A Living Hope

In our church's advent series "Hope," we have had the privilege of hearing a number of testimonies. The testimonies bear witness to the transforming power of God in the lives of everyday people like you and me.

One of our weekly challenges to each other as a family is to listen for something that really spoke to us in the church service or during Kid's Cove/56 Degrees. It has been exciting to hear the kids take home a Truth from someone's testimony. I have been deeply moved by God's ability to show His love so uniquely and so completely to each person. I have also been challenged by people like Dave and Louise Sinclair Peters and their willingness to let go of personal fears and follow Christ. Their lives radiate Christ's love and hope to anyone nearby. If you want to hear their testimony follow this link: When Hope Draws Near.

Last night, during our family time, we were talking about Hope. About the trans-formative power of Jesus Christ through God the Father. We talked further about what we are choosing to do as a family this Christmas season because of that Hope. We really are living in a tension (talked about on Sunday morning.) We are living with the tension of worldly fears and measures on the one side and the desire to do good and live for the glory of God on the other side. We desire to adjust our attitudes because we know we were made to find complete satisfaction in God and to direct others to that same satisfaction through our words and our actions. The difficulty is that it just isn't natural. Natural for me is self preservation and self promotion. Displaying this Hope will only come through giving up of habits,thoughts and actions that hinder and taking on, with humility, a willing faith and the love of Christ.
After our time together I was left reflecting on the following questions: Are we acting like we know about the Hope? Are we sharing like we know? Do those around us want to ask why we do things the way we do? Do they see a sparkle in our eye that points to a different way - the way of God through Jesus Christ?

We ended by praying about it together and in faith asking Him to lead us through this. We ended by pondering 2 Corinthians 9.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously...and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession for the gospel of Christ...thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

God may you truly be our Hope this Christmas season. May you be glorified even in the small steps we take. Show your power through these clay jars.