Comments on: Reasons To Have Hope You’ll Change

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:43:59 +0000

Thanks Sara!

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:14:02 +0000

Hey Mark and Stephen,

I bookmarked this entry because I wanted to look back at it and remember what my hope for change should be directed to and set upon. Thanks again for this post.

Sara

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:21:46 +0000

Hi Trillia!

Great to hear from you. I’m grateful the Lord would encourage you. I think a book a month is a great goal. You’ll learn a lot about the Lord through that exercise. Hope you and your family have a great year!

By: Trillia

Trillia — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:23:48 +0000

Your analogies are so funny Mark! Most of all this post helped encourage me to draw strength and grace from God for the tasks ahead of me this year!! I have a little reading challenge going on with some friends (and new ones who are just joining in on the fun). We are mostly moms challenging ourselves to read 1 book per month this year! I’m really looking forward to it! I believe God will help me and I look forward to learning more about Him through the books I read.

Stephen- I got your book! Thanks so much and thanks for writing a little note.

Happy New Year!!

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:56:27 +0000

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for taking the time to encourage Stephen and me through your kind words. Your thoughtfulness and comments are very meaningful to us.

Hey Bob,

So true. I regularly slip into relying on my own strength and abilities as well – I’m so glad to know that Jesus can even change us in the area of relying on ourselves. Have a great New Year!

Wendy,

Great insight – I really like the way you put it – “change my perspective (from running 18 miles a day to putting to death a sin) and the place that I am getting the power from (my own puny efforts to the all-powerful God of the Universe)”. Isn’t it wonderful to have such hope for change? Happy New Year!

YellerDaisies,

I like your idea of looking back to see where God has changed you! Everyone should regularly do this. “Many little things add up in a year. Small things that others may not even know or notice.” Brilliant!

Emily,

Thanks! I’m grateful God would use our peewee efforts to encourage you.

Hey Ron,

Amen! I too am “looking forward to a transforming 2009!” Thank you for all your encouraging comments! Happy New Year!

Thanks so much Megan. I’m so glad the Lord would use the post to encourage you.

Hey Rachel,

You are so welcome! Jesus is definitely going to change you! Keep trusting him as you are! Happy New Year!

By: Rachel Dulaney

Rachel Dulaney — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:55:08 +0000

Mark, thank you so much for the post. I’ve been struggling over the last few days to believe that I can change, but Christ is the one that will change in me. It is not of me at all! Thanks and happy new years!

By: Megan Liz

Megan Liz — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:25:51 +0000

Thank you so much for this post–I can’t say how encouraging it is to me! It gives me a whole new perspective on the word “change”…something I’ll try to remember for all of 2009 and longer.

By: Ron Reffett

Ron Reffett — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:12:28 +0000

Thank you Mark for such an encouraging post to close out 2008!
I am so thankful that God doesn’t expect us to have iron wills and incredible self discipline, if we did then we wouldn’t need Him like we do. I really needed to hear these truths today, I’m so thankful that even though i screw it up time and time again, God is so very faithful and is most glorified when I am most satisfied in Him. I’m looking forward to a transforming 2009!
Thanks again for the greatly encouraging words that you and Stephen place here, I’m really thankful for you both! I hope that you guys have a blessed New Year’s celebration, Here’s to an awesome 2009!
Blessings
Ron Reffett

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:42:53 +0000

thank you for this post. it was very encouraging.

By: YellerDaisies

YellerDaisies — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:33:55 +0000

Thanks for the past three posts. They’ve been so encouraging and helpful.
I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. Left to myself I don’t want to change a thing. But, in Christ all things are possible. Thanks for the reminder of Who works the change and Who has the power. My favorite thing to do on New Year’s Eve is to think how I was this time last year. What things has God changed? How am I more like Him now, then I was then. It typically is a pretty incredible and faith-producing activity. Many little things add up in a year. Small things that others may not even know or notice. But, I do. It really builds my faith in my all-powerful God. It makes me look forward to what He’ll do in my life in the coming year!