Freedom and Hope

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Sixty-five lighthouses dot the coast of Maine. Those historical lights drew Tim and I to visit the beautiful north-eastern state. I've loved lighthouses for as long as I can remember. I'm not sure when I first learned of their existence and purpose, but it seemed I always knew the grand buildings saved lives and provided safety for fishermen and ship's crews. One of the lights we visited, Portland Head Light, is a majestic white structure surrounded by a home and several smaller buildings. As I wandered the property, I rounded the corner of the house and spotted a large stone.  A plaque told me the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, sat and penned his lighthouse poem there.

Steadfast, serene, immovable, the same,
Year after year, through all the silent night
Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame,
Shines on that inextinguishable light!

The poem reminds me of the hope I have in Jesus.

Steadfast—He's always here for me.
Serene—The calm in my storm.
Quenchless flame—His light cannot be put out. 
Inextinguishable light—Always shining, no matter what.

The world is a mess right now. Every day we hear stories of death and destruction. If I'm being honest—and I am, the terror scares me. I think of the world my grandchildren are growing up in and speculate about what it will be. Yes—I've gone down the road of "what if." But before I get too far gone, the Holy Spirit taps me on the shoulder and reminds me of the light. The one light that brings hope. The one that is never extinguished. You see, regardless of all the evil in the world, we have hope. Constant hope in Jesus. He's the one who brings peace and joy, the one who gives freedom from the world. He's the one who hears my prayers. He gives me freedom from fear and worry, because I know he has me in his hands. I pray for this world and the hurting. In my prayers, I ask that everyone will find comfort and peace in Jesus. He is the one who gives true freedom. The one who offers hope.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is...

This week we remember Palm Sunday as Jesus trekked through the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey. The people met him and waved palm branches and sang, “Blessed is the king of Israel!” In Jesus' humble way he knew his future was death and his celebration meant freedom for all who followed him.

He knew the road led to torture and sacrifice, yet he took the path anyway.

Why would this man who understood his destiny walk right into death's door? 

Because he loves us. He knew he offered the only means to forgiveness and eternal hope.

Jesus death and resurrection offer a freedom like no other.

Freedom from the weight of worry.

Freedom from the love of material things.

Freedom from anxiety.

Freedom from the opinions of politicians and Hollywood stars.

Freedom from society's values.

Freedom to pray at any moment of the day.

Freedom from sin.

Romans 3:23-24 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

Jesus is the only road to heaven. He gives forgiveness, freedom, and hope.

On this Palm Sunday weekend, know that Jesus died so everyone would have an opportunity to live in freedom. Praise the Lord for his Son!

Inheritance in Heaven

1 Peter 1:3-6
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

The wind blew through the orange and yellow leaves of the young maple tree. I thought about how many seasons that new tree would go through before it reached full growth. Year after year, the rings on the inside would expand, and the trunk and limbs would reach higher. The leaves would green up, then change to dramatic shades of autumn and tumble down with the wind. With every barren winter, the tree has the hope of spring.

Much like the tree, I go through seasons of growth, times of rest, days when I feel like my leaves are falling. Trials come and go in life. Some shape me more than others. Occasionally the trials slow me down and even cause grief. Yet with every trial I face on earth, I know Jesus offers his living hope, the gift of heaven. An inheritance that never fades waits for all who love and accept Jesus as Savior. Praise God for his gift of hope and heaven.

My Lighthouse

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Several years ago I traveled with my young daughters to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. At the time my brother, Ron, lived there, so my other brother, Darryl, and his family ventured with us down south. We spent most of our time at the beach. The kids played in the waves on kid-sized rafts, buried each other in the sand and built castles. The ocean mesmerized us. As much as I loved the water, my favorite part of the trip was climbing to the top of St. Simon’s lighthouse. We watched dolphins play in the water and got a feel for the work of the lighthouse keeper. If he didn’t keep the light burning the risk of ships wrecking increased. The pilots of the vessels depended on the light keeper to do his job, whether he lit the lamp or flipped a switch; he needed to make the top of the tower glow.

I’ve been fascinated with lighthouses for years. They grace our home in paintings, photos, and 3-D images. I love having them around because they remind me of the hope I have in Jesus. Just as a lighthouse guides to safe harbor, Jesus moves me through the rough waters of life and buoys me in the calm. I have to keep my eyes on him and trust him to guide. A ship’s captain may not know just what’s ahead, but he follows the light. As a believer in Jesus, I place my trust in him and follow his light which leads to everlasting life. Jesus is my lighthouse.

Rend Collective sings the song, “My Lighthouse”. Give a listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPtIv2lnkTY

Hope of Spring

1 Peter 1:3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Hendersonville, NC

After a long, cold winter, the daffodils and tulips dance in the breeze. Red buds bloom in hues of pink, and green pops on the trees and lilac bushes. Spring! What a joy to witness the renewal of life after snow and freezing temperatures. As much as I get frustrated with Ohio weather and the sinus troubles that come with it, I love that we experience four seasons. I’m not sure I could live where the weather’s always the same. I met a couple from California who lived in a zone where the temperature remained between 70 and 85 all the time. That sounds great, but I know I’d miss winter and the hope of spring.

Like the varied weather, life comes and goes in seasons. Some are mild and ordinary while others cause heartache and pain. No matter what’s happening, whether I struggle with difficult circumstances or bask in contentment, I hang on to the hope I have in Jesus. What a comfort to know that heaven is on the other end of this life. As much as I enjoy my family, friends, and pursuits, I have a greater joy in the hope I place in Jesus. Praise God for his son who gave his life for me.

Overflow with Hope

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I had the opportunity to attend a QPR Gatekeeper training at work.  In the class, I learned how to help a person who might be contemplating suicide. As difficult as this sounds, the class equipped me to help someone in distress. Throughout the session the teacher gave information on the practical things to do. One idea resounded throughout the talk. Give the person hope. When a person has hope, they can step out of despair. With help they can move forward in life.

As the instructor spoke, I thought about how important hope is in my life. There’s no greater hope to look forward to than what Jesus gave when He died on the cross. Through faith in the Savior, God’s children have the hope of heaven. Even as I live my life on earth, I have hope in the word of God, in prayer, and in the people God surrounds me with. The Holy Spirit reminds me that God loves me and has a plan for me. His hope fills me with joy and peace. Praise God for his love and salvation.

Where do you find hope?