May the 4th Be with You: A New Hope

If you can read this, I assume you have seen the first Star Wars movie “A New Hope”. If you haven’t seen it, I assume you must have terrible friends and bad parents. I kid, but after seeing that movie many of us become insistent that others see it as well. No doubt the hope we have in Jesus is far superior in its goodness compared to Star Wars. Jesus ought to capture our heart and be shared with others. He is worthy of that. Therefore, with it being May 4th, I want to give four celebratory reasons that make me want to share my hope in Jesus with others.

1. Jesus Redeemed My Past

I was trapped in chains of addiction, but Jesus set me free! I am thankful I can empathize with others who may feel those chains and am happy to tell them of the hope and freedom in Jesus.

2. Jesus Changed Me

I am so thankful for how Jesus has changed my self-centeredness and gave me a care for others. I know if Jesus can change how I treat others, then He can help anyone change.

3. Jesus will Keep Changing Me

I know I still have many characteristics needing changed but I also know He will gracefully and patiently help me change those things. Jesus’ example reminds me I should extend the same grace and patience to others.

4. The Hope for a Future in Jesus

I see the chaos in our world and with my own life. However, I know that Jesus has a plan and a future available for me and the world; it’s a future full of eternal life and free of pain.

Now, I ask you take some time in prayerful reflection with Jesus. Find four reasons you celebrate the hope of Jesus that stir your heart to share that hope with others.  

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -Romans 15:13

Fix Your Eyes Upon Him

Do you ever at times feel like your heart is the state of your bedroom at peak messiness? Like I’m talking about the kind of mess when you’re running late and picking out the outfit that you should have picked out the night before. Clothes and chaos everywhere kind of messy.

Sometimes I feel that type of overwhelming chaos in my heart. Maybe final exams are coming up for you, you’re not really sure what is next for yourself, your family is having a hard time getting along, or things have just felt a little bit weird lately. Whatever it might be for you, I pray that you cling to this verse today:

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. -Colossians 3:2

I love this verse because it helps us shift our perspective. When this is the posture of our hearts, focused on things above, we are able to rest in the promises He has given us and the life He has called us to live. On my mirror I have a sticky note that says,

For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.

It is just something that I read one time that really put it in perspective for me how often I look at myself and the problems that I face and how much more I should be looking at Christ. Take some time to practice this during this week, maybe by yourself, or in a small group. Talk about what it is that life is throwing at you and take time to shift your perspective from to the trial to the cross. Take time to rest in His promises for your life and truly believe the goodness and abundance that the Lord has for you. I think shifting our perspective is transformative.

We are most definitely going to continue to have messes in our lives, but what if they were an opportunity? An opportunity to die to ourselves daily and take hold of what Jesus has already conquered for us. We have a choice. We get to choose how we respond to the mess. Do we dwell in it? Or do we allow the peace of God to transform our hearts and the way we think? Do we give thanks to Him daily, because another day is another opportunity to praise him?

We are sons and daughters of the King. The King of heaven, the One who calls us by name. The One who paid the price for us. The One who has conquered death. The One who loves us. My prayer today is that you would take your eyes off the mess and choose to fix your eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let's turn our eyes to the one who knows us individually.

There's No Place Like Home

Every Sunday night for the past 10 months I have made a 2 and a half hour drive back “home.” Home…that’s a funny term we use to describe where we live, where we build a family, where we start a life, or in my mind “it’s where my stuff is.”

When I moved to Indiana I was in a weird stage in my life. My life seemed to be going in slow motion and so was I. I had a great job, I bought a house, I had made new friends, and everything seemed to be going according to the “plan.” But something was missing… this wasn’t home! 

They say home is where the heart is and that is absolutely true! God’s got a funny way of showing us things we need sometimes!  Now you’re situation may not be as extreme as mine, packing up everything and moving. Then a few months later God says to you, “Hey I’m sending you back!” Wait? What?

You see I didn’t know where my life was going when I got here. I was just going through the motions. And right now, as you’re reading this, I’m sitting in an office signing papers selling my house to the highest bidder! And in a few short days I’ll be “home.”

Home…that’s a factual term God uses to tell us where our heart is! And my heart is in Southern Illinois with a girl named Randi! So, whatever your situation is, never doubt God’s plan for you! Have faith and trust God, because his plan for you will always lead you home, on earth and in heaven! In the words of Dorothy Gale, “There’s no place like home.”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Be Still

When was the last time you had a whole day without anything on your calendar? A day that was absolutely free? A 24-hour period to do just as you pleased? We fill our lives with things that must be done…chores, meetings, appointments. There always seems to be just one more thing to do.

God’s desire for us is to consistently make time to be alone with Him. Some one-on-one time if you will. Any parent knows how overwhelmed kids can become when they aren’t required to take some down time or quiet time.

It’s the same for us as children of God! He sees our busy lives and our long to do lists. God just wants us to stop and spend time in His presence. He gave us a beautiful world full of wonderous things but in our rush we often miss all He has to give. Psalm 46:10 tells us to,

Be still and know that I am God.

That doesn’t just mean sit still and listen to me. I feel the words are much deeper than that. God wants us to know He is in control. He is the planner and the doer. We need to turn our lives and schedules over to Him. They are His.

Life becomes calmer and more manageable when we allow the One who planned the universe to plan our day. Make time today to be still and hear what God has planned for you!