Hope for Life Blog

We hear a lot about identity theft and the various ways you can make your identity more secure. For years, some women have been struggling with feelings of lost identity when they become mothers.
Our culture/society often sends mixed messages both to the working moms and to those who choose to stay home. Because of the way some may perceive the stay-at-home mom, she can feel devalued by not pursuing a career in the corporate world or unappreciated by the largely invisible work of nurturing that isn’t rewarded by a paycheck. On the other hand, those who choose to pursue a career, or must work because of finances, must deal with guilt feelings because they are not available for their children at all times. Satan takes every opportunity to steal our confidence, and in the process robs us of our identity.
The entire identity of a woman is not all about being a mother, but more about being daughters of our Father in Heaven. When we realize that motherhood and nurturing is a great calling of women, and understand who we are in relation to Christ we will have a new kind of identity and a greater self-esteem. Jacqueline Kennedy once made the statement, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.”
Those who have children know very well that we are often referred to as “so-n-so’s” mom, which lends to making us feel that we have lost our identity. However, those who are children of the King have a secure “identity.” The most important identity is not how the world views mothers, but how God views them. The Word of God says that because of Jesus Christ our identity is secure. We must rely on God for our true worth, value and identity.

Recently while researching faithfulness, I stumbled onto information about the geysers that have been given the name “Old Faithful.” The most famous of the three which bear that name, was first given that title in 1870. It is recorded that its eruptions, at regular intervals, lasted 15 or 20 minutes. Although given the name “Old Faithful” because of its predictability, time between eruptions can vary between 65 and 91 minutes. It seems that various things can affect the period between eruptions. Over time, the length of intervals has increased — possibly the effect of earthquakes. Rains have also been known to affect the regular intervals of “faithful” eruptions. It is true that this “faithful” geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park, is faithful to spew and spray water sometimes as high as 145 feet into the air. However, “Old Faithful” does not always act according to man’s timetable.

Doing this research caused me to be reminded of how we often expect God to respond to our timetable. We sometimes question God’s faithfulness to act in response to our requests when answers don’t come immediately. We must remember that God’s faithfulness, like “Old Faithful,” doesn’t act according to our time. There are occasions when there are long periods of time between trouble and resolution. As we mature and our faith increases, we begin to realize that God is ever faithful. Even when the time stretches longer as we wait for His answers, our faith increases, knowing that He always answers. Because of the faithfulness of Father God we can be filled with joy and sing of His great love forever.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself (Psalm 89:1-2).

If you aren’t carrying the song of joy in your heart because of a lack of trust in the faithfulness of our Father, leave a comment or contact us at hopeforlife.org.

As the shadows lengthened and the sun began to hide itself behind the distant edges of the lake, the crowd lingered on its shore. They had been there for some time listening to the wise words of Jesus. Surely they were growing hungry and the opportunity to get food was some distance away. Andrew, one of the disciples, spotted a young boy with a small lunch (only five small barley loaves and two fish). How far would such a meager amount go among so many?

Jesus instructed his disciples to have the crowd sit down. He took the small loaves of bread and the fish, gave thanks for what He had, broke the bread and made a banquet. Bread and fish in abundance! The blessing came after the loaves were broken.

The world is filled with brokenness: broken homes, broken lives, shattered dreams, and broken health. Sometimes we must be broken to meet our full potential in kingdom service. We don’t like to think of experiencing great difficulties to help us grow spiritually. There are indeed great blessings in following the statutes that have been laid down for us, but we must realize that often the greatest blessings come on the other side of brokenness.

We might feel that there are so many scattered pieces and fragments of our lives that we could not be “put back together.” Just as the left over pieces of bread and fish were gathered up, so can we be gathered up and not wasted.

“Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted” (John 6:12b).

As we encounter the blessings that we receive, even through brokenness and suffering, we can trust God to gather us up into His loving arms and put us back together.

It has happened for me! You can view my story here on hopeforlife.org; just click on the video at the top of the page.

by Kay Talley

Each year during the holiday season we witness nativity scenes dotted around our cities and towns. Perhaps because of the familiarity of the depiction of the birth of the Savior we fail to focus on just what an impact it had on the lives of all mankind. To many people, it is simply a story, a reason to gather with family, the depiction of a baby lying in a manger. To know the real Jesus, our minds must take Him out of the manger and see Him as a man, yet deity; a King who came to show us how to live; a Savior who came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus was God come to earth. He came as a baby, and grew to be a man, one with power and authority. He came with a gentle, loving, and forgiving heart. Because of this, our culture has created a Jesus who is a “love only” Jesus. This “fantasy” Jesus overlooks all sin and never condemns. Yes, Jesus is gentle and loving—so loving that He calls us to Him and condemns sin to bring joy into our lives. Sin, with all its promise of glitter and glamour, ultimately brings misery as we yield ourselves to it. The story of Jesus is more than just a story of a baby born long ago in a faraway place, to bring the offer of forgiveness. It is the story of a Jesus who longs to be your Lord. He offers grace and mercy. He demands loyalty in return.

This same Jesus who was born long ago to bring salvation to those who seek Him and follow His leading still lives today. He has the power to transform your life.

Are you seeking to know the “real” Jesus? Do you long for the transformation in your life that comes by following Him?

~Kay Talley

As the massive Boeing 777 jet accelerated down the runway, then lifted into the air, I was again in awe at the magnificent power that would lift such immense weight to a cruising altitude of more than 43,000 feet. As the plane entered an area of turbulence and the giant machine was tossed about as though it weighed nothing, I was reminded of the tremendous, awe-inspiring force of the One who is the source of all power.

I witness His power in so many areas and ways as I journey through this world; in the roaring of mighty waterfalls, the glories of a sunrise, the churning of the seas, the birth of my babies. I witness the ultimate power of God the Father in my own life—in my own personal experience as I come to know Him as One who cares for and loves me individually and unconditionally. He knows and cares about every difficulty I face and each heartbreak I suffer. It is difficult to understand how such a powerful God, who rules the universe, would care for me on a personal basis. I must come to understand that God does not allow His work of keeping all things in the universe in its proper place to divert His attention from me, nor does it interfere with His working in my individual life.

His marvelous abundant power is majestically demonstrated in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Only the power of God can remove the sinfulness of my heart and cleanse me through the blood that was poured forth at Calvary. Through this cleansing I experience new life and hope.

The darkest hours of those who had walked so closely with Jesus during His ministry were those days when the lifeless body of the One Who had claimed to be the Savior lay silent in a tomb. Had their belief been in vain? Even after receiving the reports of the Master’s resurrection, they remained skeptical. It was not until Jesus appeared to them and they witnessed His resurrection did they believe. Being witness to the power of God to raise the dead convinced the disciples of that power and their lives would never be the same.

Our lives, like those of long ago, will never be the same as we confess before God that we are sinners and need the power of His cleansing through the blood of the spotless sacrifice. Through our obedience to Him and submission to His will, we will experience the power of God, and will long to testify that indeed He is mighty to save.

Have you experienced this mighty power in your life? Do you know the peace that comes in being cleansed by this power?

~Kay Talley