Just Breathe

 

Where There Is Hope

"And sometimes against all odds, against all logic...we still hope."

What is hope?  The dictionary defines hope as a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.  Most people believe hope is wishful thinking, but the Bible tells us that hope is confident expectation.  

Hope is not pretending that trouble doesn't exist; it is the belief or "hope" that it won't last forever.  Hope helps us to believe that things will get better.  Hope lets us see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Lord wants us to hope in Him because where there is hope, there is faith.

                
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
Psalm 31:24

Just Breathe

 

Good In Every Day

Every day we watch this world we live in fall more and more before our very eyes.  There's crime, corruption, hate, and lies everywhere.  It's not very encouraging, is it?

But two quotes that I've seen come to mind when I think about this.  The first is, "Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder". The other is, "Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day".

Both of these are so true, but it's the second one that I experienced just yesterday as I was driving.  We drove past this little farm, and I saw two horses and a dog.  The dog was bouncing all around playfully, and I realized he was playing with one of the horses.  And the horse started to prance around as he began playing with the dog.  I watched him trotting along after the dog, and it was so cute!  I watched the two of them for a few minutes, and I realized I was looking at one of God's little hidden treasures.

He leaves them everywhere for us to see, but how often do we miss them?  Leaves dancing in the wind, a beautiful sunset, a little lizard blending in with the leaves, a butterfly resting on a beautiful flower.  These are all God's "little treasures".  We just need to slow down so we can see them.  We need to look for them every day.  We need to look for God every day.

God is always speaking to us, but we're just not always listening.  God wants us to find hope and encouragement even in this fallen world.  God wants us to find Him.

                 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13

A Better Place

You know we all have people in our lives that are special to us.  Maybe it's your children, friends, family, or the love of your life.  But how much time do we really spend with them?  How often do we really talk to them?  Some of them live with us, but some don't.  Some live close, but some are far away.  How many times have we lost a loved one and say to ourselves, "When's the last time I talked to them?"  "When's the last time I saw them?"  And most importantly, how many times do we ask ourselves, "I wonder if they knew the Lord".

Life is so busy, and I think we're all guilty of getting so wrapped up in our own selves that often we neglect those who mean the most to us.  And then when they leave this world, it's too late to tell them how much they meant to us.  It's too late to tell them about Jesus.  After all, that's our purpose here on this earth is to tell others about our Lord and Savior.  We are here to spread God's word.

So I urge you today, pick up that phone, write that email.  Just take a minute to reach out to those you love.  Check on them, see how they're doing, tell them you love them.  

And to that stranger you pass on the street, that person who serves you food and drink, that friend you've met online...be kind to them.  Wish them a good day.  And by all means, tell them about your friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let's make this world a better place.

                  "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24