Hope for Life Blog

God has given us so much, and there is a reason He did.  He gives generously to us so we can be generous.  Not generous to ourselves, but to those in need.  And when we give, make sure the credit goes to God.  We want to be the means through which God blesses others.

Many of us understand this passage.  We have been in the pit drowning in the mud of our messy lives — lives without hope or purpose.  Until God lifted us up.  He put our feet on the rock of His Son Jesus.  Now we have a firm place to stand in a hard world.  Thank you God that we are not where we used to be… and thank you for where we are now.  With you.

God did not just tell us that he loved us.  He showed us.  He proved it.  He gave the only Son he had so that we might have life.  He sent him into a fallen world to find us and to give us life.  Celebrate that life today.

There are consequences to our decisions.  God is patient and loving.  But there is a judgment day coming when God will do what he said.  He will deliver those who obey him to life forever.  But if you sin against him and do not obey him, he will do what he said and let you live forever away from him.  It is our choice.

My wife and I were watching television the other night and the show was set in a hospital.  It had a strong storyline; the doctors were all very caring and even good looking.  But something just did not seem real to me.  It wasn’t that I have never been in a hospital.  I have had lots of family and friends who have been in the hospital and the sets looked real enough.  It was not that I do not know caring Doctors.  I do.  I know lots of them in fact.  I even know some good looking Doctors, though not as many as the show had.

I watched the television doctors speak to the lonely family member sitting by themselves in the waiting room.  I saw them be the one their patient turned to when they were scared and emotionally vulnerable.  I even watched while these actors sit in the room with a patient because they had no one else.  And that’s when it hit me.  That was what seemed so unreal to me.  I did not relate to the loneliness or the pain of having no one with you in a time of crisis.

My experience has always been one of waiting rooms full of family and friends; of visitor sign-in sheets full of names, and lots of support.  I see many people asking what they can do, baby sitting children, bringing food when people are released, crying together, holding hands, praying together.  But I know there are people who are alone in those times.  They do not have the support groups I am used to seeing.  So I began to wonder why.

It is not that I or my friends are nicer or more popular than other people.  It is that I am part of a community of faith that believes we are family.  So we show up for each other.  We help each other.  We care for each other.  I am there for them.  And they are there for me.

So it leads to the question:  who will be at the hospital with you? 

Blessings,

steve

Today is a day to be thankful for those people God put in your life who have made a difference.  It may be parents, or your mate, or your kids.  It may be Christian friends.  Thank God for them.  Mention them by name in your prayers.

What a great God we have.  He pardons our sin and forgives our transgressions.  God does not stay angry forever.  His great joy this day is to show mercy to us.  To you and to me.  Thank you God.

Wisdom from the lips of a man named Job.  Our world focuses on the differences between people:  race, ecomonics, culture.  Job reminds us that the same God made each of us.  We are more alike than different.  Remembering this will help me treat people the way God would.

King Nebuchadnezzar realized this truth about God a long time ago.  It is still true.  Our God is the God of all other gods.  There are no other gods like him.  He knows what they cannot know.  He is the God of gods and He is the Lord of Kings.  And He is our God and our Lord.

God listens.  Lay your requests before Him and then eagerly wait for His answer.  Expect it.  Count on it.  Look for it.