Spring of Hope

Buy my book   " Joy in the Journey " on Amazon now 20% goes to missions               Experiencing sound quality issues?  Please Click here   Remaining Silent      “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) The book of Esther is the story of an orphan girl who saved a nation by acting at the right time. The author of the book of Esther is unknown. Some scholars suggest it is Mordecai, Esther's cousin (see Esther 9:20-22 and Esther 9:29-31). Others propose Ezra or possibly Nehemiah because the books share similar literary styles. Most likely written between B.C. 460 and 331, after the reign of Xerxes,  but prior to Alexander the Great's rise to power. In 605 BCE, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem, resulting in tribute being pai

Buy my book   " Joy in the Journey " on Amazon now 20% goes to missions               Experiencing sound quality issues?  Please Click here   The Lord's prayer:Part 5 - Deliver Us      The Lord's prayer teaches us about God's greatness and man's depravity. (Matthew 6:9-13: Luke 11:2-4). In some circles of Christianity it may be known as 'The Our Father prayer'. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" is the ending part of the Lord's prayer as Jesus taught.  He taught his disciples this prayer when they asked Him to teach them how to pray.  The last part "For yours is the kingdom, power and glory forever" is not part of the prayer in the original manuscripts.  This was apparently added by the church fathers in the early days of Christian faith.  When we pray not to lead us into temptaion, it can be interpreted as God leads people into temptation.  This is not scriptural.  The Bible says, God c

Buy my book   " Joy in the Journey " on Amazon now 20% goes to missions               Experiencing sound quality issues?  Please Click here   The Lord's prayer:Part IV - Forgive Us      The Lord's prayer has mainly two parts - God's greatness and man's depravity. (Matthew 6:9-13: Luke 11:2-4). In some circles of Christianity it may be known as 'The Our Father prayer'. "Give us and forgive us" acknowledges our need for our bodies and souls.Humans have needs and God does not. Giving us our daily bread is asking for our bodily needs, to be freed from the fear of tomorrow. Forgive us is asking for spiritual need, so that we will be freed from the fear of sin and guilt.  Only the one who does not have any needs can meet all human needs. Humans need forgiveness. The greatest human need is freedom from guilt and shame. In the Lords prayer Jesus taught us to pray to forgive us our trespasses. Some will say “forgive us our debts,”

Buy my book   " Joy in the Journey " on Amazon now 20% goes to missions               Experiencing sound quality issues?  Please Click here   The Lord's prayer:Part III - Give Us Our Daily Bread      Jesus taught his disciples how to pray  Matthew 6:9-13: Luke 11:2-4 This is often called the Lord’s Prayer although this is not a prayer that Jesus prayed or he would need to pray.  This is a prayer that He taught the disciples to pray. Jesus dos not need forgiveness from sins as we humans do. There are two versions of the Lord’s Prayer; one in Luke 11, and the more familiar one in Matthew 6. In some circles of Christianity it may be known as 'The Our Father prayer'. There are mainly two parts to this prayer.  Part I is about God and and His Glory, and Part II that starts with "Give us this day" is about man and his need. First Part is acknowledging God’s greatness and praising God. The second part is acknowledging who we are and our con