Hope

12 Gifts of Christmas / 5th Gift Hope

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. Matthew 12:20

A few years ago when we lived in the city of Scranton, a house in our neighborhood was condemned and slated for demolition. Ironically, the problems had nothing to do with the owner’s neglect, but with the home’s unfortunate luck to be near a large storm sewer project. During all the digging, smashing and scraping going on out in the street, the building’s foundation had cracked. The city quickly paid the owner for the damages and he moved out. Then shortly afterward, large equipment was brought and in just two days the house was completely demolished and all its rubble carted away.

Is there anyone in your world like this small unfortunate home? Maybe their lives have gotten a little too close to other people’s important building projects. The heavy equipment, the digging and smashing going on that is happening while others are reaching their goals has weakened their footings.  Problems beyond their control have wiped away in a few short hours an entire lifetime of family dinners, memories of children playing and hopes for the future.

The world specializes in wrecking hopes and dreams, but Jesus said that He would never break bruised hearts or put out flickering candles of hope. If during this Christmas season the wrecking ball of life comes to tear down our neighbor’s home, we have an opportunity to point them to the gift of hope we have found who was born in a manger. He still shines a light in darkness that no situation person or problem will ever be able to put out!

Hope in the Middle of Worry

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All our striving, worrying and stress comes from the mistaken belief that if we just tried a little harder or worked a little longer that we could win God favor. But Jesus Christ freely gives us rest for heart and soul as we discover in God alone our true acceptance and love and power to live for Him!

No matter what the world throws at us today or who wins the election – Jesus never changes. He is always the Good Shepherd and offers to be our friend. What is your answer to Him? This week’s song session includes Take my Life and Let it Be, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Near to the Heart of God. May God bless you richly with His peace so that even with the world in chaos around us we can have a message of the hope of Jesus Christ.

A Landscape of Hope!

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

But I say, love your enemies!Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 NLT  

This morning Deandra who writes Imago Dei on WordPress got me thinking about the issue of complaining. (I have done more than my fair share) and how it affects our lives and my initial comment on her blog led me to an entire post. So thank you Deandra and here is my story of hope for complainers like me. The link to her post is here…

https://deandrahurst.com/2020/07/09/a-thankless-job-part-2/

Back when I worked as an apprentice landscaper I had a boss named Al who specialized in making me crazy. When I struggled making a straight line on the edge of a flower bed   he’d say, “That looks like a dog’s breakfast!” Or he’d take a look at the bush I had just trimmed, snatch the tool from my hand and re-trim it then give the tool back and ask; “What are you Polish?”

One night when I was bringing my complaint session about Al home to my wife, God began to convict my heart that I needed to be praying instead of griping. Even though I wasn’t a bit excited about the idea I knew it was the right thing to do. So I began with short prayers like, “Bless Al and his family.”  Now it would be great to say that immediately things got better; but the reality was that at first I just didn’t get so mad about his remarks. Also my own attitude started changing and I began to try harder to improve my work.

The best day happened some months later when just Al and I were working together on a job out in the country. At noon Al glanced at his watch and said “Go ahead and take lunch. I’m just going to keep working.” So I sat down on a big rock and opened my lunch pail and saw an entire loaf of my wife’s home made zucchini bread. “Hey Al, don’t you have anything to eat?” I asked. “Don’t worry I‘ll get something later.”  “Hey, at least take five minutes and try some of my wife’s home made zucchini bread.” I insisted. It didn’t take much to convince him to sit down and try a sample. “Wow! That’s amazing!” he mumbled between bites as I shared my extra bottle of water with him to wash it down. My life wasn’t perfect after that lunch, but breaking bread with Al gave me hope. I had hope because I saw that God cares about changing tough circumstances and difficult people. I knew it- because he changed me. Now that’s a landscape of hope!