Giving Hope TodayHow precious are your thoughts to me, O GOD! Ps 139:17

Apr 30th Where is Hope? John 8:22

We are living in the end of days!  What I find very confusing….why are Christians the only ones realizing what is going on in this world today?  Jesus constantly warned His followers, but they did not listen.  Pastors, Scholars, even Atheists are saying these are end of days!  Jesus said, “I am from above. You are of this world.  I am not of this world. Where I go, you cannot follow!”  Even those people close to Jesus did not understand a word He was saying.  When Jesus talked about being lifted up, they did not understand!  It is like we need to see to believe, then we accept what was said to us.

The people at the cross knew Jesus was dead!  The soldier pierced His side to make sure!  The closing of the tomb and the guards at the tomb knew there was no escape from that grave!  Yet, and this is what astounds me to this day, when Jesus appeared in the upper rooms, while the disciples were hiding from the Romans, in fear for their lives; there was a question put forth….prove you are HE?

Clearly, Jesus had rose from the dead and was standing before them…..seeing was then believing.  Today, are we not the same:  we, as a nation in a democratic society, with all the comforts around us, we question what we see right in front of us!  Prayers get answered; friends heal from illnesses or surgeries; animals are protected; babies are born; new challenges are faced with dignity, every day!

All of this spells:  HOPE!  Without hope, there is defeat!  No hope, no future!  No hope, no joy!  No hope, no fun!  In my lifetime I can relate to you tragedies of suicide, from children to seniors!  In the midst of all that tragedy is hope and we must cling to hope in the dark days ahead!

Jesus lives!  HE is alive!  HE is waiting for you!  Come to HIM and receive hope, comfort and joy!

John 8:22

Jan 15th Heaven and Hell…..2 Timothy 4:5

Max Lucado demonstrates in story form, the righteousness of God:

A few years ago in a California courtroom, a young woman found herself in front of a judge, for speeding. When the judge read off the citation, he asked her if she was guilty or not guilty: She said: “Guilty”! The judge brought down the hammer and said: “$100 fine or ten days!” She said she would pay the fine!
The judge stood up, took off his judges robe and came down from the bench. He pulled out his wallet and gave the court clerk the $100, paying his daughters fine! (more…)

Dec 18th Christ: The Reason for the Season! Hebrews 1:6

Christmas Lights on a Christmas tree
Spell out Christmas Day to me
But we must not ever forget
Christ came as a babe, so the stage was set
With one purpose on one special day
A virgin bowed her head to pray
A betrothed man wanted to shout and scream
But an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream
All was planned by God as it should be
God’s will be done is what Christmas means to me
So be kind to one another on this Christmas day
For there is no debt sin, that debt’s been paid
Because of a simple Bethlehem manger birth
Every soul can be free on God’s green earth
Free to choose eternal death or eternal life
Free of burden, because of a loving Christ
So lift your voices, sing out loud and clear
Christmas songs are merry, filled with good cheer
So as you look at those Christmas lights
With trinkets and on top, an angel bright
Think of that special angel so long ago
It is not about gifts or the mistletoe
But about a quiet birth with the animals around
About a treasure even kings found profound
It is love at its best and what we all really need
So this Christmas lift our hearts with our minds on our knees
And remember at Christmas it is all about 0ne night
A star, settling on a Virgin giving birth, in the sky, bright
Our Lord, no longer in that stall manger, a baby boy
But a Savior, the Christ, the Son of God….sent to bring life, peace and joy!

Sharon, December 2015