Prisoners of Hope Outreach

Often times I write in this blog about my 3 (almost 4) year old — and the ways she teaches me and blows me away with her sweet heart every day.    The truth is.. kids, teens, youth — they all have an unjaded outlook on life.  They see things the way God intended all of us to see things.

One of our local high schools is, currently, going through a devastating tragedy.   Two senior high school boys were driving home from a sporting event and were in a catastrophic accident.   One of the twins lost his life and the other walked away.    Such a sad sad day.   From what I’ve heard of these boys– they have been amazing human beings who shined their lights for God every day.   What blessings they are.   What I have been so amazed to see is the way this high school has rallied together through this event.  As soon as the word got out that there was an accident (without any knowledge of the outcome) students organized a prayer vigil.   Once the information was given that the young man did not make it, the same students scheduled a group meeting at midnight that night to be together and pray and lift each other up and then planned a service the very next day where over 2000 people came together to remember what an amazing person had been lost and the ways he lived.   They all recognized that they wanted to live as he lived.   How amazing is that?   My heart still breaks for the family, for the children who are still hurting from the loss, and especially the parents.. but these high school students are a living example of Christ for the community, for the family, and for each other.    They are going to such great lengths to help each other through this.   How often do we, as adults, go to those great lengths to help others who are grieving and in need?     We should all take a lesson in life and love from these students.. a lesson in loving each other and God through the eyes of a child.

Let us never forget (Mark 10:13-15):

Dear God,

Thank You for shining Your light through the eyes and hearts of children and youth around us.  Thank you for giving them hearts that are passionate for You and for spreading Your love.   Lord, today, as so many hearts are hurting over the loss of one of Your amazing children – I pray we all feel Your peace and Your strength through this time.. that we are able to grow closer to one another and to You through each step we take.  God, please, encompass this family with Your grace and love and peace.   Amen.

How was your Lent/Easter?? What did you do??  Some easter egg hunts, coloring eggs, family meals, church time, fasting and then celebration??  Yeah, us too!!

What does it all mean to you??  As I reflected this year throughout the 40 days of Lent — I realized “society” as a whole has chosen to make Christmas a HUGE deal, but not so much with Lent/Easter.   I mean — there’s an Easter Bunny that can make the holiday about something other than Christianity — just like Santa with Christmas..  if you want to look at it that way.   However, it just isn’t as big of a deal as Christmas.   Do you ever wonder why that is??  I guess it has a lot to do with how much money people are willing to spend on Christmas vs Easter — which is really all the stores/society is concerned with most of the time.

I think the thing that makes me the most sad about all of it is — even as Christians, we tend to put so much more emphasis on Christmas than we do Easter.  I believe the birth of Christ is incredible– but our belief in our Savior would amount to nothing without his death and resurrection!     Our church was                  P A C K E D   Easter Sunday morning –  it always fills my heart with such joy!   I love to celebrate Jesus with a room, full-to-the-brim, of other brothers and sisters in Christ … what a GREAT party!!!   However, the Holy Week services (Maundy Thurs and Good Friday) were not even close to equal in attendance.    I get it — people are busy and it’s a weeknight/school night…  but I’m soooo grateful for the moments I have with God on those nights.  I, literally, mourn/hurt/cry through these services.. but it gives me such appreciation for what has been done for me.   Then Sunday morning when I wake up I have such a hopeful feeling – such JOY and GRATITUDE!

You know, there have been many times throughout my adult life when people have come to me with the same question (sometimes using different words to ask the same question..)   Where does your hope come from??   How do you get through those tough times??   How can you keep a positive outlook in such a dark situation?   Not to say I don’t have my difficult times and get down as well — but I feel these nudges every time I’m asked these questions that I know are from the Holy Spirit.    The answer comes out of my mouth before I even have time to think about it — My hope comes from the Lord.  That is what Easter means to me.  It means the darkness may come for the night, but joy comes in the morning.  It means the worst thing that could ever possibly happen in my human life would be death of any kind.. but even that has no sting.. no final word.   My God sent His Son for me so that I wouldn’t have to worry about that finality — I have eternity planned for me in heaven.    He gives hope.  He gives joy.  He gives life.     Yesterday, in my pastor’s Easter sermon – he put it this way:  we don’t have to worry about Friday’s failures when we have Sunday’s success to bask in!   By that he meant — Good Friday represents denial, betrayal, depression, sickness, pain, suffering, and death (i.e. Friday failures.)   But the great gift of Sunday’s success (Easter morning/Jesus’ resurrection) means none of those things have the final word.   We have been given a new chance, a new life to live with Him.   So, my answer is :  My hope comes from the Lord.   I think of this song a lot when thinking about where my hope comes from even in the hard times:   Praise You in the Storm (click to listen!)

Our Lord is so good.. even in the hard times.   Keep praising Him — even in the storm!

Dear God,

Thank YOU for Easter!! Thank you for your Son! Thank you for bringing hope and joy and light to a world that is sometimes full of darkness and difficulty!!  Today we celebrate YOU!!   Amen!

It’s just the truth!   In one way or another, we’re all a mess!   We all have “issues” – we all have hurdles to overcome.    Sometimes it feels like the mountain is too high to climb.  The cool part of our MESS is that we have a MESSiah right there waiting to carry us right over the summit!

Are there obstacles in your life today??  I have some.   I have always had obstacles — it’s just a part of life.   There was a time in my life when my relationship with God wasn’t nearly as ever-present.  I’ve always loved Him.  I’ve always wanted Him to be part of my life, but to what degree .. that was the question.   At certain points in my life, I have lived in a way that didn’t seek Him before every step I took.   I can tell you, without question, at those times the obstacles/hurdles/MESS consumed me.    I’m in a different place right now (by the grace of God) — and I still have issues/obstacles/hurdles.  I’m a mess!   The difference is, I have a crazy peace about my mess.  I’m not saying my hardships don’t infiltrate my mind at times.. that I don’t sit down and just cry from time to time – I sometimes even feel a bit lost.   But at those times – I stop and talk with God.  I ask God to carry me through.  I ask God to give me faith in His plan.    When I leave my prayer time (my conversation with God) I have a peace that doesn’t really make a lot of human sense amidst the storms going on in my life.   I can only explain that as God.

Last night Adam and I were talking through some things and I felt a bit overwhelmed – life is just difficult at times — and sitting on my coffee table is a book (the big fake kind that opens up and holds our remote controls .. )  Right on top of it reads Psalm 46:10:

I think glimpses at calming scripture such as this one don’t happen on accident.  If you were to come in to my house, you would see little plaques or books with scripture laying around in random places.. you’d see signs hanging with words that mean something to me and/or my family- EVERYWHERE.  I put them there for times just like last night..  I needed that little nudge– the little reminder that God is there– be still!     Please don’t get me wrong– having God doesn’t mean having NO problems or difficulties.  It means I have hope and peace that tomorrow is a new day — the sorrow may come for the night, but joy comes in the morning!  He’s got me.

I don’t know what you’re going through today — but God does.   Whatever doesn’t make sense,  whatever is bogging you down, trying to take you under, hurting your heart, scaring the bigeebers (don’t have a clue how to spell that one) out of you — give it to Him – He is so faithful and true!   I’m saying a big prayer for each person that happens to read these words — for the journey you are on right now.   I pray you can find a way to give it to God– to ask Him to carry you through each step you take from here on out.  I pray the same for myself!   We are all a MESS — but we have a MESSiah who will carry us through and will turn our MESSes into GREAT MESSages to teach the world of His glory, love, and grace!   Peace be with all of us on this day!!!!!!!!!

Almost 4 years ago I came to understand a love like I had never known.    Don’t get me wrong, before that I loved A LOT — in many different ways and that love was for many different people.   However, on May 16, 2008 I became a mom and experienced a new kind of love.    It was a love that filled up my entire being – unconditional, limitless, sacrificial love.   My daughter was born and everything changed.

This morning I was in my normal Tuesday Worship Planning meeting (love Tuesdays!)   and Adam just happened to be able to attend with me.   All of a sudden we saw someone in the window motioning for us to come out… Adam walked out, and I saw him say “is she ok?”   I knew, immediately , it was about Olivia.  She attends the preschool at the same church where we serve.  My heart dropped and of course I jumped up too!  She was TOTALLY fine, but before I knew that for sure, my heart was in my throat!   After a trip to the Dr, we now know she has another ear infection and eye infection.   She’s just not herself.  She’s uncomfortable and hurting.   She hates eye drops, and telling her “it’s for your own good” doesn’t mean anything to her!   She and I came home and hung out the rest of the afternoon.   If you have ever taken care of a sick child, you know it’s THE WORST!   It makes me feel absolutely helpless.  The only good thing is the SNUGGLE TIME.  Oli just wanted to be held and loved on and snuggled all afternoon.   While it kills me to see her hurting and sick and upset, I love the mommy and Oli time.  I love just being able to snuggle with her and focus on helping her!

As each day goes by and I get the honor of being a mom, I am reminded more and more of how God loves us.   It’s this exact kind of love — it’s the best way I can understand His love for me.   I wrote a song when Olivia was first born called:  ”All Because Two People Fell in Love” — the chorus (if I can find the rough mp3 of this song, I’ll post it soon!) :

It’s all because two people fell in love

Where once it was just me

Now we’ve made a family

It’s the closest I will ever come

To feeling the love God has for us

It’s a feeling that I could never have dreamed of

And it’s all because two people fell in love.

That sums it up — it’s a feeling that I could never have dreamed of.   This is what God longs for — a relationship with us.  He wants SNUGGLE TIME!!  He is completely focused on us and His love for us, and so many days we just overlook that love!!   While I know He never WANTS for us to be sick or hurting or upset — it’s often time in those very moments that we draw closest to Him, and I know that gives Him the same feeling I felt today when all Olivia wanted was her Momma.   So, how am I giving God some SNUGGLE TIME today?!?!  How are you?!?   Snuggle up y’all!

Dear God,

We do LOVE YOU and long for special time with you each day.  Forgive us for being so busy living that we forget to truly LIVE and LOVE You!

AMEN!

Today I consumed 2 bottles of clean, refreshing drinking water.   Today I went to the refrigerator numerous times and quickly refilled my glass of clean drinking water.   Today I took a shower, bathed my daughter.   We all (entire family) brushed our teeth.   I washed dishes.   I cleaned the kitchen counters with soap and water.     These are just a few of the things that came to mind when I sat down, today, to think about the ways I used water.    We don’t think about it very often … not in our house.   I mean, if I think of the # of rooms in my home — we have 3 bedrooms, an office, living room, dining room, laundry room, 2 bathrooms, kitchen totaling 10 rooms — of those 10 rooms 4 rooms have easily accessible, running, clean water.   On top of those rooms, we can, also, access clean running water from outside water hoses.   So at least 1/2 of the space used in our home comes equipped with water supply.

Now, zoom over several thousand miles to other, under-developed countries and life is all-together DIFFERENT.   We have all seen the commercials on TV that are incredibly overwhelming for us to watch.   The ones where thousands of young children are dying of diseases caused by lack of clean drinking water, illnesses and diseases that can all be alleviated with proper funding and volunteers.   We sit and watch from our comfortable, air-conditioned/heated homes while drinking our 8th glass of clean water for the day and what do we do?!?!    I’ll be the first to admit– a lot of times, I get so overwhelmed with the idea that there is no way I can possibly solve this entire problem, so I just say a prayer and change the channel.   I have had a very CONVICTING change of heart over the past year — I can’t fail to do SOMETHING just because I can’t do EVERYTHING.  If we all do just something — we can truly change these problems!!

What if we all did 1 small thing each day towards the improvement of someone or something else???   We can do this.. We can solve a LOT of problems.    I’d rather live a life devoted towards trying to do 1 small thing after another for someone else rather than a life devoted to only my own well-being.  I’m not saying this mindset is easy or one that comes naturally, but it’s one I encourage us all to have and keep reminding each other to have.  Even if our own situations/predicaments are difficult.. we can still help others.  Have you ever been in a tough spot and reached out to help someone else in need?  I have found in those very moments, my spirits are lifted.   Helping others helps me.

So, what is this water crisis I refer to???  It’s truly killing thousands of people every day, and THERE IS A CURE/SOLUTION!    Over 1 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water.  Over 1 million children die every year due to illnesses related to lack of clean water.  Women and children spend 4-5 hours daily for water collection in nations lacking water.   The World Health Organization recommends 13 gallons per person per day for health.   In many African nations, the use is less than 2 gallons, but in the US the average use is 132 gallons (PER PERSON PER DAY.)   To me this is just ridiculous.  So, I’m on a soap box it would appear– I apologize for the intensity this blog may be connoting.    We just have to do something.   My challenge to all of us on this day is to pray for direction in how we can each help these people.    I wanted to attempt to bring more awareness to this situation through the blog today and give you all a place where you can take a step towards ending this issue.  Our church (Fellowship UMC) is partnering with a wonderful non-profit organization over Lent (this organization gives 100% of your monetary donation to the efforts of helping those w/out water.)   The organization is called Charity Water and they are doing GREAT things all over the world.  Check it out:  www.charitywater.org.   Our church is challenging our own congregants to donate towards the building of 3 water wells over Lent — that will provide clean water for 750 people!!!   (It’s equivalent to $15,000.00 for the cost of all 3 wells.)   I pray we go OVER this goal!  Will you help us??   Anything you can donate will help.  Just $20.00 gives water to one person.. look at our progress thus far and donate:  WATER CHANGES EVERYTHING!

There are, basically, two different kinds of people in the world — Shiners or Shielders.

Wondering what in the world I’m talking about???   Well, I’ve been confronted repeatedly over the past couple of weeks with the concept of Light — God’s Light.. and how we are called to be the light of this world — to be a city on a hill, spreading His light and His love all around.

A few weeks ago we went to Kari Jobe’s new CD Release Concert.  It was fabulous!   She inspires me so much.  Her heart and her life reflect her love for the Lord, and she has such a gift for bringing others in to a time of GREAT worship!!  I LOVE it!   You should DEFINITELY check out her new album:  Where I Find You.  So, back to the concert — she sang her most recent single :  We Are .  When she did, she had us all turn our cell phones on — in this packed auditorium of probably 4000 other people worshiping with all their hearts –  and wave them in the air.    It was beautiful and what she said was so powerful — “What if we all did this every day — if we were able to shine our lights this brightly, this passionately.. all for God’s glory .. to be His hands and feet?”   That got me to thinking.  With each new day, every step we take we are either shining God’s light or shielding it.   It’s that simple.

Fast forward to last week — in church, we are reading The Three Simple Rules –  which covers a Wesleyan way of living :  Do no harm; Do good; Stay in love with God.   So, again, I’m confronted with this concept of having to make a deliberate and conscious decision each day to do ONLY good .. to shine God’s light.   Do I do that with every move I make, every step I take?   I can tell you the answer to that question is:  unfortunately, no.   I wish I did.  I wish my natural instinct in ALL situations was to take the high road, to seek God’s way and His will, to think of all others before myself.   The truth is, I fall short.   However, I love these little nudges and reminders I keep receiving from God — He’s there.  He will always be.  He gives me a grace-filled love that will always carry me through and that is what I must cling to each day to live in a way that is most pleasing to Him.   When you get right down to it, that’s all that matters.   Daily life and societal expectations/images hinder us, sometimes, from wanting to live this way, but there’s not a person in this world whose opinion of me and how I choose to live my life is more important than the opinion of My Maker.

Life happens fast.   There is a great chance that with every passing day I could be consumed by the “to do’s” of the day which could easily break my intention of thinking of God and others first in all my actions.   I have to be even THAT MORE deliberate and intentional about how I want to live my life.  When others see me I want them to see a Shiner NOT a Shielder.   I want them to see God’s light and His love through my words, my actions, my attention to what is happening in each minute.   This is something that I will need daily reminders to keep focused on this way of life, but it’s worth it to keep reminding myself and others of this idea..    Shiner or Shielder??  Which one are you?

Matthew 5:16

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I leave you with, yet another, reminder I got in my devotional calendar for today..:

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God
who is sending a love letter to the world.
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Are my prayers just hitting the ceiling?

So, a few years ago a Pastor friend of mine told me a story about a gentleman who came to him for counseling.  The man had been going through some pretty tough struggles.   He was pretty much at a breaking point.  The pastor asked him about his prayer life.   The gentleman sat for a second and then said, “Pastor, I don’t pray anymore.  I used to pray about all kinds of things.. prayers of thanks for my blessings, prayers to ask God to help me through my days.   When things got so rough I started praying these really big prayers asking God to take me out of these situations and to make my life right.  My prayers just hit the ceiling.  They didn’t make it up to God.  I don’t even think He heard them.  If he did, He sure didn’t answer them.”

Have you ever felt that way?   Have you ever felt like your prayers are going unanswered and then find yourself asking God , “Why?”   Well, like I mentioned in my last entry, our church is doing a church-wide study on an AMAZING little book called “Why” By Adam Hamilton:

I wish I could buy a copy of this book for everyone in the whole entire world.   I HIGHLY recommend it.  No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, it sheds light on SO MANY tough concepts in Christianity and helps us to understand in those difficult times when our faith is being tested.  I will read and re-read this one for years to come- I KNOW IT!

Anyway, back,  to the topic of today: Unanswered Prayers.  So, the 2^nd chapter in the book discusses this incredibly complex concept.  I found so many things in the book (and our pastor’s sermon) incredibly helpful for myself.  I pray that these things will meet you right where you are today and in your struggle with this concept.   As I went through the chapter and then listened through the sermon I wrote down a few words:

TRUST    WAIT   LISTEN.

Prayer, for me, has always been incredibly powerful.  When I’m praying I do feel like God is right there with me.  When I know others have prayed for me,  I feel lifted.  I’ve witnessed amazing things that come from prayer.  It’s just powerful.

There are times, though that I don’t know really how to pray because my own wishes for my life may not be what God wishes for me.  I used to pray for my own wishes to be fulfilled.  As time has gone by, I’ve started praying more for God’s will to be done and for Him to PLEASE provide peace for me even when His will doesn’t make sense to me.    There are times when that is SO difficult.  Like when I’m praying for an innocent life to be healed, spared from sickness or harm.. It’s hard to say “ I pray for this person to be healed .. if it be Your will.” Or when I pray for the 5000000^th time “ for our family to continue to grow… if it be Your will.” Those last 5 words are INTENSE!  Though I know it must be the will of God.     Sometimes when we pray – our prayer requests would require God to  intervene and affect someone else’s free will as well… and God isn’t in the business of doing such a thing!    I can’t pray for someone to love me—for someone to DO anything—I can ask God to guide me in ways that make me better and more helpful, but not for someone else to do something the way I need it to be done.

Another big point from this study this week was the use of hyperbole.  When Jesus told stories or parables – he used hyperbole (exaggeration.)    For example:  In Matthew 21:22  Jesus says “Whatever you ask for in prayer  with faith, you will receive.”    So, I read that and think – I have faith, and I believe God can do amazing things so why hasn’t a baby come yet??     I don’t think that’s what God intended from Jesus telling us this – to quote the book :  I think Jesus was saying “ Go to God with your burdens!   Be BOLD  when you pray!  Trust that God hears your prayers!  And, in ways  you don’t fully understand, God will see you through the situation that you face.”    That’s what it’s about— which leads me to the 3^rd point  I got out of this:

I have to sometimes wait and listen to God – I have to have a relationship with him through prayer.   My walk through infertility has done many things in my life, but some of the most amazing things are:  it’s brought me closer to God—I talk to Him and cry out to Him and trust in His plan over mine- even when it hurts; my husband’s faith has grown – we have grown together in faith; through our words to our daughter about how it’s just not God’s time yet for a little brother or sister – her faith is growing.  THESE are amazing things!!    Prayer and Faith in God gives me strength and shows me amazing things.

Listen, I’m not here to say that after I say a prayer all my pain is taken away—but I am here to say I have a peace that covers my heart when I’ve just spoken with God.   I try so hard each day to listen to what He is saying back to me while I pray.  It’s not just me talking – He has a plan to unfold in front of me and I have to be willing and ready to hear and see that plan.   Jesus himself even cried out to God while on the cross—My God why have you forsaken me–   even though He knew that’s why He came to earth.   God didn’t forsake Him –  He loved us so much that He gave His son to us so that He might die for our sins.

One last note I took from this chapter/lesson :   When God wants something done – or a prayer to be answered, sometimes he sends people.    PEOPLE are the answer to prayers.  When God wants to love on us – he sends his love through others.   How cool is it to think that we might be the answer to someone’s prayer today—that God uses us each day to show HIS Amazing love to others.   WOW!   I loved that!! So, go out today and be an answer… spread His love!   My prayer today is that we remember how amazing God is—that it’s beyond our rationalization – no human mind can truly understand God’s plan for our lives and our prayers (whether answered or otherwise.)    He is good and we are always in His hands:  I leave you with this song- ENJOY!!!

How many times will we ask this question in a lifetime?

Our church (www.fumctc.com) is currently doing a church-wide study and sermon series on this topic.   It covers the BIG questions in life, and even focuses on how every single one of us has questioned God with these things!

*Why is there innocent suffering?

*Why do our prayers go unanswered?

*Why Can’t I see God’s will for my life?

*Why God’s love prevails.

After reading those questions, I’d love to hear if there is someone out there who has never asked one of those questions.   If you’re out there, just give it some time – I’m sure one of them will hit you at some point.   We actually started yesterday with the first question (in services.)   Man oh man is it a DEEP and emotional series.    I have been reading the book where the basis came from for a few weeks — to plan worship services (Why? By Adam Hamilton ~ I HIGHLY recommend it!)   I’ve debated on whether to blog about it, but it is hitting me so hard that I feel God’s just calling me to go ahead and do it!  So here it goes!

With this first topic about innocent suffering I find such strong emotional pull towards it.    Adam and I feel, strongly, that God put it in our hearts to start Prisoners of Hope because of how much suffering there is in this world and how we feel God has given us gifts that point us all back to His amazing love and hope — and we just weren’t doing enough with those gifts.   We sing every Sunday in our church — and we LOVE IT!  We feel the calling for us to be doing that has, most definitely, not changed or ended.  However, when we look around the world and hear the stories of natural disaster, or hurting mommy’s and daddy’s who have just lost their sweet babies due to causes beyond their control, or the beaten and battered women, or the hungry and homeless (the list goes on) — and we know we have a Hope inside of us that so many of them may not even KNOW about PLUS tools to spread that (with written/spoken word and music) we know it’s just something we HAVE to be doing!

However, when people ask us these difficult questions– why did an innocent child die?   why did the fires of Texas last year have to happen?   Why was the college girl murdered for no known reason?  Why did the beloved husband and father die unexpectedly with no good cause? — sometimes the words are very difficult to find.

What I’m reminded of time and time again throughout this study/series is our mind is not of God’s mind — our idea of time and space is not the idea of God’s.  Furthermore, we may never know His ultimate all-knowing plan in this lifetime.

Psalm 90:4

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

One of the hardest parts to all of this is how incredibly difficult it is to ACCEPT the fact that we will NEVER be able to wrap our human minds around the mind of God.  We spend so much time trying to figure out why we only had 4 years with a sweet little boy or why the earth was made so that natural disaster scientifically HAS to occur for the survival of life as we know it.   God is the only one who knows the reason for all of those things.   He is the only one with the Master Plan.  How hard is that to swallow????

We’ve talked a lot over the past couple days about how difficult it is to hear the words “God has plan” or “It was meant to be”  when we’re going through such incredible suffering.. though those words are usually spoken with the greatest of intentions.   For me.. in all honesty.. I cling to those words for myself when I’m going through something horrible even though it doesn’t completely make sense to me.   However, I HATE saying them to others.    They can be SOOO easily misconstrued.  In my mind when I say just those few words to myself it means– I know this totally stinks right now — and I don’t like the way things are at ALL — but I have to believe GOD IS WITH ME and HE HAS A WAY TO GIVE ME THE HOPE I NEED TO SURVIVE.    Sometimes it may be better to say those things to others who are struggling rather than “It was meant to be.”   Bad things are NEVER God’s purpose or plan.   However, I do believe it’s through the darkness that we truly see and find light.  It’s through the nights of lonely, dark despair that we find God standing there with His arms wide open — ready and willing to wrap us up in a hug full of love and peace and strength.   He is the only answer.  He is our Hope.

Today I’m continuing to say prayers for everyone out there who is in the darkest of times — crying out to God (and whoever will listen) — WHY WHY WHY?   I will close with the scripture reading from yesterday’s sermons — read the words and really let them sink in.  It’s hard to believe that out of the hardest times, good can come — but I’ve seen it time and time again, and I believe THAT is what God’s plan is.   He desires us to cling to him and for His love to spread from one hurting soul to another — all of us here on earth.   I want to be trapped and completely confined to that kind of Hope .   That is what being a PRISONER of HOPE is all about!   If you are going through something and you’d like extra prayer — go to the NEW page (Prayer Requests) created solely for prayer requests.  Adam and I will pray over these as they come in!! Never underestimate the power of prayer!

I leave you with this:

Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)

¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Full or Empty ??   Which are you — a glass half-full or a glass half-empty kinda gal/guy?

Have you been around those kinds of people who always find the good — who are in perpetual state of joy and happiness?   How do they make you feel??  On the other hand, have you been around the exact opposite kind of person – the one who lives their lives most-often consumed by the negative things?

I have people in my life who are both types of people:  half-full and half-empty.    I’ve learned a lot from both types.   I have learned that most everyone truly believes the place they live is “reality” — that it’s not extreme optimism nor extreme pessimism.. it’s just the “real world.”   In addition to that, they often times believe the people living on the other end aren’t tuned in with reality either.  In their defense the other people aren’t tuned in to their “reality.”  So, it sorta makes sense.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been confronted with the “reality” of one simple word lately:  PERSPECTIVE.   When we stop to think about it– most all of life is directed by this simple concept.   It’s all about our perspective.  We have absolutely no control over many external situations, circumstances, events — but we most certainly have control over our internal perspective on them and how we CHOOSE to live through them.   As I’ve said so many times before,  I do NOT underestimate the difficulty and struggle of what life sometimes has to offer.   I have walked through some pretty dark valleys myself and with very close friends/family.  At times I’ve even let these things consume me.   However, I know there is another way to live through them for my future full of hope — and it’s with a GOD PERSPECTIVE.  In this life, I may not figure out what God’s plan is or how His timing works for all things, but I believe with all I have and all I am that He is there through it all — that there IS a mighty plan and that He will guide me through.  If I choose to let the harder things in life totally pull me down I get absolutely nowhere.  While I know it’s sometimes harder to see the good through the bad — the sun through the rain,  it’s a much more hopeful and happy place to be.   I would rather be the glass half-full kinda gal myself.   The fullness comes 100% completely from Him.

Now, how do we go about living this way surrounded by others living with glasses half-empty??  — Well, how has God put up with me through my times of emptiness??  With arms and heart wide open.   I believe I’m meant to keep loving on others through their emptiness as well.  I think the key is to love and spread the hope but not let the negativeness consume us in the process.  So it means setting boundaries and being cautious but continuing to remind others of a different way to see things and live.

Recently I heard a story about a woman who found out her “faithful” husband had been cheating on her and it was rumored that he was messed up with drugs as well.   This man was actually a pastor of a very large church.   Needless to say, his church completely fell apart and their family totally hit rock bottom.  The wife said she remembers the day it all hit her and she had cried all she could cry and prayed more prayers than ever in her life.. and then she got up out of bed and said to herself, “Now, how am I going to live through this?  What kind of person am I going to be through these struggles?  What lessons am I going to teach my children with the way I choose to finish this chapter in my life?”    That hit me really hard — struggles are not a maybe kind of thing in this life– they are most definitely going to happen, but we have control over what we do with them/how we handle them.     We also have to take responsibility for remembering our perspective about GOD — about His strength and His power and His ability to make all things good according to His will.  That has never changed — we just forget.

So, I leave us today with a scripture that reminds me of this concept — things will be hard,  but not impossible with God and we have a daily choice to make — half-full or half-empty?? What will you choose today!!

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Dear God, give us the strength in this day to see past the clouds and see the sunshine through the rain.   Even when things are harder than hard and don’t make a bit of sense to us, let us have faith that You are there and You have a mighty plan.   Amen!

One definition of “Resolution” is:   A firm decision to do or not to do something.

Today is the 2nd day of a brand new year — many of us start each year resolving to make the new year better, healthier, happier.    I don’t know about you, but I do really well for a month, maybe two.   Maybe I work out more, I am more committed to reading my bible routinely, I find ways to try and be a better wife, mom, friend.   Then ….. ……  life happens.  That doesn’t necessarily mean I quit all of those good things completely, but I sure don’t focus on them as much.    If 2011 taught me anything it was to live with NO REGRETS — to make the most of this life we’ve been given.   Yesterday, as I was driving home from vacation I thought about how it took a great loss for me to remember how short life really is and how I did so good for a while with hugging tighter and loving better and not sweating the small stuff…. but as the year progressed I lost it a bit again.   I have to constantly remind myself that I was not made to worry and stress and spend the time God gave me on the things that get me down — I was made to worship a God who is as amazing today as He has always been.    What good is the love He gives me if I don’t find a way each day to give that love back?  What good is the truth of His word and the promise of His hope if I don’t believe in it spread that — by my actions and my disposition?

Life can be really tough sometimes — there are things that just don’t make sense, things that are downright awful and we never want to have to face these things.    However, through even those things –  we serve a God who never promised it would be easy… but He promised He would be there if we would just rely on Him.  He promises us a peace that passes understanding if we will seek Him and His peace.   He promises hope of eternity spent with Him in a place filled with NO MORE pain, NO MORE hurt, and NO MORE tears.   When life is rough — when things get me down, sometimes I don’t remember this truth… sometimes the difficulty of life consumes me so much that I forget… but that’s what the devil wants.   This year I resolve to keep reminding myself and others of this great HOPE — that it’s our job to work on our own perspective and outlook on life.   Our God’s amazement has never changed — WE have changed.   We have made this earthly life and it’s trials and tribulations more of our focus than the hope God is standing right in front of us with– ready to fill us with each day if we just open our eyes and our hearts to Him.

Happy 2012 everyone!!  There is GREAT hope in this year — no matter what today or tomorrow brings — there is Hope —  God is there..   always has been, always will be.

Romans 5:5 NLT

Hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.