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Volume 68 • May 1, 2010 |
Get On The Hope TrainDr. James MacDonaldThrough him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:2-5). As followers of Jesus, we need to keep thinking and talking about hope. But hope in itself doesn't mean much without an object. Hope must have a target. It's not typical to hope in Jesus Christ. It is typical to hope in my finances, my family, my career, or my marriage. I can hope in a leader or cause. We put our hope in many things other than in Christ. But we learn that none of those things are worthy of our ultimate hope. None of them! The only reliable place to rest our heart is in Jesus Christ. But that hope is not intuitive—or normal. Hoping may be a habit but we have to learn to hope in Christ. Now the word hope means a confident expectation of something better. Hope in Christ realizes, "Hey! My best days are ahead of me. Life isn't all rear-view-mirror for me now. In Christ I've got some things I'm looking forward to—not just in this life, but in the life to come." That kind of self-talk stirs up hope within us It's important to recognize the battle that we're facing and practice the hope that we find in our King. Learning implies a training process. It's trial-and-error. You're like, "Yeah, I kind of got off the Hope Train this week." Get back on! That's why we come to church. Hope training is why we hang out with other Christians. I don't know what you are feeling today, but if you kind of got off the Hope Train, climb back on! Now that means we intentionally exchange doubt for hope. Instead of discouragement and despair, we choose hope. I think we need to look to other people as good models. I am aware of a woman in our church who I have watched over the last couple of years. I have prayed earnestly from a distance as she has gone through an awful circumstance in her family—with no end in sight. Yet she has strengthened many people with her stalwart faith and unyielding joy in the Lord. The examples of other lives are all around us. They may not be perfect but they challenge us to do better. And you can't know how much staying on the hope train will encourage others. For more from James MacDonald and the "Walk in the Word" Bible teaching ministry, visit WalkInTheWord.com |
Mitch's JournalFriday 2/20/2004God taught me today that I'm not my own, the first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He will do this until our desires for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to his way for the purpose of his redemption. |
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2010 Golf Outing: Sign Up Today!March 30, 2010 It's on, are you ready! Spots are open for you to register for this year's Golf Outing, Dinner and Auction held this June 14, 2010. This is our biggest fundraiser each and every year, so we need YOU to come out and support us! 100% of all proceeds raised from this … |
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Living Water Well - April UpdateApril 13, 2010 "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." - Jesus Alan from Living Water International has sent us some initial thoughts and photos showing the conditions … |
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2010 Summit Climb - Mt. Shuksan, WashingtonApril 20, 2010 If you knew Mitch, you're well aware that he thrived on challenges, so in his memory we will accept the challenge of another mountain climb for a worthy cause. MSC is passionate about taking care of the needs of others in the same way that my cousin was always looking for … |
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Living Water Well - April Update 2April 30, 2010 Attached are some photographs taken last week by Alan of Living Waters in Liberia. This is Christ our Hope Orphanage located in Monrovia, Liberia. The kids in the photos are orphans in need of clean water. There are 43 of them and many sleep 3 per bed at night. As you … |
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