Reviews for Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual

The average rating for Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-04-30 00:00:00 FRANK HORN This is an excellent study on the book of Hebrews. It covers the book in depth, and also with a lot of heart, with particular emphasis on hope. I've done a couple studies on Hebrews before, but I had not realized that one of its major themes is hope, perhaps most famously identified in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." This hope referenced to goes all the way back to the promises God gave to Abraham, that He would bless him, and through him all people would be blessed. Hope is also mentioned immediately before, in Hebrews 6:11 "...to have the full assurance of hope until the end" and in 6:18: "... that we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us," and again in 7:19 "...a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God." Joni Eareckson Tada writes the foreword, saying: Hebrews provides the hieroglyphics of heaven. It speaks of a better country... a grand cloud of witnesses... a heavenly Jerusalem... and thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. I liked that kind of talk. It was hopeful. In its pages, I was even able to crack the code behind the whispers of omens of why God had allowed my affliction. In Hebrews I found a home for my aching heart. The author, Nancy Guthrie, lost not only her infant daughter, Hope, but a couple years later an infant son, Gabriel, to a rare genetic disease. But this mother clung to the hope of the promise in Christ, of blessing in this life but more importantly of the one to come. In chapter 2, of her daughter, she writes, When Hope was a couple weeks old, we went to the Christmas program at our church. As we sat in the balcony, enjoying the beauty of the music and pageantry, it hit me: I would never get to enjoy music wit Hope. She would never sing the children's choir. We would never sample rich desserts together, explore interesting places, or observe amazing art of architecture. Tears began to drop down my face and onto Hope as I began the process of letting go of the dreams i had for sharing with her all the good things life in the world as to offer. But I also began to consider what was ahead for Hope. No, she wouldn't enjoy e a fine orchestra here with me, but surely the music on the halls of heaven will be finer! As I thought through all the things I would not be able to share with her, I began to consider how much better heaven's version will be. This brought me my own share of tears, but also hope, realizing I'm really not missing out on much with my own daughter, killed in accident at age 8. I will have all of eternity to spend with her in heaven, with our God, sampling things far finer than we yet know here on this earth. I began to tell myself the truth about death and the reality of life in this world. And fear began to lose its grip on me. In chapter 3, I underlined this: What kind of faith is necessary to have real rest in this life? Faith that trusts God wholeheartedly with our lives, faith that leaves behind the desert existence of expecting this world to meet our needs, faith that moves forward with God into the life is he holding out for us.... Deeply trusting God with our lives is what gives rest to our souls. In chapter 5, I underlined this: If we just hear truth, but we never write it out or wrestle with it, if we never try to repeat it or explain to someone else, we never really own it. In chapter 6, an excellent comparison of the old and new covenants is given: According to the new covenant, everything God demands of us, he also provides for us - freely and forever, through the finished worked of Christ on the cross. Through the new covenant, the Spirit of God overcomes our rebellion and resistance so that we can have an internal change of heart toward God. God did not start over with the new covenant but instead brought the old covenant to perfection. In chapter chapter 7: Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. When you chose to hold on to the hope of your salvation - Jesus himself - it is as if you drive a stake into the ground and hold on for dear life, so that when the winds of adversity or persecution come your way, you can hold steady without falling.... the soil we're digging into is the very word of God - wholly reliable and true. The stake of our hope is dug deep into the soil of God's promise to save completely. Perhaps the greatest truth I've learned in this year's devastating trial: It is not necessarily great faith or great courage that will get you through this (although that is what others no doubt will see). It is holding on to what you know is true baout God and refusing to let go).... To count it all joy when the joy is so deeply hidden may be the greatest challenge of all. Chapter 9 has probably one of the clearest, most concise list of reasons for why God allows suffering. First of all, suffering isn't punishment. God doesn't punish his followers! (He does discipline them, though like a father disciplines his children... Hebrews 12). "It will either distract our focus from Christ or intensify our focus on him." How do we know our suffering is not punishment for our sin? Because someone has already been punished for our sin. Isaiah 53:5 "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him." If suffering isn't punishment, was it it? 1) Some suffering is the natural consequences of our sinful choices and the sinful choices of others. Galations 6:7-8 A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction." 2) Some suffering is the natural result of living in a fallen, broken world. 3) Some suffering is the supernatural work of Satan (the book of Job).

Review # 2 was written on 2017-06-17 00:00:00 Anna Woody Great study of the book of Hebrews!