July 5, 2026

What Does Hope Look Like?

 We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

-- Hebrews 6:19 (HCSB)

What does hope look like? I'm not talking about a big theological debate. We know that Jesus is our hope. But what does it look like?

Sometimes hope means I don't have to always know the answer. I don't have to fix everything that is broken around me. That includes me.

Hope holds on tightly to the soul, to my soul, and says that today is enough. When I look too hard toward the distance, my chest tightens with anxiety and fear. I can't imagine what the days will become. I certainly never expected any of this.

Our nation is in turmoil, led by a liar who would be a king. We have forgotten how to disagree without hatred, violence, and bigotry.

Our Christian "values" have turned more toward bowing to a ruler that isn't Jesus. We tolerate everything Jesus fought against because our hearts fear change. What about us, we cry. But what about Jesus? What about hope that today is not the forever we long for.

The United Methodist Church split, both claiming theological issues. But how can we claim one verse over another? And how can we forget Paul's message to the Corinthians about loving each other? It was never intended to be the "wedding Scripture". It was meant to teach a church how to love one another even when we disagree.

Sometimes it feels like I lost my country and my church. Yet I gained something far more valuable. The hope I knew has become the anchor that settles my soul for the journey.

People leave. They lash out. They hold themselves up and yet push others down, telling everyone how right they are. It's so sad. Jesus said to love people. How is hatred and condemnation even in that conversation?

Yet, there is hope. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus. Anchor ourselves in His Word. Forget about the politics of life and those who preach words they do not live.

We have one King. One Lord. One Savior. He doesn't live in Washington, D.C. He doesn't reside in any particular church building. He lives in our hearts and He beckons us forward.

We are headed home. That is our hope and our secure foundation.

September 11, 2024

                          Where Were You?

And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

As the Alan Jackson song asks: Where were you when the world stopped turning? Most of us remember September 11, 2001 so well. Shock. Disbelief. Sorrow. Anger. Did you hit your knees in prayer?

And what about the day after? Were you kinder, more helpful to strangers? Did you let go of pettiness? Did you remember that we are One Nation, Under God?

Today is a beautiful, if sorrowful, reminder of what really matters. That’s the message Paul was trying to teach the Corinthians. This letter was to address a church in disarray. There was much finger pointing and arrogance. But accolades and bank accounts disappear. Disputes over who’s in charge and exactly how we should worship don’t really matter in the end.

Why do we hate each other simply because we have different views? Why do we use the Bible as a weapon, pulling verses out of context and spewing them at those who have a different point of view? When did we forget that we are ALL created in the image of God?

As I read my Bible today, I once again thanked Him for always telling the truth. God keeps His promises. God never leaves us – even when we leave Him. He loves us beyond anything we could ever imagine.

We are so quick to tell everyone to pray for revival and a return to God. What we really mean is that other people should become like us. We rarely understand that the journey to revival begins with the person we see in the mirror each day.

Where do we start? We begin by loving other people. Really loving them. Praying for eyes to see them as Jesus sees them. We cling to faith and hope in the middle of the turmoil that has seemed to engulf our great nation. We take each step forward with love in our hearts as we follow Jesus on our journey home.

July 25, 2019

Jesus Is There

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. – Psalm 27:10

The Bible was old and tattered, written in a language that was hard for me to understand. Still, I clung to it.

The suicide notes were written; my death planned out. Pain had numbed what was left of my heart. I was only 15 and, yet, all these years later I still remember the deep, wounding hurt.

I went outside still clutching my Bible, a remnant from childhood of the woman who hated me so, and sank into the grass. My tears were gone. My task was to survive until evening came.

I flipped open the Bible and looked down to read wherever my eyes landed. This verse drew me as I read it over and over again. God. He met me there in my brokenness, giving me a hope I didn’t feel and a purpose I couldn’t understand.

I wish I could say that life became perfect in the days and weeks that followed. It didn’t. My mother didn’t love or want me. It was a hard truth.

I wish I could say that I lived a perfect life, always pleasing God. I didn’t and I haven’t. Brokenness has a way of begetting more brokenness. That’s not an excuse but rather a fact. Recovery programs are littered with broken people. But there are just as many broken people who walk invisible amongst us each day. They carry their scars inside. They pretend so that others won’t see their pain.

My Bible today is littered with marks. Its easy-to-read words are highlighted and underlined. I cling to it whether times are good or bad. It tells the story of my life.

I don’t know your story. I don’t know your struggles or heartache. I don’t know your pain. But Jesus does. He meets us where we are. He comforts us, guides us, and fills us up inside. When the days are hard and the nights seem never-ending, call on Him. Don’t give up. Jesus is right there.

July 19, 2019

Keep Believing

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

She struggles physically and emotionally. It’s hard to find hope in a cycle that seems to never end.

She is haunted by past mistakes that have led her to this place. She has changed. The alcohol is gone. But her children remember. Adulthood hasn’t lessoned their trauma. One seems destined to repeat her mother’s story. The other tries, and fails, to hide his anger.

Have you been there? Maybe not the same circumstances but the same hopelessness? We find our hope in God but sometimes it’s just hard. It’s hard to keep believing. It’s hard to know He sees. It’s hard to see how anything can ever be different.

And then one day it is. One day the pain is a little less. One day laughter erupts again. One day you look around and are amazed at the miracles God performed while you were so caught up in your pain that you failed to see.

Don’t give up. Don’t give in. God loves you and has great things planned for you. Keep holding on. Keep praying. God knows what you need and in the right time He will provide.

July 9, 2019

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

One friend spends her days in physical agony as she awaits surgery. Another desperately tries to balance a job, an elderly mother and grandchildren. Still another friend watches her barely adult children make mistake after mistake, breaking her heart again and again.

Hope. This little thing we cling to when the way is uncertain and we can’t see the light for all the darkness. It’s the miracle that keeps us taking yet another step forward rather than giving in to despair.

I won’t throw out platitudes. Words can’t ease pain, whether that pain is physical or emotional. Sometimes onlookers make situations worse by trying to help. Some journeys are just hard. That’s a fact.

Here’s what I have learned: God is there. In the darkest night, God is there. When there is no hope left in your heart, God is there. When you don’t see a way, God is there. Miracles happen every day. Some are small steps forward. Some are amazing things you couldn’t ever have predicted. God is the source of them all.

I don’t know what you are facing today. I don’t know your struggle. But I do know the light remains. Keep hoping. Keep believing. And don’t ever give up. God is faithful. Always and forever. Trust Him. He won’t let you down.

December 29, 2018

There Is Hope

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. – Lamentations 3:21-26

Some days throw you down, stomp all over you, and lead you to a path you never planned to take. It doesn’t have to be a bad path. Sometimes change is good. But change isn’t easy. In fact, it can be hard and scary.

Have you ever known fear? Have you felt that racing heart, the sweaty palms, the frantic mind that threatens to consume you? It comes to most of us, whether we admit it or not.

Some people are consumed with fear at the thought of giving a speech. Others turn clammy during a job interview or a first date. Some people panic when they board an airplane. For others it’s a roller coaster or talking to a friend or co-worker about a disagreement.

When life seems more like a whirlwind that will consume us, we can take a deep breath and remember that God’s faithfulness never ends. No matter what else is going on, He stands with us. Our hope is found in Him, not the circumstances of our day.

We live in a frantic-paced world that tells us we must have it all right now. There is no pause button. There is no time to take a deep breath and just be. We have to keep moving forward or, surely, we’ll slide back to where we don’t want to be.

His compassions are new every morning. What does that even mean? God is sympathetic. He shows us pity and concern. He cares about our sufferings and misfortunes. He wants to help us. And therein lies our hope.

It’s that hope that reminds us good always follows the bad if we’ll only trust in God. It’s that hope that assures us God cares about our suffering and will carry us through until the light dawns again. It’s that hope we cling to in the midst of what sometimes seems like a never-ending storm.

Then one day the world shifts and hope dawns. Change comes. It’s scary and right and we are at once determined to grasp it mightily and to turn away from possible heartbreak. It’s that bridge between hope and fear. God is there.

We are not called to fear. We are not called to second best or the leftovers of someone else. We are called to the light, basking in God’s glory as His privileged children.  He is faithful.

I don’t know your story but I do know this: God can be trusted. When the darkness threatens to consume you, when fear gives you pause, look toward the light. That’s where you’ll find your hope.

December 10, 2018

Prophets

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. – Deuteronomy 18:15

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. – Hebrews 1:1-2

We think of prophets as those who lived in the times of the Old Testament. They shared God’s words, proclaiming judgment and telling the future. Could prophets exist today? Absolutely!

The dictionary defines prophet as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. These are not people who are clairvoyant. They aren’t people from the devil. They are God’s servants, proclaiming God’s Word.

Our pastor noted recently that there are many prophets in the storm-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast. There are many prophets in the fire-decimated areas of California. There are prophets who work with the homeless, those fighting depression, those suffering from illness and substance abuse and violence. We don’t call them prophets but they are most definitely teaching others about Jesus.

It’s the prophets’ job to help us see God’s grace. It’s their job to point us toward hope in any and all circumstances. They help us refocus on Jesus.

The Israelites, much like us, put their hope in what they could see. Jesus told them they would be persecuted, that they would be betrayed by those closest to them. He spoke of anguish and terror. He said that heaven and earth will pass away but His words never will.

We don’t want to hear His words. We trust in our homes, our families, our bank accounts. We are assured that we can handle whatever happens. Until the day that everything is gone and our lives are filled with destruction and pain.

The prophets come to remind us that though we have suffered we can survive. The prophets tell us that God loves us and will restore us. Prophets see Jesus in the worst of circumstances and steady us as we struggle with shattered faith.

Life isn’t so much about the mistakes we make or the circumstances that destroy what we once held dear as it is about how we cope with those situations. We all make mistakes. And horrible things happen that are beyond our control, like a wildfire or a hurricane.

How do you handle it? Do you avoid dealing with what happened? Do you attack others, turn to drugs or alcohol, or become dependent on another person or circumstance? Or do you pray and seek wise counsel? Do you adapt to your new circumstances? Do you fill your life with friends and music and exercise?

There are pastors and lay people who have flooded the areas hard-hit by storms and fires. Some of them are victims themselves. They offer real help in the form of food, shelter, clothing. But, more importantly, they offer hope. They remind us that while Jesus never promised an easy life, He did promise to be with us through every trial. Prophets remind us of the hope we find in Him.

December 9, 2018

Fear

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

– Isaiah 41:10

The Bible says “Do not fear” 365 times. That’s what the scholars tell us though I’ve never counted for myself. God knew we would need reassurance on a daily basis.

As I write this, a dear friend is fighting for her life. You know how it sometimes goes. A minor procedure leads to major surgery. All is good until, well, it isn’t. She was rushed back to the hospital and all we can do is wait and pray.

Fear dwells deep inside and mostly it is covered in faith. God is good, no matter the outcome of whatever is going on. We forget that sometimes. We’re quick to sound loud praises when the answer is what we want. We aren’t so quick to praise God when we’re afraid of what His answer might be.

But God is still good even when He says no. God is good when it hurts and seems unfair. God is good all the time. I am holding on to that right now.

I know about those terrifying ambulance rides. I understand the urgency in the emergency room, the frantic pace as doctors rush to figure it all out and save a life. I’ve kept vigil through the night, watching monitors, and praying for a healing that doesn’t always come.

And still there is hope. Because God is the Great Physician anything is possible. We don’t have to be afraid. He’s in control. Whatever happens, He’s with us.

There have been so many times I have sat silently alone, leaning on God for strength, comfort and peace. He never left me alone. He was there when the clock moved slowly through the night. He was there when the fatigue was so great I wasn’t sure I could make it through another moment. But I did – because God carried me when I couldn’t take another step.

My friends are there right now. My heart aches for them. I know they are surrounded by family and pastors. I know they rest in God’s embrace, she for healing and he for strength. I understand the fear even as you cling to hope in the storm.

So, I pray. Again and again I pray. Because while Satan is the author of fear, God is the author of peace and strength, of healing and hope.

The sweet truth is that my friend faces a win-win situation. If God chooses to heal her on this earth, she’ll have years more with her husband, children, friends. We’ll all be blessed by her presence with us.

If God chooses to heal her by calling her home, then she’ll wake up with Jesus. Can you even imagine the joy in that? We’ll be devastated, of course, but it won’t be goodbye forever. I am so thankful and grateful for that.

Fear wars with hope. God knew it would be that way. So He told us not to be afraid because He is with us. Hope. Yes. Let us cling to that.

December 2, 2018

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

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. We are preparing the way in our hearts for Jesus. We are filled with hope because the Messiah has come.

It’s easy to forget what Christmas is all about. Oh, we know what to say. We understand that it’s really Jesus’ birthday. We know it’s not about presents and tables laden with food. But, well, our actions frequently tell a different story.

Would Jesus make lists of gifts? What would that list look like? Would He tell us to be compassionate with those who have failed? Would He remind us to love those we don’t particularly like? Would He encourage us to give beyond what we’re comfortable with?

We are quick to say we love Jesus and want to serve Him. It’s just that we want to do it on our terms, with little to no sacrificing on our part. We just don’t want to be bothered too much with the work that needs to be done.

But doesn’t everyone deserve to know the hope that rests deep inside our hearts? Do we really think Jesus would have us pick and choose who we want to go to heaven? God loves everyone equally. He wants everyone to be saved by the blood of Christ.

Three years ago a sweet friend lost her son to cancer. She clings to the hope, the belief, the certainty, that she’ll see him again one day. It’s what gets her through the hard days when her heart aches for a child who never really got to be a man.

Have you lost someone you love? Do you know that ache that rests deep inside, that longing for those you’ll never again see on this earth? But we have hope that we’ll spend eternity with them. Jesus is the reason for that hope.

I love Christmas. I do. I love the trees and ornaments. I love the gifts and the desserts and the joy and laughter. People seem happier at Christmas, even those who don’t know Jesus. It’s like the world somehow understands that a Savior was born to save us all from our sins.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. – Romans 8:24-25

We long for what we haven’t yet seen, for a future that hasn’t yet unfolded for us. We strain toward the hope of Jesus, toward our eternal home, toward days without sorrow or tears.

Today is about hope. Share it with someone you know.

November 13, 2018

Hold On To Hope

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” – Genesis 9:13-15

As I write this, rain is pouring down outside. It rained much of last week. Predictions are for three very wet days this week. Flash flood watches and warnings are everywhere. A tornado watch rests over our area. We are weary and water-logged.

And yet the rain continues to fall.

Do you ever feel like that about your life? Does it ever seem like you’ve had one set back after another, one illness after another, one headache, one heartbreak, too many? And you wonder why and how you’ll ever make it through the valley.

A few years ago I walked with friends who were in such a valley. A son sick with cancer, a horrible disease that eventually took his life. A daughter that was in a wreck. A lightening strike on their house that took out all of their electrical devises. Medical expenses that were without end. And the fear. The all-consuming fear.

I found myself asking: How much more God? How can they withstand anymore? And, yet, they did. Faith does that for people. It sinks deep inside and provides roots that may sway and falter but that hold us up through the storms.

As the rain pours down, I can’t help but think of those along the coast and for miles inland. The victims of Hurricane Michael. Many live in tents now. Others struggle to keep tarps on their roofs and over holes where windows once were. Mold grows but they are effortless to stop it.

And I think: How much God? Their lives are shattered. Every thing around them is hard. It will be months before even basic services are available. Think in terms of water, sewage, electricity. Baths are a luxury. Food is basic and, usually, cold. These are people like you and I. They once sat in their cozy homes, relaxing in a recliner and watching television.

Or look at the news reports of the wildfires raging in California. Towns destroyed. People fleeing with nothing but their lives. And, sometimes, people losing their lives as their vehicles and homes are consumed with raging fires. How much God? People are hurting. How much can they stand?

And, yet, I am reminded that our safety and security doesn’t come from things which are so easily destroyed. Our security comes from God. Our safety rests in belonging to Him. Our rock, our shelter, in the storms that rage against us.

God sent a flood that destroyed every living thing on the earth except for those people and animals who were on the ark with Noah. Afterwards, God made a promise. The rainbow is a reminder of that promise.

No matter how much rain falls, the sun will shine on our land again. Towns will be rebuilt. Families will be restored to their homes. Hope comes in the form of a promise. It came to earth as a baby and died on a cross, only to rise again and live forever more.

I don’t know your struggle this day but I do know this: God holds you close in the storm. Hope reminds us that there are better days ahead. Look at the rainbow and remember. God is faithful. You really will be okay.

October 23, 2018

God is With You

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18

There’s a sadness about him. He’s solemn. The twinkle is gone from his eyes. His heart has learned what his mind always knew: The things of this world are only temporary. Only God is forever.

The things I always thought would be there are gone, he told me. Hurricane Michael showed no compassion, no sympathy, no mercy as it attacked. It was gone within hours of the initial onslaught. The scars – both on the land and the people who live there – will last forever.

How do you even begin to heal? There’s nothing to rebuild. It’s all rubble and fallen trees. Everywhere you look is devastation. It’s hard to make out where specific landmarks once stood. It’s just that bad.

And then, as you struggle to cope with what has happened, you hear that three linemen have died. They were mowed down by a man now charged with DUI. They were doing something good. They were working to restore power to people who have been without for more than two weeks. They were helping others and they died because of it.

How does it all make sense? We know that God will turn all things to our good and His glory if we’ll just turn it over to Him. But it’s hard to see good right now. It’s difficult to believe anything could ever be alright again. The weight of all that’s happened causes a burden in our souls.

I wonder how God felt when Jesus hung on the cross. It was necessary to save us but have you ever considered what it cost Him? That was His Son! And think about Jesus. He knew what was coming. He agonized over it. He pleaded for another way even as He surrendered His will to God the Father.

And, yet, we tell ourselves God doesn’t understand. We demand that Jesus fix what is broken on the outside, brushing past His offer to fix what is broken on the inside.

That’s where the healing begins. It’s on the inside. It’s choosing to look at the good in something that is too awful to bear. It’s that flicker of hope that lets light into the darkness.

It’s noticing how people are coming together to help those in need. It’s remembering what’s important in life. It’s noticing the beautiful sunrise or the healing touch of a gentle rain.

It’s remembering that no matter how alone we might feel, God never leaves us alone. It’s knowing that when we don’t know the way, God is right beside us telling us which way to go. It’s believing that even though we don’t know how life will ever be okay again, God has promised to provide good things for us.

Deep sadness changes us. We become stronger, our roots of faith, growing deeper into the strength of His Presence. But we are never the same.

My dear friend will one day be happy again. He will smile. His laughter and dry wit will return. But he’ll carry the sorrow of today deep inside. That’s where compassion takes root. In the years to come, he’ll understand the agony of someone else’s pain and he’ll be able to reach out in empathy. It’s the good that comes from the bad.

I don’t know your story but I do know this: God is with you, no matter where you are or what you’re going through. When everything else collapses around you, count on that. God will never let you down.

October 14, 2018

It’s All About Perspective

All the believers were together and had everything in common. – Acts 2:44

People met today to worship God. For some, it was another routine Sunday. They gathered in their sanctuaries and other buildings to sing and hear a sermon. Some complained about the temperature. Others noted the loudness of the music or the appropriateness of the pastor’s message.

There was another group of people who met today to worship God. They gathered outside, bringing their own chairs to sit in. The only music was what came from their voices. They listened intently to the pastor’s voice, desperate for a word of hope and thanksgiving.

They met outside because Hurricane Michael had ravaged the sanctuaries of the churches they once attended. They brought their own chairs, or sat on the ground, because there was nowhere else to sit. They weren’t concerned about how loud the music might be or how long the sermon went.

Priorities shift when the life you once knew is gone forever. They came today to hear that God always keeps His promises. God promises to turn bad into good if we’ll just hand it over to Him. God promises to never leave us. God promises to sustain us, to give us strength and courage, to show us the way.

God always keeps His promises. That’s what they were holding tightly to today.

The “church” in our world today means a building that houses worship services. But, actually, the church is the body of believers. It’s you and me. We are the church.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. – Ephesians 2:19-21

We get so caught up in comfort and control and things that really don’t matter. Sometimes it takes losing everything to refocus our lives on what’s important.

A dear woman posted today that it finally occurred to her that while she was whining about being without power, others have lost everything. It’s not just that their home and possessions are gone. They don’t have jobs anymore because their employer is gone too. She finally understood that while she was focused on her own discomfort, there was people who would give anything if electricity was all they were missing.

It’s all about focus, isn’t it? It comes down to what is truly important. People are important. Stuff, well, it can vanish quickly in the face of 150 mph winds.

Today people gathered to thank God for their lives. They thanked Him for volunteers and bottled water and so many other blessings. And they asked for courage as they cling to hope that one day this will all be a distant nightmare.

June 15, 2018

Jesus Gives Us Hope

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

– 2 Corinthians 4:5

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

– 2 Corinthians 4:10

It’s all about the ministry. We need volunteers. Everyone needs to pitch in. There are never enough people to do the work. As a Christian, we must participate in Kingdom work.

What exactly does that look like? Does it mean you must serve on two or more committees? Does it mean you must volunteer to pass out bulletins, rock babies in the nursery, be a chaperone on a youth trip? Maybe all of those and maybe none of them.

We can get so caught up in the busyness of serving Christ that we forget it’s not really about us. It’s about Jesus. It’s not about how many hours we volunteer or how much time we spend in Bible study. It’s about how we live our lives as we go about our daily activities.

There are so many people around us living without hope. What do they see when they look at us? Are we part of the chorus condemning them or are we kneeling beside them, offering them a lifeline called Jesus?

Or maybe we’re struggling under the weight of our own burdens. We’re worried about health issues, finances, wayward kids, job insecurities or any number of other things. We forget that it’s not up to us. Surely, we’re to do our part. But it’s the power of Christ within us that makes the seemingly impossible, possible.

We say we believe that, but do we really? We worry and stress about things we can’t control. It’s as though we don’t really trust God to make a way. We’re so busy scrambling that we miss His voice, His outstretched hand, His guiding light.

And we lose hope. We know it isn’t possible to do life on our own. We need something, someone, who can be depended on to help. Jesus. We need Jesus. And we need to share Him with this hurting world.

The message of Jesus, of hope, of light when all around us seems dark, is far bigger than we could ever be. God loves us. Really. Truly. He loves us. So much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins and to be resurrected so that those who believe could live with Him forever. How awesome is that?!

Your life is your ministry. It’s not about committees or church attendance. Those things are great but what matters most is your heart. Do others – your family, co-workers, neighbors, friends – see the light inside of you reflecting outward? Are you sharing your hope?

And do you realize this earth isn’t your home? That’s a big one. Because we act sometimes like we’re going to live forever, like we believe all those things we possess are more important than anything else. Or anyone else. That’s just sad.

Jesus is coming back one day. Those of us who believe in Him will live forever with Him. That’s our hope on dark days. That’s our guarantee no matter what this world brings. Share it. Every day live a life that shows others the light of Jesus. That’s your ministry.

March 31, 2018

Hope Is Coming

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. – Hebrews 6:19a

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. – Isaiah 53:3-4

Today is the day in between. We have suffered through Good Friday but we haven’t yet seen the miracle of the Resurrection. We our lost, alone, abandoned. Where is hope in the midst of our circumstances?

If you’ve never experienced deep betrayal, harsh words thrown at you, sudden illness, even death, then count yourself fortunate. Jesus warned us that in this world we would have trouble. We see it all around us. We ache from the pain that rips our hearts apart.

We forget that He also said, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We are not lost or alone or abandoned. Hope is coming. Jesus is coming. We just have to get through today.

In the deep valley, it’s sometimes hard to see the sun coming up on the horizon. We look around and see only darkness. The path is rocky, the way unclear. We have been abandoned, rejected by those closest to us. Lies surround us and we wonder if the truth will ever raise its head. It will. Hope is coming.

He was despised by those who didn’t understand. Jesus was mocked and ridiculed. He came to save us all from our sins but we wanted no part of it, of Him. We wanted to live and be a part of this world. We were greedy, arrogant even, in our demands. Until the moment it was all gone. Why did we fight so hard for something we were never meant to have?

This world is not our home. We hear that and nod in agreement. We know what we’re supposed to say, what we’re supposed to believe. Yet we live as though this is all there is. We puff up in self-importance, refusing to acknowledge that it was never about us.

Hope is coming. He hung from a cross. He died so you and I wouldn’t have to spend eternity separated from God. All we have to do is believe, to put our trust, our hope, in Him. Why is it so hard to let go of the things of the world in order to embrace the inheritance that awaits us in heaven?

Maybe we don’t really believe. We know the answers but our hearts tell a different story. Our actions push aside what really matters. We live with our eyes on the prize before us rather than the home that awaits us.

Hope is coming. Jesus was arrested, ridiculed, rejected and abandoned. And yet He loved us enough to conquer death and offer us a way to salvation. Hope in the midst of darkness. Hope in the midst of pain. Hope in the midst of rejection.

Reach out. Don’t you see? There is light just over the horizon. Hang on. Hope is coming.

March 27, 2016

Hope Rises Amidst Sorrow

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” -- John 20:15-17

Yesterday during the time when one day becomes the next, a life flight helicopter headed out to do what first responders do. They arrived at an accident scene, loaded a critically injured man on board, and lifted off. The helicopter crashed about ½ mile from the accident scene. All on board were killed.

Young lives gone in the seconds it takes for an aircraft to fall to the ground. I pray they all knew Jesus. I pray that in their grief, the families and friends of these four know with certainty that this heart-wrenching goodbye isn’t forever.

That’s what Jesus did for us. He defeated death so that all who know Him will have eternal life. On this Easter morning, hope has arrived. When we thought all was lost, hope spoke to our hearts. Jesus’ resurrection means that while our time here is temporary, our lives with Him are eternal.

Not long ago a man lamented his son’s lack of faith. The younger man doesn’t believe in Jesus and scoffs at the notion of needing a Savior. He doesn’t need to keep putting this off, the man said. He needs to know where he’s going when he dies.

I couldn’t speak for a moment. This man has been a Christian most of his life. I couldn’t stay silent. Well, I told him, your son may not know where he’s going but you do. He’s going to hell. Only those who believe in Jesus, who accept His gift of salvation, who believe in His resurrection, are going to heaven. Your son isn’t living in a neutral zone. He’s walking on a path to hell.

The man was shocked and couldn’t seem to find words. The truth is not always pretty. I wonder if we really stopped and considered that reality if we would be more open to presenting the gospel to the unsaved? We talk about choices -- and God did give us free will to make those choices -- but isn’t that just an excuse to not push the issue with an unbeliever?

Those four people on that helicopter never expected to die yesterday. The first was fortunate to survive a bad car wreck, only to die in a helicopter crash. The others -- a pilot, a nurse and a medic -- were doing what first responders do. They got a call and they went, in the middle of a rainy night, because someone else needed them.

We all need Jesus. We all need the hope this morning brings. Don’t wait to have that conversation with someone you care, someone who doesn’t share your hope. Tomorrow truly may never come.

March 26, 2016

Hope Rises From Darkness

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). -- Matthew 27:45-46

Hope is one of those elusive emotions. We hope life will be good. We hope things will turn around. We hope in many things.

Until the day we have no hope. We don’t think things will ever change. We believe we will always be sick or poor or alone. We are filled with darkness deep inside because we have no more hope.

Darkness fell over the earth that day. No one expected this, at least, no one who followed Jesus. They expected a conquering leader. A man who was God and thus could not die. And, yet, there He was hanging from a cross. Where was hope?

It’s what happens when our world shatters. It’s what happens when a once happy marriage lies in shambles or when a child falls into a drug addiction. It’s what we feel when our job is eliminated and we search for months and months to find any employment. It’s what lies deep inside when we bury someone we love way too early for death to have been a thought.

Hope. We become so lost in that great moment of sadness that we forget about hope. We forget that Sunday is coming. We forget that because of Jesus we do have tomorrow. He has not left us here as orphans but has created a path for us to go where He is.

And that changes everything.

We know that with God all things are possible. We are reminded that when we ask, if we believe, we will receive. We know that God wants good things for us. He reminds us that we can move mountains with our faith. Hope lives in Him.

Some days seem bleaker than the darkness that fell that day in Golgotha. Jesus cried out and as we read the words He quoted from Psalm 22 we ask the same of God. We feel lost, forsaken, and we cry out for an answer.

It comes on Sunday. His answer comes in an empty tomb. It is revealed in the garden and on the road to Emmaus. Jesus defeated death. Hope rose from the darkness. That is the priceless gift that awaits us -- on Sunday.

January 9, 2016

Hope Always In God

As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

-- Psalm 71:14

What are you secretly hoping for? You know what I’m talking about. That one thing you’re afraid to ask God for. Not that He can’t do it. Because you know that He can do anything. But what if He says no? Then what?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, -- Ephesians 3:20

Why are we afraid? Do we think maybe our request isn’t in alignment with His will? Do we feel selfish? Unworthy? Maybe a little bit of it all?

All these questions and where are the answers? On our knees. Being honest with a God who knows about it anyway. He knows us. He loves us. He wants only good things for His children.

His children. We are His children. That’s a scary thought sometimes. Not because of Him but because of the earthly fathers who have left their scars on our souls. Because of the families that are torn apart by greed and jealousy and hurts that can never be healed without His direct intervention.

And we are afraid to ask Him to heal our deepest hurts. To provide our secret desires. To make a way when no way seems possible. All around us the world says there’s just no way. Who are we to believe?

We are God’s children. We have a hope that is not of this world. We have a Father who created the world. He is greater than any enemy you could ever face. He can do anything and He wants good things for His children. Hold on to that.

Go boldly before His throne. Fall down on your knees with praise and thanksgiving. Present your requests to God. Let His peace surround you. Bathe yourself in His love. And hold on tightly to hope that can only be found in Him. (Philippians 4:6-7)

January 6, 2015

Hope in the Lord

 

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

-- Psalm 42:5

Another day in darkness. The stress is almost overwhelming. Almost. I pretend all is fine. Doesn't everyone? And yet the terror of what might come lies just beneath the surface.

I am afraid. I am not supposed to be afraid. It is lack of faith. Pure and simple. The Bible tells me again and again not to fear. God is with me. I know that. I do. But it doesn't feel that way.

Feelings have a way of going haywire. They're undependable and prone to exaggeration. I list the many, many things I have to be thankful for. I am grateful. I am. And yet here I am. Worried. Overwhelmed. Because I can't see a way and so far He's refusing to even show me a glimmer of hope.

And, yet, my hope is in Him. No matter the circumstances of my life. It is what keeps me going on these tough days, when others drain my time and energy. I desperately need to focus on earning money, on supporting myself, on taking care of my needs. Why am I the only one that can see that?
Why must I continue to sacrifice myself for a person who can't see beyond herself?

The answer isn't too hard. And it likely isn't what you think. I do it because I believe God has called me to this task. She doesn't deserve it but neither do I deserve what Jesus did for me.

Will I survive it? Probably not. I'll likely one day die from something entirely treatable because I put my needs last. Isn't that what we are told to do?

My soul is downcast. But I am reminded of the words of David. My hope is in the Lord. He can make a way even though I can't see a path. I trust Him. I don't trust anyone else but I trust Him. And He is all I need.

January 5, 2015

Hope In Jesus

 

In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."

-- Mark 7:25-29

Some seasons are just hard. You work and work and work. You dream and hope and you work some more. And nothing seems to change. Nothing. Things don't get worse but they don't get better either.

That's where the seeds of doubt are planted. Is this really where I'm supposed to be? Is this really what God has called me to do? Will God really make a way through this darkness?

I want to believe. I want to trust. But deep inside I am so aware that I don't deserve His help. I don't deserve His direction. I don't deserve His  love. And yet He gives freely to me.

I am so grateful. Always, so grateful. Even amid the doubts and indecision, I am thankful He is there. He hears my cries. I know He does. So where is He? I find myself looking desperately for just a word, a sign, some kind of movement that will reassure me that I'm on the right path.

Or not. Because He might close a door. But if He does, He'll open another path. I know that. Deep inside I know that. But some days it doesn't feel that way. Some days it seems as though I'm walking on a ledge, in danger of going over the side at any moment, and I'm not sure that He will catch me. Fear grips my soul and I struggle to push it down. He will catch me. I know He will. He promised and He always keeps His promises.

Faith. It's all about faith. Satan seeks to steal that from me. I refuse that path. I cry out. He is there. Always He is there.

October 29, 2014

Hope Can Be Elusive

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

-- Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes the mountain just seems so high, impossible to navigate. You cry out to God. Again and again. Silence. No help comes. Hope dims. Your Bible is ever present, your prayers desperate, pleading. Fatigue sets in. When will it end? Will it end?

The Bible tells us to hope in the Lord. We have Biblical hope. Those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior know that our future is with Him. We are saved. We are forgiven. We are surrounded by love and mercy. Hope. No matter who we are or what we've done.

Then there is the real life, day to day stresses that sometimes just seem so overwhelming. You beg God for just a shimmer of hope. Just something to go right. Just one break to show He's still there, still paying attention, still cares. Where is He?

God never leaves us. He never abandons us. He never gives up on us. And we shouldn't give up on Him. God has good plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans to give us hope and a future. Good things. Hope. A future. Hold on to that. When hope seems elusive, hold on to that.