Hope Comes

Hope comes in the dawn. Twilight awakened colors cast across an infinite sky.

Hope comes in a smile. Eyes alight, direct to my soul.

Hope comes in the laughter. Unreserved, free, joy made audible.

Hope comes in the breeze. Refreshing reminders of the Unseen at work.

Hope come in the mirror. Intent upon my eyes, seeking courage.

Hope comes in footsteps. An infant toddling into uncertainty with abandon.

Hope comes in a song. Harmony and unity together lifting us to Glory.

Hope comes in sunset. Crepuscule cool that hastens welcome rest.

Hope comes in discovery. Who knew until it was tried.

Hope comes in change. Scary resisted becomes liberation embraced.

Hope comes. A respite from dreaded thoughts, disabling anxiety, and paralyzing fear.

Hope comes. A gift from the Giver of all good things, the Lover of my soul.

I can. I will. I am. I will be. In Christ.

Hope comes.

But If Not

Jesus is on the offensive. Not mean-spirited, but mercifully. He’s warning: judgment is coming; be ready.

Through Luke 12 and into chapter 13 with one answer or parable after another he is extending mercy to his original hearers and to us today. 

Listen in as Jesus tells a parable, an earthly story with a heavenly message, in Luke 13:6-9.

“A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil? ’"

“But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Don’t be too quick to see harsh judgment here. Don’t miss the merciful hope.

God is the owner. He says, they’ve had enough time to grow & do what they should do. 

Jesus is the worker. He asks mercy for one more season. He pledges special attention. He offers hope before final judgment. An opportunity to produce fruit.

We are the tree. We have God’s standard as revealed in the Bible. We welcome Jesus’ mercy and assistance to bear the fruit of righteousness.  

Don’t miss that penultimate phrase, however.  

“But if not…”

If we don’t humble ourselves, don’t obey God’s Word, don’t follow Jesus’ lead, don’t respond to his mercy, then we will be cut down, judged by God.

Those three words—“but if not”—in this context of mercy extended before judgment befalls, lead me to a simple question: What causes your “if not”?

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Empty

We normally don't celebrate empty. Empty is not so good.  Empty tummy. Empty head.  Empty wallet.  Empty tank.

Empty is a void.  Nothing where there should be something.  But there is not.

Easter, however, is a celebration of emptiness.  A celebration of what is not.

What is not tells us what is.

Think about the first disciple's Easter Sunday morning surprise.  One of the best things in life is a good surprise, right?  Note: a good surprise; bad surprises tend to bring grief & worry instead of joy.  A good surprise is a surprise because you don't expect it.

The disciples did not expect an empty tomb.  They weren't looking for the living. They were looking for a body.  A dead body.  They were without hope.  Expecting death.  Yet.  Surprise!  "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you..." Luke 24:5-6.

Jesus is no longer dead.  He lives today.

He lives to give life to you.

We celebrate an empty tomb.

Mourning into celebration.  Darkness into light.  Sadness into joy.  Despair into hope.  Defeat into hope.  This is what Easter is about.

Do you need a change?  Give Jesus your life.  You'll be transformed: Empty into full.

We celebrate new life.

It's Not About Me

You gotta love this picture: The James Family Four jumping for joy.

The grinning Mom is a friend I'd never met.  Beth James is the wife of a college buddy, David.

Beth James is battling cancer.

That word.  The C-word.  Stirs each of us.  Deeply.

Strong images & emotions within.  Fear.  Sickness.  Pain.  Sadness.  Suffering.  Death.  Anger.  Uncertainty. Hope.  Survival.  Faith.  Future.  Eternity.

Beth is in the midst of the battle of her life for her life.  Read about its unreal beginnings written by David here.

And then do not miss reading Beth's amazing perspective just two months into her battle here.

Join me in praying for Beth & her family.

And, as you read their story, be strengthened.  Be encouraged.

No matter your battle.

It's not about you.

God knows.

God loves.

He will carry you through.

New Day

You & I are witnesses of & participants in a new day every morning when we arise. The Bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. New day. New choices. New you?

Each day our lives answer questions like the following whether we realize it or not... Will I live like the same old, same old or seek something new & challenging? Will I stretch & grow into new areas or will I allow circumstances, my past or other’s perceptions to dominate me? Will I choose to handle any baggage set in my lap or simply wallow deeper in my present mess?

Many of us are walking wounded or playing hurt. We don’t even want to admit it or slow down to treat it. We are a hurt people. And we hurt others.

Yet, there is hope. The Bible overflows with hope & healing. Hope for our hurts & healing for our brokenness are available if we will only choose to apply God’s Words to our lives. And those principles are found neatly in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-10. Jesus offers us freedom from our hurts, habits, & hang-ups if we choose to follow him there.

Making new choices requires courage. Making new choices means change. Making new choices takes risk.

Our economy may continue to be weak for the months ahead. Our jobs may be in jeopardy as long as the economy sputters. Our bills may be higher forcing us to concessions. Our relationships may be strained due to circumstances. Our world may be in turmoil with all signs pointing toward its end. Yet we can make new choices because we have a new day, new mercies, new hope, & an everlasting, all-powerful, all-loving, amazing grace God who is the same all the time. He will lead us through. Follow with me.