the praises. Praises for what? That which is coming: the cross and the resurrection. Praises for the agony which will pay the price to redeem the world. Glorious celebration that sin’s power will be broken. Triumphantly, lives both present and future will be given eternal life.

SING THE SONG OF ETERNITY!

If someone sarcastically asks you, “Praise Him for what”? Remember, “Nothing tells Satan and his followers that they have lost like the praises of God ringing in their ears. Satan loses because when God’s people are really worshipping, their hearts and minds are on Him – and not on sin, self, or Satan’s distractions.” (David Guzik) Join the resurrected millions in singing to the Christ Who “came that you may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Those who don’t join in are “dumber than a box of rocks.” Jesus said, “If these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!” Accept His invitation to sing the song of eternity with all of creation. Begin humming that tune today!

THE SHELTER

Taking up a cross does not fit their plans. A cross provides no shelter.

The clock winds down, approximately 40 days before the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus warns the disciples of the horrors to come. His words fall on deaf ears. No one likes to hear that their beloved leader’s plans oppose their personal plans. The disciples believe Jesus is going to transform their political futures, make Israel great again, and that they will rule right alongside Him. In all their earthly glory, they will make their mammas proud, safely sheltered from this world’s hurts. God will vanquish the Romans. Little do they know a hurricane of pain is coming. The disciples need shelter.

A CROSS PROVIDES NO SHELTER

Jesus warns them, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. …Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:22-24) No wonder the disciples ignore these words. Taking up a cross does not fit their plans. A cross provides no shelter.

A GLIMPSE OF ETERNITY

Read Luke 9:28-36. Witnessing the Transfiguration offers the disciples a glimpse of eternity for the unbearable days which are approaching. The disciples catch sight of the glory of the Eternal Christ. Jesus offers a shelter and guard for the disciples’ hearts.

GOD IS GUARDING YOU RIGHT NOW

Paul Tripp writes in “Forever: Why You Can’t Live Without It”: “The word ‘guard’ in I Peter 1:5-6 tells us exactly what God is doing in the here and now, and exactly why we can have hope, even in unexpected moments of pain. Not only does God have a plan that you are included in, but he is also with you daily and guarding you through every situation as he is preparing you for forever. Guarded means that not only is your future guaranteed, but it means that God is protecting you in the here and now as well. If forever is in your future, then God must ‘guard’ you between now and whenever forever becomes your permanent address. ‘Guarded’ means you cannot only be assured of future hope, but of the right here, right now comfort of present help”.

GOD’S SHELTER VERSUS PETER’S

Peter suggests they build sacred shelters to guard the present party of visitors who have arrived from eternity. Afterall, isn’t eternity arriving with the disciples sitting on thrones? God doesn’t strike down Peter, God drives to the heart of the matter, “This is My beloved Son, My Chosen One; listen and obey and yield to Him!” God provides shelter and the answer for the coming days. “Listen and obey and yield to Him!”  He speaks to their eternity, present and future.

“This is My beloved Son, My Chosen One; listen and obey and yield to Him!”  Obedience guards our hearts and provides the shelter we need today. Is this your daily goal? Yield your present eternity to Him.

Click to read how Christians across the globe are practicing eternal living today.

COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES

Without frustration, you may never know how great God is.

For years, I have practiced swimming against the current of people saying, “That’s just how we do this”. Then they slam the door. Despite this, God always rises to the occasion. He has supplied me with a wonderful encouraging husband who pushes me to step out on faith.

Don’t let raging storms keep you from fulfilling what God has for your life. Without frustration, you may never know how great God is. God regularly calls individuals to color a little outside of the regular ministry lines.

MY CALL

God called me to be a Christian Life Coach (many churches still don’t understand what that is) and become a writer and writing coach. I work with individuals using writing as a therapy tool (again, same remark regarding church comprehension). As I grow older, God keeps stretching me. When rejected for a short-term missions trip (because I was determined too old), God opened another opportunity for me within two days. (I bet that Moses, Abraham and Anna wish they could have claimed that age rejection.)

PUSH ASIDE THE FRUSTRATION

“Whenever I see faithful servants of the Lord start to get frustrated and down and speaking against the very thing their called to. I say take heart, fall in love with Christ all over again, remember why you love to serve Him and push aside the frustration, find the joy, because at the end of the day who are you doing it for, yourself? Others’ opinions? Praise and thanks? No, the answer is we live our lives to represent The King of the heavens and Earth, to make His name glorified.” (James N Larissa Tylor) We have the God Who often does the unexpected. He colors outside the lines.

KEEP COLORING!

So as a Christ follower, I say, “Keep persevering even when swimming against the tide.” Let Him turn the tears into dancing! Keep coloring, even when it is outside the normal lines.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! (Psalm 30:11-12)

A LESSON IN FRUSTRATION

Frustration is normal, especially in the worst circumstances

“The most faithful people are often the most frustrated people, because they’re committed to the cause” (Steve Furtick). I appreciate the level of frustration Moses must have felt. God called him to lead an ungrateful, rebellious and often nasty people.

Yet, Moses remains steadfast. He trusts God. The normal reaction of Moses’ flock of people is fear, frustration, accusations, and disbelief. How would you have reacted if you were Moses? Read these narratives:

OH NO! EGYPTIANS AT THE DOOR!

When Pharaoh got closer, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them and they were terrified. The Israelites cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the desert? What in the world have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’ (Exodus 14:10-12) The Israelites believed slavery was better than freedom. They discarded God’s plan for their good.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT US HERE TO STARVE

The Israelites go-to reaction is doubt and suspicion. The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. The Israelites said, “Why didn’t God let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You’ve brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!” (Exodus 16:1-3) Did they assume Moses was a mass murderer?

AND THE WAILING CONTINUES

In response to descriptions of the enemies in the land, the Israelites wailed constantly. The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!” Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4) Now they want another leader; one who will lead them back into slavery. Could Moses even think with all the wailing in the background?

WHERE DID MOSES LOOK?

Moses dealt with constant frustration, yet he kept His eyes on God. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121)

ONE OBEDIENT FOOT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER

If you are obediently following God, please remember, frustration is normal. Moses was not out of the will of God. Just keep putting one faithful foot in front of the other. Remember, “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

WHILE I’M WAITING

Years after her treatments began, Mary heard the doctor blurt out, “I’m not quite sure why you are still alive.”

We stand outside on the platform in the sweltering heat.  As we glance down the tracks, there is no train bound for Philadelphia.  30, 45, 60 minutes – well past the scheduled arrival time.  Frustration builds. I hear the verbal complaints ratchet up the longer the delay.  However, there is no choice but to wait.

WAITING VERSUS WAITING PATIENTLY

There is a difference between waiting (which everyone does at one point or another) and waiting patiently.  We have a choice in how we bide our time. We can look at our circumstances and scream. Or we can choose to believe God is Sovereign over the circumstances, no matter how painful the circumstances.  It’s a conscious choice if we stay steady and strong even in the face of extreme adversity. Patience is when we believe the end game:  Jesus is coming at the best time.

MARY’S CHOICE

My friend Mary has a choice. A fellow believer, she has been waiting on God’s platform for over five years.  With the diagnosis of cancer, Mary was given a prognosis of 1 year = tops.  Then came surgery, chemo, radiation, and more chemo.  An aggressive cancer, life expectancy was originally less than a year.  Years after her treatments began, Mary heard the doctor blurt out, “I’m not quite sure why you are still alive.”  The cancer is still there, but Mary is also still waiting.

During this waiting time, Mary has good reason to shake her fists at God and rachet up her complaints.  However, she consciously decides to spend her time patiently planting seeds.  She loves on the medical professionals who attend her, she shares her hope in Jesus Christ with those who are hurting, and she is one of the most gentle and vibrant people I know. 

HOW WE ACT WHILE WAITING

In Galatians 5:22-23 we read about “peace and patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]”. Mary makes a daily choice of how to act while waiting. “You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” (James 5:11) Mary’s train has not come yet, but she can see it in the distance. Mary endures as she waits!

YOUR CHOICE

Are you angry that your plans are diverted, delayed, or cancelled? Or do you wait patiently in the expectancy that Christ is coming, and all will be made right?  As a believer you have the power to wait; not to waste one moment that God gives you on this earth, no matter the adversity you face. Do you want to love God more than the timing of the answers He gives to your prayers? Remember, Jesus’ train is coming and is coming soon. How are you choosing to wait?

JUMPING OUT OF THE BOAT

Taking the job, I promised myself I would give it six months. It is now seven…stretching to eternity.

The job pays well, the bosses are fair, the hours are reliable. And there I am. Utterly miserable. Taking the job, I promised myself I would give it six months. It is now seven…stretching to eternity. God did not wire me for endless data entry and ferreting through files which should have been thrown out twenty-five years ago. However, I keep showing up; the faithful employee thinking surely something will improve.

ROUND PEG IN SQUARE HOLE

God laughs. The job does not change for the better. I am depressed and exhausted from being depressed. God repeatedly reminds me I am that round peg who tries to force itself into the square hole. Do I listen to Him? My fears of unemployment outweigh trusting God.

A TEMPEST OF FEAR

A piece I wrote about stepping out of the boat amid the storm keeps going through my mind. I’m scared. What if the next job is worse than this one? What if I can’t find a job? How will we buy groceries? What if…what if…. what if????? A tempest of fear surrounds me.

GO OUT AND GET BUSY

After nights of sleepless anguish, I decide enough is enough. Will I take God at His Word, depend on Him, and trust that He has a place for this square peg? Do I have the courage to step out of the boat? Dale Carnegie said, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Thank you, Dale, for kicking my butt.

“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall praise Him for the help of His presence” (Psalm 42:5).

THE JUMP

I jump out of the proverbial boat. For years my husband has been nudging me to get my certification as a substitute teacher. I have held back because of my fears of all the unknown: out of control kids in schools where I don’t comprehend the norms or the culture. Finally, I throw fear in the backseat and fill out the piles of paperwork and clearances to be certified. The paperwork is finalized.

On Wednesday I discard caution; tell my employer I am resigning. The deed is done. The following Wednesday I begin subbing.

THE HAPPY DUCK

After all the anguish, I leap out of the boat only to discover I transform into that happy duck riding the waves. God pointed out my sweet spot for subbing, even when I kept ignoring Him. Bravery is stepping out of the boat when God nudges. Inaction is staying glued in the boat.

Courage is becoming a substitute teacher.

SING PEOPLE! SING!!!!

Let God do His work and sing your heart out!

As a member of the Lancaster Chorale, our schedule is filled with intense rehearsals for a performance this Spring: Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.” It is an oratorio (like an opera, but no sets or people moving around stage). The music is tricky and powerful. I love the finale. Entitled, “And then Shall Your Light Break Forth,” the song is all about God. One line repeats over and over, “Lord our Creator, how excellent Thy Name in all the nations!” The words bounce back and forth between all the vocal parts, like a huge tennis match. It sums up the entire point of the oratorio – to point out to the world who God is.

THE ULTIMATE INSET SONG

Think of the song in Exodus 15:1-21 as an “inset song”. Like “Light Break Forth”, it sums up the story. In a Broadway musical, an inset song can be the lavish production number at the end of the play. All the cast are center stage, singing full throttle. It brings the house down to thunderous applause. The audience smiles. God smiles when we proclaim Who He is.

MIRIAM & COMPANY BRING THE HOUSE DOWN

Moses’ sister, Miriam and her choristers bring the house down. All creation hears the music ascending to the heavenlies. On earth the surrounding nations quake in their boots. God has done His thing and there is nothing like it. He comes to battle without any help from the Israelites. The job of the Israelites is waiting, waiting and waiting in line and then crossing the dry seabed. God takes care of business. Jesus said, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!” (Luke 19:40). Nothing can silence God’s songs.

GOD IS FORMIDABLE

The lyrics in Genesis 15 contains a lot of theology, the study of God. Spend time and notice everything you can learn about God in this passage.  At the same time, notice, there is no mention of Moses’ leadership, the aptitude of the Israelites, or how wonderful they are. This is God’s battle, His triumph, His power alone behind the events. We learn how formidable God is.

THEY CAN’T KEEP SILENT

What about the heart changes in the Israelites? Finally, they begin to claim God as their strength, song and sole salvation. This is not a quick and complete turnaround of heart. They will need to learn this lesson repeatedly. In the infancy of their faith, the Israelites finally proclaim, “This IS my God. I WILL praise Him.” They recognize the God of their ancestors. The Israelites literally can’t keep silent. It does not matter if they are tone deaf or physically deaf. Their mouths open; the music echoes across the universe. God smiles.

How about the surrounding nations who hear this song? They tremble. Anguish and fear grip the Philistines. Dismay and horror rule the day. The inhabitants of Canaan melt away in despair; terror and dread fall on them. They are still as stone. There is no middle ground to stand on.

This song brings the house down with thunderous applause from the universe. God is center stage and on display. No voice can keep quiet.

ARE YOU PART OF THE CHORUS?

Are you part of the chorus on stage singing full throttle, celebrating Who God is and how wonderful He is? Or are you not even in the theater, because you are too busy trying to cross your own Red Sea via your own skills? You see the enemy and are afraid. Remember the reactions of the surrounding nations: anguish, fear, dismay, horror, despair, terror, dread? If this is what is filling your heart right now, read this song and read it again. “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously and is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.” Trust and obey. Let God do His work and sing your heart out!

FICKLE PEOPLE, FAITHFUL GOD

It is easy to accuse God of not looking out for us.

Ever have a fickle friend? The relationship is unstable. “A rolling stone gathers no moss” implies someone who is constantly changing their mind because of instability. Having a friend like this leads to major disappointments. In Exodus, the Israelites are fickle and certainly rolling down the hill of instability in their relationship with God.

GOD KNOWS FICKLE PEOPLE

God knows His fickle people described in Exodus 13:17-22; 14:11-31. “So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.’” 

GOD’S GUIDANCE SYSTEM

God plans the longer road trip to Canaan because the Israelites had some serious lessons to learn about God. They need to exchange their slavery mindset to learning who they are in God. God marks their journey to freedom with unusual guidance systems. “The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.”

OUR PILLAR OF FIRE

Once Bill and I traveled at night in severe fog. We were on the road and the headlights of our car went out. My father ended up driving to our location. Through the darkness and fog, we drove our car behind him the entire way home. He became our “pillar of fire” in a frightening situation. He saved our lives on that road.

ACCUSATION ABOUT GOD’S MOTIVES

God carefully guides the Israelites on the long route with the cloud and the pillar of fire. He provides directions for the entire journey. The Israelites do not respond well. “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness.”  Talk about fickle…

THEIR TRUE NEED

They don’t know God or His ways and accuse Moses of hatching a plan for their demise. The Israelites desperately need an intimate relationship with God.

We live in a fallen world. It can be frightening. It is easy to accuse God of not looking out for us. He wants to be our cloud by day and pillar of fire at night, but often we ignore Him. We are fickle.

THE DECISION

Regardless of the miracles, the Israelites develop spiritual amnesia concerning the God Who always loves them and plans a future for them. They forget His cloud and the pillar of fire mark their path. Have you forgotten your cloud and pillar? This is the God Who promises: Even to your old age I am He, and even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you. (Isaiah 46:4) Don’t be fickle! Decide to entrust Him with the entirety of your journey.

OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Did you ever feel like you are living the movie Groundhog Day? You awake to discover you keep repeating the same failures over and over.

Did you ever feel like you are living the movie Groundhog Day? You awake to discover you keep repeating the same failures over and over. Every day is Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. In the movie, the main character comes the realization that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day.

NOTHING NEW ON EARTH

Our world is Groundhog Day in the flesh. The writer of Ecclesiastes accurately observes: What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

CREATION IS DOOMED

God’s lovely, perfect, incredible creation became doomed. Through Adam’s decision in the Garden, he walked away from the Creator God.  Sin rears its ugly head in every individual and generation since the Garden. There is nothing truly new on earth regarding our behavior as people.

A DIM MEMORY OF THE BEAUTY

We are but a dim memory of the beauty of who we were created to be. The sin process repeats over and over every day of our lives. Ecclesiastes says, “Is there anything about which someone can say, ‘Look at this! Is it new’? It was already done long ago, before our time.”

BAND-AIDS DON’T WORK

I keep trying the same and band-aids for my sin problem. Along with the vast majority of people, I have collective amnesia when I think that just trying harder to be “nice people” changes people internally. The band-aid solution is futile. People cannot permanently be changed without the Creator.

THE SOLUTION

God provides the solution to breaking the cycle. Jesus’ death and resurrection offer reconciliation with God and new lives. By handing every inch and scrap of one’s life over to Jesus, the Creator makes all things new.  Hope exists!  All He is asking is that we give up the reins and let Him lead.  Run to the Savior!  “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

GENUINE HOPE!

There is hope! Scripture gives hope for a fresh beginning. Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (II Corinthians 5:17) Tired from chasing failure over and over again? Join me; come to the Cycle-Breaker: Jesus Christ.