Knitting Hearts Ministry Presents
Jesus – Our Hope, Our Anchor
Message by Debbie Dyches
Written by Sue Sanders
January 14, 2017
Pastor Sims blessed the KH’s Community ministry and prayed the opening prayer. He heard sounds of the abundance of rain and told us to get ready for the rainfall from God.
The flag team ministered as Lisa Salyards sang a song that told us not to be afraid of the giants in the way but instead to ask and see the hand of God in everything. Then we can watch the giants fall.
Joyce Sanders shared Scriptures from Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 137, and Psalm 42:5. The last Scripture asked the questions, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?” The verses admonish us to hope in God “for the help of His presence.” After sharing a word from Rev. Jack Hayford, Joyce made announcements and then led us to read the proclamation given to us by Pastor Satishe Raiborde. Diane Menzing made an announcement about the citywide prayer gathering for our government on Tuesday, January 26, 2017 at Betheseda Church of God.
The praise and worship team and flag team led us to sing praises unto our God. We decreed that our strength would arise as we waited on the everlasting God, the God who reigns forever, the One who is our Hope and our Strong Deliverer. We lifted our voices in unison to “How Great Is our God,” as we acknowledged the Godhead, three in one, Father, Spirit, Son, the Lion and the Lamb. The exalting of our God continued as we sang “The Greatness of our God” remembering the promise that nothing could ever separate us from His love.
Stephanie Wittig shared Scripture before presenting the drama, “The Alabaster Box.” She spoke concerning God’s delight in showing us mercy. Mary poured out her oil from the alabaster box, bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and then dried them with her hair. Stephanie poured out her praise on Him like oil from Mary’s alabaster box.
Debbie Dyches centered her message on Hebrews 6:13-19. Verse 19 was the key verse: “ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” She mentioned that 2016 had been one of the toughest years of her life. We all know that God’s Word tells us that we endure trials and tribulations as long as we live on this earth. As we begin a new year, we often make New Year’s resolutions. We look around us and get distressed when we see the troubles and horrors. Our nation is in utter chaos. Human trafficking is prevalent. Our own homes are not immune to difficulties. Many of us are facing seemingly impossible situations: addictions of varying kinds, suicides, turmoil, and depression. We cry out, “God, do we have any hope?” Hebrews reminded them and reminds us that although we are facing persecution, there is hope. We have an anchor for our souls.
God made a promise to Abraham. For many years he patiently endured and was obedient to God’s instructions. God promised Abraham that through him every nation would be blessed, and He made a covenant with him. Many years passed, and Abraham and Sarah had no child. They became impatient. Sarah gave Abraham her handmaid, Hagar, and as a result Ishmael was born. He, however, was not the son of promise. Many years later the Lord visited Sarah “as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.” Twenty-five years after the original promise, God gave Abraham and Sarah the son of promise, Isaac. God had promised, “I will make you exceeding fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.”
Since we are heirs of the promise, as believers every promise belongs to us. We need to believe that God’s promises are for us. Ephesians 1:13-14 declares that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, and He lives inside us. That means that I can have peace inside me that God is in control. I cry out to Him, “I trust You, God. I need You to help me, show me, teach me. . .comfort me. . .I need truth. Holy Spirit, please pray for me. I need You. . We have the promise that we cannot fail. God has already gone before us.” We know that we have problems, but instead of focusing on the problems, we need to focus on the promises. We can flee to Jesus, our refuge.
Perhaps, we are not like Abraham, but instead we are like Naomi. After losing her husband and two sons, she returned back to her homeland empty and bitter. When Naomi returned, she told everyone to call her bitter because she had no hope. Losing hope will cause you to make rash decisions and to push people away. God redeemed the situation and blessed Naomi. Her daughter-in-law Ruth married Boaz, and she bore a son, Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. God restored Naomi’s life and nourished her in her old age. He redeemed what Naomi had lost.
We all have problems. The problems are sure, but we have hope because Jesus is our anchor. In the storms of life, the anchor holds. We have to hold onto Jesus. An anchor is also used when the water is smooth. The ship will drift. The sailor has to let down the anchor to keep the ship steady. “Calm waters will cause a ship to drift.” We have to hold onto Jesus, our Anchor, through the storms and the calm.
Debbie shared some of her past. She was overweight for years, and as a result she had very low self-esteem. She said, “When you are starving, you will do anything. I was starved for attention. . .I longed for love from anyone, and this led me down destructive paths.” I married, but my husband was abusive. I believed lies and the negative words spoken over me. I had a four-year old and newborn when my husband packed up and left us. I had nothing. I lost my job because of cutbacks. I didn’t have any hope. I had to work five part-time jobs to take care of my children. I believed the lies that my children would be warped. I was convinced that my son would never know what it is to be a man and that my daughter would fall in the arms of any man who would offer her attention. Debbie declared, “I had to remember that God would make a way.” God did make a way when there seemed to be no way. Life was hard, but we made it through. My son and daughter are both successful, and thankfully they did not fall for the traps of the enemy.
She reiterated the focus of her message: “Don’t listen to the taunting of the enemy. Remember God’s promises and start quoting them. Jesus is hope, and He is the anchor for your soul. Don’t listen to the voices in your head. Don’t face this year afraid.”
Shelika Daniels shared a praise dance to a song that made the following declarations: “I have been touched, changed, healed, free from sin. Every shackle broke. Now I can live again. I’ve been restored; I’ve been renewed. I’ve come alive because of You. I’ve been set free.” The nuggets of truth in this song recapped the highlights of all aspects of our gathering.
Our time together ended with an altar call. Individuals responded and received anointed prayer.
Hearts United Women's Ministry 