Hope for Life

Yesterday, we talked about Biblical hope and how it is defined not as wishful thinking, but confident knowledge of guaranteed future events. I want to talk more about this hope because I want you to see that this very hope that we are talking about is hope that lasts.

In the Bible, hope is something that comes only when the Lord is at work. Hope came to Israel when they were in the wilderness when the cloud by day and the fire by night (both physical representations of the presence of the Lord with them) continued to lead them. Hope came to Israel again when their Messiah, Jesus Christ, came. Our hope is found in the fact that the grave is empty…Christ rose from the dead, and because of this, we no longer need to fear the grave, or death, or hell, or Satan, or anything else that seeks to dismay us.

God’s purposes for us include hope…guaranteed future blessings…that will help us to face even the most of uncertain times.

I remember when I had lost my job. The circumstances surrounding it were sketchy, but one of the things that I always knew is that God would honor my decision to do the right thing. And He did. I never lost hope, even when it seemed as if no one would give me a call back or another look. I was struggling at times when God made me wait, but the beautiful thing about it was that the waiting actually helped me to remember my hope.

So what are you dealing with today that is causing you to lose your hope? Remember that God has given you all the hope you need today because of what Jesus did on the cross, and in the power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead!

Think about that today, and God bless you!

Comment below about a time that you found hope in the midst of horrible circumstances!

Celebration Week 3

Well, we've made it through another week! Look back at the last seven days and rejoice! Celebrate the fact that God has put you in your current circumstance in order to prove His power in your life through your weaknesses. Celebrate that God has blessed you so much for the country that we live in and the prosperity we have been given...it is so much more than we deserve!

And celebrate that you are a child of the King of kings! He has adopted you into His family and you now know that Jesus is your Brother! Have a great day celebrating what He has done, and we'll see you on Sunday!

Don't Give Up!

We all face difficulty. We all face trials and set backs and disappointments. We all get knocked down from time to time. But the truth of the matter is that God, who is rich in mercy, offers grace.

Grace, theologically speaking, is defined as "God's unmerited favor." That's a good definition, but for me, not complete. Grace goes beyond just God's favor on my life. It is God's power at work in me to do the work He has called me to do.

Paul explains it very well in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. He talks about being given a "thorn in his flesh." What this was, we do not know, but he described it as "a messenger of Satan, to torment [him]". Paul goes on to tell us in this passage that he asked God three times to take it away from him. But God told him this, and I believe He says it to us as well; "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

That's the key folks. God's grace (His power at work in us to do the things He has called us and wants us to do) is sufficient to get the job done. And I believe from the rest of this chapter that God is in the habit of putting His people in situations where they are at their weakest so that His power can be more mightily on display!

So here is another reason to rejoice (as we talked about yesterday) and to press on and not give up! When the situations in our lives are at their darkest, God's grace is at its brightest! So keep going! Don't give up! And don't give in!

Please feel free to comment below or ask a question. And we'll see you Sunday!

Rejoicing in Circumstances

It has been said that our circumstances do not define who we are. I believe that is true because in no way can the things that happen to us make us who and what we are. Our reaction to them is what does that. And so we come to the reminder of our first challenge of the week.

What circumstance do you find yourself in this day? Are you unemployed or facing a downsizing situation at work? Are you in a relationship that is abusive or just not going where you think it should? Do you have an addiction that you just can't seem to get control over? May I remind you today that these things do not define who you are, but your reaction to them will define who you are.

So today, choose to rejoice in your circumstance, whether good or bad. Choose today to be the man, woman, young person that God has called you to be. Choose to obey God's Word rather than follow after human logic. Choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ our Lord rather than the footsteps of men and women who have taken shortcuts to get where they are.

Rejoice...no matter where God has placed you today, rejoice. Thank Him today, because in your circumstance, you can find joy...if you choose to see it.

Please feel free to comment below or ask a question. And we'll see you Sunday!