Now is the time.... To Hold on to Hope

But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

The terrible reports of the recent Haitian earthquake have shocked us all. At the time of writing 110,000 people were reported dead, and of course, many more are injured or unaccounted for. As aid begins to reach many people, doctors and helpers work around the clock to relieve the suffering as best than can in makeshift hospitals. Rescue workers from all over the world search for survivors in the debris and others work together to distribute much needed supplies to survivors.

It has been quite amazing that people have been pulled alive from the rubble, some of them after a considerable number of days. One man, when rescued, was asked how he managed to survive. He said, “I never gave up hope. I believed that I would be rescued.” Such is the power of hope. It is a powerful force of life even if hope is put in people, but when hope is placed in the Lord who has power to change any and every situation, then it brings an extra blessing.

Abraham is one of our greatest examples of one who had hope. Romans 4:18 says this: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Hope is very much aligned with faith. God had given Abraham a promise of a son, but he was very old and his wife was past child-bearing age. Abraham held onto the hope of a son and heir for 25 years before his son, Isaac was born according to God’s promise. His hope, (and faith) were rewarded.

What is it that you are hoping for today? Is it the fulfillment of a promise that God has given you many years ago? Perhaps it is that a loved one will be healed or receive salvation. Perhaps it is the hope of better days ahead, a new job, a change of home, or a much needed change in your circumstances.

God is a good and faithful God who wants the best for his children and is able to bring good to them as they hope in him and his love for them. Hold on to you hope and believe that you will see God’s goodness come to you. Remember David’s encouragement to himself when things looked less than good…… Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-- my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:5).

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the many promises you have given to me in your word. Help me to put my hope in them, knowing that you are faithful and true. Amen

Now is the time - To Do Your Best

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23

Recently I went with a friend to see the movie “This Is It”, a documentary of the rehearsals for Michael Jackson’s comeback concert which never happened due to his untimely death. I had never really known Michael’s music, nor had I seen him on screen, only TV screens showing his latest personal sagas, yet something urged me to go see this movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Michael’s humility and gentle ways; his obvious respect for fellow performers and technicians was not the only thing that impressed me about this man. His great voice and his striving for excellence in a way that was neither proud nor showy were things that probably made him the much-loved artist that he was.

The energy and excellence of his backup singers and dancers also made an impression upon me, and something the producer said struck a note with me. He said that these backup performers were actually an extension of Michael; that in the concert, they were seen as one. Yes, Michael was the centerpiece but everyone contributed to the whole picture.

My thoughts strayed towards the church and ministry scene that we are a part of. Yes, there is most often a ‘central player’; the speaker, the soloist, but there are many others who contribute either up front or in the background to make ministry happen. I have often encouraged those with the gift of helps (1 Corinthians 12:28) that they are a vital part of making ministry happen. We need people who are happy to set up chairs, sound system, and communion, take up the offering and clean up after services or church social events. These ‘unseen’ people often feel that they don’t do much in the church, or that they don’t have any ‘real’ gifts, but the gift of helps is a very real gift indeed. Without it the body of Christ is incomplete.

Remember what Ephesians 4:16 tells us; ‘Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.’

No matter what our gift or given task in any part of life; church, work or our community, let’s do our very best so that the whole task or ministry is a success, remembering that we are all an extension of Jesus Christ in our world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to always remember that I am an extension of you in this world so that I faithfully fulfil the purposes you have for me to do. Amen

Now is the time... To Receive a Good Word

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25 NLT

Depression is almost endemic in today’s world, certainly it is in Australia. Well known personalities in the media and sporting worlds are bravely sharing their battles with this horrible malady hoping to help others recognise and acknowledge their own problem with depression so they can go on to seek help and support.

Some of the lies that the depressed person believes is that they can’t share their struggles because; a) no one will understand, b) no one can really help and c) no one really cares anyway. Perhaps underlying the thinking there also lurks another lie, d) I’m not worth their trouble. From somewhere in the distant past I remember a ‘proverb’, though I don’t think it is a Biblical one, that misery loves company. Perhaps the negative, complaining person likes someone to complain to but the miserable, depressed person usually prefers to be alone, hiding away in the darkness of their own world, focusing on little other than their plight.

The Bible is such a practical book, so true and timeless. How can a book written so long ago be so relevant for today? Because it was authored by our Maker, the one who knows the heart and mind of his creation intimately. He understands the pressures of life in a sinful world, a world full of troubles that bring anxiety which leads to depression. But God has answers for us in his word.

I had a mother who suffered from severe depression from the time I was about 12. Sometimes she would lay in bed and ask me to read the Bible to her. I wasn’t very skilful in choosing passages to read but what I read seemed to afford her some comfort. These days there are Bibles which list verses for various life situations, ones that will encourage and build up. The Bible is full of them. They are truly an antidote for depression as our verse today says. When Jeremiah was depressed and anxious because of his persecutors he said “Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight…..(Jer. 15:16 NLT).

There is power in God’s word to sustain us in times of anxiety. We don’t need, nor should we allow anxiety to continue long enough in our life to become depression. I believe that is why the apostle Paul admonished, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God….. then the peace of God which passes understanding will keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God. (Philippians 4:6-7). Your heavenly Father cares for you and he has the power to keep you in every situation that arises. Trust in him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your word which holds great wisdom and encouragement for me. Help me to receive the truth of your word into my life and walk in faith at all times. Amen

Now is the time ... To Re Focus

Turn my eyes from worthless things…. Psalm 119:37

Stepping into this new year I have found it necessary to do some re focussing in my life. Towards the end of the past year I became a bit out of kilter; my times with God were not what I wanted them to be, they became less frequent and not very deep. I became dissatisfied and spiritually dry. It was not a comfortable feeling but I am so thankful that God allowed me to feel that way because it made me ‘hungry and thirsty’ for His presence once again, and the reality of the truth that He alone can satisfy.

It is far too easy to get so focussed on things that need to be done around the home; things that are necessary and good, but I found that they became ‘bigger than Ben Hur’ and their importance became out of proportion to reality. The result was that I became burdened and discouraged. My eyes were focussed on worthless things (things that don’t last) and not on Jesus who is my friend forever.

Focussing on Jesus certainly takes time and determination because the enemy of our souls will give us any distraction to take our eyes off the One who brings perspective to our life and peace to our soul. My distractions were minor but perhaps yours are rather more pressing than mine were. Sickness, employment, housing, financial and family difficulties are certainly forces to be reckoned with but we can and should determine to put them in their rightful place with the help of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says ‘So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.’

Is it easy to take our focus off our troubles? No, it is not, but it is possible to make a choice not to allow them to occupy the biggest place in our thinking. So what should our focus be? The psalmist got it right when he wrote ‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law.’ ( Psalm 119:18) because the word of God contains the promises of God and the wisdom of God to overcome every difficulty that life presents.

As we focus on Jesus and what he wants us to do, and as we read his word we receive encouragement and strength to cope with daily life. Focussing on our Saviour and his goodness, his strength, his promises, his faithfulness and his great love for us at the beginning of each day will give us the correct focus we need to walk confidently into each new day. No matter what is happening around us we will remember that this will not last forever, there will come a day when all our troubles will be over and we will dwell in eternity care free. In the meantime we face our day in the knowledge that he is our strength, protection, and our wisdom for today. Therein lies our peace.

Prayer: Dear Jesus help me determine today to bring my focus back to you, the one who is preparing me for eternity with you but also the one who can guide me successfully through this day. Amen

Now is the time... To Pray

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour wants us to live. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)

This is the first day of the New Year and decade, 2010, and this is the verse the Holy Spirit led me to this morning as I tried to wake my tired body from a very late night. I hadn’t expected to see the new year in (except in my bed), but a spontaneous invitation to people we’d been barbequing with in our community for ‘coffee and Christmas cake’ at 10 pm turned into a 1 am bedtime. Most enjoyable, and I was glad I hadn’t gone to bed earlier because I would have been awakened at midnight anyway by a long and loud local fireworks display.

the apostle Paul says to his spiritual son, Timothy, “The first thing I want you to do is pray.” He doesn’t just leave it there but goes on to encourage Timothy to “pray in everyway you know how and for everyone you know”. As I thought about this I was challenged about a family that I had inadvertently neglected to pray for regularly, and I am sure the Lord will remind me of others as I become more diligent about my prayer life this year.

I was also challenged about being more prayerful about our government and leaders, both State and Federal. I think that often Christians don’t realise just how much power we can wield in prayer. If we did, we would be more committed to prayer. Our world becomes more and more violent, confused, needy and tragic. Courts don’t seem to have the will (or maybe the power) to deal justly with criminals. People are angry, frustrated and messed up; broken people surround us. These are the ones that Jesus came to minister comfort and healing to and we are the ones he will use. Prayer will lead us to them and open doors for his grace to show up for them to be changed.

That word at the end of these verses about ‘humble contemplation’ reminded me about a long-time friend who is very contemplative in her lifestyle. I haven’t seen her for years but we correspond a couple of times a year. When I think about her, her life still makes an impact upon me. She is such a deeply thoughtful and contemplative person which in turn makes her a deeply prayerful person. I want to become more like her because I feel that so often my life rushes past at a fast and sometimes furious pace with many distractions, some of which I could probably avoid if I really wanted to.

Contemplation will cause us to think deeply upon the needs of people around us and about the ability of our wonderful God to make a difference in our society; prayer will open the doors. My prayer this new year is that I follow Paul’s command to make prayer the first and constant thing in my life. How about you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to pray in everyway I know how, and for everyone I know, especially for rulers and governments, as well as our pastors and leaders. In Jesus’ name, Amen.