Hope

The word hope has been coming to my mind a lot lately. For some reason I usually think of hope as a somewhat passive action. I wait by quietly hoping that something will happen. I hope that my circumstances will change soon.  I am nervous and hope everything is going to turn out OK.  

I began thinking that hope is not passive but it is extremely powerful because God is a God of hope. Hope allows us to be filled with joy and peace while everything around us may be uncertain and scary. Hope helps us persevere and endure through hard times. Hope enables us to be encouraged and encourage others. Hope allows us to take risks with great faith.

 I pray that I can live a life overflowing with hope!

Motions

So I don't really like posting a blog that is not my own. But this morning, I heard this song on the radio by Matthew West. I absolutely loved the lyrics. I will let the words speak for themselves. 

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

Actions

So lately I have thinking about my own selfishness.  As I think about combating selfishness the word love comes to mind. But then I started thinking about how love truly manifests itself. I realized here is where the hard part comes in. It is easy to say that I love people but do I really always show love? Do I really love all people? 

“Is Jesus acting in our hearts to reach out to the person who isn’t like us – the oppressed, the poor, the unchurched – and to humble ourselves, give of our money, build our communities in love, give our time, our creativity, get on our knees before our enemies in humility, treating them as Scripture says, as people who are more important than we are?” – Donald Miller

 I pray that love will not just be a word in my life but continual actions. Actions filled with forgiveness, mercy, and justice.  Actions that don’t care if anyone else is looking. Actions that see no bounds, no barriers. Actions that aren’t afraid of looking foolish. Actions that take risks.  

You've heard it a million times - actions speak louder than words. So go out there show love!

Do Not Lose Heart

In years past, I like so many others have made goals or resolutions for the new year. I often have the common resolutions - eat healthy, exercise more, etc. In January, I start off strong and then month by month my motivation and determination slowly begin to fade. 

I began to relate this to my spiritual life. God has a specific purpose for each and everyone one of us. He calls us to ministry and to be ministers on a daily basis.  When God first convicts, calls, or shows me something - I am deliberate! I am excited! I am consistent! Unfortunately these feelings fade - I become weary. I become tired. I become frustrated. Somewhere along the way I take my eyes off of Jesus. I do not live with the same resolute and determination that I had in the beginning. 

Since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.  II Corinthian 4:1; 16-18

I pray that I will not lose heart and that I will stay deliberate, excited, and consistent in all the God has called me to do.