9/2/2021 Right now hope is being lived out as people from Afghanistan are being evacuated with next to nothing. The people of God, and even some from the world are extending help and hope. Please pray for those being helped, who are helping and those America has left behind to our shame.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
As the Taliban destroys and kills so it can once again enslave people remember grace. Pray for their souls. Pray for their hearts. Some would say “there but for the grace of God go I”. If we are honest at times we act in anger and hatred even with the grace of God.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
PAIN
I know pain my old friend
For pain is my old friend
We have lived life endlessly
Lived life so painfully
There is no day without pain
My own eternal strain
Not always the same place
Not always seen on my face
Some days worse than others
Under pains darkest covers
Sleep evades and rest it flees
Steals away my times of ease
Rest cannot hold it at bay
For pain has come to stay
Does this pain belong to me?
Why, O Lord, cannot I flee?
To be this lifetime borne?
Is God the author of this pain?
Is it because of my own stain?
Questions many answers few
When will this pain be through?
Is God too small or pain too large?
Does pain my strength enlarge?
Will answers decrease my pain?
Will they decrease my stain?
Is it forgiveness that I need?
Or His laws should I heed?
Or is pain a part of life?
Lived in such varied strife?
If not our own than others
Jailed in pain like brothers
Some pain is our very own
Some by others is strewn
Like seeds of death do bloom
Growing into our own doom
Found and lost all the same
Caught in this painful game
Paying the price for mans sin
Until we can begin again
Jesus is our hope and healing
For our pains terrible dealing
One day the end will come at last
When life begins and darkness past
A Child’s tale
Taste and see the goodness of God
Instead we taste mixed blessings of sod
A serpent’s tale told hidden 'truth'
And the gates of hell are unloosed
Our tastes contaminated by our tears
As our only hope becomes our fears
Hiding from each other and God
Waiting in fear our return to the sod
Pain and despair become our lot
Our only legacy our burial plot
Age and aging take their toll
As grasping ages forward roll
First made God’s Word do twist
First born to God raise a fist
Murder moves from heart to hand
And blood stains the weeping land
An endless cry of eternal despair
What to me my brother’s care?
Divorced from others breeding strife
Divorced of meaning from all life
The line of murders has begun
As darkness exists under the sun
Despair cries from broken heart
Wounded by death’s horrid dart
Brother’s kill brother’s to begin
But borders cannot contain our sin
Different, alike it doesn’t matter
Murders master brings disaster
Tears cannot wash away the blood
Though they match flood for flood
Blood stains cover our very soul
Is there no hope to make us whole?
Another Child born into life’s fray
Came to wash sin’s stain away
Tears no good against sin’s flood
Child covers with His own blood
The blood of a Heart holy and pure
Becomes mankind’s hoped for cure
The victim of murder this Child
Conquers murders master so wild
Lifted above sin’s dark stain
Lifted hope to mankind again
Through a Child forgiveness will reign
This Child’s blood removes the stain
Murder’s master revenge so wild
Now attacks the helpless Child
Children’s blood through fingers flow
So our land is filled with dark woe
Turn to the Child who removes the stain
And you will be whole once again
Prayer is
Prayer is my breathing You in my Heart and then You breathing out.
Prayer is a friend enjoying time with a Friend.
Prayer is God finishing your sentence and beginning the next one.
Prayer is unloading my guilt, fear and sin onto He who already bore it.
Prayer is "bringing the pains of earth to heaven’s door."
Prayer is at its best when you run out of words.
Prayer is when You hug me and I can make You smile.
Prayer let's God peel the scales of self from my eyes to see others and their pain.
Prayer opens me to see the glory of God rather than the power of evil.
Prayer let's me touch people around the world with the power of God.
Prayer makes me homesick for heaven, a place I long to be.
Prayer is telling God before anyone else.
Prayer is releasing Gods' holy power into a fallen and broken world.
Prayer is the source of power, grace, love, faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
Prayer is humbly admitting I can't and that I need God.
Prayer is God's way of helping us to love our enemies. It is hard to hate someone you are really praying for.
Prayer is God's chance to remind me all He did was so He could walk with me again.
Prayer is despair seeking hope and joy expressed to He who is the source.
Prayer is revealing your heart to He who knows it best.
Prayer is how God makes you more like Him.
Prayer is how you touch the glory of God!
Prayer is sitting in your Daddy's lap!
Prayer in not something a Christian can do but something we must!
Prayer is more than what you do, it is who you are!
Prayer is freedom for prisoners, healing for the sick, love for the lonely, and life for the dying.
Prayer is our introduction to God and who we really are.
Prayer is how we discover who God wants us to be.
Prayer is my attempt to reach God who already reached out to me.
Prayer is when the Trinity is experienced as I pray to the Father, by the Holy Spirit in the Name and authority of Jesus Christ!
Prayer unites me with those I pray with in an intimate way.
Ronald Ramsey
I wrote this a long time ago.
Daddy's Lap
Today I come tired and sad
So much seems slipping away
Daddy can I sit in Your lap awhile
And maybe the pain will flee?
You reach and pull me up
I snuggle in Your lap
You gently touch my brow
And so much falls away
You smile with Your embrace
I long to see Your face
You heal with Your loving touch
My heart breaks and heals
I do not know when I came
But I do not want to leave
"My child return to the fray
I will hold you through today."
I slide into this broken world
Healed to serve once more
But when I weary once again
I will seek Your lap once more.
I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!
Ronald Ramsey
I do miss this.
Prayer
I pray for those who cry alone
And do not know God is there
I pray for those carrying others shame
And do not know God is there
I pray for those living in fear
And do not know God is there
I pray for those without hope
And do not know God is there
I pray for those who despair
And do not know God is there
I pray for those who are enslaved
And do not know God is there
I pray for those hurting others
And do not know God is there
I pray for those crying to God
That they will know God is there
Oh my God, there are so many crying out for help and do not know You are there. Help them to know they are not alone because You are with them I pray. Comfort them with Your presence and bring hope as a light to overcome the darkness. In Jesus name. Amen – So Be It.
PS. I love You Lord for first loving me.
Ronald Ramsey
As Hurricane Ida rips through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama heading for Tennessee and Kentucky there is a desperate need for hope and grace.
For those who have faced and those facing destruction may they turn from the horrific scenes around them and look to God for hope. Some will respond with anger at God, but may they realize God is their only true hope in their time of need. Not just now as they face the storms and their destruction but the many storms in their lives.
For those who watch and at times are just glad it is not them or their family may they have grace to respond as though it is their family! Let all respond with grace sharing their blessings with those who have seen years, decades and even generations of work ripped apart in just a few hours. Let us remember how we would feel if we were looking at our ‘world’ destroyed. As God’s grace extends upon us all let us extend grace to all. 8/30/2021
9/1/2021 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. Romans 15:24
As I read this verse I thought about so many who have not been able to travel because of the Communist Chinese disease called Covid. Paul always had a special place in his heart for those who came to Jesus through his ministry. Paul hoped to be with them to enjoy their company knowing he would be enriched. Hope. Hope God will make a time when once again we can journey and see those who are such a part of us! (What do you think it means the word company is used for people gathering together?)
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
Grace is offering to other what we want for ourselves.
““Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NKJV)
Realize God’s grace is deeper because God offers grace to we who have harmed the God who only loves us.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/31/2021 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
Hope is essential for everyone no matter their relationship with God. Being a Christian is more than a set of do’s and dont’s but is a relationship with the living God who is the author of hope. The fullness of hope comes from a relationship with God. We others are given a hope of hope. But it still is hope.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
Grace is extended where it is least deserved. The Father gave what was most precious to Him, His only begotten Son, so we who mocked and abused God could be saved. All are undeserving of Grace yet God offers it to the “least, the last and the lost.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
Can we have guilt if we live in grace? Perhaps grace continues to grow in us and over time deals with other guilt. Or do we bear guilt because we have not shown grace to ourselves?
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
As I said before I started this Grace Journal after watching a series called Grace Relations which is available on YouTube. They pointed out that race relations teaching not only did not help but actually seemed to make things worse. In truth race relations usually begins with the idea one race is guilty and the other race is innocent. Thus the gap is widened. Grace relations admits we all are guilty and need forgiveness from God and from each other. And ourselves.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
LOST
Lost in wonder and reverence of a God beyond yet near
So lost in amazed praise there is no room for any fear
Looking yet not seeing, yet seeing without looking
A reflection I can receive only when seeking
The light fills my heart and over floods my soul
Refilling and completing my hearts eternal hole
Music unwritten and not sung by weak humanity
Flows within my soul to praise it sets me free
Beyond hands and knees my soul lifts and falls down
My trembling hands seek for the hem of His holy gown
Where I am lost in whom I am seeking
The place lost to the One for whom I’m looking
Is that bright flash a smile from His wondrous face?
Is that warm sensation from God’s own embrace?
Beyond feeling and beyond all human emotion
Swept away beyond even love to humble devotion
I cannot see the face I so long to see
My human frailty and sin do constrain me
Human words no longer hold any value
Limiting all my heart and soul has for You
Lost in the wonder and worship of You I can’t see
Preparation of the time lost in You I will be
(From Heart Talks years ago)
8/28/2021
I hope
I hope the sun will fill the sky
beautiful clouds go floating by
Storms to bring cleansing rain
for abundance of fruit and grain
Seeds grow as planned by God
and fruit to seed continuing life
Birds rejoice by beautiful singing
their dancing flight filling the sky
God’s creation shows despite sin
there is hope in spite of sins stain
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
Offering grace frees us from fear and hate which takes a huge burden from our lives. Offering grace helps us be healthy and to live in joy. Grace is so much better than an apple a day.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/27/2021 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:7
For many the worst part of suffering is it seems so arbitrary and meaningless. In God suffering has true meaning and there is the promise of a completion of suffering. Our consolation is even we will be made right and whole.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
Grace can be abused. We can abuse grace by continuing to do evil depending on God’s grace to heal us. BUT BE WARNED! You can strain grace to the point you reject the crucifixion and therefore reject grace. I know.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/25/2021 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 2 John 1:12
During the recent time when the disease from Communist China spread so many were separated by the fear of either getting or giving the disease. With the help of technology people could keep in contact but it was not the same as speaking face to face. As the disease from China is once again growing we face the challenge of being separated again. Like John let us not lose hope but trust God can once again fill us with joy.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
Do we want those who manufactured and released this disease to be punished? Do we want them to be destroyed? The first desire is grace but the second is revenge. Leave revenge to God and desire justice by grace.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/24/2021 There is hope for Christians which can be strengthened by faith and love. There is also hope for others who think there is a God of Creation who still cares. For if there is not a God who cares where can hope be found? Not in the temporary and limited abilities of people.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
8/23/2021 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech — 2 Corinthians 3:12
Do you share the Good News with others boldly and gladly? Do you spend time praying for those God has called you to speak to? If not, where is your hope? Who or what are you hoping in?
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
With the recent violence in Afghanistan and so many other places I share with you a prayer God shared with me.
I pray my God that there would be no screaming in the streets!
That the young girl could walk safely the streets of our towns.
That young boys could play safely in their yards and streets.
That the aged could walk and be treated with respect.
I pray my God that parents would care about their kids.
They would teach them to love and honor You.
And then their kids could honor their parents.
And all could livelong in the land together.
I pray my God for those who seek to keep the peace.
That they would be just as they bring about justice.
That they would be protected by Your power my God.
That they can return to their families at day’s end.
I pray my God for those who care in fire and suffering.
Protect them as they rush to bring help and comfort.
May they be protected by Your power my God.
So they can return to their families at day’s end.
I pray my God for those who serve in the military.
Protect each of them as they protect all of us.
Keep them from physical and emotional harm.
Let them return safely to their family at tours end.
I pray my God for those who share Your hope in danger.
Loving even those who would kill them enough to share.
May they ever be in the palm of Your hand my God.
May they be safe under Your Altar and before Your face.
I pray my God for those who do not know You.
Give us words to share and a heart to care!
Draw them through Your Holy Spirit to You.
That they may see the face of God one day.
I pray my God for the enemies of Your Church.
Though they kill and destroy all the day long.
May You break their heart and save their souls.
That they too may see the face of God one day.
I pray my God for Your beloved Body the Church!
Awake us from our slumber and from our lethargy.
Put a fire in our heart and cleanse us from sin
That many more may see Your face one day!
I pray my God for You to be glorified in me!
May the world see the wonder of God clearly.
May Your light dispel the darkness that destroys.
And be so bright that they will see Your face!
This is my prayer oh my God! Hear the cry of the hurting! Hear the cry of those being sold into slavery! Hear the cry of those addicted to things that crush their soul. Hear the cry of those whose bodies are in pain and those whose minds are in pain. Hear the cry of those who hate and yet desire love! Hear the cry of those who don’t know what to cry out for! May You be glorified and honored now and forevermore my God, my heart and my love! This is my cry my God! So be it!
Ronald Ramsey,World Day of Prayer March 6, 2015
8/20/2021 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:23
With the fall of Afghanistan Christians, women and children are at great risk as the Muslims take control. Where Islam rules devastation, despair and misery reign.
Christians will be taxed, jailed, murdered, crucified and their children stolen to be “converted”. Islam uses rape as a way to convert Christian women.
Women will once again become property subject to abuse, slavery and “honor” murder.
Children will suffer differently according to sex. Young girls will become property and subject to becoming a “bride” as early as age 10. Mohamed had a child bride. Boys will be taught even their mom’s are less than and can be made soldiers even before they are in their teens.
But hope is still alive. Hope can strengthen souls even in such conditions! God, help them see the hope You have for them. In the terrible darkness of Islam open their eyes to receive hope through You the Light! Amen - So Be It.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
8/19/2021 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
If there is no God there is no hope.
If God does not care we are without hope.
If you live like God does not care you are hopeless.
If you think you are god you are beyond hope.
But with God all things are possible. Aren’t they?
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
It has been a long time since I started this blog. When my health declined I told God I would write this blog even if no one else read it. And that has come true. No one reads it but that is okay.
The blog started with me sharing the pain and loss I was going through and showing the presence of the glorious God in it. Then I turned it into a devotional, more for myself I guess. I then added a grace journal and then a hope journal. Now it is just the hope and the grace journal.
Along the way I put in studies I had written over the more than 40 years of being a Christian.
Somewhere along the way I misused grace and lost my way. But I do want to say hope and grace are just as important to those who are not Christians.
So a hope and grace journal are necessary because they are very important in this life as the next and are the only hope to prepare for the next.
Ron Ramsey
It is easy to see grace as a weak forgetting (as if that is possible) or just trying to ignore what we have done or has been done to us. Grace is so much more!
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/17/2021 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15:19
Hope is a reminder that the best is yet to come. Hope is not just about getting better but looks forward to its fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
I don’t want grace! I do not want to offer grace! We do not need to put on the happy face and become a clown – a mere facade. There are times I just do not want to offer grace. God, help us to hunger for grace!!!
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/16/2021 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Why is love greater than faith and hope?
Faith and hope will one day become sight!
Love is the eternal and everlasting presence of God!!!
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
As humans we are not naturally graceful. Sin has and continues to break us and we too often seek to judge rather than offer grace. Would you like to be judged like you judge others? I NEED GRACE!!!
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/15/2021 At times holding onto hope can be very hard. The violence surrounding us, struggles within families, job security, many issues of having a place to live and all that fill us with anger and fear. To have hope we must rip our eyes from the problems and let God refresh our soul. Only then can we look back and face all that we fear.
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
I do not want grace I NEED GRACE. To receive grace I must extend and offer grace.
“and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Forgiveness continues to flow through me as – to the same degree – I offer it.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
“Grace that is greater than all my sin”. These words are part of a Christian Hymn sung often in many worship services. It can be very hard to believe grace is greater than all my sin but it may be even harder to believe grace is greater than the sin of others.
From my Grace Journal. It was suggested to start a Grace Journal as a reminder of our need not for agreement but grace to guide our relationships.
8/14/2021 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 1 Corinthians 9:10
Do you “plow” in hope? Do you “thresh” in hope? If not could that be why you are not a “partaker” of God’s hope?
This is an entry from my Hope Journal which helps me have hope, beyond hope.
