HOPE

Scripture tells us that distress and suffering brings about perserverance and when we perservere we build character and from character comes hope; do you believe that?  If one perserveres for a long time do we hold on to our hope or does hope evade us?  At what point do we just throw in the towel and say "enough is enough?"
Romans 5:5 tells us that "hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Let us then not give up on life or give in to sin but rather surrender to a Higher Power and give our trials and tribulations over to God who loves each and everyone of us.  A God that loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us and by His death upon the cross Jesus has given us hope for a better life yet to come. 

Remember in the immortal words of Alexander Pope "Hope springs eternal."

Its a journey

The father of aerobic exercise Dr. Kenneth Cooper has a saying that "getting fit and staying fit are not a destination but a journey;" as I am finding out again.  Losing weight, trying to maintain one's sobriety being a Christian are all one in the same, journies.

I can't think and become thin, it takes hard work and exercise.  I can't race through the "12 steps" and believe that I'm forever free of my addiction.  I can't go to church one Sunday and walk with Christ on Monday.  It takes time to achieve these things.

I found myself unable to give God an hour a day, and I'm retired with not much to do.  God doesn't want us to be "part-timers" but He wants all of us all of the time.  He knows we're a work in progress and He's more then willing to wait as long as we're committed to the journey.  As Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote "To travel hopefully is better that to arrive."  No matter what you're struggling with keep hope alive and faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who walks beside as we travel towards our final destination.

I invite you then  to join with me on this journey, for the rewards are eternal.

Friends

What do you do when a friend calls and asks you for help?  If you're like me you'll politely listen all the while thinking of reasons I don't really want to do this right now.  Come on, I'm sure many of you have had those thoughts and its not just me.  What were some of those reasons we came up with?

Now's not a good time, I was just going out, I'm coming down with something, I'm really tired, I promised_________I'd help_______today (fill in the blank), let me think about it and I'll call you back. 

Or, how many of us never gave it that second thought but said sure I'd love to help you.  That's exactly what God says to each and everyone of us; "I love you and I'm always here to help you, all you have to do is ask."  Philippians 4:6 tells us "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God."  Trust in the Lord and He will provide.