Hang in there.

How are you doing? In the midst of the elections and political climate, how are you doing? With every new shooting across our country, how are you doing? The divisiveness of the culture continues to eat away at the fabric of a once proud nation, how are you doing? Even within church denominations there is great strife and division, how are you doing? People calling each other names and belittling without any remorse, how are you doing? "Entertainment" that is so crass and vulgar with few boundaries and little oversight, how are you doing? Most days, after watching the news, one simply needs a shower to get rid of the filth and gross feelings. If one was a cynic, it might be easy to say, we are in grave danger.

Hopefully, you don't let your hope and trust get stolen by all the junk that is going on in our nation and the world. God still cares about those who trust Him and seek His face. Our faith in God means something. We can know peace in the midst of storms and a world gyrating out of control. It is good to consider and remember our eternal home will be void of all the 'junk' mentioned in the first paragraph.

Here are some scriptures to read, savor, ingest, digest, and use every day.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the

slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to

stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who

does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:1-4, NIV)

The psalmist apparently had to experience the depth of muck and slim in the world at that time. The psalmist's own sins had no chance against the grace of the Lord. The result was this writer praising God with new fervor and joy. While this fallen world filled with scoffers and ungodly folk continues to get weirder every day, the promises of God remain the same.

"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said

to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly

desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not

have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and

pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our

Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt;"

(Jude 1:17-22, NIV)

Take heart! Hang in there! God is good! Trust Him! Remain active in your faith!