They’re just ordinary.

Nothing is wrong, but there is nothing special either. But sometimes it is fun or comforting to add a little “specialness” to your day. And often small, simple things can improve your day in a noticeable way.

Open the windows

Even for a little while. Fresh air changes the feel of a room more than you expect. It makes everything feel less closed in.

Pray

Truly pray. Try more than a simple “Thank you, God,” although that is good, but sitting down and pouring out your heart – everything – your fears, your sins, your pain – and giving it to Him, trusting Him who loves you more than anyone, will completely change your day. You may cry, but it will reduce your stress and bring you peace.

Get one thing done that has been sitting in your head

Not everything – just one thing. Send the email. Make the call. Finish the small task you have been putting off. It clears mental space and makes you feel so much better.

Read a book

Not your phone. Not scrolling. Just a few pages of something you actually want to read. It’s a different kind of rest.

Make something you actually want to eat

A simple meal. A dessert. Something you’d enjoy – not just what is easiest or fastest. If you are worried about making something you don’t want to eat a lot of, make a smaller portion or share the leftovers. Even a small portion feels different when you chose it on purpose.

Dance and Sing

Put HOPE 100.7 on while you are making dinner or doing a chore and sing along – out loud. Singing out loud literally improves both your health and your happiness.

Write a short note to someone

Nothing long or formal. Just a quick message to thank someone or tell them you appreciate them. It doesn’t take much time, but it tends to lift your mood as much as theirs.

Light a candle during dinner

It’s a small thing, but it changes the feel of the evening. It makes an ordinary meal feel special without any extra effort.

Clean one thing

Not the whole house. Just one spot or area.

The counter, the sink, a small pile that’s been sitting there. One clear space can make the whole room feel easier to be in.

Step outside

Even briefly. A few minutes of fresh air or sunlight can reset your mood more than staying inside all day. And if you can’t get out for a quick stroll during the day, go out and look up at the night sky. It’s an excellent reminder of who is in control and might let you fall asleep a little easier.

You don’t have to do all of these, of course. And you don’t have to turn them into a routine.

Some will come and go. Some might stick without you really trying. And some might be things you save for days that need a little extra help. But they’re there – small, simple ways to make an ordinary day feel a little better.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The post 10 Small Things That Make an Ordinary Day Better appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Why Winter Feels So Long

If winter feels especially long right now, you’re not alone. People, especially women, often feel this in response to reduced daylight, colder temperatures, and the “sameness” the season often brings. While we cannot shorten winter, there are simple ways we can make winter feel shorter and more livable. Not big transformations – just small, steady practices that bring warmth, light, and a sense of movement into everyday life.

Mark Time in Small, Visible Ways

One reason winter feels so heavy is that the weeks blur together. Instead of waiting for spring, try giving yourself small markers throughout the week. A simple Friday soup night, a Sunday afternoon walk, or a midweek coffee ritual can break up the monotony. These small rhythms give you something to look forward to and help the days feel more distinct.

This is one of the simplest ways of coping with winter fatigue: Create gentle structure without pressure.

Add Light Whenever You Can

Light plays a bigger role in winter mood than we often realize. If possible, open the curtains first thing in the morning and spend a few minutes near a window or step outside, even if it is cloudy. Getting outside within the first hour of waking helps reset your body’s natural clock. Use lamps instead of overhead lighting in the evening. Candles can help too.

Sit near windows or even outside if you can while you eat or work, and if lack of light seems to be a real problem for you, some have found help with vitamin D supplements or light therapy lamps.

Move First Thing in the Morning

You don’t need a full workout for this. Just five minutes of stretching or a short walk tells your body it is time to start the day.

Lean into Warmth – In More Than One Way

Warmth matters in winter, and not just physically. Warm foods like soup, tea, and slow-cooked meals nourish in a way that quick snacks don’t. Warm conversations matter too. Isolation intensifies fatigue. So, sitting with someone over a cup of coffee, even briefly, can bring emotional warmth that counters isolation.

When winter feels long, connection shortens it.

Don’t Wait for Motivation – Start Small

Winter often drains motivation. Instead of waiting to feel ready, start with five minutes. Five minutes of movement, tidying, journaling, or stepping outside. Momentum often follows action, not the other way around. This is especially helpful when coping with late winter blues, when energy is limited.

Stay Connected, Even When You Would Rather Hibernate

The instinct to withdraw in winter is understandable, but isolation tends to make the season feel longer and heavier. Staying connected doesn’t require hosting or planning. A short walk with a friend, a phone call, or an invitation for coffee can make a real difference. If your church has them, make the effort to get to a home group or Bible study. The warmth of fellowship can do wonders.

Sometimes winter is hard, but it will pass. Until it does, simple winter care routines – light, movement, warmth, rhythm, and connection – can make the days feel lighter and more manageable.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post Simple Ways To Make Winter Feel Shorter appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Betsey Stockton: First Single Female Missionary

Betsey Stockton was born a slave. As a young girl, she was given to the wife of the president of what is now known as Princeton University. Her owners exposed her to Christian teaching, and when she was a teenager and now an indentured servant, she was allowed to attend evening classes at Princeton. When a religious revival broke out on campus, Betsey, too, became a Christian.

Her owners then granted her complete freedom, but she remained in the household as a paid servant until, convicted that all Christians are supposed to share Jesus with the world, she made plans to be a missionary. She was given the opportunity to go with a group to the Sandwich Islands, now called Hawaii. She saved her money, her employers funded the rest, and in 1823, she became the first single, female missionary ever sent from the United States.

Betsey was only able to stay in Hawaii for three years, but in that time, she learned Hawaiian and started a school for the children of commoners, something that locals had never allowed before. She taught Bible, algebra, history, English, and even Latin, and by 1826, she had provided an education for over 8,000 children.

Back in the US, Betsey started several more schools for disadvantaged children and eventually settled in the town of Princeton where she helped to found both a church and the town’s only school for black children.

Maria Fearing: Missionary to Africa at the Age of 56

Maria Fearing was also born enslaved in Alabama where she was a nanny and house slave for thirty years. As a child and young adult, she, too, heard Bible stories and adventures of missionaries in Africa from her owner and determined to one day to go to Africa to tell people about God herself. Although she was living in physical slavery, she had heard from other slaves about the freedom that God gives.

When she was freed at the end of the Civil War, she supported herself with her domestic skills, and six years later, financed her own education. She started elementary school at the age of 33. When she had finished ninth grade, she began teaching in a rural school and even purchased her own home, something very unusual for a black, single woman then.

Several years later, she attended a talk given by a Presbyterian missionary to Africa. She remembered the missionary tales told to her in her youth, and in response, Maria volunteered, at the age of 56, to become a missionary in Congo.

Initially considered too old to be a missionary, she financed her mission herself, mostly through the sale of her home. In 1894, she arrived on the shore of Congo, then traveled with four other missionaries 1,200 more miles inland. The land she arrived in was filled with violence and hardship. The king of Belgium owned the land, and his troops abused the native people to force them to work harder; and the Arab slave trade was strong as well.

Maria soon learned the language and helped translate the Bible. She spent the next twenty years sharing the gospel and teaching young girls, many that she herself had bought out of slavery. She founded a home for girls that housed forty orphans and a school where Maria taught girls real-life skills and the stories of Jesus.

Maria retired at the age of 78 yet still taught Sunday school in Alabama until her death at the age of 99.

Despite experiencing what must have been troubling, confusing behavior by Christians (slaveholding), both Maria Fearing and Betsey Stockton obeyed God’s call. With great desire and sacrifice, they shared God’s love and grace with others and made a lasting impact on the lives of others.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The post From Slavery to God’s Service: The Inspiring Stories of Maria Fearing and Betsey Stockton appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Our world is being bombarded by information overload every day. Most of this information can generate fear. The question is, “What do we do with this fear?” Do we let it fly over our head, or do we let it settle and make a nest within our life?

God would have us to acknowledge the information, discern the truth, and TRUST in Him for the outcomes. Trusting God for the outcomes doesn’t mean we are without responsibility.

Let’s look at each of these steps to avoid allowing fear to nest in our lives.

Acknowledge the Information

We cannot be uninformed and put our heads in the sand because the news is overwhelming. We may need to regulate the amount of information ingested per day and attempt to get a wide range of sources so as not to be one-sided in the “slant” of narratives that fill the airwaves.

In our modern world of technology we must take greater responsibility to realize that just because it is on TV or print does not guarantee that it is truth.

This leads to our next step of preventing fear from nesting in our lives.

Discern the Truth

We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15 (MSG) to “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” Discernment usually should include additional research on your part and continued prayer asking God to open the eyes of your heart. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We need to become mature Christians and “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12 NIV).

Maturity feeds our trust in God.

Trust in God

In one of my devotionals I found the following quote of Jesus speaking: “I am nearer than you think, richly present in all your moments….The more aware of my presence the safer you feel.”

What have we been doing in our life to cultivate the presence of God? His presence in our lives casts out fear. His presence is based upon us knowing His love for us. (1 John 4:18 NIV)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Our job as Christians is to take what we see and hand it over to our God who is unseen. Our job is to gain confidence in God; above and beyond what we see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Bible goes on and gives us practical action to build and protect our faith against the flaming darts of fear. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Final Thoughts

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 8:13). Since we know that, we also have evidence that supports God’s declaration in Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Paul exhorts the Christians of his day with the following words (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV). May these words also comfort you as to the alternate thoughts that will assist you to not allow fear to nest in your life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The post Has Fear Nested In Your Faith? appeared first on Hope 100.7.

I have heard some Christians say that we shouldn’t be sad in disappointment because it meant that it just wasn’t God’s timing or His will. While that may be true, it doesn’t mean our pain isn’t real or is somehow wrong. I think all of us, as humans created in God’s image, long for everything to be perfect, our souls and even our bodies crave to live in the world we were originally created for. But we don’t yet, so how do we deal with the disappointments of our lives now?

I think the first thing to do when disappointment comes is just cry out to God – maybe even literally. Remembering that He cares more about you than anyone else, knows everything that happens, and knows already how you feel is a good first step for handling whatever comes.

Then when we have remembered that our help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:1), we can go to His Word to hear what He has to say to us. The entire Bible is a testament to God’s love, mercy, and care for us, but here are five verses that I think will help pull us through and out of the pain of our disappointment:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

(Lamentations 3:22)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

(Psalm 34:18)

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:9)

My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:19)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)

In summary: God loves us, He knows our disappointment and pain, He’s God (and we’re not), He will give us everything we need, and when we ask Him, with thanksgiving, He will give us peace. This is how God answers us when we cry out to Him with our disappointment. Trusting Him is the surest way to hope and out of disappointment.

One day, all our expectations–and more–will be met. There will be no more sin, betrayal, or pain, no more disappointment. Believing and trusting the One who will make all this happen is the surest way to deal with our disappointment and find hope in Him.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The post How To Deal With Disappointment appeared first on Hope 100.7.

“Late at night, we might feel a ‘911’ in the spirit. That’s a nudge for you to pray, to enter into that quiet place with the Lord. Let Him bring you a word of comfort and a word of hope.”

If you walk long enough with Jesus, He’ll ask you to do something that doesn’t make sense to you, like waking up in the middle of the night to pray, saying something to a stranger, or buying the person behind you in line a coffee. In a world where logic seems to reign supreme, this can prompt the people around you (and even your own mind) to say, “that just doesn’t make sense!” Rest assured, you’re in good company. There is example after example of situations in the Bible where God asks someone to do something that doesn’t seem to make sense to our human minds, but from God’s perfect perspective, there’s always a reason! One of the reasons is usually to grow your faith and to teach you to obey. May these stories increase your faith and your trust that God knows what He’s doing, even when we can’t see the whole picture. 

Numbers 20.7-12

 “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’ So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’

Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’”

Numbers 20.7-12 NIV

This story is fascinating because it’s so easy to see yourself in it. It’s important to know that earlier in Moses’ life, as recorded in Exodus 17, the Lord told Moses to strike the rock in order to make water flow from it. In this situation, as recorded in Numbers, Moses is frustrated and hits the rock twice, instead of doing what the Lord told him to do, which was to speak to it. Can’t you see yourself there? Moses might have reasoned with himself, saying, “This is what I did before, and it worked.” Or, he might have just been so annoyed he wasn’t thinking about what the Lord said, he was reacting in the moment. Either way, we can see how even though the Lord’s instructions might not have made sense to them at the time (and maybe His punishment didn’t either!), but there was a reason, and God cared how it was done, not just that it was done. 

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Hebrews 11.8 

“Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going”

Hebrews 11.8 NIV

Abraham’s faith and obedience is such a great example for us today. Imagine yourself in the same situation: God tells you to move, but He doesn’t tell you where you’re going.  You might be tempted to think that doesn’t happen anymore, but it does! It doesn’t always look like moving physical locations (although sometimes it does…) Sometimes it might look like God leading you to a job change that doesn’t make sense to you, giving when you don’t have enough yourself, or a random act of kindness. And all it takes is the belief that you can trust God’s wisdom more than your own. 

Have you ever experienced a leading from the Lord that didn’t make sense to you? What did you do? What did you learn from your obedience (or disobedience)?

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post When God Asks You to Do Something That Doesn’t Make Sense appeared first on Hope 100.7.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

Helen Keller

In case you don’t know, or are a little rusty on the details of Helen Keller’s life, today we have for you a synopsis of her life and why her legacy is so extraordinary.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Helen Keller’s Life 

After a bout of sickness at 19 months of age, Helen was left deaf and blind, but her transformation from totally helpless to an able communicator and lifelong learner and servant has made her one of humankind’s greatest examples of perseverance and optimism. By the time Helen was 7, she already used over 60 signs to communicate with her family and could tell them apart by the vibration of their footsteps. None of this would have been possible without the vision, passion, and patience of Anne Sullivan, Helen’s beloved teacher.

Anne Sullivan was hired as a teacher for Helen, and arrived to her house on March 5, 1887, a day Helen called “her soul’s birthday.” Because Helen did not understand the concept that every individual thing had a name to identify it, at first she was frustrated by her teacher’s attempts to teach her words. The month after Anne’s arrival, however, Helen had a breakthrough. Anne was running water over Helen’s hand, while on the other hand tracing the letters w-a-t-e-r. The story of the account, as written in The Story of My Life: “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten- a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that w-a-t-e-r meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, set it free!” After that, Helen demanded to learn the name of every other object she came in contact with.

Helen became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became an effective speaker and lecturer, spreading her hope, cheer, and inspiration to all who heard her. She also became an author, and published her first book before she even graduated college. She went on to co-found the American Foundation for Overseas Blind to help veterans blinded during combat in World War 1 and the ACLU. She served as a spokesperson for the American Foundation for the Blind from 1924 til her death in 1968 and traveled extensively for the American Foundation for Overseas Blind.

What Her Example Means To Us 

Helen Keller’s story is fascinating because it’s so unexpected. Imagine someone who is unable to hear, unable to speak, and unable to see. The situation seems hopeless, right? It wasn’t for Helen, and our situations that seem hopeless aren’t either! Helen was able to overcome what seemed like insurmountable odds because she didn’t give up and she made the most of what she had. She tirelessly helped people facing similar struggles, even when no one would have expected her to do anything. The example I think we can all take from Helen Keller is to persevere through tough circumstances and keep our focus on others instead of ourselves.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post How To Overcome Adversity appeared first on Hope 100.7.

There are several ways to make sure you’re seeing Scripture throughout the day, but one of my favorites is setting an alarm on my phone and making the verse or a few key words the name of the alarm. Set it to go off everyday or several times a day to help you focus your mind on God’s Word. Of course, you’ve got the trusty Post-It note method. That’s where you write verses on Post-Its and put them in places you’ll see throughout the day (think refrigerator, bathroom mirror, computer monitor, etc.) The ultimate way to have Scripture always available to you is memorization. I know it seems daunting and difficult, but start slow- maybe a short verse a week. Each week when you add a new verse, continue to review the one you already know. You’ll be surprised how many verses you can remember if you stick with it. Recruit a friend, spouse, or kid in your life to learn along with you.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Six Bible Verses When You Are Worried

Here are five verses to get you going. As you’re reading your Bible or listening to a sermon, jot down Scriptures that are speaking to you to add to your list.

1. “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!” Luke 12.24 NLT
2. “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?” Luke 12.25-26 NLT
3. “Give all your worries and your cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5.7 NLT
4. “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Proverbs 12.25 NLT
5. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalms 37.7 NLT
6. “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

What are your favorite Scriptures to combat worry? Let us know in the comments below, and it might help someone discover a verse they didn’t know before!

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post What To Do When You Are Scared And Worried appeared first on Hope 100.7.

“I love hearing all about our homeschooling moms and those going back to school. So this mom, she’s got a t-shirt on, a coffee mug in her hand, and her t-shirt says, “World’s Okayest Homeschool Mom.” She’s got three boys and it looks like they are off to a good start. So shout out to all of our parents, those in school, out of school, in homeschool, doing the dual thing, a shout out to the kiddos, the parents, all of you. Just sayin, ‘Hey.’” Joy Ware Miller

This year, many families are finding themselves in circumstances they never imagined. One that might be a little unnerving is becoming a homeschooling family when that was never part of the plan. Not to worry! Today we have 3 tips to help you get the most out of your homeschool experience, whether it’s long-term or not.

3 Tips To Get The Most Out of Homeschooling

1. Be patient.

Especially if you’re a perfectionist, or used to getting things right quickly- give yourself some grace. Give your kids some grace. The word “unprecedented” is being thrown around like confetti for a reason. This is new territory for many of us and it takes time (and probably a little experimenting) to figure out a system that works for your family. Try to be ok with being the “World’s Okayest Homeschool Mom,” especially if this is not a long-term change for you. 

No matter the reason you’re in this situation, you can make the best of it and make it a good experience for your kids. 

2. Experiment.

It’s hard to think about changing up your routine if you’ve spent money or a bunch of time figuring out what to do, but if it isn’t working and you’re all miserable, it’s time to switch it up a little. Homeschool is all about being flexible and doing what’s right for your individual kids. If there’s too much to do and the kids are getting overwhelmed or frustrated, simplify your schedule to give everyone a break. If a certain curriculum or method doesn’t seem to be connecting, try something different. Remind yourself that you are not a slave to a schedule or a checklist. Don’t be afraid to make some changes, and reach out for help when you aren’t sure what to do next.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

3. Reach Out.

Community is a crucial part of homeschooling. There are regional meetings, parent groups, Facebook pages and groups, YouTube channels, blogs, podcasts, conferences, etc, to help you get connected. Just having a place you can ask questions will make you feel more confident in your homeschooling abilities. You can choose to search for other families doing the same curriculum or method as you, or families with kids the same age, or homeschoolers in your town. Sometimes sharing the responsibility of a certain class or subject can change everything. Think about if you have someone in your life who would be great at teaching or helping your children with a subject…is your spouse great at math? Do you have a grandpa who loves history? An aunt who loves to read? A fellow homeschool mom who specializes in fancy science experiments? Usually, a little creativity goes a long way in homeschooling!

No matter if you’re homeschooling for a season, or if you plan to homeschool through graduation, these 3 tips will make your life easier! Give yourself grace, stay flexible, and don’t go it alone! You’re the best person for the job. 

*Bonus Tip* (which you probably already know) Pray often! God wants you to succeed and will help you along the way

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post Encouraging Homeschool Moms appeared first on Hope 100.7.

“Have you ever been to a business- a restaurant, even an airplane, wherever- and there’s an employee there who’s having so much fun doing their job? They go out of their way to make you smile, to make you know that they’re glad you’re there. I’ve experienced that. There’s a Kroger store, I would choose to go there, because this cashier was just so outgoing and so friendly. He made everybody feel welcome and everybody feel happy. He just did. He was a big draw. There’s been a drive-thru I would go out of my way to go to, because the woman was so friendly, she was just so kind. You know, sadly, that just seems a rarer thing than maybe what it used to be, I’m not sure. The other day, Daryl and I saw this video of this guy, he’s a flight attendant on an airplane. He’s just having a ball and he is like a one-man comedy routine during the safety instruction spiel, which is normally kind of boring. I posted the video on Hope 100.7’s Facebook page, you can check it out. We would like to know- have you ever run into someone like that, who just has such a great time doing their job that it makes your day? Give them a shoutout. Tell us about it.” -Julie Pierce

“I was just going to say, for all the years I’ve traveled into Dayton, Ohio from Columbus- over 40 years- I’ve listened to you guys. You guys have always kept me going in the morning, and I appreciate that, so I’m telling you how much I appreciate what you guys do! Do you understand what I’m saying? Because when you’re out here in the bad weather and everything, you need something like that. And I’m listening to you every morning.” -Hope Listener

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

(I want to give a shoutout to) “my son, Jackson. He has down syndrome and I’ve been listening to your show this morning- he lifts up everybody! He’s the closest thing to God and he exhibits that everyday with his smile and people he touches. He’s only 3 years old, and the Holy Spirit runs right through him. You’re talking about a job- it’s not a job, it’s just who he is. He’s touched our entire family and he’s awesome.” -Joe

“Yesterday at work, I mentioned to one of my coworkers and asked about one of my other coworkers and she mentioned that she was sick and I said ‘ok, I’ll pray for her.’ I didn’t even see it at first, she pulled out her hand and we prayed together in the office. It was just awesome that she pulled her hands out and we prayed together. I had tears in my eyes after that and I thanked her. That helped encourage me.” -Jimmy

“I wanted to thank you for everything you all do, but it was ministering to me, the question you asked, because I just had worked in retail for the last 4 years….I’m not working in retail right now, but I just wanted to say, that was one of the most amazing things how God ministered to me was he showed me on my worst days as a customer service person, just giving a smile blessed them and blessed me, it was contagious. How God pressed that upon me to stir up that gift- by even just a simple smile, even if it didn’t feel like it, it always came back to bless me even more. The people and the friendships and the way God would minister and flow, it was just evident that it was God. There are many stories- I had one lady come in one day, and we got to talking and she was retired from Kroger and she talked about how that was her passion. She loved just getting out and being around the people. People would come just to see her and check on her- and it does get to be like your family. Your community is your family, wherever you are and wherever you work. I just encourage anybody listening to take that ministry in their life going forward. Thank you for reminding me…that’s what it’s about.” -Hope Listener

What about you? Are there people that make your life better just by the way they treat you? Tell us about them, and maybe it will inspire others to show kindness too!

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post How To Make Someone Feel Loved appeared first on Hope 100.7.

The Story Behind “Why God”

“God actually taught me something through my 3-year-old little boy, who’s in the “why, Daddy?” stage. He asks me all these questions about anything and everything and he doesn’t always get my answers, but what he does get is that he can sit in his daddy’s lap and ask me anything and I want every single question and I’ll love him no matter what. I believe that asking “why, God?” doesn’t make us a bad Christian. Maybe, it just makes us a kid who needs their Dad, and that’s ok. So I pray this song gives you permission to feel that; to bring those questions that you’ve been scared to ask to the God who’s not scared of anything.”
~Austin French

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The Healing God Promises

Have you had something hard happen to you recently? Have you lost a loved one, lost a job, got hurt or sick or left? Did you get mad at God and decide not to talk to Him anymore? It  might surprise you to know that He’d rather you talk to Him, even if you’re mad. He can take it. He knows how hard life is for us, how much it hurts- and the beautiful thing is He cares so much. Let these Scriptures comfort and strengthen you in whatever you’re walking through.

“Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.”

Isaiah 49.13 NLT

“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

Psalms 103.13-14 NLT

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4.15-16 NLT

Maybe the healing God promises us comes from spending time with Him and learning who He is, instead of from getting all the answers we think we need. Two common themes running through the Bible are humility and trust. Can you see how both are necessary when we’re going through something hard or have had something painful happen to us? We have to get to a place of humility- of letting go of the need to control our own lives. If we can remember that God sees the whole picture, knows what’s best for us, and loves us enough to continue making us into the people we’re meant to be, we can trust Him through everything that happens in our lives. Like a child in the lap of a good father, the BEST Father, we can rest knowing that He’s got us and He won’t ever let us go. 

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post Why God? appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Love and The Outcome

Hey, guys! Chris and Jodi from Love and The Outcome. You know, it’s so easy to focus on the what-ifs, and “when am I going to play a show again” and trying to control the future. But you know what? Trying to live in the future is stressful. We tend to get a bit anxious when we spend too much time in that place, trying to do God’s job. So instead, we’ve been living in the present. Trying to be with each other and Holy Spirit, going on bike rides, making lots of coffee. We got doughnuts today- pretty life-giving! So, anyway, we’re just trying to do things that allow us to stay in the moment with each other and the Lord and really get to know Him in a new way. So let’s just lean in in this season; not lean back and peace out, but lean in and be present. 

Matt from I Am They

What’s up, everybody! This is Matt from I Am They. I’m out here in God’s country, breathing the fresh air. Man, this is the place to be. Come on, you don’t need Germ-X up here! I just wanted to share some words of encouragement to you right now. Man, our greatest moments of adversity are also our greatest moments of opportunity. Right now, we have such an opportunity to share the peace and the hope and the love and the joy of our God with the world that right now is so- just shook up, and in this place of anxiety and fear and desperation. God hasn’t given us that spirit. He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind. And so, right now, I just want to encourage you to start taking that opportunity to just worship God. To get alone with him, to start praying. To lift people up- we have such a great opportunity to do that right now. To just start telling God again who He is, reminding ourselves that we’re in the hands of our protector, our provider, our healer. Amen? I hope you guys are well today, and that you will just go check out- there are some awesome records out- my friend Cody Carnes, worship leader at our church, just released an awesome album called “Run To The Father.” You should just take some time to get into worship and enjoy that. There’s also this awesome book a friend shared called Secrets To Powerful Prayer and it says you can see why Jesus so strongly admonished us not to worry. He didn’t make it a suggestion, He made it a command, because when you worry, You give Satan the place in your heart the Word is supposed to have. Man! What an awesome word. Just start replacing the words of fear with the Word of God, and just activate worship in your life right now. God bless you guys. Have an amazing day. 

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Dave from Sidewalk Prophets

Hey, everybody! This is Dave Frey from the band Sidewalk Prophets and I know things can seem a little hopeless right now, but I wanted to shine some hope. For me, sometimes it’s as easy as looking out my window over there. I see kids in my neighborhood riding bikes; they scribble “joy” on the sidewalks and I think of when I was a kid. I felt so safe and secure…these days feel anything but that. I just wanted to pray for those children out there. I’m going to be a dad…that’s right! In a month and a half I’m going to have my first child. I can’t wait to hold him, but I pray that he comes into a world where Matthew 19:14 rings true. Jesus said, “let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven is made for such as these.” Believe that, y’all! Believe it. Know that joy is out there and let’s pray for those kids, those kids that are fearful. In fact, God calls us “His children”, so for the children of God- all His children- I pray that You shine some joy and some hope into our lives, because You never never have let us down. Amen.

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post A Word of Encouragement From The Artists (Part2) appeared first on Hope 100.7.

There are so many ways to show you love somebody! The post that we put on Hope 100.7’s Facebook page “I don’t need flowers, candy, shopping sprees, or poems. To me, love is waking up to an empty sink,” Cheryl commented, she said “Absolutely agree, Julie!!!” and then Kendra said that when her daughter tells her she is an awesome mommy. Awe, I love that! That would make me feel loved, too, Kendra! Jenni says, “Acts of service and the gift of time are my love language. I try to tell my husband how much I trust him and honor and respect his first love to be Jesus Christ.” Well, that’s pretty cool. I’m sure that helps tremendously. You know, when you put Christ first in your marriage, then your marriage is going to be better. 

Sue said, “the above picture, for sure” meaning that waking up to an empty sink makes her feel loved. What about you? What else makes you feel loved? Daryl, I asked you earlier…what did you say? What makes you feel loved? Daryl: “Our daughter will basically go through these spurts at times when we come home, and the house is really clean.”

Julie: Stuff’s put away, then we can’t find some things we left out. Where did that go?! Check the basket!! ?

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Ways We Can Show Love

I was thinking about the various ways we can show love…I thought to myself how many times do you not bring up something that your spouse has done, or even your friend has done, or you and your kids think “see, I’m showing love by not pointing out this flaw or this thing that they’ve done again to get on my nerves.” I’ll tell you, I do that sometimes. I’ll think “ok, well, I don’t want to be a nag…that really annoys me what this person is doing, but I want to show love. I want to show that I’m bigger than that, and I’m not going to say anything.” It occurred to me- how many times have people had to do that for me?! They think, “I want to show her I love her, so I’m not going to point out that really annoying thing she’s doing right now.” Yikes!

Some of our Facebook friends weighed in with the ways they feel loved: 

“A sweet text in the middle of the day, random hugs, chores that are completed by anyone other than me. ?”

Tabetha

“My sweet husband cooks for me.”

Linda

And one more from Julie:

“When my husband willingly goes back out into the cold to get my cell phone, because I left it in the car.”

Julie Pierce

What are some ways the people around you make you feel loved? Or what are some unusual ways you try to make others feel loved? We’d love to hear from you!

God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post Ways To Show Someone You Love Them appeared first on Hope 100.7.

I was thinking it’s probably a great time to just talk about facts. You know, the world we live in is damaged. Viruses make people sick, and cancer slips in unannounced. Cars collide and people abuse other people. Jesus said ‘In this world you will have trouble, but take heart- I have overcome the world.’ And yes, that’s a someday statement, but it’s also a today statement. Even in this damaged world, people heal and cancer can go into remission and lessons are learned and people get second chances. Maybe find a quiet place to write down all you observe that’s precious and good and hopeful. I guess Paul thought of that too when he said ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things and the God of peace will be with you.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

Ways To Get A Better Perspective

These days, to an even more extreme extent than in the past, watching the news or spending time on social media can lead to some serious anxiety. Thanks to instantaneous connection to a lot of the world, we are seeing the suffering of many. Consider that until very recent history, people only had access to local or regional news. Were our brains designed to handle this flood of information? In addition, the conflicting opinions on social media about basically everything is enough to make your head spin!  For our own mental health, we need to find ways to get a better perspective every day- or more precisely, God’s perspective. 

1. You’ve probably heard it said it’s best to start your day in the Bible and with prayer. If it’s a struggle for you to focus first thing in the morning, set a time in the day for your quiet time. Set an alarm on your phone or write it in your planner until you get the habit down. 
2. Write down some Scriptures to keep in key places you’ll see several times a day. This is certainly not a new idea, but if you forgot about it or never actually tried it yourself, it can really help to center your mind on God’s truth when your days feel like a whirlwind. 
3. If you like to unwind by scrolling Facebook, and you’ve been finding yourself more anxious,  find a different way to relax for a while. It’s so easy to let something like social media become a habit instead of a tool. If you find anything in your life that has become more like an addiction than a help to you, take some time to restore it to its proper purpose. 
4. Start a journal or a commonplace book (more on that later.) There are many well-documented benefits to journaling, but I want to focus on being able to change your perspective and your feelings based on what you pay attention to. 

You might have had enough life experience to know what things contribute to your peace and what things contribute to your anxiety, but if not, now is a great time to think about it. You owe it to yourself to keep yourself as healthy as possible. 

Commonplace Book 

Commonplace books (also known as commonplaces) can be used in a variety of ways, but the most widely accepted ways seem to be the recording of quotes, favorite passages from reading, proverbs, prayers, and ideas. I especially like to choose quotes or selections from my reading that make my eyes light up…that make me sit up a little straighter…you know what I mean? Sometimes I even write about something that happened to me or that I witnessed that shows me God’s love. For example, I love birds. I think God lets me see amazing things regarding birds because it really speaks to me. I especially love watching the process of nesting, laying and fledging baby birds. It’s such a beautiful and mysterious thing to me that always turns my thoughts to God. Partly, because of the Scripture that talks about how we are more precious to God than many sparrows, and partly because of the references to God protecting us under His wings. 

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬

“Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All that to say, keep track of the things God does to show you his goodness. You’ll always be able to look back in times of trouble and be able to see the evidence of God in your life. 

Keep growing and shine bright. ?

The post A Better Perspective appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Remember around Christmas and New Year there were people giving out $2000, sometimes $2500 tips to servers? That was pretty cool! Apparently Donnie Wahlberg, the actor, made it especially popular on New Years Day when he left a $2020 tip. It’s called the 2020 Tip Challenge. Waiters and waitresses are still getting big tips- in fact, there was a server in Massachusetts who got a $5000 tip! First she thought it was just $50, then she noticed the extra zeroes. What’s funny is the guy who left the tip is a billionaire car dealer, and he left her the tip for excellent service, and he also wrote on the receipt “Donnie, your move!” So he’s encouraging Donnie and others to continue being generous. I just love that, I love that attitude and it seems like more and more people are just giving and giving and making lives change…helping lives change for the better. Even if we’re not billionaires, even if we’re not rich celebrities like Donnie Wahlberg, we can still be generous in our own way. I just wanted to throw that out there. I love stories like this- they’re pretty encouraging, aren’t they?

Julie Pierce

Now that so many servers are left without a source of income, the 2020 Tip Challenge has become more than just a gesture of generosity- it’s a way we can all try to keep those who are struggling financially afloat until things get back to normal. There are so many ways you can help… (spoiler alert- even if you’re struggling yourself!) Most importantly, keep the ones hardest hit in your prayers, not only for financial provision, but for emotional and spiritual well-being. We can never underestimate the power of our intercession!  For the few that can afford a $2020 tip, by all means, do that! For the rest of us, here’s a list of ways to help not only servers, but others being negatively impacted by this crisis.

6 Ways You Can Help

1. If you know someone personally who’s struggling, reach out to them and see what they need. If you don’t have it, ask others in your circle and see if they can help. If you’re good at research, find some ministries or charities that might be able to help and pass that information on. 
2. Many cities are setting up virtual tip jars to support servers that are out of work. If your city doesn’t have one, consider setting it up yourself. If you’re not equipped to do that, reach out to restaurants you frequent and ask how you can support the servers. 
3. Check gofundme.com for local fundraisers to support. 
4. If you don’t have extra funds, but thanks to your coupon-clipping or bargain-buying you have an extensive pantry, consider donating to an individual directly (while social-distancing, of course) or to a community food pantry or church. 
5. If you don’t have extra funds or extra provisions, first of all, make sure to tell someone. There are resources available, as well as programs lenders are implementing to help if you’re having trouble paying your bills. Then, share what you find out with others. You can be generous with lots of things besides money.  
6. Share ways the Lord has been providing for you. Pass on Bible verses that have been uplifting or comforting. 

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Proverbs 11.25 NIV

“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

2 Corinthians 9.6-8

Friends, be encouraged by the great things happening during this unprecedented time! Spend some time in prayer and be open to God giving you creative ideas to show generosity in a way only you can. Can you think of other ways to help those around you? Share your ideas in the comments below.

God bless you. Stay hopeful.

Sign up to receive more hope from HOPE 100.7 via email.

The post How Can I Help Those In Need? appeared first on Hope 100.7.