**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Our imaginations are amazing. How quickly our mind turns to fear is record-breaking. And then fear leads us. It leads us down unhealthy paths of destructive thinking, down the road of no returns and into pits of despair. Fear leads us chaos and hopelessness, then it makes a home there. We cannot imagine a way out and we desperately need one.
We need light. We need light that is not from us but from another. We need truth, hope and light. God is with us, he sees us, will not abandon us and can overcome our greatest fears.
We need friends to remind us that God's goodness is greater than our fears. When fear engulfs ask for light. Ask God, ask others. Allow light to pierce through the darkness and overwhelm the fear in your mind, heart and soul.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Hoping with Others
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
“Hope is a strong and confident trust,
given by the Holy Spirit and nurtured in life experience, that God, who has
promised good to us and all creation, makes good on his promises through Jesus’
coming and coming again.” - Leighton Ford
We need God to give us hope. We need others to hold onto hope for us. To hope is not a solo effort, we need others and others need us.
Often we cannot hope for ourselves. We see no way out and cannot see much light in the darkness. We are barely holding on by a thread and so a friend offers their hand, they offer to hold onto the light, the hope that they can see brightly.
When we cannot see others can see that God will make good on his promises. No one can know when he will but we live with the vision that he will ultimately when he comes again.
Are you struggling to hold onto hope? Who can hold onto hope for you?
Or maybe someone around you needs you to hold onto hope for them. Hold on for them.
Often we cannot hope for ourselves. We see no way out and cannot see much light in the darkness. We are barely holding on by a thread and so a friend offers their hand, they offer to hold onto the light, the hope that they can see brightly.
When we cannot see others can see that God will make good on his promises. No one can know when he will but we live with the vision that he will ultimately when he comes again.
Are you struggling to hold onto hope? Who can hold onto hope for you?
Or maybe someone around you needs you to hold onto hope for them. Hold on for them.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, December 2, 2013
We Hope ...
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
We begin the Advent season with Hope. We hope because we need it. We hope because sometimes that is all we can do. We can hope because our hope is based on a person, on Jesus, the one who's coming we prepare for.
Even as our hope is based on the love, life, death and resurrection of Christ we still sometimes struggle.
Hope often wanes when we worry, when we look towards the future and see no way out, as we experience pain and loss. Hope wanes as we see and suffer injustices. Hope struggles as it seems there is more evil than good in the world.
Hope requires waiting, it requires trust and it demands blindness. Hoping is not easy ... yet it is true.
It is true because it is found in a person, it is found in Christ whose coming we celebrate and whose second coming provides us a vision of re-creation, all things made new, our hope being fulfilled.
So I invite you to Hope. Hope in the one that can fulfill all our hopes and leads us to live lives of hope.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
We begin the Advent season with Hope. We hope because we need it. We hope because sometimes that is all we can do. We can hope because our hope is based on a person, on Jesus, the one who's coming we prepare for.
Even as our hope is based on the love, life, death and resurrection of Christ we still sometimes struggle.
Hope often wanes when we worry, when we look towards the future and see no way out, as we experience pain and loss. Hope wanes as we see and suffer injustices. Hope struggles as it seems there is more evil than good in the world.
Hope requires waiting, it requires trust and it demands blindness. Hoping is not easy ... yet it is true.
It is true because it is found in a person, it is found in Christ whose coming we celebrate and whose second coming provides us a vision of re-creation, all things made new, our hope being fulfilled.
So I invite you to Hope. Hope in the one that can fulfill all our hopes and leads us to live lives of hope.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, September 9, 2013
Good Will Overcome
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Some days it is hard to believe that good will win, that good will overcome evil. So many days it seems like evil is taking over, that we should expect more evil than good and that goodness will not make it.
Some days our faith dwindles and we cannot see how good will come through, how God will come through. Some days we are grasping for any evidence of goodness and we hold on by a thread.
Today, may God give you the grace to hope and the faith to believe. May your hope increase and your faith grow even in the seeming absence of goodness.
Good will overcome.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Some days it is hard to believe that good will win, that good will overcome evil. So many days it seems like evil is taking over, that we should expect more evil than good and that goodness will not make it.
Some days our faith dwindles and we cannot see how good will come through, how God will come through. Some days we are grasping for any evidence of goodness and we hold on by a thread.
Today, may God give you the grace to hope and the faith to believe. May your hope increase and your faith grow even in the seeming absence of goodness.
Good will overcome.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, September 2, 2013
Words for the Weary
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
If you have been given the privilege of strength or the energy to walk with God today then lift up the weary. If you can hear God’s voice and see his hands at work, encourage those who cannot. For the sake of others, take to notice God and notice him on behalf of others. Listen for his voice in your life and theirs.
This listening doesn’t come as a way of manipulation, control or accomplishment of your plans. This listening doesn’t lead to offer an empty hope, but a hope that is realistic, realizes life is hard and that God is good. This listening comes in order that you might encourage, in the right moment and with the right amount. This listening turns into an uplifting word.
So many are weary, how can you listen to God and lift them up?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
If you have been given the privilege of strength or the energy to walk with God today then lift up the weary. If you can hear God’s voice and see his hands at work, encourage those who cannot. For the sake of others, take to notice God and notice him on behalf of others. Listen for his voice in your life and theirs.
This listening doesn’t come as a way of manipulation, control or accomplishment of your plans. This listening doesn’t lead to offer an empty hope, but a hope that is realistic, realizes life is hard and that God is good. This listening comes in order that you might encourage, in the right moment and with the right amount. This listening turns into an uplifting word.
So many are weary, how can you listen to God and lift them up?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Hope ... More than a Feeling
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
I have heard many describe hope as a feeling. Yes, hope can be a feeling, yet it is so much more.
For someone whose feelings go up and down quite regularly, if I based my hope solely on my feelings then I would be a mess. Hope as a feeling may make us feel better but it is not solid, it wavers and in this life, I need hope to be strong.
Hope is based on a person. It is based on the actions because of the love of this person. Hope is based on one sacrificing their life for mine. It is based on the surrender of their life for the sake of my life. Hope is based on the promises and work of God. It is a gift given to us that has a strong foundation based on unwavering promises and words.
More than a feeling, hope steadies us and grounds us.
Is your hope more than a feeling?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
I have heard many describe hope as a feeling. Yes, hope can be a feeling, yet it is so much more.
For someone whose feelings go up and down quite regularly, if I based my hope solely on my feelings then I would be a mess. Hope as a feeling may make us feel better but it is not solid, it wavers and in this life, I need hope to be strong.
Hope is based on a person. It is based on the actions because of the love of this person. Hope is based on one sacrificing their life for mine. It is based on the surrender of their life for the sake of my life. Hope is based on the promises and work of God. It is a gift given to us that has a strong foundation based on unwavering promises and words.
More than a feeling, hope steadies us and grounds us.
Is your hope more than a feeling?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Soul Surgery
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
There are times in life when it feels as if God is doing surgery on your heart. He is piercing, cutting and going deep. It may even seem than He has forgotten the anesthesia as you feel each cut and push. During these times it is hard just to breathe.
He cuts, pushes and digs deep and when you think He’s gone far enough He digs some more.
Some of you are going through a time of soul surgery. It is messy, it is painful and you have no clue when this Master Surgeon will finish. You hope it is soon.
As you lay under the knife, be still. Rest under the care of the Master Surgeon, the one who perfectly and lovingly cuts, never performing an unnecessary surgery and using the gentlest of care.
Be still, hope and have a good cry.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
There are times in life when it feels as if God is doing surgery on your heart. He is piercing, cutting and going deep. It may even seem than He has forgotten the anesthesia as you feel each cut and push. During these times it is hard just to breathe.
He cuts, pushes and digs deep and when you think He’s gone far enough He digs some more.
Some of you are going through a time of soul surgery. It is messy, it is painful and you have no clue when this Master Surgeon will finish. You hope it is soon.
As you lay under the knife, be still. Rest under the care of the Master Surgeon, the one who perfectly and lovingly cuts, never performing an unnecessary surgery and using the gentlest of care.
Be still, hope and have a good cry.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, April 15, 2013
Faithfulness
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
It is so encouraging to read and hear of God's faithfulness! Being reminded of God's faithfulness encourages me to keep going, to persevering and to trust God's goodness.
We need to hear stories of God's faithfulness over and over again. It is so easy to grow weary, to lose hope and stories are reminders of God's goodness and that He is faithful.
These stories are found throughout the Bible and they are also found in the stories of Christians who lived before us in biographies. These stories can also be found today.
Have you heard a story of God's faithfulness in the life of another recently? How does their story encourage you and give you hope?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
It is so encouraging to read and hear of God's faithfulness! Being reminded of God's faithfulness encourages me to keep going, to persevering and to trust God's goodness.
We need to hear stories of God's faithfulness over and over again. It is so easy to grow weary, to lose hope and stories are reminders of God's goodness and that He is faithful.
These stories are found throughout the Bible and they are also found in the stories of Christians who lived before us in biographies. These stories can also be found today.
Have you heard a story of God's faithfulness in the life of another recently? How does their story encourage you and give you hope?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, March 29, 2013
The Death of a Dream
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
A few months ago a good friend of mine used the phrase, “The Death of a Dream”. This phrase was also used in my chaplain training when referring to the loss of a child. Of course, there are many layers of grief in death; these are just the first places I heard of grieving the “death of a dream”.
We all have dreams, we imagine what something will be like, and then it doesn’t come true. We think we know how something will turn out and it turns out the opposite of what we expected. The men on the road to Emmaus after Jesus death said to Him, “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21) (Jesus was in fact standing there before them but they could not see him … they could not see the miracle of resurrection … yet.)
All of us have had hopes, expectations and dreams that did not turn out like we hoped, expected or dreamed. Our dream has died and we grieve. The men on the road to Emmaus were grieving. One truth I gain from them is this: resurrection is sometimes standing right in front of us. God can resurrect anything and sometimes resurrection is standing in front of us and we just cannot see it. We do not have the promise that resurrection will come in our lifetime (although I do wish there was a three day turn around on any death) but we have the promise that Jesus is with us. And maybe, just maybe resurrection is before us we just cannot see it.
My prayer is this: That God would give us the grace to see resurrection. He was, after all, the one that opened the eyes of the men on the road. That we would grieve well that which we dreamed of that we do not ignore the pain of death. That we would also look up with expectation that Jesus who rose from the dead can also raise our dreams up from the dead. And as He does we would trust His timing and would have eyes open wide enough to see the miracle of resurrection.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
A few months ago a good friend of mine used the phrase, “The Death of a Dream”. This phrase was also used in my chaplain training when referring to the loss of a child. Of course, there are many layers of grief in death; these are just the first places I heard of grieving the “death of a dream”.
We all have dreams, we imagine what something will be like, and then it doesn’t come true. We think we know how something will turn out and it turns out the opposite of what we expected. The men on the road to Emmaus after Jesus death said to Him, “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21) (Jesus was in fact standing there before them but they could not see him … they could not see the miracle of resurrection … yet.)
All of us have had hopes, expectations and dreams that did not turn out like we hoped, expected or dreamed. Our dream has died and we grieve. The men on the road to Emmaus were grieving. One truth I gain from them is this: resurrection is sometimes standing right in front of us. God can resurrect anything and sometimes resurrection is standing in front of us and we just cannot see it. We do not have the promise that resurrection will come in our lifetime (although I do wish there was a three day turn around on any death) but we have the promise that Jesus is with us. And maybe, just maybe resurrection is before us we just cannot see it.
My prayer is this: That God would give us the grace to see resurrection. He was, after all, the one that opened the eyes of the men on the road. That we would grieve well that which we dreamed of that we do not ignore the pain of death. That we would also look up with expectation that Jesus who rose from the dead can also raise our dreams up from the dead. And as He does we would trust His timing and would have eyes open wide enough to see the miracle of resurrection.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, March 21, 2013
God Keeps His Promises
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
God keeps His promises. He is good, He is in control. His promises bring great freedom.
His promises include (and are not limited to) unconditional love, great hope, great joy, that He is good, that He knows your heart, that He created you just like He wanted you, that He delights in you and that He will never leave you.
Will you believe His promises today?
**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**
God keeps His promises. He is good, He is in control. His promises bring great freedom.
His promises include (and are not limited to) unconditional love, great hope, great joy, that He is good, that He knows your heart, that He created you just like He wanted you, that He delights in you and that He will never leave you.
Will you believe His promises today?
**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
While You Wait
**Sit quietly, eyes closed in silence for one minute before reading.**
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I
would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the
LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm
27:13-14
These verses in Psalm 27 are some of my favorite in all of Scripture. I love them because they speak of hope, of God’s goodness on earth, of the reality that it is difficult to wait and that we need to choose to take courage and stand strong. They are a summation of life as we wait for redemption, for healing and ultimately for the LORD.
The reason we do not despair is because we believe and trust in God’s goodness. The challenge to be strong, take courage and wait (mentioned twice!) shows that it is difficult to do just those things. To wait for redemption and healing from God has its ups and downs, its moments of despair and moments of great hope. Mostly it is waiting, waiting and trusting.
May these verses encourage you today as you wait on the Lord.
These verses in Psalm 27 are some of my favorite in all of Scripture. I love them because they speak of hope, of God’s goodness on earth, of the reality that it is difficult to wait and that we need to choose to take courage and stand strong. They are a summation of life as we wait for redemption, for healing and ultimately for the LORD.
The reason we do not despair is because we believe and trust in God’s goodness. The challenge to be strong, take courage and wait (mentioned twice!) shows that it is difficult to do just those things. To wait for redemption and healing from God has its ups and downs, its moments of despair and moments of great hope. Mostly it is waiting, waiting and trusting.
May these verses encourage you today as you wait on the Lord.
**Sit again in quiet for as long as is available to you.**
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
"When God, when?"
**Sit quietly, eyes closed, for one minute before reading.**
“God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, Ecclesiastes 3:11a
At times it is nearly impossible to see how this verse makes sense, how it is true. We cannot imagine how God can bring together suffering, challenges or even evil to make something beautiful.
It is often difficult to see how God can take a million puzzle pieces and fit them together into something beautiful. We cannot imagine what beautiful picture He is working towards and why He is taking so long. So, equally as difficult is waiting for the time in which these pieces will come together. “When God, when?”, we ask.
When will He heal our daughter? When will He return our brother home? When will our parents stop fighting? When will He stop the chaos of abuse, violence, exploitation, war? “When God, when?”, we ask.
In our heart wrenching request to know when, God works with the final picture in mind. He sees the picture of what is to come and asks us to hope and to trust. Hope for that which we cannot see through trusting Him. Trust. There it is again. Not easy.
What are the puzzle pieces in your life that you are wondering about? How is your heart in the waiting?
Is there something in your life that you cannot imagine being redeemed into something beautiful? Talk to God, let Him know, ask Him for faith and allow Him to meet you.
**Sit again in quiet for as long as is available to you.**
“God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, Ecclesiastes 3:11a
At times it is nearly impossible to see how this verse makes sense, how it is true. We cannot imagine how God can bring together suffering, challenges or even evil to make something beautiful.
It is often difficult to see how God can take a million puzzle pieces and fit them together into something beautiful. We cannot imagine what beautiful picture He is working towards and why He is taking so long. So, equally as difficult is waiting for the time in which these pieces will come together. “When God, when?”, we ask.
When will He heal our daughter? When will He return our brother home? When will our parents stop fighting? When will He stop the chaos of abuse, violence, exploitation, war? “When God, when?”, we ask.
In our heart wrenching request to know when, God works with the final picture in mind. He sees the picture of what is to come and asks us to hope and to trust. Hope for that which we cannot see through trusting Him. Trust. There it is again. Not easy.
What are the puzzle pieces in your life that you are wondering about? How is your heart in the waiting?
Is there something in your life that you cannot imagine being redeemed into something beautiful? Talk to God, let Him know, ask Him for faith and allow Him to meet you.
**Sit again in quiet for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Hoping Without the Details
**Sit quietly for one minute before beginning to read.**
A friend and I were recently having coffee and both sharing our separate stories regarding our feelings of fragmentation in our lives. There are bits and pieces of our lives happening but we do not know how it will come together or if it will all come together. We do not know how one thing will fit with another or why even we might be doing some of the things that we are doing now.
We are both highly intentional people. We do not just do things just to do them, we have ideas, purpose and vision yet we feel lost, in limbo, waiting for the puzzle pieces to fit.
In the midst of all this we have to hope. And this hope is without details. We have no idea how things will come together or when they will (and we wonder if they will) we hope it does. Somehow, even if we cannot see it we hope that God, the Master weaver, will not leave any part of us out but will bring everything together. We have to hope based on God’s goodness which includes that He has not left us. We cannot see any details but we hope. We hope because God is good, He is loving and He is sovereign.
**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**
A friend and I were recently having coffee and both sharing our separate stories regarding our feelings of fragmentation in our lives. There are bits and pieces of our lives happening but we do not know how it will come together or if it will all come together. We do not know how one thing will fit with another or why even we might be doing some of the things that we are doing now.
We are both highly intentional people. We do not just do things just to do them, we have ideas, purpose and vision yet we feel lost, in limbo, waiting for the puzzle pieces to fit.
In the midst of all this we have to hope. And this hope is without details. We have no idea how things will come together or when they will (and we wonder if they will) we hope it does. Somehow, even if we cannot see it we hope that God, the Master weaver, will not leave any part of us out but will bring everything together. We have to hope based on God’s goodness which includes that He has not left us. We cannot see any details but we hope. We hope because God is good, He is loving and He is sovereign.
**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Call to Hope
**Before you begin reading, sit
down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
Earlier I asked you to consider how God may be calling you to prepare for the arrival of His Son, Jesus. We’ve considered hope this week. Hope that is based in the promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus and requires that we wait.
Today I want you to consider the call to hope in the promises of God not only for yourself but for another. There are times when our hope is stronger than another’s, we have an easier time trusting God and believing Him. There are times when others are struggling to hope and to believe God. Can you think of someone now who needs you to hold onto hope for them? In preparing for the coming of Jesus, consider now how you can help another hope, whether they know Jesus or not. One way is to hold onto hope for them – hold onto the promises of God and tell them that you are doing so.
Receive this benediction as we conclude this week of Hope:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
Earlier I asked you to consider how God may be calling you to prepare for the arrival of His Son, Jesus. We’ve considered hope this week. Hope that is based in the promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus and requires that we wait.
Today I want you to consider the call to hope in the promises of God not only for yourself but for another. There are times when our hope is stronger than another’s, we have an easier time trusting God and believing Him. There are times when others are struggling to hope and to believe God. Can you think of someone now who needs you to hold onto hope for them? In preparing for the coming of Jesus, consider now how you can help another hope, whether they know Jesus or not. One way is to hold onto hope for them – hold onto the promises of God and tell them that you are doing so.
Receive this benediction as we conclude this week of Hope:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Hoping is Hard
**Before you begin reading, sit
down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
It is not always easy to hope. Even if you base your hope on God’s promises, hoping is difficult. Hope requires waiting, hope requires not knowing the answers, hope demands blindness. Hope requires that we trust over and over again. It requires that we believe that God is good and that He knows what He is doing.
Hoping is not only hard but hoping hurts. It hurts because we know God’s promises and have experienced some of them but we have not experienced all of them and may not until His second coming. So we hurt while we hope.
My friend Leighton Ford describes hope as “a strong and confident trust, given by the Holy Spirit and nurtured in life experience, that God, who has promised good to us and all creation, makes good on his promises through Jesus’ coming and coming again”. Yes, God makes good on His promises and it starts with Jesus’ first coming, His birth. We then wait, we wait and hope for His coming again.
It is not easy, but God has given us hope now through Jesus’ birth and we look forward to the thrill of hope with Jesus’ second coming.
It is not always easy to hope. Even if you base your hope on God’s promises, hoping is difficult. Hope requires waiting, hope requires not knowing the answers, hope demands blindness. Hope requires that we trust over and over again. It requires that we believe that God is good and that He knows what He is doing.
Hoping is not only hard but hoping hurts. It hurts because we know God’s promises and have experienced some of them but we have not experienced all of them and may not until His second coming. So we hurt while we hope.
My friend Leighton Ford describes hope as “a strong and confident trust, given by the Holy Spirit and nurtured in life experience, that God, who has promised good to us and all creation, makes good on his promises through Jesus’ coming and coming again”. Yes, God makes good on His promises and it starts with Jesus’ first coming, His birth. We then wait, we wait and hope for His coming again.
It is not easy, but God has given us hope now through Jesus’ birth and we look forward to the thrill of hope with Jesus’ second coming.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A Hopeful Hymn
**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices and yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn” – O Holy Night
O
Holy Night is
one of my favorite hymns. It always reminds me of my college years which I
absolutely loved. (If you went to Texas Tech, you know what I am talking
about!). This verse from the popular hymn touches something inside each one of
us.
We can all relate to weariness and the longing for hope that it brings. We want a break, some rest. We rejoice at the THRILL that hope is as we consider the coming of Jesus – the breaking dawn that He is. The specific hope we have is that we longer have to strive to be reconciled with God. Our weariness in trying to reconcile with God is met with the promise of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. This is the new and glorious morn that is coming.
So, whether you are weary from life, weary from trying to strive to win God’s approval, weary from distance from God for whatever reason, there is reason to HOPE – Jesus is coming and with Him comes the glorious morning – a new day.
Sit today with this hymn, listen to a version of it wherever you can find it. Sit and meditate on this line from O Holy Night and let it resonate with your soul.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
We can all relate to weariness and the longing for hope that it brings. We want a break, some rest. We rejoice at the THRILL that hope is as we consider the coming of Jesus – the breaking dawn that He is. The specific hope we have is that we longer have to strive to be reconciled with God. Our weariness in trying to reconcile with God is met with the promise of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. This is the new and glorious morn that is coming.
So, whether you are weary from life, weary from trying to strive to win God’s approval, weary from distance from God for whatever reason, there is reason to HOPE – Jesus is coming and with Him comes the glorious morning – a new day.
Sit today with this hymn, listen to a version of it wherever you can find it. Sit and meditate on this line from O Holy Night and let it resonate with your soul.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Foundation of our Hope
**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. – Psalm 119:114
We hope for many things and place our hope in many things. If you think about it our hope is quite scattered and does not always have the strongest foundation. I love to daydream, picture a glorious moment or a great feeling. Many times these daydreams are hope, wishes and dreams but are not based in reality. Often when these dreams do not come to fruition I get disappointed. Quite a bit of energy spent on something that is not real!
The hope that I want you to consider is a hope that is based in the promises of God. Hope that is based in God’s word and ultimately hope that is placed in the person of Jesus.
Henri Nouwen says that hope is open-ended, fulfilled according to the promises [of God] and not just according to our wishes. I had never thought about basing ALL my hopes on God’s promises. Some of my hopes are based on God’s promises and others are wishful thinking. Hoping is more than wishful thinking, it is based on the promises of God. This hope does not disappoint. A hope based on my wishes alone will most likely disappoint but hope based on promises, found in God’s Word, will never disappoint. Read God’s word, become familiar with His promises. Promises create hope and you can hope in God’s promises!
This Advent, THE Word became flesh in Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of our greatest hope.
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. – Psalm 119:114
We hope for many things and place our hope in many things. If you think about it our hope is quite scattered and does not always have the strongest foundation. I love to daydream, picture a glorious moment or a great feeling. Many times these daydreams are hope, wishes and dreams but are not based in reality. Often when these dreams do not come to fruition I get disappointed. Quite a bit of energy spent on something that is not real!
The hope that I want you to consider is a hope that is based in the promises of God. Hope that is based in God’s word and ultimately hope that is placed in the person of Jesus.
Henri Nouwen says that hope is open-ended, fulfilled according to the promises [of God] and not just according to our wishes. I had never thought about basing ALL my hopes on God’s promises. Some of my hopes are based on God’s promises and others are wishful thinking. Hoping is more than wishful thinking, it is based on the promises of God. This hope does not disappoint. A hope based on my wishes alone will most likely disappoint but hope based on promises, found in God’s Word, will never disappoint. Read God’s word, become familiar with His promises. Promises create hope and you can hope in God’s promises!
This Advent, THE Word became flesh in Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of our greatest hope.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Monday, December 3, 2012
Advent Hope
**Before you begin reading, sit
down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
Advent is defined as “coming” or “arrival”. As we consider the Advent season of Christmas we look forward to the coming and arrival of Jesus.
In the midst of other Christmas traditions, there is God’s call to sit, listen and prepare for the arrival of Jesus. I confess that I probably spend more time preparing for the arrival of a house guest than I do for Jesus.
In Christian tradition there are four themes of Advent which include Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Various churches focus on these themes in the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and in various orders. I am following the order of our church and will start with Hope.
Consider how God may be calling you to prepare for the arrival of His Son, Jesus through Hope.
Spend time in prayer today focusing on Hope. Ask God to show you whatever He would like you to see in relation to Hope and Jesus.
Advent is defined as “coming” or “arrival”. As we consider the Advent season of Christmas we look forward to the coming and arrival of Jesus.
In the midst of other Christmas traditions, there is God’s call to sit, listen and prepare for the arrival of Jesus. I confess that I probably spend more time preparing for the arrival of a house guest than I do for Jesus.
In Christian tradition there are four themes of Advent which include Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Various churches focus on these themes in the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and in various orders. I am following the order of our church and will start with Hope.
Consider how God may be calling you to prepare for the arrival of His Son, Jesus through Hope.
Spend time in prayer today focusing on Hope. Ask God to show you whatever He would like you to see in relation to Hope and Jesus.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Faith, Love and Hope
**Before you begin reading, sit
down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
“We always thank God for all of
you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and
Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your
endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– The Apostle Paul, 1
Thessalonians 1:2-3
Who are you thankful for? Who do you consistently mention in your prayers?
I love the idea of continually remembering those who are living their lives for God. It is in their faith, their love and their hope that they serve. Their work, their labor and their endurance is a by-product of their faith, their love and their hope. The people who live this way inspire, encourage and challenge me. They remind me that working, laboring and enduring well are a result of faith and trust in God, love of God and others and hope in Christ. So many times I have it the other way around and forget that it begins with faith, love and hope. This cuts to my heart and brings me to tears as I write.
May your prayers today be filled with those who have provided amazing examples of walking a life of faith, love and hope because of Christ. May our lives also become examples to others of walking in faith, love and hope.
Who are you thankful for? Who do you consistently mention in your prayers?
I love the idea of continually remembering those who are living their lives for God. It is in their faith, their love and their hope that they serve. Their work, their labor and their endurance is a by-product of their faith, their love and their hope. The people who live this way inspire, encourage and challenge me. They remind me that working, laboring and enduring well are a result of faith and trust in God, love of God and others and hope in Christ. So many times I have it the other way around and forget that it begins with faith, love and hope. This cuts to my heart and brings me to tears as I write.
May your prayers today be filled with those who have provided amazing examples of walking a life of faith, love and hope because of Christ. May our lives also become examples to others of walking in faith, love and hope.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Storing Up Hope
**Before you begin reading, sit
down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**
Hope begins with faith in God and the belief that He is both good and sovereign (i.e. in control). Hope is based in the character of God, that He is love. It is seen in His faithfulness, in His generosity, in His sacrifice, in His mercy. We store up hope by trusting that God is who He says He is (He is love) and by trusting that He is in control.
Our hope begins to wane as we worry, as we look into the future and see no way out, as we experience pain and loss. Our hope is attacked by the reality that life can be difficult, injustices exist and we see more evil that good, more hate than love.
So how do we store up hope? How do we replace worry and anxiety with hope? We read, we remember and we respond. We read stories of God’s goodness and sovereignty in the Bible. We remember His good and sovereign acts. We respond by choosing to believe these things.
What stories have you read and can you read? What can you remember? Choose to respond in belief. If you’re struggling, talk to God, talk to a friend. It’s okay, but do not give up trying to store up hope.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
Hope begins with faith in God and the belief that He is both good and sovereign (i.e. in control). Hope is based in the character of God, that He is love. It is seen in His faithfulness, in His generosity, in His sacrifice, in His mercy. We store up hope by trusting that God is who He says He is (He is love) and by trusting that He is in control.
Our hope begins to wane as we worry, as we look into the future and see no way out, as we experience pain and loss. Our hope is attacked by the reality that life can be difficult, injustices exist and we see more evil that good, more hate than love.
So how do we store up hope? How do we replace worry and anxiety with hope? We read, we remember and we respond. We read stories of God’s goodness and sovereignty in the Bible. We remember His good and sovereign acts. We respond by choosing to believe these things.
What stories have you read and can you read? What can you remember? Choose to respond in belief. If you’re struggling, talk to God, talk to a friend. It’s okay, but do not give up trying to store up hope.
**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**
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