Hope

Hope.  It's all around us...if you know where to look.  There is no place so dark that hope cannot brighten it.  No situation so filled with despair that hope cannot uplift you.  You just have to know where to look.

For us, this week is filled with hope.  We have been in prayer for some time about my (Josh's) work situation.  We know in our heart of hearts that we have been destined for ministry.  However, doing landscaping seems so far from it.  The doors are opening, not for full-time ministry yet, but for a job that is at least one step closer.  There are lots of people in contention for the position but we have hope.  Our hope is not in my abilities or skills but in the Almighty God!  And it should be so for you, as well.

It is not enough just to have hope.  What is that?  Plain, old hope is intangible and unseen and can do nothing of itself.  It has no power and has no abilities of its own.  Hope can only derive its power, ability, tangibility, and strength from the one that it is placed in.  Therefore, hope placed in yourself will fall flat.  Hope placed in another human being will fail.  Hope placed in the hands of chance...you know, it's all gonna work itself out...will wind up dropping the ball.  BUT....our hope placed in the one, true God can do immeasurable things.

When our hope is placed in God, you are placing it in, not only the hand, but the full character of the ONLY One that is able to do the impossible.  The One who brought all of creation into existence by the mere mention of His words...The One whose mercies are new every morning...The One that has unending grace for those that need it...The One that chose to send His only Son for the purpose of dying for the sins of the world...The One that raised His Son on the third day declaring victory over sin and death...The One that called His Son back to glory and sent His Holy Spirit to come live INSIDE of us...The One that WILL return again for those that believe on His Son and take them away to a mansion in His Father's house...is the The One that will speak into our failing, crumbling, dying marriages and breathe into them new life and cause them to be, not only healed, but WHOLE!!  The God that shut the mouths of lions for His man, Daniel...The God that empowered the mighty prophets such as Elijah and Elisha...The God that led Israel into battle both in the Old Testament AND in the 20th century...The God that shook prison doors open and broke the bonds that held His man, Paul...is the same God that will shut the mouth of those that speak against the covenant of your marriage, empower you to stand through tortuous times, lead you into battle for your marriage and your spouse, and utterly destroy the bonds that hold you, your spouse, your kids, and your marriage.

You see, hope in hope is worthless.  But, hope in the Almighty can bring you into a life that you never could have dreamed existed.

Psalms 16

  Keep me safe, O God,
      for I have come to you for refuge.

 ² I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
      Every good thing I have comes from you.”
 ³ The godly people in the land
      are my true heroes!
      I take pleasure in them!
 ⁴ Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
      I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
      or even speak the names of their gods.

 ⁵ Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
      You guard all that is mine.
 ⁶ The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
      What a wonderful inheritance!

 ⁷ I will bless the Lord who guides me;
      even at night my heart instructs me.
 ⁸ I know the Lord is always with me.
      I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

 ⁹ No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
      My body rests in safety.
 ¹⁰ For you will not leave my soul among the dead
      or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
 ¹¹ You will show me the way of life,
      granting me the joy of your presence
      and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Josh and Serena