Thursday - Breathing Hope

 I just got home from my small group. We just finished a great study " Forgotten God- Reversing our Tragic Neglect of The Holy Spirit " by Frances Chan. Powerful study. It is so great to know that none of us are ever alone. I had no idea most of my life that there was a God and never knew about the Holy Spirit. For years my God was alcohol,drugs,food,exercise,denial, measuring myself by others and the worlds standards ( I still struggle with that one - and shopping !), fixing others,avoiding  others, avoiding reality....on and on it could go. By the power of the Spirit we are filled with hope because our God is a God of hope who fills us, his children, with all kinds of joy and peace.

How hopeful it is to know that today and all the days of our life, past, present, and future we  can have a real relationship with a Father who loves us just as we are.We don't have to look a certain way, have a certain house in a ritzy neighborhood, look like we just stepped out of the gym with an ageless body, have numerous college degrees, or drive the latest SUV- wouldn't mind one though  - just saying ! Seriously - material possessions, the worlds view of what is important, power ,status, Clinique, Mary Kay,or leaning our ladder of success on the wrong wall  will eventually fail and leave us empty, without joy and peace.

 Now how can you not feel hopeful knowing that "the spirit of God has made me:the breath of almighty God gives me life " ( Job 33:4)   So...pray for how God wants you to BE not what you think you are supposed to do. Ponder these quotes and tell me what you think:

"But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through"
— Francis Chan

 

"The irony is that while God doesn’t need
us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the
time.

 

"Lukewarm living and claiming Christ's name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God."
— Francis Chan (Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God