Hope: Finding the Light

Hope is one of those intangibles. It’s something we cannot live without but at the same time we can’t put our finger on it. It’s not really a feeling, but it’s not entirely a decision or act of will either. It exists somewhere in the middle. Somewhere in the human fiber that is both essential, but yet indefinable. We have all heard of the stories of people in extreme circumstances that have died when their expectation for rescue had been taken away, or of the person who passed away, not for any medical reason, but from a broken heart. I think hope is at the center of this. It beats within our heart like a living thing, ingrained in the very muscles and nerves of our physical body. It drives us, it moves us, it makes us, us. It exists at the center of who we are, around which the rest of us revolves like planets around the sun. It is the cornerstone of our personal universe, and as such, tells us much about ourselves and the human condition.

      Because so much of our personal happiness and self satisfaction springs from where our hope is grounded, it would follow that to put our hope into something temporary would be foolish and almost unimaginable for intelligent and rational creatures such as ourselves. But, this is exactly where we find ourselves a lot of the time; hoping in our money, our house, our education, our talents, or even our football team. In the back of our minds, I think we all have an awareness of how ridiculous this is. To cement such an important thing like hope on objects that shifts and slides is borderline insane, yet here we are living for our paycheck, or our success, or our new clothes; or whatever else we think will make us happy. You fill in the blank, you know what it is for you.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about how everything is meaningless without God and that it is like the wind, fleeting, and always just beyond our grasp. We can chase after the wind that we can never catch, or we can turn down a different path and see that what we have been searching for and seeking after rather is light, our flashlight, our ultimate hope. I took the wind to be the world and so many times when I have chased after the things of this world, I have been let down and left in the dark. But then when I chased after the light (God), I found and am finding that my life is so much better and less chaotic. Rather than chasing after the wind we need to begin to chase after the light. For when you do you will see that life simply becomes easier and that you are filled with a greater hope because rather than relying on your own success you are finding your fulfillment in a right relationship with God. You have a choice. God is coming in your direction and it’s your choice to accept Him or not.

To be wanted, to belong, and to be accepted are all things that I think that we seek after in this world. Here is the thing that I most often forget, and that is God doesn't need me, but He wants me. I find such great hope that I am accepted, beloved, and wanted by a God who, despite my failures, still loves me. It’s with the transformational power of God we can see what He has done through love not just for me but for the entire world. We are seen as valuable to Him no matter what we may be doing now, what we have done, or what we will do. God’s grace is that good that we have already been forgiven. Here is the kicker, there is nothing that I can do on my own that will change me because I am a sinner and fail. However, if I am fully dependent on Jesus to change me then I am transformed to the likeness of Him. So why not accept God who is always loving, holy, fair, kind, good, and pure? Why not accept the God who has already accepted you and is chasing after you despite all your faults? Why not accept the God who is the hope, the eternal salvation, and the light of the world?

 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4-5). When it says “the darkness has not understood it” this means that the darkness of evil never has and never will overcome or extinguish God’s light. When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and fall into darkness because He removes the darkness from our lives! What greater hope can we have in this life than that fact that darkness will never extinguish God’s light, the light inside of us? When we choose God we are choosing love, we are choosing to have hope in our lives. "Believing in God is as much like falling in love as it is making a decision. Love is both something that happens to you and something you decide upon" (Donald Miller). It’s a decision and a choice to accept all that God has to offer and when we do, He is filled with so much joy for He now has a new son or daughter in His family. He welcomes you with open arms and says, “Welcome home, you once were lost but now you have been found!” (reference to Luke 15:20 and 24).

Daily Trusting

Dreams, they come and plans they change and we're going to break when things don't go the way that we originally thought that they were. But those things we face, those challenges that push us to our limits make us who we are. Yet, even when you feel like you are down and out for the count here is the awesome thing to remember that you are still a star shining in the dark because you are still pushing, you still are going and you are relying not on yourself but on the One who knows you best and who will lead you in a direction that is planed for you; you're light source, and guide through life's challenges and that my friends is our Heavenly Father. 
But, you know life sometimes just doesn't go the way that you planned and we all have days when we just don't understand, searching for meaning and its not always easy. Remember though that your story's not over, its still being told because its been written out for you by the One who created you and who loves you so hold on, hold on to that dream whatever it may be and remember that your sunrise is coming no matter how dark life may appear to you. Know that the night can only last for so long. Whatever you're facing if your heart is breaking there is a promise for the ones who just hold on so look up and lift up your eyes and see the sun is rising. Life is about ups and downs, highs and lows and you're going to go through them but you don't have to be afraid because He says "I am with you" and in those moments when you are feeling so weak you feel like stopping let the hope you have light the road you are walking. Even if for right now you can't imagine how you will ever find your way out, and especially, especially when you are drowning in your doubt just look beyond the clouds because the sun it's rising and its shining brighter than ever before for you.

I say these things after going through some of my old photos and old journals and finding that even when I struggle and thought that where I was, wasn't where I was suppose to be; God was there leading me through it all even when it felt like he wasn't, he was. Yes, doubts ran through my head of is this the right place, the right time, is this where I'm suppose to be, is this the right thing you want me to do? So many questions, so many ifs that continually ran through my head through these struggles. I'm not saying that I am over these hard times, no in fact I'm far from it but I have found though that it has become easier to handle because with each new obstacle in my life I am learning to trust and rely on God and his will for my life daily; with each baby step that I take.

One of the pictures that I took out and looked at was from seven years ago it was in the summer when life just seemed so easy, so free, where I often dreamed in love and oh how sometimes I wish I could go back to those times. I look at the picture again and I smile at the memory, and the girl in the picture is smiling right back at me, and I see blond hair and bright eyes, a heart full of laughter with nothing to lose and that's how I remember the days when life did seem to be much simpler and more put together than they do now. I think back and it was those times when I was free and I dared to believe that I could do something in this world to change it and at times I still do, but I fall and it hurts but deep down I'm still that girl even when life does continually drag me down; I just need to remember that I'm still holding onto that dream of changing this world. Because even when I feel like I may not understand why at this certain time I'm going through these doubts, these uncertainties, and hardships I need to remember and ask myself what if the picture is bigger than I see it? Because we think so small compared to the God who created everything and who knows you, and knows EVERYTHING about you and He just has you right where he wants you and needs you to be; slow down and listen to your heart He's telling you with every beat that you're story isn't over and that there is a new sunrise and a new beginning after each chapter or season in your life. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

Taking A Step Of Courage

Many times I find myself unsure about the future, of where God wants me to go, if the next step I'm about to take is right, or even if I am brave enough to let go and let God have full reign of my life. We seek to be in control of our situations all the time, forcing God to become the background when really he should be the one in the foreground leading us. I believe that this is because we are reluctant people to step into the unknown and trust that everything will turn out right, that everything will turn out the way we had imagined that they would; although I'm not saying that they'll turn out exactly how we've imagined. And when things don't turn out the way we had thought they would we seep even further into the depths of fear and are even more reluctant to step out; we get stuck in the kiddie pool when really we need to go to the deep end.


 We need to at least take one step of courage, one step is what is needed to start a ripple effect that will last a lifetime, but that is only if we allow God to take control and steer for us. This though is so hard to do, to not let your emotions, feelings, or wants to persist and become the things that drive your decisions and choices and instead stepping back and letting go; giving it up to the One who created you. However, to be able to do this it requires unwavering faith. Being able to trust so completely and wholeheartedly that God has the ultimate plan and ideal life for you is hard to do but as the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, 2

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see...so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

We can have confidence knowing that if we allow ourselves to have unwavering faith in the unseen work that God is doing in our lives right now and in the future we can have unwavering courage. Because God is with us!


This however, is not to say that we wont have our fears and doubts but what I am trying to get at is if we don't allow those fears and those doubts to overpower our daily lives then we can have courage and confidence in the work that God is doing. Both men and women are crippled by the fear of not measuring up. For you guys that tends to mean not measuring up in "manliness" for us gals that means not measuring up in beauty. Whatever it may be that we feel like we are not measuring up to it cripples us so much so that we are willing to put on masks and hide behind our personalities, we are unwilling to reveal who we really are. But, then a question comes to mind what would you do if you were not afraid?


To have unwavering courage we need unwavering faith and to have unwavering faith we need to give God our all not just some, not just part, but our all. Thankfully God is one who is ever so patient who will wait for you with open arms calling to us. I feel like for a lot of us we are holding back one thing that we think we can control and that one thing could be anything; family, friends, relationships, sports, music, school, hobbies, the way we look, etc. When I hold back that one thing I am holding back God being able to change me. Because He is working from the inside out that means then that He will change me as I give Him my all. He not only wants my all but He deserves my all, for He gave me His all for me; His son Jesus. My question then for you is are you holding something back from God, are you giving him your all?


To say that nothing bad will happen to you in a broken world is impossible to say. What we can do though is live our lives out for the almighty God who knows you, who loves you, and is giving you His all every second of every day. So why wouldn't you want Him to be in charge? You should never say "God is my co-pilot" rather "God is my pilot, he is my navigator through this broken world." We all need to grow in our maturity with Him but that first starts with you taking the first step, we need to gain knowledge and get into His word, our guilty pleasures will need to change, the way that we act and say will need to change, and being able to say its not about me will need to change. Our daily outlook will need to change; being willing to say that because God is with me my day will turn out right. 

Are you going to make excuses? Are you going to say well maybe tomorrow or are you going to get up and take a step of courage? Remember you are not doing this alone, you are in a partnership with God who is in the process with you. Satan will say to you though that you can't do it, you won't be able to do it. When you are hearing those lies you can reply Jesus is able, He is able! 


So what are you waiting for step up and step out with courage!

A Sweet Valentine

Sitting yet again on Valentines day with nothing more to show than just a few texts from my girls wishing me a 'happy valentines day' and some chocolate from my parents. Otherwise I've spent the day going to classes, doing school work, and nothing more. But, you know despite the fact that I'm single again, or should I say as usual, on this holiday I find myself remembering that I have a love that is far more greater than any Valentine card could say; I have the love of an almighty God who is holding out his arms to me. 

I feel like there are lies that often times seep into the minds of us women and I can't say it more brilliantly than how the author of Wild At Heart put it he said “No one is right for her heart; there is no grand adventure to be swept up in; and every woman doubts very much that she has any beauty to unveil.” Sadly we often fall into this idea that there is no one right for us, that we wont have an adventure to join in with and be swept away, and the worst lie we fall into is that we have no beauty to reveal, that we aren't beautiful enough and not good enough for the guy who we like, and care for. That is when we fall prey to the world and its standards of how to look, what to say, and the false reality of what "love" is. 

Love to the world is one where our prince charming comes and sweeps us off our feet, its where he is able to say all the right things, be able to do the all the right things, and is able to slay the dragon in a single stroke; sounds more of like Mr. Perfect to me. Love to the world though doesn't last, its a false reality of what love really is. There is a real love that is humble that is kind, and keeps no record of wrongs; that love comes from Jesus Christ. If you were to pick up the Bible and start reading it you would notice quickly that love comes spewing out of it, it is the greatest love letter ever written to anyone and its directed towards you! One passage that sticks out the most for me, at least when speaking of love is 1 Corinthians 13, this is what it says:

 "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

              Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

                 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

A love like that seems like it would be impossible but here is the kicker God is the god of impossibilities, he infact is love, so, nothing is impossible with him not even being able to love one another as he has called us to love  

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

So my dear friends when Valentines day comes along remember that you are loved by a God who IS LOVE, he doesn't just speak it, he breaths it. As one of my favorite authors has said,

"Love the Lord your God, and love one another. Love one another as He loves. Love with strength and purpose and passion and no matter what comes against you. Don't weaken. Stand against the darkness, and love. That's the way back into Eden. That's the way back to life."-Francine Rivers

My friends, love each other with the way that God loves, with patients, kindness, humility, protecting, and forgiving. So I hope that you have had and will have many more happy Valentine's days with the sweetest valentine of all, God who knows you and loves you the most and always will. And remember as C.S. Lewis said "Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not."

A Beautiful Miracle

A question that has always been in I feel like most of our minds when it comes to our relationship with God is, am I putting God in a little corner, or am I inviting him to the flow? I understand that we live in a crazy world where there just never seems to be enough time in a day to get everything completed, but let me tell you an awesome little secret about God, he'll go anywhere. That doesn't mean that we should belittle him, no in fact it should have the opposite effect. ANYWHERE you go he goes too, any bump in the road any wrong turn, any blessing, any heartache he is there with you!

"All this time
From the first tear cry
To today's sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there
You were always there
It was You and I
You've been walking with me all this time"
Britt Nicole

When Jesus is involved in the equation there is always the possibility for a miracle, there is never a moment where God says I can't work with that; it's never too late with Jesus. Your story is never done, Jesus can pull out the very best for you so don't ever lose hope! Its never over till God says it is, we just need to let him work in HIS TIME not ours. That is what is hard I feel like and where we often put God into the little corner because we want things to work now, to be fixed now right when we need it. But, that's not how God works he uses these times of waiting to pull us back to him to trust and rely on him rather than our own ability and want for control. 


He wants followers who will not give up on him when the miracle doesn't happen the day that you want it to; for he won't ever give up on us. I find myself in those moments forgetting that the best is yet to come from him and that the miracles of God are free and they are BEAUTIFUL! The miracle of miracles however, is Jesus and when he was raised from the dead on the third day as a victor of death, and we were raised from the dead when we chose to accept Christ. We have nothing to fear for he has already conquered everything, he has overcome the world. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He told us these things so that people, you, me, everyone can walk away from whatever we may be going through turn to him and say "I BELIEVE!"


So a question that I'm going to leave you with is are you inviting Christ into the flow of your life? Remember that God works in our waiting, we need to wait with him. We are not waiting alone we are embraced with Christ and we are waiting together so let's go see what he has in store.

Remnant

"The enemy knows where you are most vulnerable."-Francine Rivers

  When reading these words they struck me because it holds so true, every time when I'm at my weakest that is when I get hurt the most; but, then again that is when God is at His best trying to rescue me. There becomes a battlefield within my own heart; almost like a boxing match and the rounds keep going until either I cave or my hope is restored. But, one thing I often forget is that even when I do cave and my heart is burdened God leave a remnant. He leaves behind a path of hope for me to follow. I need only to remember what He has already gotten me through. So then how come when a new situation arises I tend to not believe that He can get me through? Why do I doubt? Worry and question Him? 

"No, in ALL these things we are more than CONQUERORS through him who loved us.'-Romans 8:37

What a great REMNANT for us to hold onto! That we who are sinners, who doubt, question, and worry we are still more than conquerors through the love of God who gave his son to die for you and me! That is what I must hold onto, especially when the enemy is at his fullest and knows where I am most vulnerable. 

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