Wasting Days on Hope of the Future

What a title huh? How can you ever waste anything with hope? I have been in a difficult season lately. There are things about my life I don't like, things I wish would hurry and change, things I wish were different. I keep looking forward, hoping for the next season to begin. Recently, I have realized that I might be wasting today, hoping for tomorrow.

Hope is a powerful principle. The Bible tells us that 'hope deferred makes the heart sick'. Without hope, we are lost. When you look into the eyes of an impoverished, orphan child, you can see what a lack of hope and a future can do. Their eyes are empty, hollow, and dead. Hope is what keeps us moving when we've lost a loved one. We know of the eternal hope, the promised hope of heaven. The very sacrifice of Jesus is what brought the world hope. It is a lifter of heads, breath to the spirit, burden-bearing. Hope truly keeps us alive.

So how in world could it be true that I am wasting my days on hope? This is what I believe God spoke to my heart lately.

Today is the day of salvation, the Word tells us. If I spend all my energy and thoughts on hoping for the future, always waiting for that change I am hoping for, despising the season I'm in and living on what might be in the future, I am wasting this day. Hope is not only for the future. Hope is for today. No matter what the season of life I am in, whether in the valley or on the mountaintop, or in that very difficult place of transition between the two, there is a purpose for every step. God wants us to live everyday with our eyes wide open, enjoying the journey He has us on, submitting to the refinement He is walking us through, and living on purpose every single day.

There are changes I am waiting for in my life; some of them out of my control and some I can do something about. If I live today completely focused on what I am hoping will be different in the future or an answer I am longing for on tomorrows journey, I will lose today. Perhaps Jesus will return before that change or answer arrives. Will I spend my last days unhappy, discontented, and ineffective because I am living on the hope of that change?

Hope is a powerful principle. Without it, we will not survive this troubled world we live in. However, I believe the questions God has for me today is: What hope will you live in for today? What hope will you offer someone else today? Will you stop wasting days paralyzed by future hope and live continually in hope?

Joshua's Testimony

Joy of Salvation

As I prayed over my son Joshua tonight, I prayed that the love of Jesus would shine through him at school tomorrow. As I finished, Joshua asked, "What's the love of Jesus?" I explained with six year old vocabulary about the love of Jesus which brought us to talking again about all He did for us on the cross. Joshua came to a place he wanted to give his life to Christ.

As I have with three of my other children, I prayed with him having him pray after me. Joshua prayed a prayer of salvation. I clapped my hands in delight as he said amen, telling him of the heavens rejoicing over his decision. Suddenly, my booming, exuberant son jumped from his bed and began jumping and dancing around the house, telling his sisters and brother about Jesus. "Angels, my Ethiopian mom and dad, and my cat are dancing in heaven for me!" He giggled, he jumped, he danced with pure delight!

He declared several times, "I'm happy! I'm doing the Jesus dance!" and danced around the house and outside. The joy of the Lord gushed from his heart. It was beautiful to see.

When was the last time you thought about the salvation Jesus gave you, rescuing you from your sin, and all He's done for you and then broke out into dancing, jumping and giggling? Just as I stood beaming over this delightful child celebrating unabandoned about what Jesus just did in his life, Jesus Christ, no doubt stood beaming with me. He loves to see us excited about what He has done for us.

Joshua gets it! This gift of salvation is one to jump and dance and giggle over! It is life altering, life saving and will overflow our lives with joy if we will let it! Let us again become like a child and dance and jump and celebrate Gods goodness! We jump and scream at athletic events and concerts yet stand in dull numbness over the things of God. The Creator of thr universe lives and breaths and acts in our midst. That is certainly something to celebrate, to cheer, to yell and giggle and dance over.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel