Hope Revealed.

Growing up, my brothers and I would always get the Sears Wishbook in the mail during the holiday season. We would spend hours looking through it and making our lists. My dad would later look at the lists and say something like, “Don’t get your hopes up.” He was just reminding us that we probably would not get everything on our lists.

We’ve had our hopes dashed along the way as well. A reoccurring sickness that doesn’t seem to go away; an unstable financial future; a relationship that went south. There have been many times in life when our hopes were not realized. However, every time you open God’s Word, God only says, “Get your hopes UP!”

What is hope? It’s a joyful expectation for the future and in Jesus, our hopes for a better tomorrow can be realized. Wouldn’t it be incredible to have the kind of hope that changed the way we went to work on Monday or the way we showed love to our spouse or how we interacted with our children?

In John’s gospel (John 1:1-5), the apostle paints four beautiful pictures of how God reminds us that hope can be realized in our lives during this season of hope. First, John says hope is revealed in God’s creation. While Matthew and Luke’s gospel begin at the manger, John goes all the way back to creation. Before there was a world to be saved, there was a Savior who created the world. Everything was created through Jesus and for Jesus.

And hope is revealed in the cradle. Jesus left the splendor of Heaven and was poured into a human body. We find hope in Immanuel, which means God is with us. Indeed, Jesus “moved into our neighborhood”, got his hands dirty and 33 years later, gave us the best gift we could ever hope to have.

Hope is revealed at the cross as well. John the Baptist says in John 1:29 that Jesus is the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world. We celebrate the nativity story this time of year but Jesus’ purpose was to die on the cross so that our sin would be removed and we could live with him forever. The Psalmist says in Psalm 103 that God has thrown our sin as far as the east is from the west because of Jesus.

And finally, John makes the connection that Christ is King. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah that is proclaimed in John 1:41. Jesus is our hope, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Deliverer. And He will be your hope when you crown him King of your life.

The Christmas story is really a story of worship. It’s realizing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed one of God. And this Christmas is the call to make him Lord and King of your life. He is so evident all around us. Accept the greatest gift ever given in Jesus today. Blessings on your journey.

Hope in Darkness.

What do you do with doubt? There are moments we all have when we doubt the story or situation or scenario. Like the first time I spoke to my wife at the time clock in Wal-Mart in Conway, Arkansas. I doubted she would want to have anything to do with me but 31 years of marriage later, my doubts have been removed.

In Matthew 11, John the Baptist is in prison. He is related to Jesus. He grew up playing with Jesus, going to family reunions with Jesus and having sleep overs at Jesus’ house. John baptized Jesus and told his disciples that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. John knew Jesus.

But in Matthew 11, John has a question, “Are you the Messiah?” As close as John and Jesus were, John had questions. It reminds me that even those close to Jesus have questions. People like you and me. We ask things like, “Why is there suffering in the world?”, “Why do evil men rise to power?”, and “Why do children die of starvation in Africa?” But realize, there is a difference between questioning God and asking God questions.

Job, the character in our Old Testament, had some questions for God about all the dark things happening in his life. Job lost everything he owned and his kids while being a very close follower and worshiper of God. Yet the text tells us that Job never sinned against God. We are reminded that when we bring questions to God, it strengthens our relationship with him.

On my best days as a disciple and pastor, I have questions. I don’t have it all figured out but that’s where this word “faith” comes in. I choose to trust God even though I don’t know the answers to “why”.

See, for most of us, hope and doubt exist side by side. But that space in between hope and doubt is where faith grows rampantly. When we are not sure why difficult things are happening in our life, we choose to trust God in spite of it all and our faith is strengthened.

We are reminded in Matthew 11, that while we are waiting, the Messiah is working. While John was waiting in prison, Jesus was working. What are you waiting on right now? Maybe a stronger marriage. You’re waiting on your spouse to enter the conversation so you can get back to where you used to be. Maybe you are waiting on the prolonged illness to end. Maybe you are waiting on your adult children to come back to Jesus.

But remember, between Malachi in our Old Testament and Jesus showing up in the Gospels, Israel had waited 400 years for the Messiah. John’s parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth had waited decades to have a child. John was waiting in prison for Jesus to reassure him he was the Messiah.

So in our own lives as we wait for desired outcomes, remember that just because God is silent doesn’t mean he is absent. Faith grows when we can’t see what God is doing. When we can’t hear his voice, it prompts me to lean in closer to hear his voice through his church, his Word and prayer.

Hope is the ability to keep hanging on so…in this difficult season, hang on. The Messiah is working while you are waiting. Jesus voice is calming you and reminding you, he is present and near. In this season of hope, hang on. Blessings on your journey.

Finding Hope.

Do you remember the Sears Wishbook that came in the mail at Christmas? A catalogue of toys as thick as my Bible. My brothers and I would sit down with it and earmark every page that had a toy we wanted. We hoped Santa would bring us all the toys we circled and labeled. It was fun to dream and hope.

In life, we also have hopes. We started the year hoping we’d find our Mr. or Mrs. Right. We started the year hoping we find a cure for our prolonged illness. We started the year hoping to become financially stable. We started the year hoping to create a more solid marriage. But as the months have rolled on, our hope has turned into hopelessness.

So, what is hope? It’s a joyful expectation for the future. It’s the idea that something better is just around the corner. Hope moves us forward in life. Hope gives us strength and energy. Hope helps us breath during difficult moments.

All through God’s Word, He reminds us there is hope. God consistently points toward the Messiah. Over 300 times in our Old Testament, prophets and kings point forward to a Messiah. In the New Testament, Messiah is translated “Christ”. Both words mean “anointed one, deliverer, Savior”.

This holiday season is a reminder that God has sent us hope. That all along, God has had a plan for our lives. As tough is your situation is in life, as difficult the conversation will be, as anxious as the evening news makes you feel, God has a plan. And that plan has been to send his son, whom we celebrate during the Christmas season.

But the Messiah is also a person and his Name is Jesus the Christ. He’s the Son of God who came to this earth some 2000 years ago. He was foretold in Isaiah 9:6, some 700 years before Jesus was born. The prophet says, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The Messiah is also a presence. The prophet Isaiah says in 7:14 that his Name will be Immanuel which means “God is with us”. Every single day, whether it is a victory or defeat, whether light or dark, whether a lonely minute or a large gathering, He is always there. So during tough times, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the promised gift of hope from God above.

When things seem out of control, he’s in control; when things seem dark, he is light; when things seem to hurt, he’s the healer. When things seem hopeless, he is our hope. So, this season, focus on the gift of hope whose Name is Jesus. Blessings on your journey.

Jesus is the Reason.

For most families, Christmas is a time for traditions. The Hall’s traditions are much like your traditions.Year to year, decorations are brought down from the attic, favorite meals are prepared and family members come together. But, why? What is the reason behind the gifts, the cheery music and the time off of work? What actually happened all those years ago that separated this day from any other?

Christians agree that the birth of Jesus Christ is the “reason for the season,” yet more often than not, this idea is lost in the midst of the holiday craziness. This Christmas, challenge yourself to approach the holiday with fresh eyes. Allow yourself to be awed by the beauty of Mary’s faith, Joseph’s obedience and the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The faith that Mary demonstrated throughout her pregnancy is frequently overlooked during the telling of Jesus’s birth. Mary was a young woman from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, engaged to a man named Joseph. One day, God sent an angel to Mary to deliver the news that she will carry the Son of God. The Bible says that Mary was troubled by the news, and the angel said: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus” (Luke 1).

Despite Mary’s fear and confusion, she responded by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”. Mary demonstrated incredible faith by believing and accepting the angel’s message. The doubts and worries Mary was most likely experiencing did not hinder her from living out God’s plan for her life.

Matthew 1:19 tells us that when Mary told Joseph of her pregnancy, he wanted to divorce her, but wanted to do so secretly, sparing her public ridicule and death by stoning. Later on, Joseph was visited by an angel in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take your wife Mary home, for what has been conceived in her is by Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1).

No matter what Joseph was feeling, whether he thought Mary was a cheater, a liar or just crazy, he obeyed the Lord. He kept his engagement to Mary, later married her and became the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph’s obedience reminds us that God’s plan is one much bigger than our own and that we must trust exactly what He tell us.

Though Mary and Joseph were devoted followers of God, exercised impressive faith and obedience and contributed to the beauty of the birth of Christ, they do not compare to the significance of who Jesus was and what He would later do for all of the world.

Jesus was born in a manger, foreshadowing the humble and servant-focused life he would live out. Jesus’s birth was the beginning of God’s rescue mission for His children and that is the true meaning of Christmas. He is the reason for the honey hams, the stocking stuffers and the celebration. The day that Jesus entered the Earth, the world was changed forever.

So, this holiday season, enjoy your family traditions. Enjoy time with friends. Enjoy reminding each other how much we love each other through a gift exchange. But always remember, Jesus is the reason we do it all. He is the greatest gift we could ever hope to receive. Blessings on your journey.

Faithfulness All Year Long.

Right now is the season when we talk about being joyful and triumphant. It’s a time of celebration and festivities. It’s a time to reconnect with old friends and close family members. It’s supposed to be an exciting time of fun and excited anticipation. But not everyone is joyful and triumphant this time of year.

Some of us are working through depression and anxiety. Some are trying to mend broken relationships. Some are feeling the weight of a difficult marriage. Others are praying for their adult children who do not have a relationship with God. All of us are dealing with the pressures of work and a busy calendar. But you know, Jesus doesn’t call the joyful or the triumphant.

Jesus calls those who are weary and burdened (see Matthew 11:28-29). He also beckons those who know they need salvation (Matthew 9:12-13). There are moments when we’ve tried everything to make it work or heal the relationship only to discover after long nights that we really need Jesus. And Jesus invites those of us who are tired and worn out to follow him. But if he calls us in that state, he doesn’t leave us there.

You see, Jesus helps us become more faithful. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. When life happens. When darkness looms large. When we feel hopeless, we fix our eyes on Jesus who will lead us to our salvation. He is a faithful God. He will lead us through the deep water, the fire, the uncertainty (Isaiah 43:2-3).

Jesus also helps us become more joyful. His spirit living in us is what produces the love, peace and joy we desperately need right now. And know, joy and happiness, are worlds apart. See, happiness is determined by the happenings around me while my joy comes from Jesus. I can be upset about a relationship. I can be put off by what’s happening in the world. I can be crest-fallen by my work place. But joy never goes away because of Jesus.

Jesus also helps me become more triumphant. You see, the Living God has my back. Simply read Isaiah 9:6-7 to be reminded that we serve an incredible Savior. His story reveals his journey from a manger to a throne. That baby lying in a manger is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He’s the light of the world. He was born the King of angels…He is Christ the Lord.

This season is about gone but the faithfulness of God will never leave. He calls us to be faithful all year long as well. That’s the challenge: tell the story of our incredible Savior all year long. He gives us the faith we need; plants joy in our hearts; Jesus story is one of triumph. Blessings on the journey.

He is Emmanuel!

You and I enjoy this time of year because we get reacquainted. We get to see folks who have been physically absent in our lives most of the year. We travel to grandma’s house to sit around a dinner table with cousins we haven’t seen in a while. We go on vacation to see friends in distant states. We slow down to see that in fact, we are married and what a joy to take some time with the one we love so much!

This time of year, we celebrate the coming of Jesus. God with skin on. The God who moved into our neighborhood and lived among us. In Matthew 1, the angel tells us that Jesus’ name is Emmanuel which literally means in Hebrew, “God with Us”. The angel announces the prophecy made 740 years before Jesus’ birth by Isaiah. See, God is relational and He wants a relationship with you but what does it mean that God is with us, not only this season but all year long?

We can be assured that God IS with us. Gabriel announced to Mary in Luke 1, “Greeting! The Lord is with you.” God is ever-present in our lives. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1 that is is right along side us in life. Paul uses the Greek phrase, “Para kalaeo” which means to pull along side. No matter what is going on in your life, God is with you right now.

But God also WAS with you. Sometimes God can best be seen in the review mirror. I mean, we can look backwards in our life and realize God has been there through the thick and thin. The story of Joseph (with the coat of many colors) in the last half of the book of Genesis is a great story to illustrate this. He was a man who put God first in everything yet had a difficult life. His brothers hated him so they sold him into slavery. Once there in Egypt, he is falsely accused of sexual misconduct and thrown into prison. But in Genesis 39, it says, “But the Lord was with Joseph in prison…” By the end of the story, Joseph is second in command of the entire country. See, the Lord was WITH Joseph through the tough years to get him to the best life he could hope for. God has been with you too.

Finally, God WILL BE with you. We know the story of Jesus life and resurrection but young Mary did not. What if she could say at 12 years of age, I know God will be with me when I tell Joseph about my pregnancy, I know God will be with me with there is no room at the inn, I know God will be with me when we run to Egypt to save my baby’s life, I know God will be with me when I see my son walking down main street with a cross on his bloodied back, I know God will be with me when I kneel at the cross and he takes his last breath, I know God will be with me when we wait in silence the three days after his death but then find an empty tomb!!

You see, God is with you, he has been with you, and he will be with you. He’ll never leave or forsake you. The question is, “Are you with God?” You can only have the perfect peace and real love in your life if you say “yes” to the baby in the manger. It’s the season to believe and take the greatest gift you’ll ever receive in Jesus! Blessings on your journey.

A New Day with Jesus.

The Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night” was written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau and Adolphe Adams. A priest in Southern France commissioned the song just in time for the Christmas mass in Roquemaurre. However, Placide was an atheist and Adolphe was a devout Jew who didn’t believe in the nativity story. It just goes to show you, God can use even those really unwilling to share the story Jesus. Even so, the hymn made it to America and was translated into English. It has become a staple Christmas song for two centuries.

The night Jesus was born must have been chaotic and dark. Born in a stable, in the dark, surrounded by animals and their smells with strangers from the field showing up to see what was up…seems very disorienting. Luke 2 tells the story of Jesus’ birth and we discover several things in the story.

We find a new day with Jesus brings exactly what we need in life. It may not be what we wanted but it will always be exactly what we need. We need Jesus in our every day struggle with temptation and addiction. We need Jesus as we work through the rough spots in our marriage. We need Jesus as we pray for our children to come home. We need Jesus as we work through our loneliness. We find a one day with Jesus changes everything.

We also find a new day with Christ brings hope to keep going. Jeremiah tells us in Lamentations 3:25, “[God] is good to those who hope and depend on him…” We can live without food for 40 days; live without water for 3 days; live without shelter during a storm for 3 hours; live without breathing in air in our lungs for 3 minutes. But we cannot live without hope.

People put their hope in some crazy things. People put hope in their bank accounts or retirement. People put their hope in their children, through whom they live vicariously. People put hope in relationships. People put hope in their college degrees and titles on a door nameplate. But all of that will eventually fail you. Paul tells us in Hebrews 10:23 to put our hope in Jesus, who will never fail and who never lies. He can be trusted.

We finally find a new day in Christ brings the help you are seeking. It’s amazing what one day with Jesus makes. Jesus makes all the difference in the world! During Jesus’ ministry, just ask Lazarus, the man born blind or the paralytic who was down for 38 years. All of them knew how one day with Jesus makes all the difference in the world!

Because of Jesus, you have hope in the middle of your night. Jesus is exactly what you need. Your night is almost over. There’s a thrill of hope and a weary world rejoices…for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! The Light of the world has been born and we celebrate this season. It’s time you have hope. It’s time you reach for Jesus! Blessings on your journey.

Jesus is Immanuel!

2020 has been a rough year. For some, they lost a job. For others, they lost someone dear to them. For many, they lost freedoms we had all taken for granted. And I dare say there have been times this year you felt like you were all alone. You were walking through the valley of tears by yourself. Yet, here we stand in the week of Christmas, a joyous time of year for many who remember that God never forgot about us, his prized creation, and sent his Son, Jesus, to walk with us. Indeed, he became the ultimate Christmas gift. In his birth, we find hope for a better tomorrow.

This time of year, we hear a word. It’s incarnation. But what does incarnation mean? One description I found was this:

“In Christian theology, the doctrine of the incarnation is that Jesus the preexistent divine logos, God the Son (the Son of the Father) taking on a human body and human nature who, made flesh, conceived in the womb of Mary. This doctrine states that Jesus is fully God and fully human, joined in hypostatic union.”

Well, that doesn’t seem too helpful of a description! I’ve got an advanced degree in theology but I was lost on some of those words. Ultimately, it means God became flesh in the person of his son, Jesus.

The whole world remembers that God remembered us this time of year. God's Son, Jesus, came to earth to live among us (John 1:1, 14). But if He came, what was his mission? Jesus says it is to seek and save that which was lost. Namely, us! So, he’s a rescuer and he came to bring us life and life to the full. His birth brings us hope and his death brings us life.

So when you read of his birth in Matthew 1:23, it says “His name is Immanuel, which means God is with us.”

So when you are afraid, Jesus is your peace. When you are alone, Jesus is your companion. When you are are lost, Jesus is your guide. When you are sick, Jesus is your healer. When you are tired, Jesus will carry you. When you are weak, Jesus will be your strength. And when you feel the weight of your sin on your shoulders, Jesus will be your Savior.

Jesus birth and life is the greatest story ever told. It’s what Christmas is all about. He is the ultimate gift. So, are you going to open him this holiday? He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He’s the promised Messiah. He’s the Son of God, the Lamb of God. Jesus is the light of the world. He’s Immanuel. Jesus is God with us. Blessings on your holiday season.

Seems Always a Storm.

2020 was a record year for named storms to hit the US mainland. We had 12 named storms which shattered the old record of 9 storms set in 1916. 6 of those storms were hurricane force and did $37 billion in damage. Interestingly, in 1954, meteorologists began naming storms after their girlfriends or wives. (I make no correlation here)! But in 1979, men’s names were added to options for naming storms. In our lives, there always seems to be a storm going on.

In your life, you may be enduring the storm of divorce. You could be battling depression. The storm could look like financial distress or an extended illness. A friend of mine once told me, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of storm, or there’s a storm just around the corner.” In other words, life is a series of storms you must navigate.

However, you never allow the presence of a storm to cause you to doubt the presence of God. God is always with you. That is literally what the name of Jesus means. Matthew 1:23 reads, “They will name him Immanuel which means God is with Us.”

But there are moments when the storm rages. You can loose hope. I’ve sat with many who have said there was no hope for their marriage. They found no hope to ever locate a job. There was no hope to be healthy again. It seemed hopeless to ever conceive a child or climb out of debt.

Sometimes we blame the Devil. That’s appropriate but sometimes our storm is because of things we did. Sometimes, we spent too much money keeping up with the Jones’ and now we are in financial hardship. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us. We said things to people we love we can’t take back. Sometimes we procrastinated and now we are between a rock and hard place. Sometimes, it’s our fault.

But there are times we are in the storm when it wasn’t our fault. Our parents divorced and we are in the middle of the family storm through no fault of our own. The company you worked for made poor financial decisions and now you’re out of a job. You trusted someone but they didn’t show up and you were left holding the bag. Sometimes you are enduring a storm that you did not create.

There is an incredible miracle and ministry moment in Mark 4. Jesus has been preaching and teaching. He has been performing miracles and healing the sick. It’s the end of the day and he is exhausted. Jesus and the disciples find themselves at the Sea of Galilee so they get in a boat and push out to the middle. Almost right away, Jesus falls asleep. But in the middle of the night a massive storm blows up. Thunder and lightening. Wind and huge waves. Water is coming into the boat. So finally, the disciples wake up Jesus and ask, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus asks, “Do you still have no faith?” Then he stands and commands, “Peace be still”. Immediately, the wind dissipates and the waves disappear. The sea is like glass. The stars are shining through. It is still. And the disciples whisper, “Who is this that even the wind and waves obey him?” They found peace because Jesus was with them.

But peace is not found in the absence of a storm. Rather in the presence of Jesus! Jesus said in John’s gospel, “In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.” My faith isn’t in what I see but in what God says. My faith isn’t in the boat but in who commands the wind and waves. My faith isn’t in the ship but in the one who made trees that made the ship.

You can’t control how big the storm is or the damage it does. You can’t control what people do to you or say about you. You can control what you believe and how to project that belief on those around you.

Psalms 46:1-3 reminds me that God is our refuge and our strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So even if I loose my job, I believe God. If my relationship falls apart, I trust God. If the economy is shaky, I will trust in God. If I feel isolated and alone, I believe God is with me. Even if a virus runs rampant in the nation, I trust God. If my candidate looses the election, I have faith in my God. I will not be afraid because my God is alive and walks beside me!

You see, peace is not in the absence of the storm but the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords. “Look! the virgin will conceive and bear a son. They will call him Immanuel which means God is with Us.” God is with you this holiday season and beyond. Feel his presence. Call on him to direct you and defend you. He’s the greatest gift you and I will ever receive. Blessings on the journey.

Big Valley.

The year has been trying and testy. We have been challenged in our work, buying habits, school, homework, travel, church connections…well, just about every facet of “normal” life has been changed. None the less, the Christmas season has arrived! We celebrate Jesus coming to earth to live among us, create among us, die among us, and conquer all among us.

I remember earlier this year when we said, “If we can just make it to December.” Guess what? You made it! The grace of God is good all the time. But how do we experience the thrill of hope when we find ourselves in the valley.

Now, we love the mountaintop experiences with God. It’s easy to feel the presence of God when we bring our first child home from the hospital or deposit our first real paycheck from our first real job or hear from the doctor that we are finally cancer free.

It’s difficult to feel God’s presence when you’re in the valley. Moments when you receive the divorce papers or hear you can’t have children or the doctor says the cancer has returned. Or even years when you find yourself in a pandemic. So, where is God when you are in the valley?

I know this: we enjoy God on the mountain top but we do get to know him intimately in the valley. The Psalmist reminds us of some things in Psalm 84:5-7. Israelites traveled on pilgrimage to Jerusalem off and on all year long. Jerusalem sits on top of a mountain. So to get to the incredible City of David, one had to travel through the valley to reach it.

Sometimes in life to get to a place of true appreciation of God, you have to push through some pain to get to the goodness! The writer reminds us to set our mind on things of God. What you think about matters! Paul knew that and admonished us to do that very thing in Colossians 3:1-2 and Philippians 4:8. Set your minds on heavenly things, not earthly things.

You may be thinking about how you will travel this holiday season with COVID restrictions in place or how to pay for the kid’s gifts since you were downsized at work or maybe you’re facing a past holiday tragedy that you must face every year at this time. Whatever the valley you find yourself in, remember that greater is the one in me than the one who is in the world. Say out loud, “My God is going before me to prepare a place for me.” Rediscover that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and solidify that you are more than a conqueror.

But I’m also reminded in our text the we are pilgrims…just passing through. You see, the valley is not our destination! When we find ourselves in a valley moment, remember that God will not leave you. Prepare to meet him in your difficulty. Make provision for his provision. If you prepare it, he will fill it. If you seek him, you will find him. Slow down and seek him out. God rarely reveals himself to hurried people. It’s probably why he said, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Know that God will provide strength on strength for you as you walk through your valley. We do enjoy the mountain top but we get to know God in the valley. When you feel weak he’s your strength. When you find yourself in darkness, he’ll be your light. When you are in trouble, he’ll be your joy. When you are in pain, he’ll be your comfort.

May God reveal himself to you and may you have the courage to embrace him. He’ll never leave you. He’s always with you. He is Immanuel…”God is with Us”. Blessings on the journey.