Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on
Showing 4401 to 4425 of 4964 results
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... out of jail. He had nothing but a history of crime behind him and when he saw Jesus as his Savior he knew there was salvation and hope and joy for him. And he knew how much he needed that help. But look at me. I was taught from earliest infancy to live as a ... , we LEAVE FILLED with the grace of God born of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we COME EMPTY, we LEAVE FILLED with hope for ourselves and for the future. When we COME EMPTY, we LEAVE FILLED with love which mirrors God's unconditional love for us. ...
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... as their Savior and Messiah. It was as if they knew but didn't know. It was as if there was safety in the crowds. They could each remain anonymous in the mass of motion and sound and still shout their faith in Jesus. Or at least voice their hoped for faith in Jesus. The very air of the city that day was electric with anticipation and excitement. It was one of the most joyous and exciting events that ever took place in Jerusalem. But to John, standing below the cross and his Master, that day seemed so long ...
4403. If You Just Hold Up Your Head
Luke 18:1-8
Illustration
Staff
... and struggle ..." The next frame goes on: "... but if you just hold your head up high and keep on fighting, you'll triumph!" "Gee, do you really think so, Lucy?" Charlie asks. As she walks away Lucy says: "Frankly, no!" Hope is like that. We speak of it more often than we believe in it. Hope is not a strong word for us. It has more to do with "wishing" than "expecting." It has the sound of resignation, an inability to bring about, influence, or even believe that a desired event or goal might ever come to ...
4404. Do You Call That Nothing?
Luke 18:1-8
Illustration
Staff
... could have spared himself much sorrow if he had listened to them earlier. After such a long legal battle he was left with nothing. He replied, "Every night before falling asleep I've managed to win this case. Do you call that nothing?" Fraguier is asking a central question, "Is hope nothing?" is persistence nothing? Even in the face of impossible odds. His answer of course is, "No ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... is more powerful than fear. The month of December is one of the darkest months of the year. When we put up our Christmas lights we are affirming that the darkness shall never overcome the light. We are affirming those positive values of peace and justice and love and hope. Most of all we are affirming the presence of God in our world. As people of the light, our job is to make sure the light of Christ shines ever more brightly in this world of darkness. How do we do that? By continually walking in the light ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can “do” your nails with a pocket knife.” And here’s the clincher, “You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder,” he says, “men are happier.” (1) Well, I hope you men will do a better job this year. You still have a few days left to get prepared. Someone else published a list of “Things Wives Don’t Want To Hear Their Husbands Say On Christmas Day.” Here’s a few, just as fair warning: “You ...
4407. Worth a Thousand Points
Luke 18:9-14
Illustration
John P. Jewell
... a total of 402 points. Can you think of anything else?" The distressed guy strives to recall good deeds like the time he helped a little old lady across the street. He finally arrives at a grand total of 431 points and cries out... "I am sunk! There is no hope for me! What more could I have done? O Lord, all I can do is beg for your mercy!" "THAT," exclaims Peter, "Is a thousand points!" So also, the tax collector in Jesus' parable finds his ...
4408. The Transformation of a Hideous Beetle
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Illustration
O. Garfield Beckstrand, II
... knew that he had seen a miracle of nature. Out of the mud had come a beautiful new life. The thought occurred to him, if the Creator worked such wonders with the lowliest of creatures, what must be in store for his children created in his likeness! That is our hope and our victory on this day. That is our comfort and our peace.
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... ) as known by “word of mouth” or by the known letters circulated throughout the church. Although he has been addressing a theological threat and a potentially crushing schism, Paul’s final message in today’s text speaks of love and grace, comfort and hope. No matter how virulent or vengeful the attacks of the false teachers; no matter how far afield the faithful had been led: Paul’s final concern was for promoting the truth of the gospel and keeping Jesus’ disciples gathered into a loving faith ...
4410. Proper 6, Pentecost 4, Ordinary Time 11
Exodus 19:2-8a, Psalm 100:1-5, Matthew 9:35-38, Romans 5:1-8
Bulletin Aid
Amy C. Schifrin
... . Make them wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Clinging to you in all things, may their endurance serve as the channel of your righteous love. Forgive them their sins and by the power of your Spirit fill them with your life. Grant them a holy hope, that the great harvest to come is in your mighty and gracious hands. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Intercessory Prayer Before you begin the prayers, invite the gathered assembly to take out their wallets ...
4411. Christmas Eve & Day
Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-7, Titus 2:11-14
Bulletin Aid
Amy C. Schifrin
... and all-loving God who has guided us with gentle hands, All: awaken our spirits as you did for Mary. Leader: Bring us forward into the life of mercy and grace. All: Open our hearts to the cares of the world. Leader: Open us to look with hope. All: Illumine our lives that we may spread your love. Post-Communion Hymn Silent Night Benediction Leader: May the child born for us grow in our hearts, may his authority shape our lives and our world, and may his justice and righteousness transform our sorrows and our ...
4412. What Will You Do with Your Gift?
Matthew 3:13-17
Illustration
Susan R. Andrews
... just looked at her grain of rice for a long, long time - until she finally understood what to do with it. She went outside and planted it in the ground. And it became a seed, giving life beyond itself, eventually turning into vast fields of hope and nourishment for others. When the father returned years later, he asked his three daughters what they had done with their grains of rice. Though he was polite to his first two daughters, he did not respond to their explanations with much enthusiasm. It was ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... . A cold in the head was cured by kissing a mule’s nose. (3) Remember that, any of you who have the sniffles. Don’t reach for the Allerest®. Just look for a friendly mule. Now imagine, if you will, that into this primitive world where people had little hope of being cured by any other means came a man who could but speak a word and the blind could see and the lame walk. No wonder people believed that he was from God. Jesus healed people. We all believe that. The question is does he still heal people ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... we know him as teacher. Unless we have a relationship with God, the Beatitudes will seem most ludicrous. They fly in the face of everything that the world has taught us. The problem so often is that we put the cart before the horse. We study his teaching and hope that they will change us. The fact is that it is Christ who changes us. And, as we are changed, we adhere to his teachings. Thus, the Sermon on the Mount is the pattern of living for those who have received Christ as Savior. With this thought in ...
4415. The Language of God
Matthew 5:13-16
Illustration
Billy D. Strayhorn
... cat right in the eye and started barking like a dog. And do you know what? The cat was so startled and frightened that it jumped up and ran away! The mother mouse, wiped her brow, shook a little and then turned to her little mice and said, "Children, I hope you learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes it's good to know a second language!" It's the same way with us. It's good to know a second language. Salt and light are the language of God; the language of Grace; the language of ...
4416. A Light in the Darkness
Mt 5:13-20
Illustration
King Duncan
... the support of the institute's director, he was told again and again that he was too young to have created a workable alphabet for the blind. Years passed. This young man grew older, was made a teacher at the institute, and became a fine organist, always hoping that his method would find acceptance. But his health was frail. It was not until he lay in bed, dying of tuberculosis, that he heard that the first steps were being taken to popularize his system. Though he did not live to witness it, Louis Braille ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... your spiteful tongue or whatever there is in your life that could bring a blemish to your reputation or cause you to hurt someone else. And if you have already gotten yourself in a bad situation, remember that God is a God of healing and reconciliation. There is still hope if you are willing to yield to God’s control. Years ago, Dr. Charles Sheldon sat on the side of a hill at Winona Lake with a thousand other men and listened to the life story of the speaker on the platform. Here is what that speaker had ...
4418. Wrestling with God and Losing
John 9: 1-41
Illustration
Donald B. Strobe
... in your younger days you wrestled with the devil. Do you still do that?" "No," Father Macarius replied, "the devil has grown old, and so have I. I no longer struggle with the devil. Now I wrestle with God." "You wrestle with God?" said Kazantzakis. "You wrestle with God, and hope to win?" "No," said Father Macarius. "I wrestle with God, and I ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... felt the power of his presence. They have recognized him as “prophet.” The people are momentarily moved beyond their own concerns, their own agendas, and wish only to find a way to offer some adequate form of praise to this man who offers them hope and the promise of a different kind of future. The joy of prayers and praise overwhelm these ordinary people and they find themselves offering what they have, stripping the very clothes from their backs, in order to somehow show Jesus with their simple, yet ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... Manning to enter the Franciscan priesthood, he adopted a new name, as was the custom at ordination. Because of the sacrifice of his friend he took the name Brennan as his first name, thus he became Brennan Manning. Now you know the rest of the story. Brennan Manning hoped to live as sacrificially in the same way his friend had modeled for him. (6) Of course, this is the love that Christ modeled for us. It is the very love of God. We see love lived out in many areas of our secular world. The difference is ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... the world was Jesus himself. The “God of love” Paul proclaimed could not bear to watch the people of the earth live without hope, redemption, and love. God’s kiss, the kiss of love that all good parents bestow upon their children, took the form of the ... salvation to a world that is desperately in need of divine embrace: the touch of love, the touch of faith, the touch of hope. As disciples of Christ we have the calling and capability to offer a “first kiss” to everyone we meet. But first we have ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... , open-ended, never-ceasing, Spirit of adoption. Christianity is a perennial “open-season” on “open adoption.” All are welcome. All are offered the complete package of acceptance, forgiveness, and new life. All approach without hope. And all who confess Christ and embrace the “Spirit of adoption” and the “Spirit of Christ” are filled with new hope, with new life, and are re-born as “children of the heavenly Father.” [At this point you can pick up the ending song and conclude with it.]
Sermon
David E. Leininger
... , our living Lord, the same one who "ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty." This is the one who is ultimately in charge, and that, my friend, is a wonderful word of hope for you or me or anyone who has ever been drenched in the storms of life. It is a word of hope for this old world that says, "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail." 1. Mack Stokes quoted by James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1988), p. 73.
Sermon
David E. Leininger
... particularly civil to each other. We need to do better. So saying, that is not the point here. Actually, I would hope that could go without saying. Mark Twain said once that the church is a place where a nice respectable person stands in front of ... other nice, respectable people and urges them to be nicer and more respectable. I hope we offer more than that, and the "more" today is to encourage seeing all the diversity we have as a cause for celebration ...
Sermon
David E. Leininger
... of his, and when he did, his healing began. Can we get rid of our preconceptions of what God must do, when God must do, where God must do, how God must do? Naaman's attitude challenges our own response to circumstances in our lives. We all have hurts and hopes, and, like Naaman, we all have our ideas as to how God will handle them. The problem might be physical, or it could be something in our home or family or job or church. Yes, the healing of Naaman is a fun story - lots of neat twists and turns plus ...
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