And Then There is Hope

It's dreadful really. The state of the world is very sad. Hatred, violence, anger, and evil take center stage. It is as though goodness, grace, love and kindness have been swallowed up and are on the brink of extinction. You could hang your head and just give up or you could remember that no matter what there is hope. 

Hope can not keep from springing forth. It breaks through the darkness and replaces it with light. It shouts out words of encouragement and mobilizes the forces of good. Hope appears in the most difficult of circumstances. It has the ability to rise above to fuel heroes and ignite a flame in your heart.

Hope is rooted in Jesus Christ and multiplied through His followers. When you know God's promises you can seek to find the rainbow that follows the storms in life.There you will defy all odds and bring grace and light to lead the way for hope.  Hold your head high, set your eyes on the Heavens and never, ever give up. Jesus Christ is your hope.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”   Jeremiah 29:11

Look! Up in the sky!

This weekend a good portion of the Western US witnessed a strange sighting in the night sky. Some thought it was a shooting star, others claimed it was a UFO. The truth is that it was a test of a missile sent up from a submarine. It was remarkable and described by many as something like they had never seen before. Some were afraid and ran to find shelter inside. Listening to the account on internet videos it left me thinking about Jesus. 

As believers, we await the Second Coming of Christ. He will be coming in the clouds and every eye will see him. Can you imagine? Jesus Christ will make a spectacular arrival filled with light and sound. There will be people standing in total awe all over the world. Many may be shocked and confused. Others will likely be terrified. Still, the believers and followers of Jesus will be cheering and praising Him. It will be a day like no other! Are you ready? Have you found yourself praying for Christ's return and eyeing the sky? You should be. It can happen at any time so be prepared and keep looking up.  

"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen." Revelation 1:7

If I Could Turn Back Time

Have you ever wished you could revert back or turn back time? You may want to turn back time to take advantage of a missed opportunity, right some wrong, recount a particular event or just return to the "good old days". In any event, what has passed is past. Unfortunately, there is no turning back the "clock" of life. Knowing this truth allows you then to seize the moment and use your earthy time to its fullest.

Consider this passage from the New Testament:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

God is calling on you to live "wisely", to make the most of every opportunity and to understand His will for you. In addition, you are being reminded that "these days are evil", which makes living wisely in God's will even more difficult. Just take a look at your life. If you are like most people, you are over committed to activities and work, living in the midst of information overload, and finding that time is passing faster every year.  What's a Christian to do?

You can't stop or turn back time but you can spend the time you have being a living time traveler for Jesus Christ. That means traveling through time on earth focused on the things of God. Living each day in a way that glorifies and honors Him. Praying, reading the Word and sharing the gospel through your every day interactions of kindness, grace and peace. Spending less time in worry and more time in faith. Yes, these days are evil but they provides more opportunity for you to counter evil with good. Remember, with Jesus as your Lord and Savior eternity is before you, but your time on earth to share Jesus Christ and the gift of eternity with others is limited. God knows it's your time to shine so don't waste another moment!

The Light of the World

Art by Linda Robbs 

Available at Etsy http://tinyurl.com/pdapmhp

This time of the year it begins to get dark earlier and earlier. I don't know about you but for me I find that as the days grow shorter I feel gloomier during the evening. The plan to combat this effect includes multiple LED flameless candles strategically placed on the mantle and throughout the house. They are set to turn on as soon as the dawn approaches. Real candle light makes an appearance at the center of the dinner table to provide an uplifting meal time glow. Together these make a difference in brightening the house and mood. 

It is amazing the way light impacts your life. It allows you to see through the darkness and it provides a brilliant uplifting effect on the way you feel. There is nothing quite like the glow of the sun or the soft light of a beautiful candle. It is also amazing the way God sent our Savior Jesus to be the "light of the world". Nothing compares to the Light of Christ. He dissolves the darkness and illuminates the way for life's journey.

You too can be a light to others and share the glow of Christ. Right where you are there are people living in darkness. They may have things in their life that they don't want or want things in their life that they don't have. In either case, your kindness and care can brighten their way and shed light on the hope of their future in Jesus. You might introduce the light of Christ with a listening ear, kind word, small homemade gift or by just offering a helping hand. If you feel called to, bring them a few candles to brighten their home and just let them know you care. Light allows people to see their world in a whole new way. You can be the one to introduce them to the light they need to banish darkness forever.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Time For A Change

Photo Credit Lisa Basile

It's autumn! The leaves are turning, temperatures are dropping and days are growing shorter. The colors, the scents and the anticipation of seasonal favorites fill the air. Isn't it just incredible how the seasons flow one into the other shifting in a way that causes you to embrace change? You expect it, plan for it and even enjoy it. That is really amazing considering that it's human nature to resist change. Let's face it, as much as you may dislike it, change is a constant part of life. 

God created us and the world around us to evolve and change. As part of His beautiful design day turns to night, summer to autumn, water to ice, caterpillars to butterflies and babies into children and then adults. Yes, God is all about change. He proclaimed in His Word that there would be a new covenant and the old would pass away. 

Still, as accustomed to change as you should be by now, you may be having a difficult time handling the change occurring in your life. You don't have to adjust to change alone. Jesus is right there with you and is ready to provide you the strength, endurance and will that you need to handle change. You can do this! It may take some time and require you to behave in a way that you are not familiar with. It could take you to a place you have never been. You may meet people that you never intended to have in your life. No matter what be sure of this, God is the Master of Change and will lead you through this journey with grace and care. Go ahead and just trust God for a change.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 
2 Corinthians 5:17