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.

The Mulligan pt 2

In my last entry I asked that you think about an excerpt from a book I was reading entitled  The Mulligan;  " in my opinion not believing in God makes about as much sense as saying the unabridged dictionary is a result of an explosion in a print shop."

Is God the creator and master of the universe or did, as some would have us believe, the Earth and all it's wonders somehow "evolve" in a "Big Bang?"  2 Timothy 3:16 says "All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  The Bible tells us that God created the earth and all that it contains including the men and women who walk upon it's surface.

As the quote from the book suggests, do you really think all that surrounds us is the result of some random act of nature?   Walk through a forest, sit at the edge of the ocean or atop a majestic mountain in the Rockies and try to tell me that you can't see the hand of God at work. 

God's greatest work however was His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was given to us, suffered for us, and died for us so that our sins, yours and mine, would be forgiven.  Scripture tells us that by one man's disobedience sin and death entered God's creation, so also through another man's obedience the gift of grace is freely given to all who believe in Jesus Christ.  With God's grace comes the promise of eternal life and forgiveness of all our sins. 

We are not some random fortune of nature but children of a God who created us, nutures us and loves in spite of our sinful nature.  Take a moment then to thank God for His presence in your life and for the world in which we live.  If you're having trouble finding God just walk outside into His creation and know that God will find you.

The Mulligan

I'm re-reading a book entitled The Mulligan and I'd like to share a line or two from the book with you. Of course its a book about golf and the "old pro" is speaking with a new student; he asks him if he believes in God?  "I haven't given it much thought" replies  the young man.  Well says the old pro " in my opinion not believing in God makes about as much sense as saying the unabridged dictionary is a result of an explosion in a print shop."

Take just a moment won't you and think about that statement it's a lot to think about.

After Advent pt. 2

Athanasius, the 20th Bishop of Alexandria said the following:

"Jesus became what we are to make us what He is."

Nuff said!

After Advent

Another Christmas has come and gone; it seems like we take weeks to prepare and then in the course of 2 days its over.  The tree is coming down, outside lights are being turned off and rolled up, and all the presents have all been opened, or have they?

Every year at this time we miss this gift. I'm sure for many of us it didn't make it under the tree.  It probably wasn't on our list of things to buy, we didn't have to wrap it. 
It's a gift that doesn't cost us a thing; sounds to good to be true?

God's grace is a gift freely given to each and every one of us because of the sacrifice His Son made upon the cross.  It's the greatest gift you and I can receive this holiday season and yet many of us may not have even opened yet.

Go ahead check under the tree if its still there, look once more.  If you don't find it it's not to late.  Before the New Year arrives may I suggest you make this resolution.   Let the power of the Holy Spirit work within you this day and in the days ahead; come to know Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel message.

God's grace means our sins yours and mine are forgiven not just for today but yesterday and for all the tomorrows to come.  Go ahead open the gift of salvation, its the gift that's free and one that  keeps on giving for an eternity.