HOPE

Lately Hope seems to be a popular topic.  It seems that everywhere I turn over the past few weeks HOPE has been breathed in to the fabric of my life.

When I personally think about HOPE, I quickly turn to my profession and an early lesson I learned that has been played out so many times in the fifteen years I have been a social worker.  I was taught that sometimes the clients I work with will feel hopeless.  And that a good social worker will come along side them and bring hope to them until they can see the situation in light of hope and that spark of hope is united in them.  I have seen this time and time again across multiple settings - when I worked with children and families in foster care, in private practice, in-patient hospital both medical and psychiatric, and in working with single parent families.   

I also think about the times where I have been jaded, or where those around me have been jaded by the continual circumstance that play out in the lives of those that as a social worker we are designed to help.  Making statements about "They will never change."   When I first heard this statement, I took it as a personal challenge to come along side that family and see change happen for the positive. I have seen hope ignited in the darkest situations, and seen situations turned around that really did not look possible. I would like to say that it is because I am such an awesome social worker, but I know that Someone bigger than me was at work in those situations and that instead I was just a tool in His hands.

Then I realize there are times that I have been that jaded social worker, speaking negative over a situation that I am suppose to be helping.  If I the professional can't see hope, how are those in the depth of the darkness suppose to find hope?

As I think about times that I have not provided hope, I realize how much as a Christian I hurt the world around me by not providing Hope. Jesus Christ is the Hope of the world, and He is within me.  If nothing more than my own personal testimony, I know that even in the darkest time He provides hope.  There is no situation to hard, that God can't intervene.  There is no depth to deep, that He can't reach down and grab me out of.  There is no problem to big, for with Him nothing is impossible.  There is no addiction to strong that God can not reach in and break it.

He is the hope even when I don't want to see it.  There is no one that God does not want to help.  And in our weakness He is only strengthened.  That gives me hope.  That reminds me to hope for others.  That compels me to share Him even when I see no hope, because He is there.
 This blog is prompted from  Tuesday at Ten! The Tuesday blog Link up where you have 1 full week to use the prompt word to your liking!  Whether it be just writing a story behind the prompt word, or being as creative as you wish using photos, poems, art, or graphics – whichever creative way you choose. You have 1 week to write and link up your blog at the bottom of the page so that others can link up with you. Be sure to visit your “link up” neighbor and spread the joy of connection!

Because

 

Because i said so.... this is one of the most overused mom-isms in the world, or maybe just in my family.  When I am busy and don't feel like explaining, because is the answer.  If because is questioned, and it often is , it is expanded on with "I said so" as if this is the end all reason.

The problem with this is that I taught my kids it is okay to question.  So in trying to shorten a discussion, I have actually made it longer.

There are so many more Because that would make it shorter,
.....because the Bible says so. No argument there, except maybe where.
.....because that is how it is done. Although I can still see why coming.
.....because that's the rule in our house.  We don't have many so this one is a tight answer.
....because you have school tomorrow.  Great for weekdays

This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five-Minute Friday, where we gather together to write for five minutes, unedited, on a given prompt for the week.  This week’s prompt was Because

Attacks from others

DAN 6:1-15 NKJV  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”


As I was reading these scriptures in the Bible, there was something personal that stuck out.  Having recently went through a time where persons made allegations against me that were not true, I felt a kindred spirit with Daniel as the governors and satraps plotted against him.    I wouldn't go as far as to say "they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him" as I am far from perfect.

I realized that there is nothing that I can do to stop people from plotting against me.  Daniel lived a good life, and couldn't stop them from finding something to trap him,  It is what I do when attacked that make a difference.  Daniel continued to live his values and not argue his point.

I serve a God that is bigger than others opinions.   I can't base my actions on what others think.   Daniel knew what the law said, but it violated God's law and that is what matters.  I have to live my life in line with the values that I hold to be true.

I serve a God that can control things outside of my control.  Daniel faced the lions den, but didn't change.  I don't need to try to manipulate others in to liking me or in to seeing things the way that I want.  I serve a God that even when the plots do work against me, He can bring it out for His glory and honor.

HOLD

To have an to hold....... till death do us part
I have been married for fifteen years, while it hasn't always been perfect, and we haven't always got it right, I have to say that the place where I feel most safe physically is when I am being held by my husband.  Whether it is a big bear hug, or a snuggle on the couch, or that gentle intimate hold, the world feels whole when I held.  Safety and security is in the hold.


Waiting on hold.....
The times that I have felt most frustrated is when I am on hold, waiting with elevator music, or worse yet the recorded message that repeats every few minutes "Your call is important...."  Being on hold can be such a waste of time, even though for those times I actually have to hold, the end result of the call is something that is required.  Answers are usually found in the hold.

Life on hold
There are times in my life where I have felt like everything was on hold.  Waiting for things to go the way I think they need to, waiting for responses, waiting on my children, waiting on my husband, and waiting on God.  Those times that I feel like the world is going past me, that my life is on hold, I am tested.  Patience is found in the hold.


This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five-Minute Friday, where we gather together to write for five minutes, unedited, on a given prompt for the week.  This week’s prompt was Hold.

Go

Acts 9:13-16 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!  And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”  But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”

These scriptures leaped from my screen as I read them.   I often feel so unqualified for the things that God has allowed me to be part of, and for the vision that He has placed within me.  He shows me things, I submit, and then I start being like Ananias repeating back to God every bad thing that has been said about me, ever bad thing that has been done to me, and every bad thing I have done.  I remind Him of my failures and my flaws.  I remind him of my worldly qualifications, and lack there of when it comes to doing the dreams He has placed inside of me

But then His words back to me are "Go, for you are my chosen instrument to take my message."

It is so easy to forget, when your raised to be independent, that it is not in and of myself that I can do anything.  It is in true humble obedience that God is able to work in and through me.  It is because I see His hand print on my past, that I know there was purpose to everything He has taken me through.  That every trial I have overcome, was because of Him and because of the purpose he has designed me for on earth. 


Despite not being asked, He sends me.  Despite not feeling qualified, He chose me.  Despite not feeling at all good enough, He says Go, you are Mine.

Obedience

Tonight at Beauty for Ashes, Mary shared about obedience.  She read from I Cor. 6:19-20 that says Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

She then shared the Story of King Josiah that is detailed in II King 22 & 23.  He was crowned king at age eight, and unlike the kings before him, he loved God and was trustworthy and loyal to God.  She shared how Josiah had ordered for the temple to be cleaned, and found the scroll with God's Word inscribed.  After reading it, he then asked God's forgiveness, tore down all the idols, and shared what he read.

As she shared, I thought about how this applied to my life now.  And reflected back to her initial scripture in I Corinthians. When I came home I dug a little deeper in the Word, reading the story of Josiah from the Word.

Beauty for Ashes is a ministry of restoration and that is exactly what Joshia was working on when he was given the scrolls.  He had sent his man to the temple to the priests to find out how much had been collected at the doors for the rebuilding of the temple.  Maybe it is just me, but I tried to clean and rebuild my temple on my own too.  Man's efforts fail  in comparison to God's work.When we come to Christ it is because we are led by the Holy Spirit to realize that we  are sinners, that our temple needs to be cleaned.  By the blood of Christ we are cleaned, not by works.

Just as Josiah did, we begin to renew our mind with the Word of God and begin to realize how far from God our lifestyle really is.  Even after we have been saved for decades, God is still working on us, revealing to us deeper changes, deeper levels of obedience that He wants to take us too.    This is our Christian walk, daily renewing our mind with the Word.

As he heard the Word, he was convicted.  He tore his clothes and repented for what his nation had done.  As a nation we are at the point, and have been for some time, that people need to be on their knees before God crying out, repenting for what has been done as we sat idly by and did nothing, and for the things hat have occurred even generations before we came along.  We need God's forgiveness for our nation, and in our own personal lives for the things we have placed before Him.

He then tore down the idols and false gods that were in the nation.  It is easy for me to think that I have no idols as I do not bow to worship anything other than God, but anything that I place before Him in my life is a god.  There are times in my life I placed myself and my own desires before God.  there are times I have placed my children, my spouse, my family before God.  There are times I have placed work before God.  I realized those things must come down.  I must re-prioritize anything that I would place before Christ and rid my life of things that have no place there.

I also have to realize that this was a process in the nation, it didn't happen overnight, and in my life it will not likely happen overnight either.  But if I am obedient when God shows me things that don't belong, and if I put Him first place, He will honor my obedience.  I can not get wrapped up in the length of time it takes, only in being obedient to each step of the process of removing these false gods and idols.

And then Josiah shared with the leaders and the people saving them from the destruction that God had promised to hose who didn't obey.  Sometimes in my life, I realize that this is the hardest step, sharing my faults,the struggles,, and ultimately the work of God in my life going through those times.  It is much easier to wear a mask that all is okay, than to be vulnerable with others.  However, it is in our weakness that Christ is made strong.  It is in our times of trials and failures that God comes through that can be encouraging to others.  It is in sharing the Word, and how alive it really is that lives are transformed.

Obedience isn't easy.  One of the other women at the meeting shared how she was an obedient child, or thought she was until really she realized that she was going through the motions of obedience.  God sees the motives and heart behind our actions.  Obedience is more than doing what you are told to do.  There is grace as we begin our walk, in doing the right thing even though we don't feel it.  There is even grace given when we admit to God that our motives are wrong and need more of Him.  However, when we come to the day of judgement we will not get credit for works done with ill motives and bad attitudes.  God doesn't see those works.  Obedience is also a heart thing.

Ready

There's a big difference between being ready and getting ready, and the majority of us spend most of our time getting ready and are never truly ready.  Today as I was getting ready this morning for work, three minutes before walking out the door I realized I haven't ate breakfast, I still need to put my hair up, and I need to put on my shoes and socks.  Despite three minutes to "ready" to walk out the door,  I'm not truly ready to go to work.

 As I think about ready, I  think about the Old Testament.  When the flood came if they were just getting ready they all would have died or with the high priest if they were not ready when they walked into the Holy of Holies death awaited them.  We must be ready.

I hear many couples say "were not ready for children." Or engaged couples that say "We will get married when were ready."  The truth is, we can spend our lives "getting ready"  and miss the blessing that is attached with ready.

In our Christian walk,  were told to be ready in season and out of season.  Like the story of the ten virgins and the lamps some we're ready and some were not.  We have to realize that soon a time will come that we have to stop "getting ready" and realize if we are not ready, we may be too late. 



This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five-Minute Friday, where we gather together to write for five minutes, unedited, on a given prompt for the week.  This week’s prompt was Ready.