Hope

I would like to extend my apologies before hand. This particular post does not come from any particular section of the Bible. Rather it is just a few things that I feel like the Spirit is asking me to share with whoever it may be that reads this.

As can be seen, it has been a while since Dan and I have posted. We hope to get back to a weekly basis here shortly. One of the reasons for the delay has simply been life itself. I can't speak for Dan, but I know that I personally have been having a few problems, and have had a lot on my plate recently. That, and it just seems like there are a lot of people right now that are going through some struggles, myself included.

For all of these people, here is the message we all need to hear. There is hope. This hope was born to us in a manger in Bethlehem around 2000 years ago. This hope lived a perfect live for us completely fulfilling the law and undergoing every temptation that we have to face. That hope was crucified and killed for each and everyone of us. That hope was then raised from the dead on the third day by God the Father Almighty, so that we too may one day rise with him and live with him for all eternity! That hope was Jesus the Christ of God!

It is true, many among us suffer. Many of us at times seem to have no hope at all. At times it seems that we are losing our faith or that our life is going down the drain. Romans 5 tells us that "we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Jesus promises to take our burdens from us if we would only just caste it upon him, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He calls us to come to him all who are weary and burdened. (Matt. 11:30).

For all of us out there with any sort of pain, or trouble, or hardship, we need to lay it at the foot of the cross. We must preach Christ crucified to our fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering in this world. Christ died for our sins on that cross so many years. He took the fears, sorrows, sins, and weight of all the world with him onto that cross. Each and every one of yours. In this we can truly take comfort, and in this we can truly have hope, even when life itself seems hopeless.