Unveiling Hope

Wants and Needs

I have a tendency to be selfish; I hate admitting that. This morning I was spending time on the patio – a time normally reserved for giving my thanks and praise to God and lifting up prayers for others. My mind began to wander and before I knew it, I was making a mental list of all the things I “need”. I kept physically shaking my head but my mind kept going back to it’s favourite subject ME. (Still shaking my head).

When the head shaking failed to accomplish what it was purposed for I decided to really analyze my list of needs. What I found, what I usually find, was a long list of wants. Every time I think about things I need they almost always turn out to simply be things I want but don’t really need.

In truth, I can honestly say that there is nothing I need. God always has a handle on those things. He’s always a step ahead of me and He always provides – often before the need becomes desperate, especially when I focus on the needs of others before my own desires.

Today, I just want to give thanks. Today I don’t want to feel that I need what I want. Today I want what I have and pray for what others need and don’t have.

“if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,  then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:10-11.

Do Not Despise New Beginnings

Winter is officially over in the Canada’s capital city. The remnants of winter are scarce; the occasional dirt and soot covered snow banks are sparsely scattered about the landscape among the budding trees and the tulips beginning to push their way through the earth. Welcome are the short rains that wash away the remainder of what is now past as they  prepare the way for new beginnings.

New beginnings can be a frightening thing to people. I know they are to me. I’m incredibly  adaptable for someone who doesn’t exactly welcome change. God has been changing me since I returned from Israel in December. He’s been pruning me – removing various things in my life that, in the past, were not only a great source of joy for me, but also a way in which I could serve and worship Him.

I’ve had to adapt to changes in situations before however they were usually bitter circumstances in which the terrifying and unknown prospects of the future could only be for the positive. When God gives you something wonderful like a friend, a particular gifting or ability, or He places you in service to a ministry or profession you enjoy, and then decides to let you know that it was only for a season – well – let’s just say that it can be difficult to let go with a healthy attitude.

Dr. Barry Boucher  often remarks, “if God gives you something you better not hold on to it too tightly.” He’s absolutely right. Serving God with all my heart means that whatever new beginning He has in store for me I had better acknowledge that it’s my love and worship of Him, and not necessarily what I have or what I’m doing, that is paramount.

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them,"  Isaiah 42:9.

A Light in the Darkness

I used to live my present in my past. It was a very dark and lonely place. The greatest gift I’ve ever received came from my past and that gift – that Gift – is the Light that lead me out of the darkness of despair and desolation. There are times when I’ll be looking into someone’s eyes and seeing a deadness, a lack of hope, reflecting from their hearts into their eyes; it’s as if there’s a barrier that prevents light from entering.

In his book, The Purpose Driven Life , Rick Warren wrote that God never wastes a hurt. I remember the first time I read that line; it was a relief. It was a relief to know that the darkness I had lived in for so many years would one day bring Light into someone else’s darkness.

If someone would have told me six years ago that I would soon give my heart and soul to Jesus Christ I would have laughed them right out of town. But today I can’t even begin to express the gratitude in my heart that exists because He chose me. He was the Light that shone in the darkness that was my life. He gave me life. He gave me hope – a hope that never fails because His love never fails.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men,” John 1:4.

What Are You Thinking About?

A friend of mine and I were having a little chat after the service on Sunday.We got onto the topic of feelings and how some of them can overwhelm us and subsequently control us. I used to despise being what most people call a “feeler”. Naturally, that’s because most of the feelings I had were self-involved, negative, and growth-stunting.

We discussed how to discern what is a useful feeling and what is not. Sidebar if you will; I can give some pretty solid advice from time to time, but believe me, I don’t always use the wisdom God gave me and follow it. Maybe writing about it will root it a little more deeply into my character.

I believe that all feelings originate as the product of the thoughts we entertain. What we see and hear can often be what seeds a thought into our minds. We don’t have to water those seeds. We know that there is one who travels to and fro upon the earth seeking that which he can destroy. It takes very little effort for that guy to plant rotten seeds, but we are the only ones who have the power to decide whether they will grow in the fertile soil of our minds.

Thoughts that encourage, edify, and exalt others, ourselves, and God are worthwhile. We can express them and make them fruitful. We can meditate on them day and night. We help others grow, we grow ourselves, and relationships with God flourish.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Phil. 4:8 ESV

Where Were His Hands?

A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to a sister in Christ for the first time. I haven’t seen this much sadness in a sister’s eyes in a very long time. Looking into her eyes were like looking inside a very deep and dry well. She was hurting and I hurt for her. I had barely introduced myself to her when she began to share her wound with me. I asked her if she would like me to pray for her; her eyes filled with tears. She had been walking alone in a spiritual desert for almost 2 months. She looked away and whispered, “No one has offered to pray for me for six weeks. I haven’t gone to church during this time and no one’s even called.” She was broken and I felt as if I had swallowed my heart. I can only imagine how she must have felt. My sister in Christ, sitting in a room filled with almost two hundred women, hadn’t been prayed for in six weeks. She had to bear her soul to a complete stranger; where were His hands?

Yes, there was sadness in this woman’s heart. I know it won’t last because God stands firm on His promises to answer our prayers. I think that somewhere deep inside her soul she knew this truth as well. She knew the way, she just needed to feel His hands reaching out to hold her. My burden is not just for my hurting brothers and sisters, but also for those who don’t know The Way, The Truth and the Life. If you’re part of His Body, please don’t assume that you’re not needed or valuable; you have a calling that is part of something bigger. It doesn’t take great talent or treasure to be His hands and to hold them out to one person in a hurting world.

Giving our hearts to God doesn’t mean we are spared from tragedy or pain. God rains upon the just and the unjust. Look at Job, he was blameless and upright before God. Look at Jeremiah, all those years of obedience and not one heart won over. Surrendering our hearts to God means – or what it is supposed to mean – is that we are part of something bigger – a body – a community – that is meant to function with one heart, one mind, and one spirit.

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.’” John 13:12-15 ESV.

The Rear View Mirror

Accidents happen, but most “accidents” are not really accidents at all. Experts say that a good driver will check their mirrors every 5 – 7 seconds to be aware of everything going on around them. While mirrors are great and serve their purpose most people spend too much time using the rear view mirror when they should spend more time looking straight ahead. I am not including those those who use their mirror to shave or apply cosmetics – that’s a whole other post.

Like most people I learned to drive while I was a teenager. I had very little experience both driving and in life. Years later here I am still driving, but with a great deal more savvy in life and driving experience. Imagine, for a moment, the danger a driver puts themselves and others when they fail to be alert and aware of what is going on in their immediate surroundings. One never knows what’s waiting for us just around the corner.

In life, we all have blind spots. I think the worse blind spots of all are those we cause when we focus only on what’s behind us – that rear view mirror of life. It’s impossible to move forward safely, to follow the path to your destination, if your always looking back; someone is bound to get hurt.

The rear view mirror of life does have a purpose; it reminds us of where we have come from and gives us an idea of how far we have to go. We never really know however if this will be our final trip or even if we’ll arrive at our destination, so why take chances?

God expects me to follow Him. I can’t do that if I’m always looking back at what was. He moves in one direction and that’s always ahead. Danger rarely comes from behind when you’re moving ahead.

A good driver needs to be alert and aware of everything going on around them at all times. Are you a good driver? Remember, most accidents are preventable.

“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come,” Mark 12:33.

Kicking the Bucket

There is something about youth that makes people live as if they’re never going to die. It’s never a question of when because that just doesn’t seem to fit into the equation when you have your entire life ahead of you.

I remember being 12 and wanting to be 13. I remember being 13 and wanting to be 16. Then I remember wanting to be 18, and 21, and well – let’s just say I stopped wanting to be older around that age.

This year – okay I’m going to put it out there – I’m going to be (gulp) 50. There. It’s been recorded. No take backs.

I can honestly, honestly say that there is no age I would like to go back to. I can also honestly say that since I gave my heart to Jesus – life just keeps on getting better and better. Don’t be silly now, I’m not looking so far ahead to wish my life away, one day at a time is about as fast as I want to live now.

My blogging friend Theresa posted a blog yesterday sharing her bucket list. How brave, because now her friends can hold her accountable to make sure she’s taking the steps to begin crossing off some of the things on her list.

My problem has never been dreaming about what I’d like to do before I make my home with Jesus; my problem has always been taking the steps necessary to bring those dreams to fruition. Well, if Theresa can be brave so can I (I’m too competitive).

One thing before I share the list: I’ve accomplished one of the items on my list. It’s staying on the list to motivate me and show me that dreams are possible. If that’s cheating – to bad – deal with it. :)

Hope’s Bucket List:

• Go to Israel (check)
• Learn how to speak and write Hebrew
• Write a book that will bring the Hope in Christ to others
• Continue to believe and pray for the salvation of my family
• Learn to love others the way God loves me
• Go to Israel again
• Become an ordained pastor
• Be a wonderful grandmother someday
• Get wisdom and lots of it
• Be a better friend

Feel free to hold me accountable. I’m up for the challenge. Care to share something from your list?

“And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed,” Gen. 42:9.

How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?

What breaks my heart most is people with broken hearts. This should come as no surprise to me. About 2 years ago I asked God to wreck me for what wrecks Him. God answers prayers. Watch what you pray for. God’s heart is ripped open when His children are hurting. When He hurts I hurt. When others hurt I hurt.

Quite recently an older woman I’ve come to know revealed some information about herself that just about ripped the heart right out of my chest. This woman told me that she stays up most of the night in fear. She’s not afraid of the night. She’s afraid of being alone. She’s afraid of being in need. She’s afraid that something dreadful will happen to her and there will be no one to care for her. She’s lonely. This woman is a believer. It crushes me to the core that I didn’t know how she felt before now.

When a person is aging, living alone, has no family and their health is not the best – a fellow believer cannot merely exhort them to trust in Jesus for provision. Jesus never meant for people to go it alone. The Bible is replete with God’s admonishment to His people who forsook widows, orphans and the poor; this list was is not exhaustive.

So, how do you mend a broken heart? A broken heart can only be mended by the binding properties of  love – not the words of love but the action of love – the true indicator of love is when it expressed as a verb. Is there someone you know whose heart is broken?

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony,”  Colossians 3:12-14.

The Great "What if"

I’ve been reading and studying the Book of Jeremiah these past days. Jeremiah was a prophet who was faithful and obedient in speaking the words of God for 40 years. There is no record in the Bible that suggests that anyone ever heeded the warnings he gave. There is no record that he ever got through to a single soul. What is clear in reading this book is that Jeremiah remained faithful to his calling throughout 40 years of persecution despite suffering rejection, humiliation, imprisonment and torture.

Many people I know seem to be growing through a season; I am growing in it to. It has taken rereading Jeremiah to remind me that my calling has little to do with me and more to do with He who has called me. It’s reminded me that I am merely a vessel.

As Christians we are called to spread seed, not to choose the soil, not to till the soil, nor to wait for growth. No farmer ever sits in his field, after sowing seed, waiting for it to grow. There are other things that need to be done, and other seeds that need to be planted in the proper season.

It occurs to me, perhaps not often enough, that the fruit of my labour is not my harvest yet I seem to repeatedly find myself waiting around, hoping to see something grow. The other day, a friend and I were discussing this situation. What if not a single person is ever blessed by anything we ever do or say in our life? What if we continue on for the next forty years and we don’t see a single seed sprout?

Am I not content enough to simply be a vessel and carry what I’m called to carry – and that’s the end of it? I’m a results oriented person. The satisfaction of seeing a job I’ve done succeed motivates me to continue, or to pursue other areas in which I can use my talents. But the Great “what if” is this: what if my life resembles that of Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet? What if the only results I see are those that I will see in Heaven? What if at the end of my life here, and the beginning of my life with Him, the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” are the results of a life committed to serving my purpose? Will that be enough for me between now and then?

I’m no different than the next person. I like a pat on the back just as much as anyone. Success motivates me. What I’ve learned however from Jeremiah is that my joy should come from the delight the Lord takes in me everyday that I am faithful and obedient, regardless of the results. This kind of joy kills the pride that would like nothing more than to boast that it has taken root and grown in me.

But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 9:24.

Just Say It or Pray It

It takes so very little to make someone’s day. Sometimes a few kind and encouraging words can carry someone for days on end. Giving a supportive word of encouragement seems to be a lost part of an integral form of communication. It costs us nothing to tell someone how good they look, what you admire about them, or why they are so special. You can even encourage a stranger with little more than a smile, or holding a door open for them, or putting away their shopping cart.

This Sunday past someone gave me a word of encouragement that even today is putting a smile on my face because I just know deep inside that it came from her heart and it went directly to mine.

Part of encouraging people is also holding them up in prayer when they need it – being vigilant in seeking Christ’s intercession on their behalf. There have been times when friends have told me that they thought about me and held me up in case I was in need. And as it turned out, I had been. Imagine – someone caring enough about you to pray for you just because they thought of you. What greater way to communicate your love for someone – the love of Christ for someone – than to pray for them earnestly for as long as it takes.

I’m honoured when someone has the courage to ask me for prayer and I am steadfast in finding out what their needs are so that I can pray into specific issues on their behalf. It’s not easy to ask for prayer especially when you really really need it.

If someone has a need just say it or pray it, but do something – don’t let the opportunity to express your love for someone pass you by because if you do, He might just have to give that opportunity to someone else if you miss out.

“walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Eph. 4:1-5.