Faith and The God of All Hope

September 25, 2025 Martha Rodman1 Comment

May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

When I think of the phrase “the God of all hope”, my tension eases. Peace comes. My heart is at rest. There is something about remembering that He is the God of ALL hope that when my life struggles, I can still trust Him.

The hope He gives means I can trust Him when I feel like I am failing. His hope and assurance means I can keep walking when life tells me not too. I can run to Him when life seems overwhelming and know He will be there to show me the path of life.

Hope is the expectation that God’s faithful character is always there for us. In trying to describe His hope, I think of it as a life preserver, buoying me up during stormy days. The thing I have learned is to turn to Him when hopelessness tries to descend. Our natural mind would say “there is no hope”, the diagnosis is settled and been confirmed. When the doctors told me that Darryl was blind, deaf and basically gone after his heart attack and stroke, I was devastated. I knew Darryl had often preached, “You can’t see miracles unless you need miracles. Most people don’t want to be in a place to need them.” I kept praying for miracles. It took a while to see any.

My hope and trust were challenged severely. But I kept believing. All the previous tests of our faith came into play. I rehearsed God’s faithfulness and promises. The testimonies we already had. I needed to lean on every lesson He had taught us over the years. One of those lessons was this very verse. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. NIV. The God of all hope began to show up.

The doctors release him to our home in Connecticut on hospice. They put people on hospice when the doctors think the person will pass within six months or less. They brought in a feeding machine and a hospital bed. I met with the hospice nurses and team. I know it was the God of hope that began to assemble the team that helped us through those first days. My friends, you don’t know how valuable those precious believers were during this season. They were God’s hope with flesh on. Please follow the Holy Spirit’s leading when others are going through difficult times.

Darryl was still, no movement, no noise. Nothing. He just lay in the bed while we attended to his needs. I kept expecting him to simply wake up–whole and ready to get back to my normal life. Two days after we had him home I noticed his feet were during grayish. I asked the nurse, and she said, “Oh that’s mottling, he will pass in the next 24 hours.” I just said to the Lord. “No, that can’t happen”. That night some friends gathered to worship and pray around his bed. I hadn’t shared about the mottling. Some time, during worship I moved his blanket and his toes were pink! The God of all hope had showed up and turned my hope into reality. It definitely was a time of celebration. The fellow who was supposed to come the next day to bathe him, told me “I kept expecting a phone call telling me not to come, that he had passed. He had never seen someone come back from mottling! A miracle for sure had happened.

My friends, my hope was that Darryl would totally recover and our old life would restart. That didn’t happen. But the God of all hope is still bringing me hope. For a year or so before Darryl’s health incident, he kept telling me about a big white house God was showing him. He said we are going to need to move. I kept saying, not until we use up this one to its capacity. The God of all hope was showing him, his new home, not ours. In the back of my mind, I wondered if that was what God was showing him. I didn’t want to even think about God taking him home without me. He left this earth October 5, 2012 to meet His Savior. My joy and peace is full as I think about him able to worship and praise the Lord freely.

I learned so much during the 2 1/2 years I was his caregiver, lessons of perseverance and trust. One main lesson I keep learning is that the God of all hope will always be there for us. Do not let the enemy steal your hope. When you are tempted to hopelessness, stand strong. Run back to your Savior. When I feel hopelessness and discouragement trying to come in, I try to look where the hole is. Most of the time for me, I seem to have some unmet expectation. I choose to declare my trust in Him. It is not long till the God of all hope shows up with His peace and joy, and I can feel the power of the Holy Spirit strengthening me.

Father, I thank you for reminding us today that you are the God of all hope. With your hope comes joy and peace, and I am so grateful. Please show us how to walk more consistently with this hope, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Dealing with Doubts

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 24:38 ESV.

Doubts: a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. Have you ever faced a sneak attack, from the enemy, of doubt? I faced such an assault last week.

This is a very transparent story I am sharing with you. A couple of weeks ago, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to write a letter. It wasn’t an easy letter to write, so I sought Him for the wording. The day I wrote the letter, I actually woke up with, what I felt was His wording for the letter. This came with such peace, that I knew I had heard from Him on the matter.

All went well for the next few days. Then, one night as I was falling asleep, a very subtle feeling of unease crept in. I dismissed it, and went on with my life. But slowly but surely the unease led to insecurity which led to condemnation. The condemnation became so strong that I began to doubt anything and everything else I was doing. Along with the doubt, insecurity came fear.

The “feeling” was awful. I went back to the Lord, apologizing and repenting if I had misunderstood His assignment. I asked Him to be merciful and gracious to the person I wrote to. Finally, I shared the letter with someone. She knew the person I wrote to. She said, “it’s a good letter”. That helped.

As I went back to the Lord, I heard Him whisper: “doubt”. No wonder I was struggling. Doubt is an insidious tool. It subtly caused me to turn my eyes away from the Lord. Focusing on myself is never a good thing. I truly was like James 1:6 says, but let him ask in faith, or the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. My emotions had me all over the place.

When the Holy Spirit whispered the word “doubt”, peace came and it was like a light turned on! I knew I was the victim of a sneak attack by the enemy. What began with the letter, tried to spread to every ministry area in my life. It tried to undermine my calling and my purpose. Doubt and insecurity attempted to steal my confidence in the Lord. They wanted me to focus on myself. This shift in focus distracted me from God’s ability.

My friends, I felt confident that the letter I wrote, written in love, was an act of obedience. Only God knows what the outcome will be. Part of the letter challenged the works of darkness. I knew of the possible backlash, but was still unprepared for how it came. My friends, obedience isn’t always easy. We do have an enemy that does not fight fair. He seeks any entry he can find. He found an area of weakness in my life. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit and His words of life and truth. The peace of God came immediately.

In Mark 9, we find the story of a father bringing his son to Jesus for help. His father asked “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. And Jesus said to him, “if you can! All things are possible for one who believes. Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”. (Mark 9: 22-24. ESV.) The Lord has gone on to show me, what I started in faith, I needed to continue in faith. Praying and believing the words I wrote, spoken in faith and love, would produce the good fruit God intended. When doubt entered in, I stopped praying for the situation. It began to be about me. I’ve gone back to praying in faith, that He is moving. I’m praying the truth will set free and God’s will, will be done.

We must continue to grow in our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17. My friends, don’t let doubt and unbelief hinder you from obedience. It is not worth it.

Father, I thank you for your victory. I am humbled by your gracious Holy Spirit who speaks words of life to us. Please teach us how to resist doubt and unbelief by learning Your Word and Your Ways.

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Faith and Burden Bearing

April 4, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2. NLT.

When you read this scripture, how does it make you feel? Scared? Happy to help other’s ? Glad there should be others to help you? Did you read the last part..and in this way to obey the law of Christ. There is something a little more serious and commanding when I hear the word law! How about to you? Laws are usually not considered optional for most people!

So it seems if we want to obey the law of Christ, we need to share, carry or bear each others burdens. So the question is, how do we do that? Let’s put it in context with the verse above it. Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back on the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1. Paul admits here, that some believers will struggle with sin. It is our responsibility to help them overcome this sin. This is the first way we can help bear someone else’s burden. But it comes with some stipulations.

One, we must do it gently and humbly. I take this to mean no added judgment or shame. Our goal is to restore them to full fellowship. If we emotionally find ourselves appalled at the persons sin, we need to take some time and go back to the cross ourselves. It is so easy to let judgment and condemnation sneak in, which defeats the purpose. Only when we remember our own need for a Savior can we truly help with the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus warned the Pharisees about not added more weight to them. “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matt. 23:4.

If you have been praying for loved ones and co-workers, you must take the time to examine your own heart. Our pastor preached about our church being a welcoming church for all. It is with the understanding that transformation is God’s desire. I began to examine my own heart, thinking about what types of people would I find difficult to really receive. I admit, some showed up. I was humbled and convicted as His Spirit showed me those who He loves, but I struggle with. The good news is I can see how I have grown in opening my heart to more than before!

As I listened to this message, I also prayed for clearer steps our church can have for discipleship. If we believe God’s salvation message is for everyone, and transformation is also for everyone, then we must understand it is a process. The next question that came was , am I willing to be part of that transformation? The good news is this law of Christ is the law of love. This love applies to both myself and others. It’s not about me willing myself to get rid of judgment. It is up to me to let His love keep transforming me and you.

Faith, which works by love, is released. God’s Spirit begins to move with loving conviction and restoration takes place. We must see our brother and sister as valuable to the Kingdom. We must understand that Satan seeks to destroy them through their sin. We have been given the joy to help them overcome! But that can’t happen if we don’t have the faith to believe in God’s transforming power. Do you believe He can change the people you pray for? Or is it just something you do out of obligation?

The Word promises us that Jesus came to seek and to save all that was lost. When this truth radiates in our spirit, we will become a tool He can truly use. Spending time with Him, getting to know His love for yourself, will help us learn to love others, and this truly does fulfill the law of Christ–the law of love.

Father, thank you for helping us grow in this area. We desperately need your help to love others in a way that surpasses their faults. Even if they hurt us, we should assist in restoring them gently and humbly. Deal with our pride, and arrogance in every area, so we don’t fall into judgment and criticism. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Sickness

February 20, 2025 Martha Rodman1 Comment

The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of illness: You will sustain him on his sickbed. Isaiah 41:3. NKJV

No blog was written last week, because I came down with the flu. It wasn’t fun (and in fact, I am still recovering from it). Maybe it was my feverish brain, but I began to ponder, what is the “right” way to deal with sickness. Or is there a “right” way?

The first couple of days were quite rough. I managed to send a message to my Life Group team, letting them know we would not be meeting. It brought offers of help and prayer! I admit at this time, I was too ill to really deal with “ministry guilt”, that came later. My dear sister came to my rescue. She went to the store and brought meds and various quick nibbles. She filled all my straw cups (I had three by my bed) which made it easier to keep hydrated. Because this wonderful “Bug” came with throwing up the first day or so, I really couldn’t keep things down. It made me reluctant to try and eat anything.

By day 3 and 4, I started trying to expect to be over it. I tried to catch up on my devotional reading plan. I was grateful for the ability to listen to the Bible. My eyes were hurting too much to focus and read. Some of the ladies in our Life Group are dealing with difficult things. I wanted to pray magnificent prayers. I ended up trusting the Lord to intervene. I feebly mentioned their name before Him. “Father, I trust you with my friends”.

Somewhere in this journey, I remembered I was supposed to host and lead another meeting for our Senior Life Ministry Planning team. I was able to find my laptop and send out a cancellation notice. This consumed more energy than I expected, so back to bed. The ministry guilt started to raise its head. Push through, you could have worn a mask…what’s wrong with you? Living through some out balanced teaching of healing can really affect your soul at this stage. I had to remind myself, that Jesus is the Savior and Healer, not me. My energy level, brain focus ability and body simply would not let me do more than rest in His love. Trusting His grace.

The good news of God’s faithfulness was apparent, when I received a phone call from a hurting friend. God’s Spirit showed up and I was able to speak life, focus and help into the situation. I felt so wimpy at first. But as we talked, my care for the person helped me tap into His Presence with God’s Truth. I did take another nap after the phone call

Living alone and being sick is not for the faint of heart. My son, who I probably got this from, was a few days a head of me, so I monitored his progress via his wife. He has recovered. I’m on my way, just dealing mostly with fatigue and sinus congestion. I appreciate the texts and encouragement that people were praying for me. Somehow there is a balance between being remembered and overwhelming with questions about how you are feeling!

So once again, I’ve learned to rest, trust and enjoy Him, even when I don’t feel well. As a younger believer, I used to feel guilty and shame over sickness. I thought it was a sign of weakness, now I’ve learned better. If nothing else, it reminds me that I am made of flesh. It helps me understand the afflictions of other, and I’ve learned to give myself much more grace. My friends, let us be gracious to ourselves and each other. I’m asking the Lord about changes that should be made, but in the meantime, I choose to rest in His love, and going to take another nap!

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Father, I thank you for being faithful, even when I am not. You are with us on our sickbed and for that I am grateful. Please keep teaching us how to best display your glory, no matter what state we are in. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Faith and Application

February 6, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today—yes, you so you will trust in the Lord. Proverbs 22:17-19. NLT.

I have been having an ongoing conversation with the Lord. We have discussed why so many in their later season of life experience so many challenges. It seems the advertised “golden” years are not as golden as the commercials would like to portray! People hear about the joys of retirement with traveling, golfing, or cruising. However, many seniors face unexpected physical diagnoses. These diagnoses can limit their mobility and interactions. Last year I got to experience physical therapy for the first time because of a knee condition. Now both knees are complaining and I need to courage up to tackle a flight of stairs! These are fairly common complaints for those of us in our 70’s.

There is also the hovering concern or specter of dementia! Oh, I forgot a word or date. Could this be an early sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s? So what are we to do? Let fear ruin our lives? That definitely is not the answer! So I prayed and talked with the Lord about navigating these older years. I asked Him why things seem to be so hard. He shared a simple insight. He said it is time to apply all the lessons about Him we have already learned. Every lesson about His trustworthiness and His faithfulness, we are to put into practice. It is a time to lean ever more upon Him and what His Word has to say in every situation.

Often we can move through life with our heads full of knowledge about God and His ways. It is when we face challenges to actually apply what we know , is when we find out how much faith we truly have. Jesus told us that in this world we would suffer tribulations. James is very clear on this as well. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know when your faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1: 2-4. My senior friends, if your faith is being tested, it is a good thing. It is not easy, but He will work it out for your good. It will also benefit others. This is not just for senior friends, but for all of God’s children.

He also reminded me. These years are our last opportunity to show what it means to be a believer in Him. Whether or not we like it, people are watching you. Your family, friends and acquaintances really need us to model what it means to be a believer during trying times. When my sister was first diagnosed with lymphoma, God led me to Philippians 4:6-7. Very simple and familiar scriptures, but they became very real to me. Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I keep applying these lessons through her breast cancer journey and now her heart and kidney concerns. The don’t worry part is challenging, but I am getting better at it!

My friends, it is not God’s plan that we simply spout platitudes about His goodness, but we must believe it. When faced with the trials of our faith, we must know that 2 Peter 1:3 is true. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. There is no disqualifying circumstance to this verse. He has given us everything we need for living a godly life, the choice is “do we believe it?”. Oh my friends, the lessons you are learning today will benefit you greatly. They will help you, no matter what you face tomorrow. Many times it is the small things that help us endure. I remember singing (very croakedly) “this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it), during the first few weeks after my husband’s stroke. It came from deep within my spirit from the earlier lessons He taught me. This simple scripture helped me get through those tough days.

So no matter what season of life, learn to apply what you know. If you need more help in a matter, ask Him for it–or a good friend. Remember, He is our teacher. What a blessing it brings to Him, when we apply what we know!

Father, I thank you for teaching us how to apply Your Word to every circumstance we find ourselves in. I thank you we don’t have to worry about our future, because you are already in it. Prepare us for our future, but helping us learn to walk with you today. Help us truly “apply our heart to your instruction”. In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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Faith and Hope Less

January 30, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13 NLT.

I had the chance to talk with another widow this week. Her husband and mother passed very close together about four years ago. She is a firm believer. She wasn’t questioning God’s goodness. Instead, she was seeking to learn how to walk through these sometimes paralyzing struggles that grief can often bring. Somehow during the conversation, someone used the word “hopeless.” As we talked, I thought about “hope less.” versus hopeless. Had my hope level dropped amid so many challenges?

Think about a thermometer. When we take temperatures for fevers, we want the numbers to go down. Can you see it now? A hope thermometer? Is your hope increasing or decreasing? I had to admit that in some areas my hope is less than it used to be. It was a reality check, but in a good way. Life hasn’t been easy for many lately. Those close to me have been dealing with very hard things. I talked with a lady yesterday at church. She had been a wonderful life group leader. She shared she had to step down, because her husband was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her mom had passed away from the same disease, so she knows sort of what lies ahead.

She told me, I still believe in our God who heals, and am trusting Him for our future. When life sends us these curves, it is hard. Many older saints are facing even more difficult trials than ever before. I asked the Lord about it, and He said, “it’s time to apply everything we’ve learned in the past”. It is not a time to give up and lose hope or heart. It is a time to lean even harder on Him and His character. This last season of our life gives us the opportunity to really live as an example of the believer. Not easy, but it must be doable!

I realized I had actually lost some hope (hope less). I began to pray and ask Him to help me. Proverbs 13:12, is very clear: hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. NLT. When things are “deferred” put off, delayed or even suspended we can become discouraged. Little children can fuss and fume over short delays, but as we mature we can endure it a bit better. There comes a time when we have to admit, “Lord, I think my heart is sick”. You may be trusting Him for healing, finances, a relationship fix etc. But it hasn’t happened yet. So what do we do? Grow sicker and sicker? No, my friend. We need to go back to the Lord. I wanted my husband to miraculously recover from his heart attack and stroke. When we began to see improvement, we were all so excited. But, after caring, trusting, praying and loving him, two and half years later he joined Jesus.

So now what? I admitted my heart was sick. I had many conversations with Him, sharing my feelings and disappointments. Some I wrote, some were simply heart felt prayers. I had learned enough about Him I did not stop until peace came. The scripture in Romans 15:13 tells us He is the God of ALL hope. So it makes sense to go back to the source and ask Him to restore your hope. Paul was praying for the Roman church, that the God, the source of hope, would fill them completely with joy and peace. He wanted them to experience the fullness of the Good News. This is God’s wish for us, that we will be filled completely with joy and peace. I admit, I am still working on that!

Hope can be a bit elusive at times, which is why we find this exhortation in Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Isn’t this the crux of the matter? Do we believe He is trustworthy? When hope wanes, we often take our eyes off Him and onto the immensity of the situation. Our enemy wants us to blame God, get us to believe “if He really cared…” (you fill in the blank!) Paul told Timothy, This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of believers. 1 Timothy 4:10. I want to remind you and me today that He has already proven His loving care. Do whatever you have to do to focus on the Living Loving God, then your hope will rise.

Psalm 119:74 states: May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. If you lose hope, many around you will too. But if you stand strong in God’s Word, you will also strengthen those around you. Lately, when I turn on either my Alexa or Spotify worship, there are so many songs about warfare and struggles. It made me wonder if God is causing His artists to write and produce such songs. We must need them. I found my faith rising as I listened to these encouraging sounds. If you are not a musician like me, we can forget about adding it to our warfare weaponry. But when I do, it is so refreshing.

I want to remind us again that in this world we are going to have trials and tribulations. We can either become hope less, or grow in our hope.

Not just regular hope, but confident hope. Hope that makes us not ashamed or afraid. Do I feel disappointed in myself that my hope thermometer went down? Of course, I felt disappointed. However, I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit. He helped me get back on the right path. Remember Romans 5:4-6. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and dies for us sinners.

Father, I thank you for showing us that even though we may lose some hope, we don’t have to become hopeless. You teach us to not lose hope. We can hold on and not become hopeless. Help us to grow in Your hope, a hope that encourages us to trust You no matter our journey. You are the source of all Hope and we can depend on you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Resets

January 2, 2025 Martha Rodman3 Comments

So how are you doing entering in this New Year? Do you feel strong and hopeful that God is going to be moving on your behalf this year? Or are you entering this new calendar year with uncertainty? Do you find yourself saying, “I hope it works out” or “I hope we can make it”? Sometimes our situations speak so much louder than our faith. Maybe you are growing weary in your battles, wondering if you have the strength to finish. Maybe you find the rising grocery and fuel costs overwhelming. You might wonder how you are going to maintain, much less moving ahead and If your emotions are running higher than your faith, it’s time for a reset and re-evaluation.

How do we do that? First, take time to look at the different areas of your life. It is a good time to examine not only your physical health, but also your physical environment. I know I need to add some more movement into my schedule (like exercise!). This is my choice! I wish I could blame someone else, but it is on me. Just because I failed in the past, doesn’t mean I have to fail this year. How about your home? Do you have areas that need some changing and up doing? Maybe deep cleaning or de-cluttering? Or do you choose to “live” with it another year? These things are pretty black and white. Either you do them, or you don’t.

Emotional evaluation can be a bit trickier. It may be hard to admit you have some depression, discouragement or insecurity. An honest conversation with the Lord is always so helpful in these areas. He is a safe place to admit your struggles. Confess your weaknesses (perceived or real) to Him. Freedom and encouragement are waiting for you. Ask Him to show you how to move through those areas. If you need more help, then ask Him to open the right door or lead you to the right person. Sometimes He will show you the roots of your emotional situation. If He does, then trust Him to show you what to do about them. It may entail forgiveness of yourself or others, and if it does then walk that out. One time He showed me a root of abandonment, that came from my adoption story. Just that revelation brought freedom and understanding. He is after all the Mighty Counselor! I’m focusing on our emotional health because this has been a hard year for so many.

Obviously, our spirit, body and soul are all integrated. I admit, sometimes, I wish I could just tend to my spirit and the rest of the stuff would be handled, but not so. So how do you evaluate how your spirit is doing? The first thing I would look at is your hope level? Are you hopeful about your future. In Romans 15:13, Paul emphatically states God is the source of hope, and will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. So the next question, how is your joy and peace level? We once had a friend who was like the old Tony the Tiger commercial. Life (or anything else you asked him about) was GREAT! We knew life wasn’t always that great, but it had become his automatic response. He thought that, as a Christian, he always had to be GREAT. After growing in the Lord and in His ways he learned to have a more balanced approach. When I focus on Him more than my problems, I have more joy and peace. Hard situations do not overshadow my focus. I automatically hope for His intervention. I believe in His ability to use those things for good in my life and the lives of others. It may take a minute for my emotions to catch up, but I know He has a good plan.

Looking back on my younger believer self and my self today, I can see where I have grown. I have grown through applying the Word to my situations, instead of my situations to the Word. I have grown through honest conversations with Him and submitting to His Will as I have known it. My friends, I have learned to let the Word of God be the cleansing agent in my life. I read it every day. It touches my soul. This brings the refreshment and reset I often need in my perspective. I know some of you totally understand this, while others have yet to experience it. Don’t give up. Ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7 NIV. Asking, seeking and finding are all action words. Sometimes we have to wait, but we must always ask, seek and find in faith. So my friends, if you are needing a reset He has one for you. We often have not because we ask not. So evaluate what you have been or have not been asking. It does make a difference. Maybe you thought you were asking, but actually were just whining (I may have done that a time or two or one hundred!)

Living in hope is so much better than living in hopelessness. If your hope waxes and wanes, ask Him to show you why and what to do about it. Join a small group where you can encourage each other in His ways. Do not neglect assembling yourself together with His body. You will not prosper as well as you could.

Father, I thank you for helping us take the time. With courage, we do a reset and evaluation this time of year. I thank you for the courage to ask, seek and find everything we need to prosper this coming year. You are an amazing personal God who has good plans for each of us, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Rejoicing

December 19, 2024 Martha Rodman2 Comments

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESV.

I read this verse in the NLT this week. It says: Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again–rejoice. What a challenge! Paul writes about many things through his letters, but to tell us to always be full of joy, or rejoicing? Many of my friends and family members face challenging situations. These situations are not ones that would naturally lead them to be full of joy. Or are they?

I will admit that many in my life are surrounded by life’s difficulties: financial, health and relational. But, so was the church at Philippi! Paul founded this church during his second missionary journey and developed a close relationship with them. The book (letter) is so encouraging, even though Paul is likely writing this letter from prison. As I ponder what makes him capable of encouraging them to rejoice always? I realize, once again, it is his own relationship with Jesus.

My friends, when we forget to focus on Him, it is easy to fall into discouragement and depression. Last night I heard some test results that are not trending in the way we want. My heart said, “no, Lord”. I began to focus on her numbers and grew sadder. But then the Holy Spirit stopped me, and I had to say, Lord, I choose to trust You. I choose to know you are bigger than these test results. In the midst of this battle, I reminded myself that the government is upon His shoulders, not mine. He rules and reigns over all things. We do not have to walk this alone, but with Him and His plan.

Peace was restored. I can’t rejoice at this point in the test results. However, I can rejoice in the fact that God is in charge. All night I thought about this encouragement by Paul. Always be full of joy. “Father, I am not full of joy, I only am about 25% joyful right now. Please help me.” I deliberately reminded myself of who our Savior is and what He has done for me and others. Joy started to grow. My friends, this continues to be a learning process in my life, rejoicing always isn’t for our natural man!

Today I read through the book of 1 Peter. These gentile believers were living in Asia Minor and were suffering persecution because of their beliefs.3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5. NLT. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forget to live with “great expectation”. The things of this world become so real, I forget they are temporary. What joy to know that God is protecting us by His power. Our enemy would like us to quit trusting Him. To think our faith is in vain, but in actuality, we have a living faith. A living faith that He wants to grow and develop so we can be overcomers, no matter what we face. James reminds us to count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1: 2-3.

There is that word again, joy. It isn’t easy to “count it all joy”. Maybe our first response is to whine or feel fear. Once we finish with that, we need to “count it all joy”. To learn to rejoice in all things, we need to find Him in our circumstances. We have to search for Him in each situation. Where is He? What is He trying to do in and through it? We can’t do that until and unless we apply His Word to our circumstance. I searched my concordance for all the verses containing the word “rejoice”. There are a lot! Just reading them, cause my joy level to increase.

Remember, this is Paul, writing through the Holy Spirit, that wrote this encouragement to always be full of joy. He endured so much more than most of us can even imagine. I believe he must have found a secret in getting through them, and that secret was rejoicing. I would like to encourage you to start to look at your situation. Then start to thank God (the beginning of rejoicing) for the most difficult thing in your life. Bring Him into it. Thank Him for what He has planned. Follow the Spirit and you will find heaviness and sadness fleeing away. Joy will come. Do it out loud. Something about declaring and thanking Him (the person we trust!) out loud begins to break through our old thought patterns. I did this for the situation I talked about above. I realized that person belongs to Christ, and she is in His hands. He only wants what is best for her. I am not stopping praying for healing for her, because that is the children’s bread. However, I am choosing not to be influenced by the test numbers either.

Often we think the word “rejoice” is a spontaneous reaction to circumstances. Where we laugh out loud or possibly jump up and down in glee. However, to a believer, it is a response to knowing that God is working His salvation in it. He is also working His salvation through it. There is an anticipation of what He is going to do in and through it. Expectation of His moving becomes our focus and trust.

Friends, rejoicing is something that often must be a choice. But, as we choose to rejoice, faith will arise and we will see His handiwork in our situation. Try it! It works.

Father, please teach us how to rejoice. There are so many reasons to doubt, dread, and fear in our lives. But the good news You have brought to us, gives us even more reason to rejoice! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Guard Duty

December 12, 2024 Martha Rodman1 Comment

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. I Corinthians 16:13. NLT.

Oak Harbor is the home of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The station itself has two different locations with at least four manned gates. The men and women who guard these gates must stay vigilant. They must check every car and their occupants for the proper clearance documents. I am sure there are times they don’t “feel” like being so vigilant, but their training keeps us safe.

Scripture also gives us a responsibility to be a “guard”. Every believer must accept this duty call, or deal with the circumstances. What are we called to guard? Our hearts! Proverbs 4:23 tells us not only what we need to guard, but why. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. We must guard our hearts above everything else in our lives; our marriage, our children our jobs. Why? Because out of it flows the issues of life. Everything we do, think or dream comes from our hearts; which is why they must be guarded, and guarded well.

You don’t need a guard, unless there is an enemy. The Bible clarifies that we have one. He uses various tactics in his warfare against us, one of which is appealing to our pride. He wants to make us feel we are somehow the exception to the need to avoid temptations. He lures us into feeling it’s ok to watch media that portrays adultery, pornography, cursing, and hatred. We don’t think it will affect us. But sadly, it is not true. We must protect our hearts from fantasies. We must also avoid comparisons. Avoiding things that erode our love for our spouse and our children is essential. This is one area our hearts must be guarded.

Another tactic is fear. If allowed, he floods our hearts and minds with the “what ifs of life”. Unless we guard our hearts well, insecurity and fear will overwhelm us. Our life will grow smaller and smaller as we attempt to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. God’s goal for us is to enlarge our lives, not shrink them!

One of my fears, during the early years of our marriage, was that something would happen to my husband. Praying one day, the Holy Spirit showed me, that although this fear was “normal”, it wasn’t trusting Him. As I continued to pray about the situation, He led me to Hebrews 13:5-6. As I read and meditated on these scriptures, peace and trust descended. Don’t love money, be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? NLT. This scripture became a guard over my heart whenever those fears would try to rise again. When it happened, I went back to this scripture and reminded God of this promise.

There is more good news. We have a helper to help guard our hearts and that is the peace of God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7. If we pay attention, the peace of God functions almost like a guard dog. When a guard dog sense danger, he begins with a low growl and his hackles rise. Pay attention to the peace of God abiding in your hearts. If/when you find that peace disturbed, pay attention. Something is up. Take the time to pray or think through the situation. Your guard dog is warning.

God has given us the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts. If you have ignored it and walked in unrighteousness, your heart is unprotected. This can lead to heartbreak. If you find yourself in this situation, repent and go back to your first love. Put on the whole armor of God, not just part. Then you will walk in peace.

Satan loves to attack our hearts because from them comes our dreams, our passions and our future. If he can use discouragement, disappointment or even disillusionment, he will have won. His desire is to get us to lose heart and quit walking in God’s ways. If he wins with these tactics, not only will we suffer but also those around us, including the next generation.

Friends, if you recognize your heart is damaged, please remind yourself of Psalm 147:3. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Go to Him. Acknowledge your broken heart and your need for His care. Take the time to sit in His Presence and allow His healing to flow in you and through you. It will be worth it. Allow His Spirit to wash away any bitter infection, unforgiveness, disappointment, or anger. These things will sabotage your future relationship with God and with others. God has planned a much better future for you than that!

“British royal guard png sticker“/ CC0 1.0

Father, I ask that You help us guard our hearts. Let Your peace reign strong and well in every area of our hearts. Help us pay attention whenever our peace is disturbed. Thank you for healing every brokenhearted person reading this post. Give hope where hope has gone, In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Accomplishments

December 5, 2024 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11. NLT.

I came across this verse when I was feeling wimpy and weak. Our Senior Life ministry had just finished a very successful breakfast for 83 seniors. My vision for meeting more needs keeps on enlarging, but I wasn’t feeling very strong in my body. My thoughts were a jumble between what we can do, and, oh Lord, how can we do it? Between faith and unbelief! Have you ever been there? Maybe it’s not with a ministry, but with your marriage? Your parenting skills? Your job or schooling?

Paul’s prayer for them was that He would enable them to accomplish all the good things their faith prompted them to do! It is the same for me and for you. I settled it in my heart, we will accomplish all the good things God has prompted us to do by His power and purpose. I felt my insecurity fading away as faith arose. Of course we can do it, by His strength and by His timing.

I know some folks are facing impossible challenges right now. Dealing with difficult marriage partners or struggling children can be overwhelming. I urge you to take the time right now to pray this prayer for yourself and your situation? Remember, He is able to do above and beyond all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Today is the day to strengthen your faith in Him. Do not let the fear of your own inadequacy cause you to waver or back off from His plans for your life. The Holy Spirit understands you, your personality, your gifting and calling. Sometimes, we quit too soon. We give up because we are focused on ourselves, not Him and His power and ability. Yes, it may take time to discover the way through. You may need to apply endurance, perseverance and tenacity. But the reward will be worth it all. If you find yourself at a decision point and struggle to decide what to do, remember this. “Charity never fails.” Do the most loving thing you can!

The church at Thessalonica endured hardships and persecutions. Life was difficult for them. Choosing to walk in faith during hard times is the best thing to do, instead of quitting. When I think I have done all I can do, I remember the verse that says: 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:13-14. NLT. My friends, you can do it. Everything He has called you to do. You can do it. His Kingdom needs you to do it. What an impact on the surrounding unbelievers, if every believer walked in their gifts and callings. The believers in Thessalonica affected their world. Their faith flourished and they grew in love with each other. Come on, release your faith! We can do it!

Several years ago, our pastors lived in a small town on a small island. They reached out and gave three Christmas food bags to people in need. Last year our church gave out 800 Christmas food bags, and this year our goal is 1,000. Quite a leap. Sometimes our small endeavors are the beginning of bigger endeavors. Do not let the size of the opportunity stop you from fulfilling those good thoughts He has given you.

Father, I thank you for helping us accomplish those good thoughts and ideas that you have given us. I thank you we do not have to do them on our own, no matter how hard the situation we find ourselves in. You are more than able to give us wisdom, solutions and miracles, In Jesus’ Name, amen.