When Hope Seems Far Away

Hope is one thing we cannot live without, but often hope seems fleeting, or we have placed it in the wrong places/people. I am 100% sure that everyone reading this right now either has great need of hope, has needed it or will need it in the future.

I'm writing this on the Saturday of Easter weekend and on this day in history the followers of Jesus struggled the most. The 11 remaining Disciples had invested the last 3 years of their lives with Jesus and what they hoped for was a new era for Jews everywhere and that there place in it would be huge! Now it was replaced with a deep sense of hopelessness, a "what are we going to do now?" period.

Are you there? Does it feel like the clock is at 11:59:59 in a specific area of your life - job/career, finance, marriage, relationships, health or something else?

"May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick/ache, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12

Reading the promise God has in Romans 15:13 is not false hope, God promises that you will be overflowing with joy, peace and hope AS YOU TRUST IN HIM. The Holy Spirit will make you overflow with those three things, your part is to trust in Him. The more you let go and trust in Him, the more you will experience Joy, Peace and Hope. I am not sure what the followers of Jesus felt like on that Saturday, but no one seemed ready to take on the world, or was anticipating the resurrection of Jesus even though He promised it. Instead they were hiding out in a room hoping not to be arrested and trying to figure out next steps. JESUS CAME THROUGH THEN AND HE WILL NOW. He is trustworthy! Put your hope and trust in Him fully and watch what happens next!

Are You Missing Out?

If you are like most Christ followers you can't wait to get with others to passionately worship God and express what's on your heart for Him through singing. Corporate worship is fairly easy - we go to church where skilled singers, players and production people lead us in giving God praise, thanks and express His worth. But that's only for so many minutes once or twice a week at best. If you are like me - that's just not enough! There is something we can do, but many people miss this. Are you ready? Personal worship! No, I do not mean worshiping yourself - I mean worshiping God on your own throughout the week. Regardless if you play an instrument or sing. Here are some ideas.

- Write God a love note. Sounds corny but that's really what praise/thanksgiving/songs are anyway.
- Listen to praise/worship cd's/create Pandora/Spotify Stations or burn your own cd/playlist, then get alone and listen or sing with these. Your heart will fill up with more love to express to God.
- I start my daily time with God by reading a few pages of a book called "10,000 Reasons to Praise God For" very creative!
- Be still and listen in silence - God can reveal Himself during this time. During my silence I begin to think of all the reasons I love God, His character and all that He has done for me and is to me. See Psalm 46:10.
- Take a walk in nature but really take the time to discover. Don't make this an exercise walk, make this about the creativity of God. How leaves are shaped, how many varieties of trees and plants, birds, and animals there are. But don't worship creation, worship the creator while you enjoy His creation.

We were meant to worship God all of the time, worship should be something you just can't do enough of. And of course, our lives, the way we conduct them is worship (see Romans 12:1-2). Don't wait - start today!

What a Contrast

This past weekend my wife and I got away to the beautiful City of Asheville, North Carolina. The trip was planned around touring the Biltmore Estate, and staying at the Inn right on the property (thanks again Melanie and Seth for this gift). The mansion has 250 rooms, not small rooms mind you, huge. There is the 2 story library, an indoor swimming pool and the dinning room and sitting rooms were gigantic. The property is over 10 square miles, and back when the family actually lived in the house, it took 35 people to take care of them/it. The purpose of this home was to house a family. 250 rooms for one family! It's the largest private home in the United States!

On our way back home I stopped for gas just a couple exits away, and as we were pulling back out onto I-40, we saw a sign for "The Cove", the Billy Graham Training and Conference Center, we decided to stop and tour. Talk about contrasts. This property is on 1200 acres, just as beautiful and the purpose of this place is to train people to share the gospel. "What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul." Matthew 16:26. George Vanderbilt died suddenly in his early 50's of an appendicitis. Though I do not know if he professed Christ as Savior there is no mention of it anywhere, and now his estate is run by others as a museum. The Cove will be used long after Billy Graham departs this world to be with the Savior. Whatever you are building your life on, hoping for, longing for - if it is not invested in the Kingdom of God it will not last.

Join in on "The Blessed Life"

Jesus said "It's better to give than to receive." Many of us wish we could be more financially generous than we are, there are a couple reasons I believe we are not.

1. We are trapped by debt. We owe we owe so off to work we go. We are a society of impulse and selfish spending. There used to be a huge difference between what we need and what we want, today that gap is too close. Most Americans have more than they need. How many TV's, pairs of shoes, items of clothing, computers do you own?

2. There is too little room between what we make and what we owe. When emergencies/un-expected expenses happen most people living paycheck to paycheck have to use credit cards to pay for it. I have heard that around 70% of Americans live week to week.

3. We are selfish creatures when it all comes right down to it. A simple test is what you do when you get an un-expected bonus or refund. Most people think about what they can buy instead of how they can be generous toward others in need.

Generosity is NOT limited to money, we have talents and abilities, we have time and we have spiritual gifts that have been given supernaturally from God to be used to expand His Kingdom and bring glory to Him. I want to challenge you to come out on Wednesday nights during the month of February from 6:30-8:00 at Southbrook Church for our 4 week Blessed Life Study. If you are in a Life Group you will be going through this study with your group and we are providing a study/discussion guide for you to use. "The Blessed Life" written by Pastor Robert Morris is all about the blessing of being generous. It's NOT a prosperity gospel book or philosophy, it's about being radically and obediently generous, the life impacting kind.

Do you have a SIMPLE List?

Okay so I am no spring chicken, (whatever that saying means). I grew up with 4 channels on TV, no dishwasher and something like 4 choices at McDonalds. Smart phones and personal computers didn't exist yet and we said the Pledge of Allegiance (a pledge that says what matters) in elementary school everyday. We had a home phone only, and our dictionary and encyclopedia were in real book form and expensive.

Today we are barraged with non-stop information and choices. We receive continual texts and e-mails that we glance through to decide if we will keep reading on or save for later. All of this makes life complicated with warp speed choices facing us all of the time.

I was talking to my 80 year Mother yesterday (she just got out of the hospital), and so we talked about the fact that as we get older life should get more simple, and I think it does. The things that don't matter get ignored or become bothersome compared to the things that really matter. You have to decide what really matters. Do you know what really matters? I decided to take advantage of her recent hospital stay and talk about her own mortality. "Mom, what do you hope is said about you at your funeral?" We discussed what doesn't matter and what does. Under the "What Does" category it was her relationship with God and hearing Him say, "well done good and faithful servant"; her family/friends and how our family truly does love each other, and is there for each other no matter what. This helped her get over her life long regret about whether she was/is a good Mom or not because we all do love each other so well. It's about creating lasting memories. That was about it. What was in her "Does Not Matter" category? Bank accounts, possessions she will pass on, and what jobs or awards she may have achieved.

Here's my challenge to you. Decide what really matters and stick to it, leave as much of the other stuff aside as you can. Make your "What Really Matters List" and "What Doesn't" and do your best to live by it.

My Key Words for 2013

JOY and DISCIPLINE. This past year I lost parts of both of these, and they have always been my strength. As I've reflected on 2012, I am convicted about this and know they need specific attention. I know it because a few people actually came up to me and spoke about my joy being lost (thank you btw). The Joy of the Lord has ALWAYS been my strength.

It will take some intentional thinking and doing on my part but I must lean on the Lord for help, I cannot simply will myself to do it. In regards to discipline, well let's just say in a couple areas I lacked it, (think 10 lbs. of more of me to love). I broke rules I have lived out, and even advised others on. Take the 10 minute exercise rule. Simply stated, "no one wants to exercise, but if you will at least start for 10 minutes, most likely you will finish." But getting started is the hardest part of any workout, there are justifications all over our lives as to why we will do it later. So, for 2013 I will submit my will to God's when it comes to JOY being my strength and not circumstances being just right, and being more DISCIPLINED. The cool thing is, when I am more disciplined I will also experience more joy! What are your keys for 2013?

Do You have one of these?

Perspective - it's a key tool that helps us know where we've been, where we are, as well has who we've been and who we are. Left to ourselves we may not have the most accurate of views.

Do you have people in your life who;
- Love you most?
- Know you best?
- Are willing to speak the truth in love to you?

Isolation is NEVER a good thing, but having a group of trusted people who will speak into your life is invaluable. If you don't have a "Life Counsel" I encourage you to begin assembling a team of about 3-5 people who fit the criteria listed above. When you are facing a major decision, need prayer and perspective then you have these people ready to pray and speak. Give them advance notice when you are needing their wisdom, this will give them time to ask you detailed questions and pray, so when the time comes for making a decision you are now equipped to make the best choice. Their perspectives take a lot of pressure off of you, it's just wise!

Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel but with many advisers they succeed." This is where the saying "two heads are better than one" originated from. Another benefit of having a Life Counsel is that you all get a glimpse of what has happened over your lifetime and that gives everyone a reason to thank God and celebrate together!