July 27, 2025 – CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday July 27TH 2025, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

Exactly 40 years ago today was a Saturday. I know that because the previous day was my flight’s 30TH and final weekday of USAF Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas. Most of us made it all the way through the 6½ weeks of life-changing experiences. Normally on the 31ST day you left Lackland AFB and headed for technical training at another base – or your first permanent duty station. But since it was a Saturday we had to stay in-place until the following Monday. I headed northward to Chanute AFB near Rantoul Illinois on that Monday.

That was a full 21 years before salvation in Christ started for me.

A few weeks ago here on #SundayScripture I began transcribing my original sermon that I preached to my church family in Homestead Florida on Sunday October 16TH 2022. The title of the sermon is “Blessings & Benedictions”, and it’s my 50TH sermon as identified on my SERMONS page.

Here’s Part 4:

I like Romans 15:13. I use this verse a lot (probably more than any other), and it’s the NIV – the New International Version. You know this one:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what’s that mean Chris ? Well – I’m so glad you asked:

Our God. He’s the God of hope. He’s the source of hope. He created hope. What’s hope ? It’s faith in God’s promises. I believe in who He says He is. I believe in all that He has done for me, and all that He is doing for me now, and all that He will do for me from this point forward – forever – eternally. I believe. I trust You Lord !

During Praise & Worship I played the video for “Fear Is A Liar”. The enemy is a liar. The devil is a liar. Satan is a liar. The opposite of fear – hope. God is hope. And so with God’s hope – you shall be filled completely with joy and peace. That’s God’s joy. That’s God’s peace. Without God’s hope – there is no joy and peace. But once you’ve got that joy and peace in your heart – you will overflow with abundant hope – by and through – the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s God in your heart.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That’s a great blessing to take out there into the world – where hope is lacking – where joy is needed – and where peace is rare.

(To be continued next week.)

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.