Skip to main content

What are you hoping for?

I came for a short visit to Inglewood, California to see my family and offer my assistance in a family project at my parent's house this weekend.  I didn't bring my percolator, so off to Starbucks I went to get some much needed coffee.  California is a beautiful place and the weather is always nice, so I walked to Starbucks  It's only one mile away and that's a great way to get some sun and some exercise, all at once.  

As I was walking down the street, I felt an air of dreams deferred, a bit of staleness, and a sense of "is this all there is?"  Now, I know there will always be dreamers and believers, movers and shakers, but I couldn't help but notice the look of hopelessness on the faces that I passed by.  I noticed the homes with unkempt lawns and the cars that needed washing.  As we get older and our priorities change, I understand that what was once important may fade in the shadows of more pressing issues.  I know that having the latest Jordan's (if that's still a thing) gives way to having the best mattress for optimal sleep.  

Listen, I'm not sure what you may be dealing with today.  I'm not sure what curve ball life has thrown you, but can I encourage you to look up and have hope?  Yes, I know things are not ideal and you'd rather be healed and whole.  But can I let you know that hope heals a downcast soul.  This medicine that we have in the Word is a powerful balm.  I encourage you to curl up with your Bible and look in the back under "Hope," and lean into those scriptures.  "But where then is my hope? Can anyone find it? No, my hope will go down with me to the grave.  We will rest together in the dust!"  Job 14:15.

"May integrity and honesty protect me for I put my hope in you" Psalm 25:21.  "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you" Psalm 38:7.  "But I will keep on hoping for you to help me; I will praise you more and more" Psalm 71:14.  
 
Hope looks a lot like care.  Where there is hope, there is effort in maintenance and care.  I'm not saying that mowing your lawn, or washing your car, is the answer to all life's conundrums, but I can say with certainty that mowed is better than not mowed, and clean is better than dirty.  Let's just start there.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Real Friends

With all these social networking sites popping up all over the place, its fun to peruse the sites to meet new people and connect with old ones.   We enjoy looking at each other’s pictures, videos, and chatting.   We stay in touch and we reach out to our “Friends.”   I get the idea Facebook had with the whole “friends” craze, though I’m certain they’ve used the term quite loosely. I must apologize before proceeding because I, on the other hand, am quite frugal with the term. FB friends send you a link …real friends take you there. FB friends review your pics…real friends are in them with you. FB friends write on your wall…real friends write on your heart. FB friends respond to your posts…real friends respond to your cries. FB friends start drama on your page…real friends talk it out behind closed doors FB friends only tell you what they like…real friends will tell you what they don’t like FB friends want to know WHAT you’re doing…real friends want to know HOW you’re doin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Are you a Leader or a Follower?

Being a leader seems to come with its own level of power and prestige.   A leader is thought to be strong, courageous, bold, powerful and full of vision – after all, he is supposed to be leading us somewhere.   A follower, though the term lacks the same glitz and glam as leader, is ever so necessary as well.   How ever could a man lead, if there is no one to follow him?   Each position carries its own weight.   It doesn’t matter whether you lead or follow – it matters “how” and it definitely matters “who”.   As a leader, the people who follow you are your responsibility.   Their life is being influenced by you directly.   They are looking to you for guidance and what you deposit in them will be absorbed.   Parents are leaders by definition because they have direct influence over your children; teachers over their students; Pastors over their congregations; and some friends over other friends – a leader can emerge anywhere.   A leader mu...
Post a Comment
Read more

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love

I need to be reminded of how much God truly loves me.   We all have a generic sense that God loves us.   We’ve heard the song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”   Even with knowing how much God loves me, I still struggle with understanding how that love for me plays out in my life.   God doesn’t love the way we love.   His love is beyond what we even consider.   His love is so specific, so precise and so definite.   Some days, when I’m being nice to my family and I’ve paid my tithes, or given money to someone less fortunate – I feel loved by God.   At least, I may feel more lovable because I’m doing things that God would approve of.   There are many other times when I don’t feel so wonderful.   I may have snapped at a friend or said I couldn’t help out with something when I know I could’ve.   There are times when I am in direct violation of the will of God for my life.   Those times I feel awful. ...
Post a Comment
Read more