Hoping is a Good Thing!

It’s a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

19-21 I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
    the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
    the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember,
    and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

22-24 God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

25-27 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
    to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
    quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
    to stick it out through the hard times.

28-30 When life is heavy and hard to take,
    go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:
    Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.
    The “worst” is never the worst.

31-33 Why? Because the Master won’t ever
    walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
    His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
    in throwing roadblocks in the way:

Lamentations 3:19-33 THE MESSAGE

I used this passage to help describe my life during the decade of 1988 to 1999, the darkest days of my life. It is indeed a good think to hope for help from God! Help finally came for me and it can for you too!

Spiritual Not Religious?

I must admit I have said that a few times and like most people it was a subtle slap at the church. So I welcomed Ray Waddle's column in the Tennessean today. It reminded me of two or three important things. The "Spiritual Not Religious" people never organize to help people during disasters nor send missionaries to serve so many people around the world. Pastor Frank one time said that you cannot separate following Christ from relating to people and that is what the church is all about with it's core being spiritual.

I could add to Ray's words with the fact that Christ called the church his bride and that we become one with Him to do his ministry in this world. Even the incarnation ministry of Christ in us works best through the church and her channels and with fellow believers. I still have problems with my denomination and only occasionally with my local church, but its imperfect nature allows us imperfect people to relate to hurting people in love and see that God only works with and through us broken and imperfect people. Yes, Ray, I agree that the phrase I have even used myself, "Spiritual Not Religious" rings hollow in the real world. I am thankful for my imperfect church.

The photo of tulips I just recently found on my computer and decided I love. I made it at Falls Mill, Belvedere, TN in April 2008.