5 for These Strange Ashes*

1. It didn’t BEGIN like we would imagine (Luke 2:9-12)

2. It doesn’t FEEL like what we’d hoped (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
3. It isn’t where we hoped we’d be (Hebrews 11:13-16)
4. It won’t END the way we’re thinking (Isaiah 64:3-4)
5. It IS what it is (James 1:2-4)

*These Strange Ashes: Is God Still in Control by Elisabeth Elliott- the book exams challenges to faith in dark times

5 for the Great Hope of Glory

1. The WORD is life-giving (Romans 15:4)
2. The CALLING carries revitalization (Ephesians 1:18)
3. The mystery is an ongoing REVELATION (Colossians 1:27)
4. The WELCOME will be worth it (Matthew 25:21)
5. The future is beyond BELIEF! (1 Corinthians 2:9)

5 for the Good Wait

1. HOPE is on the way (Lamentations 3:22-25)
2. UNDERSTANDING is on the way (Daniel 10:12)
3. COMFORT is on the way (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
4. STRENGTH is on the way (Isaiah 40:29-31)
5. RELIEF is on the way! (Psalm 20:6-9)

5 for Being a Prisoner of Hope

1. Imprisonment is PREPARATION (Genesis 39:20-23; 41:14-16, 39-41)
2. Be captive to the PROMISE (Ephesians 3:11-13; Ephesians 4:1-3)
3. HOPE does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5)
4. Never stop PRAISING, people are listening (Acts 16:25-31)

5. A DOUBLE PORTION awaits! (Zechariah 9:12)

 

5 for Reinforced Remembrance

1. A bunch of marching trumpet players collapsed a city wall (Joshua 6:2-5)
2. A widow with empty jars provided for a prophet (2 Kings 4:1-7)
3. A boy with lunch fed a multitude on a hillside (John 6:9-13)
4. A shepherd with cheese felled a giant (1 Samuel 17:12-18)
5. SPEAK those things that are not as though they are! (Romans 4:17)

5 for Overcoming

1. Obstacles are overcome with COURAGE (Joshua 1:5-7)
2. Obstacles are overcome with BOLDNESS (Hebrews 4:16)
3. Obstacles are overcome with GRACE (Zechariah 4:7)
4. Obstacles are overcome with FAITH (Matthew 21:21)
5. Obstacles are overcome with PRAYER! (Luke 11:8)

5 for the Eve of the Everlasting

1. IMPORTANCE can start as insignificance (Micah 5:2)
2. DESTINY is often cloaked in disruption (Luke 2:1-19)
3. POWER begins with humility (Isaiah 9:6-7)
4. REDEMPTION has roots in rejection (Isaiah 53:2-5)
5. GLORY can shine through insufficiency (Luke 2:7)

5 for the Anticipated Day

1. Keep FOCUSED knowing who has given you the task (Nehemiah 4:4-6)
2. Keep PRAYING knowing He is listening (Nehemiah 4:14)
3. Keep WATCH, knowing the enemy is relentless (Nehemiah 4:9)
4. Keep PERSEVERING, knowing you are not alone (Nehemiah 4:19-23)
5. Keep PRAISING, He is Who He says He is! (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

5 for the Long Pause

1. Be MINDFUL, it’s not about you (Isaiah 50:4-5)

2. Be WATCHING, remember the promises (Habakkuk 2:1-4)
3. Be OBSERVANT, this is a unique opportunity (Habakkuk 1:5)
4. Be PATIENT, His timing has purpose (2 Peter 3:9)
5. Be STILL! He IS who He says He is (Psalm 46:10)

5 for Unto Us

1. Unto us, an INHERITANCE (Colossians 3:24)

2. Unto us, a HEALER (Isaiah 53:3-5)
3. Unto us, a PROTECTOR (1 Peter 1:5)
4. Unto us, a COMFORTER (John 16:6-8)
5. Unto us, A SAVIOR! (Luke 2:10-11)

5 for Edifying Encouragement

1. Be encouraged, He will honor your commitment to serve (Hebrews 6:10-11)

2. Be encouraged, His knowledge of the situation is more than adequate (Isaiah 55:8-9)
3. Be encouraged, the One with you is greater than all against you (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
4. Be encouraged, your story is not over yet (Revelation 21:4-5)
5. Be encouraged, NOTHING is too hard for Him! (Genesis 18:12-14; Jeremiah 32:27)

5 for Creativity

1. He gives the gift of CREATIVE DESIGN

2. He prepares a CREATIVE PLAN (Ephesians 2:10)
3. He provides an AUDIENCE for my particular gift (Proverbs 22:29)
4. He encourages me to PRACTICE my GIFT (1 Timothy 4:14-15)
5. I will engage and ENJOY the creative process (Colossians 3:23-24)

5 for Audacity

1. Your God-given GIFTS have brought notice (Proverbs 18:16)

2. He has scheduled this APPOINTED time (Esther 4:14)
3. Simple errands call for COURAGEOUS responses (1 Samuel 17:17-18)
4. Fight FROM a place of victory , not for a place of victory (2 Corinthians 2:14)
5. It's not about you! (Genesis 50:20)

5 for Anticipated Angst

1. Eagerly ENGAGE, He is accessible (Hebrews 4:16)
2. CAST YOUR CARES to the One who cares (1 Peter 5:7)
3. Grasp with GRATITUDE (Philippians 4:6)
4. Pass on protocol, PRAY (Psalm 32:6-7)
5. He KNOWS! (Hebrews 6:10) 

5 in the Midst of the Maelstrom

1. There is WISDOM in this wilderness (Isaiah 45:2-3)
2. SEEK a new perspective on the situation (Psalm 61:1-4)
3. Be assured He is PRESENT (Isaiah 43:1-5)
4. Even in the valley, receive REST (Psalm 23:3-4)

5. THIS TOO shall pass, it did not come to stay! (1 Peter 5:10)

 

5 for the Coming Change

1. He knows more than we do, STILL (Isaiah 55:8-9)

2. He is on the throne, STILL (Psalm 2:1-6)
3. He maintains a remnant, STILL (1 Kings 19:18)
4. He holds all things together, STILL (Colossians 1:17)
5. He paid the price for all, STILL (John 3:16-17)

5 for No Matter What!

1. No matter the past, PRESS ON (Philippians 3:13-14)

2. No matter the problem, PRAISE (Romans 5:3-5)
3. No matter the present trial, have FAITH (Romans 8:28)
4. No matter the outcome, BELIEVE (Daniel 3:17-18)
5. No matter what, KNOW He keeps His promises (Genesis 15:2-6)

5 for the Weary and Weak

1. His PURPOSE is a promise for the weary (Isaiah 35:3)

2. The Word SUSTAINS when weary of news (Isaiah 50:4)
3. KEEP ON keeping on (Galatians 6:9)
4. He is a CALM REFUGE from the battle (Psalm 46:1)
5. In Him is REST (Matthew 11:28)

5 to Power Through

1. Keep going, the Wilderness has lessons (Deuteronomy 8:2-7)
2. Keep going, the prison has purpose (Genesis 50:19-20)
3. Keep going, the enemy is defeated (Joshua 6:15)
4. Keep going, it makes a difference (Nehemiah 2:20)

5. Keep going, keep going, KEEP GOING! (Isaiah 49:29-31)

 

5 for Dissipating Distraction

1. PROXIMITY is discerned in peril (Psalm 34:18)
2. Watch for TREASURES, they are revealed without distraction (Isaiah 45:3)
3. He SHARES intimacies for proclamation (Matthew 10:27)
4. Deliverance occurs THROUGH circumstance - not out of (Isaiah 43:1-5)

5. Clouds are the dust of His feet! (Nahum 1:3)

 

5 for the Impassioned Pause

1. In the watch there is WISDOM (Psalm 130:5-7)
2. In waiting STRENGTH is given (Isaiah 40:29-31)
3. Be STILL, hearing is amplified (Psalm 46:10)
4. Stay RIGHTEOUS in the refrain (Hosea 12:6)

5. Within the pause, PRAISE! (Psalm 40:1-3)

 

5 for Reward Reaping

1. PREPARATION has a pay off (Hosea 10:12)

2. PLANT with purpose (Galatians 6:8-10)
3. BELIEVING bears rewards (Hebrews 11:6)
4. FAITHFUL farming is a witness (3 John 1:5-6)
5. PRAY! THIS harvest is humongous!! (Matthew 9:36-38)

5 for Leaning on the Everlasting

1. ACCESS was purchased (Hebrews 4:16)

2. POWER is accessible (Romans 8:11)
3. PROTECTION is provided (Psalm 91:7-10)
4. The OUTCOME is determined (Isaiah 54:16-17)
5. PRESENCE is guaranteed (Matthew 28:20)

5 for the Speck of Light (at the end of the Tunnel)*

1. May your sorrow stumble on a SURPRISE

2. May your anxiety uncover a beautiful ASTONISHMENT
3. May your grief reveal something GREAT
4. May your depression discover the DEPTH of His LOVE
5. May your despair show you He is DEPENDABLE!

5 for Never Too Late

1. I may have sorrows but He promises change in perspective - hope for THIS day (Psalm 30:5)
2. He has shown me a new WAY (Heb 10:20)
3. He has given me a new HEART (Ezekiel 11:19)
4. One day EVERYTHING will be made new (Rev 21:5)

5. It is never too late for Him to begin a NEW work (Isaiah 43:19)

 

5 for the Answer of Assurance

1. Even if ... hope seems lost (John 11:32-43; Psalm 116:15)

2. Even if ... there is an unseen purpose (Genesis 50:20; Job 1:8-22)
3. Even if ... hold on to the promise (Hebrews 11:13-16; 36-40)
4. Even if ... the unexpected is asked (Ezekiel 24:16-24)
5. Even if ... KEEP THE FAITH (Daniel 3:18)

5 for the Winter of Our Discontent

1. Don’t stop BELIEVING, He knows you’re weary (Mark 9:22-24)
2. Don’t stop HOPING, the Miracle Maker is still in control (Hebrews 11:17-19)
3. Don’t stop HELPING, the harvest is coming (Galatians 6:9-10)
4. Don’t stop GIVING, sacrifice is pleasing (Acts 10:4; Revelation 8:1-5)

5. Don’t stop PRAYING, the answer is on the way! (Daniel 9:23; 10:12-14)

 

5 for the "As Yet"

1. Keep the faith, He’s a LOVING FATHER (Isaiah 49:14-16)
2. Keep the faith, He’s a POWERFUL PROTECTOR (Daniel 6:22-23)
3. Keep the faith, He’s a COVENANT KEEPER (Genesis 15:5-7)
4. Keep the faith, He’s a REWARDER (Hebrews 11:1; 6)

5. Keep the faith, He DELIGHTS in you!! (Matthew 8:5-13)

 

5 for Unsettling News

1. It is NOT what it feels like (John 11:21-43)
2. ALL of our days are numbered (Psalm 139:16)
3. Pain has a PURPOSE (1 Peter 5:10)
4. He is PRESENT, He knows (John 14:18; Psalm 147:3)

5. He has a PLAN, it is not Plan B (Isaiah46:10)

 

5 for Stalwart Serenity

1. He protected completely for the exhibition of OBEDIENCE (Daniel 3:17-18; 26-27)
2. He felled an unconquerable enemy by FAITHFUL COURAGE (1 Samuel 17:36; 45-47)
3. He named a weakling a WARRIOR to manifest His might (Judges 6:12; 7:4-7;15-16)
4. He constrained certain death on behalf of a PRAYERFUL servant (Daniel 6:16-22)

5. He turned unspeakable loss into ETERNAL REDEMPTION (Luke 24:48)