WHEN DESPERATION STRIKES

From: Ron Hawks

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble…Psalm 46:1.”

What do you do and where do you turn when you feel desperate? You are desperate when you feel hopeless, when you feel like you are in an impossible situation that is too much to deal with emotionally, physically or spiritually.

Desperation is a human emotion ... it's going to happen. Unfortunately, it often functions as a logic suppressant. It makes us stupid. And, stupidity acts impulsively. We must be careful when we are desperate, or things could go south very quickly. These feelings can lead us to panic and to become isolated - a bad combination. Decisions made in isolation and acted upon rashly, rarely turn out well.

We need not, however, follow the desperation tracks all the way to the station of utter despair. Instead, we can allow it to take us to deep places in our relationship with God. Some have even said only desperate people grow spiritually and are transformed. It's when we come to the end of ourselves and the resources at our disposal that we call out to God as God. And, it's only when we see God as God that we receive Him as He is and obey His leading as Lord.

Here are a few things that can be helpful to remember when we feel desperate:

1. God has not left you; He is present within us amidst the trial. (Hebrews 13:5)

2. To greatly need God's wisdom, direction and/or intervention is not a bad thing - there is no need to be ashamed.

3. Take time to honestly consider your situation and feelings, don't run from them.

4. Pour out your heart to God. Express your real self - don't be afraid. Such expressions to God - even when they are peppered with anger - are a sincere form of worship, declaring that He exists, sees and hears the cry of the needy. (Genesis 16:13; Psalm 62:8; Hebrews 4:6)

5. Don't stay isolated. Get with others you respect in faith to share and pray. (James 5:16)

6. Look for and receive the counsel of the wise around you. (Proverbs 15:22)

When feelings of Desperation fall upon your soul, speak God's presence into yourself. Prophesy to your soul that "God is with you - there is no need to cling to fear." Receive the presence of the Lord amidst your feelings and trial. His presence is a greater reward than deliverance. Treasure Him amidst the storm - and you will be transformed from the inside out.

Learning to Cry Out to My God when I am at the end with you,

Pastor Tom

TAKING HOLD OF THE FUTURE

From: Ron Hawks

"You are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do…Ephesians 2:10.”

What are your plans for the future? Is there anything you want to accomplish or become? Is there anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do?

Have you given much thought to what God may have planned for you? He prophesied through Jeremiah that He knew the plans He had for the people of Israel. (Jeremiah 29:11) And He knows His plans for you too. For, "You are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do." (Ephesians 2:10) He has things planned for your future.

The apostle Paul wrote near the end of his ministry that he was pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ had taken hold of him (Philippians 3:12). God wants us (like Paul) to lean and press into the purposes for which Christ has taken hold of our lives. We tend to imagine that Christ takes hold of us to accomplish His work, but God has more than work in store for us. He is primarily after relationship and wholeness. He saved us - He wants us to walk in whole-person salvation - not to run ahead in dysfunctional living and work.

So, we press deeper and deeper into our salvation. We take time to continually receive God's fresh and needed forgiveness and life each day. We make space to dwell with Him, to simply "be" still in His presence and allow His Word to soak deeply into our spirits and understanding (Psalm 1:2). This oneness with God, being loved and refreshed in perspective, informs our living and leads us into the purposes for which we are perfectly formed. We primarily press into a communion-life with God - a shared oneness life with Him. Secondarily, and relatedly, we press into the works for which He has built and fitted us - works that He has prepared in advance for us to do.

As you consider your future, please include thought to God's will. You will be most satisfied by His presence and purposes - these are the chief rewards of life. Make time for His transforming influences on your inner person - through prayer, the Bible, obedience and reflection.

Pressing Ahead with you,

Pastor Tom

THE STORY BEHIND "I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR"
The hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour” was born out of deep personal pain and an equally deep trust in God. It was written in 1872 by Annie Sherwood Hawks, a young mother and schoolteacher living in New York. At the time, her life appeared calm and comfortable on the surface, but inwardly she was wrestling with anxiety, uncertainty, and an intense awareness of her own human frailty.

Unlike many hymn writers who composed during moments of dramatic crisis, Annie Hawks wrote this hymn during an ordinary day at home. Yet it was precisely in that quiet moment that she became overwhelmed by the realization that her strength, peace, and joy were entirely dependent on God, not just in times of trouble, but every single hour. The words flowed naturally, almost like a prayer whispered from the heart rather than a poem carefully constructed.

Years later, Annie Hawks reflected on the hymn with profound emotion. After experiencing loss, grief, and hardship in her later years, she said she finally understood the full depth of what she had written. What began as a gentle expression of dependence became a powerful testimony of faith forged through suffering. The words “I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee” took on deeper meaning as life stripped away earthly comforts and revealed God as her constant refuge.

The hymn was set to music by Robert Lowry, a Baptist minister and gifted composer who gave the lyrics their tender, pleading melody. His tune perfectly captured the quiet urgency of the text, soft, reflective, and deeply personal. Together, the words and music created a hymn that feels less like a declaration and more like a continual conversation with God.

“I Need Thee Every Hour” has endured for over a century because it speaks to a universal truth: human weakness and divine sufficiency. It reminds believers that faith is not reserved for moments of crisis alone, but is a daily, hourly dependence on God’s presence, guidance, and grace. Whether sung in times of peace or in the depths of sorrow, the hymn remains a humble confession of trust, one that continues to resonate across generations.

It is not a hymn of grand theology or dramatic triumph, but of quiet surrender and in that simplicity lies its timeless power.

With the 2024 NFL month to month period a lot less than 2 months absent, the Los Angeles Chargers will host a number of situations throughout Southern California within the direct-up toward their Sunday, Sept.8 period opener at SoFi Value Up in direction of Kickoff will span all of Southern California and features prevents inside San Diego, Orange County, the Inland Empire and Los Angeles' South accumulating at the diverse locales will incorporate the likelihood in the direction of ranking workers giveaways, food stuff and beverage financial savings, distinctive items and meet up with Chargers 7 days-very long get together culminates upon Friday evening with the South Bay's legendary "Fight at the Seaside" a storied contention match concerning Redondo Union and Mira Costa Significant avid gamers will provide as honorary captains even though lovers of equally the Sea Hawks and Mustangs will attain special giveaways as they program towards cheer upon their Legends will be out there for interviews at the right after areas:Monday, September 2 https://www.lachargersoutlet.com/collections/tre-harris-jersey