Category: Hope

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Jesus on the Cross

This week is Holy Week when we remember and declare Jesus Christ’s trial, crucifixion and resurrection. As we approach Good Friday and His crucifixion, I wanted to share the first chapter in my book, Journey of the Messiah — The Awakening. It describes not only the horror of the cross imagined from His perspective but also the ramification of His redemption to a lost world. Note: The book is written in the first person of Jesus, as if He is telling the story. It is from the author’s perspective and imagination.

Chapter 1: To the Cross, from the Cross

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

From the beginning, I knew My life as the Son of Man would come to this torturous end. It was the redemptive plan of God for man, before man was to be. This knowledge did not make My pain any less but added grief to My agony. The weight of the sinful guilt for man is a knife to My soul as the nails are to My flesh. I hang between heaven and earth, bridging the gap for all time and for all who come by faith to drink My blood and eat My flesh.

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Wars and Rumors of War

Wars are troubling and the rumors of war strike fear in the hearts of reasonable men. Jesus told four of his disciples as He sat on the Mount of Olives a few days before His crucifixion, “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet” (Mark 13:7 NKJV).

In our broken and fallen world, war is easily predictable. Something was up when one of the first brothers, Cain, killed his brother Abel. The history of the world is more punctuated with wars as a long sentence is filled with commas.

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Good Intentions

I remember in the late 1990’s having good intentions about door-to-door visitation. I, along with some fellow ministry workers, knocked on every door of a nearby city’s government housing projects. We had good intentions but nothing tangible resulted from it. Maybe one person visited our church but no new converts. I know we encouraged a few people, but we never saw a harvest of our efforts.

I learned that building relationships is more effective than cold-calling.

Churches and mission organizations are full of good intentions. We have to be honest and ask ourselves the question. Are our good intentions bearing fruit or do they just make us feel better about ourselves? We often learn by trial and error.

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Murder Grows from the Seed of Hate

Most of us watched in horror as Charlie Kirk was assassinated before our eyes. Many of us viewed the footage where Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee was stabbed to death on a Charlotte train with no provocation. Those of us with any sense of morality or common sense, ask the question, “Why?”

I am relieved to know that so many of us can’t fathom how these things can happen. It seems such a senseless act to destroy another human being—a being made in the very image of God. Our hearts cry and our reasoning minds can’t comprehend the depths of hate.

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Faith Over Fear: Pursuing God’s Calling

The calling of God’s work must be greater than our strength or it is only the work of a man. If it can be accomplished outside of God’s power, it is the mere work of man. The work of God’s kingdom is accomplished only by the strength and power of God.

Jesus said it very plainly in John 15:4-5 (NKJV). “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

When a person believes he has a God-given calling in His kingdom, he must see something beyond himself. With such a calling or dream, there are two possible outcomes. One, it is a miracle only God can do. Secondly, we look foolish. The fear of failure or looking foolish causes many to not pursue the work of God.

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Finding Hope in Darkness: Embracing the Light

A small speck of light in the midst of darkness brings hope. Those lost and smothered in absolute darkness with no source of light, hope for a flicker of light. They stumble around a boulder and then a streak of light winks at them through a crack. Hope soars in their hearts and dismay flees.

The world is a dark place with a lot of noise. People stumble along as if darkness is the norm. They walk in cadence to the racket which has no tune. Today, it is this. Tomorrow, it is that. Confusion reigns and everyone acts if it all makes sense while they laugh with the crowd.

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Stuck in the Doldrums? The Wind is Coming!

Doldrums is a word that sounds like what it is. It just sounds boring, stale, and listless.

Geographically, the Doldrums is an area around the equator, about five degrees latitude north and south. It is an area where the trade winds converge and rise, reducing the surface winds. It was a dreaded place for sailors because they would be stuck for a long time until enough winds blew. If their ship stayed too long, food and water supplies would run out. Many old-time sailors died in the doldrums.

Many times, I have felt like I was in spiritual doldrums. I had moved along by a hearty gust of the Spirit of God and suddenly slammed to a stop. There was no wind in my sails. I prayed, read my Bible, and went to church but still no wind was blowing.

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Understanding God’s Plan in a Troubling World

The randomness of life keeps many people on edge, indifferent, completely checked out of life, or deeply troubled. Life can be difficult, and those difficulties can send us looking for the answers to why. Problems cause us to deal with immediate needs and then the lasting aftermath of making sense of it all.

Some resign themselves to fatalism. This is a belief that whatever happens is predetermined. They think, so what’s the use to even try? This would be like someone getting a hurricane warning and taking no action either in preparation or evacuation.

Other folks are overcome by fear. This fear is coupled with hopelessness. They fall into the pit of despondency. This spoils any part of their lives that have moments of joy.

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