Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this to our faithful and devoted community of radical followers of Jesus Christ, I am thinking about word associations.  Like salt and pepper, high and low, up and down, Abbott and Costello, Tom and Jerry, joy and pain, and sunshine and rain.  One of my favorite word associations is from 1 Peter 1:3-4:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

It’s more obvious with the second glance of the text.  Love and hope are inseparable!  Jesus is the hope of the world and Jesus is love.  As believers, we have an inheritance of boundless communion with our heavenly Father.  And with this inheritance we are called to share our hope with a lost and hopeless world.  The hope that’s been freely given to you was not meant to be solely contained within you.  We have a testimony in Christ that has the power to transform lives.

As long as there is hope, there is love.  We are called to hope for a better life for those around us.  We are called to believe in people when no one else will.  Our lives have been transformed from being lost and lifeless to being filled with the powerful hope of the gospel.  No one is hopeless.  No one is beyond the saving grace of Jesus.  And God is calling us to love others enough to share with them the reality of his love in both word and deed that they might have hope in God.

The truth of God’s unconditional love and unmerited grace is the only source of redemption and hope this world has.  During this Lenten Season remain hopeful.

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom,

“Hope cannot disappoint us!”

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!

Pastor Stephen