hope – Page 4 – Fortress of Hope Ministries

The holidays are difficult when we focus on the desire to have all the family together. However, the reality is that most families are never ever really all together. For many families, someone is always absent. It’s the absence of someone we love during a special time that hurts. Some have loved ones who graduated to heaven leaving a void that cannot be filled. Others are separated due to military duties. Or there are the first responders (ER doctors &…

God’s Resurrection Power

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

The month after the news of my son’s arrest, I attended a Christian writers and speakers conference. Before the arrest, I looked forward to this conference. After the arrest, I forced myself to go since all the expenses were paid in advance. Amazingly, the Lord met me there and loved on me through His faithful servants. After giving my speech and receiving my evaluation, the evaluator took a few minutes to minister to each person personally. It was one…

Never Give Up!

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

When circumstances look the darkest, don’t give up! There’s a cliché that says, “winners never quit and quitters never win.” If you want to win, continue to fight the good fight of faith. Six years ago, when we received the news that our son was arrested in connection with a tragedy, we went into shock. Yet, even in the state of shock, we grabbed hold of the truths of God’s Word and His promises for our family. When we recently…

Revive Your Dream

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

We all have dreams and desires. When we marry, we dream of the happily-ever-after life and all that comes with living with the person we love. When we have children, we dream of them growing up and becoming the next great leader, inventor, doctor and such. When life turns in an unexpected direction, what about our dreams? Did we miss God? In Genesis 37, we read about how Joseph dreamed that his brothers would bow down to him. Not just…

Enduring the Storm

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

In life, we experience storms and floods. And those in Southeast Texas and Louisiana are in the midst of it and Tropical Storm Harvey does not seem to be relenting. When the storms and floods come, we must continue to press into prayer. Those who are not in it must rise up and pray for those who are. Let’s pray: Lord, we ask for Your hedge of protection over those who live in the area where the waters are rising.…

God’s Amazing Handiwork

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

The Lord God our Creator is amazing. His work cries out His glory. Look around you and what do you see that astonishes you? Today, Monday, August 21, 2017, is the total solar eclipse in America. Who else could orchestrate such a majestic display other than our God? People have traveled from all around the world to line up along the path of the total solar eclipse to view this magnificent display. For me, and I hope for you, it…

The Hole

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

Most readers of this blog attend church on a regular basis. Which is a good thing. But take a moment to think about the kind of programs your church offers to foster spiritual growth and development. Perhaps your church offers: Ladies Bible study Men’s Bible study Meals for the infirmed Mother’s Day out MOPS AWANAs Divorce care Celebrate Recovery Prison ministry About prisoners, according to the Prison Policy Initiative…. “The American criminal justice system holds more than 2.3 million people…

God Remembers You

Shonda Savage Whitworth

hope

In a previous post, I wrote about Resolve to Trust God where we looked at Joseph’s life. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. After about a decade of slavery, his master’s wife accused him of attempted rape. That false accusation landed Joseph in prison. Both as a slave and as a prisoner, Joseph trusted God. That is evident as God’s favor was upon Joseph. (See Gen 39:21.) While in prison, the Lord was with Joseph and whatever Joseph…

Resolve to Trust God

Shonda Savage Whitworth

General, hope

Joseph’s brothers despised him because he was their father’s favorite of the twelve. Because of their father’s open partiality, the brothers hated Joseph and would not even say a kind word to him. Then one night Joseph shared a dream with his brothers. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” (Genesis 37:7 NLT) Well, this stirred up Joseph’s brothers’ hatred…

Welcome to Fortress of Hope

Shonda Savage Whitworth

General, hope

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! When I received that middle of the night phone call that my son had been arrested, it was my next to the worst nightmare. Then following year, my son was convicted and sentenced to prison. After being in church for about 15 years, I turned to the first place I knew to turn to when there’s trouble–the church. However, my church, though loving and compassionate, did not know what to do for me. Then…