Thursday, April 8, 2010

Words of Hope

Dr. Rev. Augustus Wilmont Dowdy, Jr., retired minister, author, and a founder of the Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers in the 1990's (my local writing group), went home to be with the Lord last week.  He went in for treatment options for his newly discovered cancer and passed away just two days later.

Wil was the author of a ministry book entitled "Phone Power: Using the Telephone in Ministry" which was published by Judson Press in 1974. Although technology has increased much since then, the phone is still a powerful ministry tool. He also wrote numerous articles and had the priveledge of interviewing Maria Von Trapp (Sound of Music) and penned her life story for Christian Life magazine.


Just two months ago, at our meeting when we were discussing what theme to have for our summer writers confererence, Will shared how the Lord had been impressing on him the theme of "hope" - the blessed hope we have of eternal life and the hope we have to face our tomorrows in this world.  So it was decided to call the conference "Words of Hope".  It was just a few short weeks later that this hope was truly manifest in this man's life.  We are now planning to dedicate the conference to this dear man who was very excited about it and in fact, was to be the host to our speaker.

Since I'm working on this conference the theme has been very near to me, and I've spent much time pondering my own mission of writing "words of hope". We all need hope, don't we? And this very true and practical hope is the foundation of my faith.


"Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD."
Psalm 31:24




Do you have a favorite "hope" verse? How do these words of hope sustain you?  How do you try to convey God's words of hope in your writing? 

5 comments:

  1. The following verses, hit home with me not too long ago.

    Jeremiah 29:11-14
    For I know the thoughts I have toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

    These words reminded me that no matter my circumstance God never forgets me, never stops loving me.

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  2. Ah...I have to agree with Sonia. I LOVE those verses!

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  3. Carla, my favorite hope verse is, "Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." Psalm 119:49

    This verse is so meaningful to me. I speak it out aloud often. Its like I am reminding God of His word (even though He doesn't need a reminder) to me. I speak this verse to cement it into my very being that God's word is my hope. No system, no government, no family, no job, my hope is in nothing else other than the word of God.

    In my writing I always do my best to turn the focus to word of God for the answer to everything.

    God's word is my hope in time of need for this life and it is my hope for a life to come so that I am not hopeless in this world now.

    May the God of all hope and peace bless you this day.

    Vickie

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  4. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Sorry, I don't have the reference off the top of my head.

    Hope-expectation versus wishing-is a necessary ingredient many people omit. My pastor's teaching on this subject right now.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  5. How precious are the promises of God!

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