Tag:

hope

A Day of Joy & Hope

by TerryLema

Today is Palm Sunday, the commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly before His death. That entry was the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The people who witnessed this entry cut palm branches to wave and spread their cloaks on the ground before Him. They acknowledged Him as their king shouting “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD” from Psalm 118.

This riled up the Jewish leaders who told Jesus to rebuke the crowd for their cries of joy. Jesus, refused to rebuke them and told the leaders, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” [Luke 19:40]

We are under a mandate to not gather together – for believers this is especially difficult during this season of remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of our LORD. This is our high season. This is when we plan for multitudes to come into the church. We often look at this season as one of great opportunity for salvations.

It seems that everything around us is rebuking us and trying to get us to silence our cries of joy. But, but, beloved, nothing has changed that really matters. Our King has come and brought salvation. And we still cry out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD.”

If anything, our cries should be even louder now…they should flood the airways, social media and travel across our globe. If we keep silent, the stones will cry out, and as I’ve heard it said, no rock or stone is going to sing praise for me!

 Praise be to Jesus, the Christ, who came to save us, deliver us, redeem us! All Glory to Him forever and ever. Amen.

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Moment by Moment

by TerryLema

One of the most difficult parts of this stay-in-place COVID-19 isolation order isn’t the staying home part, it’s the uncertainty of when this ban will be lifted. The President has recommended that it now go through the end of April. And I guess the corresponding worry is just who will decide it’s over and what will be the determining guidelines.

So, we wait, and we wait some more, and we do the best we can in the meantime.

We are living what Solomon described in Proverbs 13:12a: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

I have read that proverb many times, but this morning my attention was drawn to that word, “deferred.” Deferred means to put off to a later time, it doesn’t mean destroyed. Solomon recognized that as he finished the proverb with “but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Soon the ban to gather will be lifted and that deferred hope will become a fulfilled longing and a tree of life to us.

In the meantime, there is a hope that is not deferred. David, Solomon’s dad, posed the question, “But now, Lord, what do I look for?” and then he gave the answer, “My hope is in you.” [Ps 39:7]

Our hope to gather may be deferred, but our hope in God is with us every moment of every day. We know His promises. We know He keeps His promises. We know that He is Almighty God and our Rock that is above all Rocks!

That is our moment-by-moment hope. “Jesus, my hope is in You.” Amen

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Does Not Disappoint

by TerryLema

I was reading Alton Garrison’s book, “A Spirit-Empowered Church*” for our Act2Journey at The Way when I came upon these words: “We know faith is a process—comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. The more Scripture you get inside you and the more you believe it, the more faith you will have. Faith is almost educational in nature. But hope is emotional. You can’t educate people into hope. Yet even in our darkest moments of disappointments and heartache, the Spirit of God can renew our hope.”

Then Garrison quotes Paul in Rom 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also 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.”

This is a difficult time as we walk through this COVID-19 pandemic. We are isolated. We are forbidden to “gather.” The relationships that we often depend upon in our daily walk aren’t there. As I got up this morning I was sad as I remembered I wouldn’t be heading over to The Way building to set things up for all the people I love who would normally “gather” at the 10:30 AM service.

My faith in God is not diminished. We serve an Almighty LORD. If anything, faith is stronger because many of the things of this world that distracted me are gone…I’m locked away with just my LORD.

But I miss my brethren. And I know that they probably miss me. My hope diminishes just a bit. So, my beloved, this morning I pray for you and for me that through this time of distress, we persevere. That our character will be shaped by our faith, and that character strengthened in faith will produce hope. And that Holy Spirit given hope will invade our emotions – and when it does, it will not disappoint us! God bless you this Sunday!

*Influence Resources

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Fill You

by TerryLema

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.”

Right now the world isn’t overflowing with joy, peace or hope. That doesn’t mean Christians can’t. After all, while we are “in the world” and to a certain extent vulnerable to the world’s trials and difficulties, we are not “of the world.” We view things from a different perspective. Our view is a heavenly view. We see things through the eyes of the Holy Spirit.

Our buildings are closed, but the church is not. What an amazing time for the church to show this frightened, locked down world, that our God is bigger than our buildings.

If we allow our Father God, He will through the power of His Spirit, fill us with joy and peace – all He asks is that we trust in Him. Once we are filled, we begin to overflow, and our overflow is hope for those who are bound by fear and anxiety amid this present COVID-19 crisis.

Sure, we are “locked down” in our homes, but we have telephones and social media. We can call people, check on them, encourage them, pray with them. We can remind people that our lives are not governed by human officials but by the power of God’s very Spirit through Christ Jesus our LORD. When all is said and done, God will still be on His throne.

So church, be the church today. Share Jesus. Pray for Revival. Encourage the Hopeless. Help Others. This is an amazing time for God to be exalted in our everyday actions and attitudes.

Press on Beloved!

 

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Opportunities Abound!

by TerryLema

The world is in the grips of a FEAR-pandemic. Events are canceled or “suspended.” Government officials are forbidding or “recommending” that any gathering more than a few people be canceled, including church services. The stock market has been on a steady decline. People are not going to restaurants or any place they “fear” they’ll acquire the virus. The media is one talking head after another telling us about the virus and what precautions we should take, what we should expect, what we should or should not do. It’s a response to FEAR unlike anything I’ve seen since Y2K! (Which by the way did not do anything the talking heads predicted it would do.)

Amid this FEAR-pandemic, the church needs to be the source of HOPE and COURAGE. The Bible is cover-to-cover a message from God that those who love Him should not fear. Whether OT or NT, “do not fear” is a major theme.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God.” [Isa 43:1-3 NKJV]

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” [Luke 12:32 NKJV]

Should we use caution, of course, just as we do so we don’t spread the flu or the common cold. But while others are responding to all this with FEAR, the church should be viewing this as an opportunity to share the HOPE we have in Christ Jesus.

Let’s keep our heads, beloved. An average of 115 persons die each day in motor vehicle crashes in the United States — one every 13 minutes. According to the World Health Organization about 3000 people die in crashes each day worldwide. Keep perspective. The world has always been full of danger, but God is full of grace, mercy and goodness. Share His delights with others who are struggling with fear and hopelessness. Don’t miss this time of opportunity!

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Be Ready

by TerryLema

I went to Costco last week, list in hand, for my usual bi-monthly order. I did what people often do when they go to Costco – bought lots of stuff not on my list. It was impulse shopping at its best.

When I got to the back of the store (you know where this is going), to buy toilet paper and tissue, the shelves were empty. Nothing but a stack of paper towels. I heard a Costco employee tell someone he had 195 pallets of toilet paper the morning before and they sold out in 24 hours. The coronavirus fear had struck.

I have heard a few conspiracy theories lately about what is going on in the media with this virus outbreak. I, too, am a conspiracy theorist … I believe there is a conspiracy to see fear thriving in our world. The participants in this conspiracy are the world, our flesh, and the devil. They conspire to create fear. They want everyone frozen, afraid to do anything.

When that kind of fear surges up and strikes, it can even invade the church striking believers who should be fearless. Peter wrote to believers, “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” [1 Peter 3:14-15a NIV]

And yes, we should be fearless. We serve a great God. He is all-powerful. No matter how many conspire together against Him and His own, they will not prevail. Jesus Christ is LORD, and we sit with Him in heavenly places. Considering that, why are we afraid?

Peter reminded his readers after he told them not to fear that we should “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” [v15b]

FEAR may be a powerful four-letter word, but HOPE is even more powerful.

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THE CHURCH’S FUTURE

by TerryLema

It is going to take me a long time to process everything from last week’s Prayer Summit, but I walked away with one thing immediately. If the young people I met there are any indication of the kind of leaders God is raising up, the Church is in good hands. I’m not worried about her future.

The Summit included men and two women, young and old and some in between. I was blessed by the young people. I saw burning hearts for Christ’s bride in each one. They wept and prayed and worshipped and praised. They called out for the harvest of lost souls and for unity. I heard their hearts in each prayer they uttered. It gave me great hope.

When it comes time for me to turn The Way over to the next generation, I know two things. God will bring us a wonderful young man or woman to follow His lead, one who will pick up my own heart’s desire for a church built on the grace of God.

I also know where I will attend church when that happens. God has given me a special love for one young minister, and I would relish sitting under his ministry for the rest of my days.

Maybe I know one other thing. That is that I must be praying more for the future of the church and those young men and women who now fill and will fill the servant-leadership roles.

I am reminded of what Paul said to Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men [and women] who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” [2 Tim 2:1-3 NIV]

God is calling us older believers to be praying mightily for these “sons and daughters” that He is raising up.

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