Hope
Carolyn Latchford 21st January
Hope
We shared with each other one thing from Scripture which we have found to be true in our lives.
Carolyn shared how she lost hope because of her sins, eg judging people, being resentful, thinking she knew better than God; anger or frustration, lack of self control. This drags us down so we lose sight of God. The way to overcome is to remember that all those sins have been dealt with, they are blotted out by what Jesus did on the cross. Don't focus on the sins, it takes our eyes off Jesus and we distract ourselves from the cross, losing sight of God, believing the enemy's lies more than the truth.
Eph 3 v 20 he can do more than we ask, request or imagine.
We also lose sight of our destiny, of where we're going. We lose sight of who we are as the bride of Christ. The stuff of this world covers and hides our wedding dress so we don't know where it is any more.
The next occurrence on the prophetic calendar is the rapture, the snatching away of the bride of Christ.
2 Tim 2 v 15
2 Tim 3 v 16
We have been given the scriptures for a purpose.
Consider the times we are living in. Sometimes we have hard things to cope with, but it's where we put our focus in the midst of it which gives us the confidence.
2 Tim 3 v 12-14
Rev 3 v 5-6
The rapture is interpreted differently by different people, rather hear through the following scriptures what God is saying to you.
Rev 3 v 10
Have ears to hear, be washed by the word, be comforted, be encouraged.
Acts v 9-11
1 Thess 4 v 16-18
1 Cor 15 v 51-52
Luke 14 v 13-14
We have been ransomed by the blood of Jesus, we chose to put our trust in him, we will be taken up to him.
What we're doing now will add to our reward.
1 Cor 3 v 11-15
We are reassured by Jesus
John 14 v 1-3
What will our attitude be about this. If a parent has to go off to finish a job whilst leaving the children briefly, how will the parent feel about returning,. You want the children to be excited about seeing you again, you want them to be trusting about it. Likewise, God wants us to be so excited about him coming back, whilst he prepares the rooms for us.
He WILL come again, he will do the coming and the taking of us, our job is to be trusting of him.
Simeon in Luke 2 v 25-27 was told a promise, and longed to see the Messiah's face, he was patiently vigilant. We should be the same.
Rom 8 v 25
Titus 2 v 11-15
Like Simeon, we do not know when Jesus will come, but like him, we look into Jesus' face and put our trust in him.
The last words in the bible:-
Rev 22 v 20-21
How do we respond to the thought of being snatched up and meeting Christ in the air, or being raised from the dead to meet him in the air. | 
