Hope Reins

10/06/2021

https://www.facebook.com/106038164410975/posts/396407662040689/

Come meet Otto Thorwarth at the 2021 Parke Co Covered Bridge Festival. His autobiography “No Ordinary Champion” is an amazing story. Get your signed copy by coming to the Ole Town Hall on main street in Bridgeton, Indiana on Sunday, October 10th from 11am - 5pm. You can also order a copy of his book at www.noordinarychampion.com.

02/23/2021

02/16/2021

Psalm 32:11,
“Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
Oh how much better life is when we choose Joy for each day. When we look for the bright side of things and choose positivity for our life!
I love this verse. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad. Yes, life is tough. There are many challenges and even diseases. But God promises if we seek him he will go through these things with us. He will help us. We have much though to rejoice about each day!
Life is short.
This verse reminds us to choose to set our heart upright. Choose positivity over negativity. Choose Joy! It’s so much more fun and others want to be around positive people. Rejoice. Sing. Laugh. Put gloves on your ears!

01/22/2021

Does the winter months make you more tired? Do you get the blahs or a bit depressed. Sometimes we need to just close our eyes, take a deep breath and talk to our Lord. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to take some time for you and to allow yourself to rewind or rejuvenate. Speaking scripture out loud will change your atmosphere, too! Try this one.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” —God
Matthew 11:28-30

01/18/2021

I think snow is pretty, but I’m not fond of walking on sidewalks or my concrete drive when it might be slick. I’ve fallen in the past on my way to my garage. Ouch! So now, I plan my course and go slowly. That’s in the snow, but I’ve also learned things go better in life if I allow God to give me direction.
Proverbs 16:7 says, “A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.”
Are you asking God to direct your steps? Maybe we all need to slow down, take time to pray and ask him to direct our steps!

12/25/2020

It's Christmas Eve 2020. Tonight, my house is quiet and it has actually been a good time for me to ponder and think about what this night really means. A young couple traveled with a donkey and came to Bethlehem. Many people had traveled here for the census. All inns were full. The young woman was pregnant, and so, the innkeeper told them they might find a spot in the stables. Can you imagine? And then I thought more about that — the smell of hay, the horses in the stables, the donkeys and maybe some sheep near by. A manger - or feed stand - where hay and grain were put for the animals. However, a baby was soon to be laid in the manger on some hay and wrapped in a swaddle. This was the child God had promised to send - his son - to save a broken world. A world full of sin. Thus, Jesus was born. Mary gave birth to him and this child would grow up and at a young age give his life for mine and for yours. A sacrifice of love. Unconditional love. No greater love! He died for our sins to pay the price and to take victory over death. So, this night is a special night. A night of promise - hope, peace, JOY, and love. HOPE REINS in this world because of this night.
As I was looking through some photos of the horses, I saw this one and it made me smile. Maybe Baby Jesus opened his eyes in that stable and saw the nose of a horse as it inched in to take a peek at him in the manger. I'm sure the animals even felt something amazing was taking place in their barn and felt the presence of God.
May you feel his presence tonight!
Merry Christmas from your friends at Hope Reins.

12/20/2020

Love. We all want to be loved. Truly loved and accepted. A feeling that we belong and have purpose. Yet, there is a deeper love. Giving of oneself for another. God offers that kind of real love. He loved us, humans that he created, so much that he gave his only son to pay for sin and death penalties, so we could live eternally if we accepted his son and believed in his resurrection. Then Jesus, his son, loved us so much he was willing to pay that sacrifice for us. He died to save us. He loves us that much!
Our friend, Madeline Tieken drew this to show love. It’s my favorite of her 4 drawings.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13

12/15/2020

Let us show others how JOY lives in our heart! After all, when you have true joy, it just makes you want to dress up and get ready for a fabulous birthday party for Jesus! Right?

12/13/2020

I asked our friend, Madeline Tieken, to draw something that represented JOY. She sent me this artwork of a horse rolling. I loved it! Have you ever heard “rolling with laughter?” Laughter makes us feel joyful.
Advent Joy is the joy within that we have when we accept Christ and ask him into our hearts. He gives us a special kind of joy. Previously, there was the promise of a Savior from sin and death. Jesus came. Now, we have the promise of his return and eternal life with him. He will come. It’s a Joy like no other!
Many of us who have Jesus as our Savior are full of joy as we wait to celebrate his birthday— Christmas. Birthday parties are joyful times! Let us remember all that he has promised and given and share that JOY with others!

12/06/2020

One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received in my lifetime is the gift of peace. What do I mean? How can you receive true peace in this crazy world? Jesus gives it to those who ask him to live in their hearts. It’s hard to explain sometimes, but when you pray or ask Jesus to change your life for the better, He gives you peace of heart and mind. You then know He will care for you always. Even when things get tough or crazy, I can rest within knowing it will turn out ok or that he’ll be with me to get me through my hardaches. Jesus promised,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27
Thanks to Maddie Tieken for our drawing today.