We at Garden of Hope love life and believe in providing compassionate care to support your pregnancy and physical needs. But, we would be leaving something very important out if we didn’t provide for spiritual needs too.
We all have a deep longing to understand the reason for our existence and where real hope comes from. Have you ever heard the difference between religion and relationship with God? Religion can often feel like a set of rules you are required to follow in order to be forgive and go to heaven. It can feel condemning and guilt based. For some, it meant that you were forced to go to church by a person and it didn’t feel like love. But, the bible actually tells us that we were created by God who is a Father that loves us. He designed each of us wonderfully and uniquely from any other person and in the likeness of His image. We all were born into our physical body and given the gift of life but because of the fall of the world through Adam we inherited a broken and sinful nature. But, we were also made for second birth, a spiritual birth that gives us newness of life. One way to explain it is by sharing “the bad news” and The Good News.
The bad news: The bible says that we each have been born into sin. It also says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Not one of us is righteous. We all like sheep have gone astray. Our sin separates us from God and the wages of sin is death. We see the effects of this sin through the wrong done against us, our own personal sin done in our thoughts and actions, the dysfunction of family relationships, and so much more all around us.
The Good and Great News: God loves us and knows us. He had a plan from the beginning that He would send His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be born as a baby (like you and me), live a perfect life on earth teaching, loving, and healing people. Then, He gave up His life on a cross. He took upon Himself the sin of the world, suffered, and died to pay off our sin debt in FULL. He became the perfect sacrifice. He Who knew no sin, became sin.
Then in three days, He rose from the dead. And by the same power Jesus was brought back to life, He offers us eternal forgiveness and newness of life. So, we first were given a physical birth – not by our choice. Now we are offered a spiritual birth – and it IS by choice. He gives us the freedom to choose to believe the most important choice of our lives.
The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life. The bible says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in our hearts that Christ Jesus raised from the dead – that we would be saved.
Has anyone ever invited you to trust Jesus as your LORD and Savior? Have you accepted His free gift of forgiveness and a restored life? Why would you not accept such a gift?
We at Garden of Hope Ministries are not ones to pressure but to tell, offer, and invite. It is the greatest news on earth to share! May all people know that He died for each of us personally and also globally for the sin of the world. When we understand that we are forgive, He gives us the power to forgive others. He gently pursues each of us like only a loving Father would and wants us to have real hope and trust in His promises.
If these words are speaking to your heart, you can pray right now. You don’t have to understand everything. Just say a simple prayer with simple faith like a child in the all-powerful God to begin a new or renewed personal relationship with Him.
Pray: Father God I believe you are who you say you are. I believe in you Jesus that you died and rose to forgive me of my sin and offer me eternal life. By faith, I trust you and turn to you and accept you as my LORD and Savior. Help me to know my sin, to confess it, and turn away from it and to know that you care. Help me to live for you. Amen.
Congratulations if you just prayed that prayer! Now you are no longer separated from God. It doesn’t mean here on this fallen earth you will live perfectly or not have any struggles. But, now He gives you the gift of His Holy Spirit to help you to walk in this new relationship with Him no longer bound by your old nature. And, when He returns or we pass before He returns we can have the assurance of going to heaven and one day being on the New Earth.
To grow in your understanding, It is helpful to spend time studying the bible with others that have known Jesus longer than you. It has been said that there are over 3000 promises in His word that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. He changes us from the inside out. In Him, we are given new purpose and identity with a different reason to love, live, and forgive. We should want others to know Him too.
WE would be happy to hear from you if prayed or if you have questions or comments.
Where love grows hope 