Hope Rebuilds
“In this [inheritance in heaven] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
In the fall of 2018, my close friend traveled home for a holiday weekend. After an evening of celebrating and laughter with her family, she awoke in the middle of the night to her mom yelling, “the house is on fire-- grab your sister and get out!” Everyone made it out in time. However, when the sun rose that morning, nothing remained of their house but distorted piles of burned rubble and ash. A home designed to weather storms and to be a safe harbor fell victim to a destructive force of nature.
While your house may still stand, total destruction of your shelter is simply an errant ember away. Likewise, the earthly “security” on which you rely, -- whether a marriage, your job, or food on the supermarket shelves -- is no more secure than a house on sand. An irreconcilable grievance, layoffs, or even panic shopping behavior can demolish the security you rely upon in a day. Yet Peter says we are to rejoice. We can weep with those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn, yet with the deep-rooted faith that we are ultimately provided for in heaven.
God is not testing our faith as some sort of experiment He engineered in heaven. For our benefit and His glory, a test of faith helps us identify our weaknesses so we might emerge stronger in our relationship with God. A weak faith is shallow and fruitless, unable to serve its purpose when the testing comes. The suffering endured is evidence of our union with Christ, a genuine reason to rejoice.
The flames that overwhelmed my friend’s house did not last forever. As days passed, the family sifted through rubble in search of anything that remained. In God’s great mercy, her dad’s Bible was unearthed. A singed page from the book of Psalms now sits framed on her bedside: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11). It serves as her reminder to rejoice despite being afflicted by turmoil but never crushed. Her hope, our hope, is alive. Praise be to God.
By Bethany Taylor
In the fall of 2018, my close friend traveled home for a holiday weekend. After an evening of celebrating and laughter with her family, she awoke in the middle of the night to her mom yelling, “the house is on fire-- grab your sister and get out!” Everyone made it out in time. However, when the sun rose that morning, nothing remained of their house but distorted piles of burned rubble and ash. A home designed to weather storms and to be a safe harbor fell victim to a destructive force of nature.
While your house may still stand, total destruction of your shelter is simply an errant ember away. Likewise, the earthly “security” on which you rely, -- whether a marriage, your job, or food on the supermarket shelves -- is no more secure than a house on sand. An irreconcilable grievance, layoffs, or even panic shopping behavior can demolish the security you rely upon in a day. Yet Peter says we are to rejoice. We can weep with those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn, yet with the deep-rooted faith that we are ultimately provided for in heaven.
God is not testing our faith as some sort of experiment He engineered in heaven. For our benefit and His glory, a test of faith helps us identify our weaknesses so we might emerge stronger in our relationship with God. A weak faith is shallow and fruitless, unable to serve its purpose when the testing comes. The suffering endured is evidence of our union with Christ, a genuine reason to rejoice.
The flames that overwhelmed my friend’s house did not last forever. As days passed, the family sifted through rubble in search of anything that remained. In God’s great mercy, her dad’s Bible was unearthed. A singed page from the book of Psalms now sits framed on her bedside: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11). It serves as her reminder to rejoice despite being afflicted by turmoil but never crushed. Her hope, our hope, is alive. Praise be to God.
By Bethany Taylor
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2021
January
New BeginningsBe a LightPraying for the Gospel to AdvancePraying for Church LeadershipPraying for RestorationPraying for the Persecuted ChurchPraying for Our NationBridging the GapJesus UnderstandsYour Spiritual TankMade to WorshipProtection and WisdomDeliver Us From TemptationWholly Following the LordDistinguishing Characteristics of a True Disciple of ChristLoving Others as God Loves UsOvercoming Resistance to the GospelHow to Love Your EnemiesWinning Influence with Reciprocating LoveF-O-C-U-SA Job Rejection
2020
March
I Am The Good Shepherd Shepherd LeadershipI Am the Good Shepherd that Keeps the GateShepherding the TeamI Am The Good Shepherd: A Note from a Thankful SheepTime OutFour DaysUp from the GraveResurrection LifeThe Shadow of DeathMore Than an Empty TombLet\'s Not Get DistractedThis Is No Time to Be TroubledJesus Christ Is The Way
April
Jesus Christ Is The TruthJesus Christ Is The LifeAn Inconvenient TruthPalm SundayI Am The VineJust Do ItI Am The DoorCuttingsThe StruggleGood FridayThe DoorAbundant GraceAbundant SalvationAbundant SecurityAbundant LifeThe Thank You NoteBreakthrough PrayerLetter to the ChurchA Time for Great ThingsPrayer for a BreakthroughThe Day of ChristAs Far As the Eye Can SeeLoosen the ChainsNothing to FearOn the Same SideWhat Are You Living For?
May
Stand Firm in One SpiritOur God of CertaintyWhy Desire Humility?The Joy of HumilityHumility in ActionThe Ultimate Example of HumilityThe Glory of HumilityThe Faith of a Mom and a GrandmotherKeep OnCelebrate Your DecisionLet Your Light ShineHow Are You Being Poured Out?Be an EncouragementManna from HeavenSafeguarding Your HeartThe Proper Way to BoastHaving Nothing to Offer GodChrist Is All I Want and NeedOn Knowing ChristNo Greater LoveBiblical ObedienceBiblical MaturityBack to ShoreEnemies of the CrossA Bridge to HeavenIt's About Time
June
A New Way of ThinkingThe Lord Is at HandWait to WorryReal PeaceRight ThinkingSuch a Time as ThisA Lesson from Homer SimpsonHesitationThe Power RangerPep TalkSea Billows RollDo You See Them as Gifts?The God QuestionA Hopeless JourneyThe Hope of GraceDon't Miss the PartyThe Joyful GodWho's Listening AnywayThe InheritanceWhat Do You See?Give Me, Give Me, Give MeTearful PrayersFaithfulnessGo and DoIt Seems GoodTrust the Creator
July
Welcome His PeaceLet Us SingGod Is AbleOur Dependence on GodJealousyWhat Dreams Are Made OfServant LeaderChoosing ForgivenessCourage To Be TransformedHeaven and Earth ReuniteHope ReachesA Hope EternalA Hope InheritedHope RebuildsHope UnseenThe Promise of HopeOur Hope Comes From The LordThe Lord Takes Care of His PeopleFree from HarmThe Protective Hand of God\'s Loving CareThe Security of God\'s Watchful LoveThe Traveling TabernacleCommunityCommunityThe FloodThe Cool KidOpposites Attract
August
Open Our EyesThe Call to DiscipleshipA Strategy to Change the WorldImitators of ChristGrowth in Uncertain TimesA Legacy of DiscipleshipHard QuestionsQuestionsThe Answer, Part OneThe Answer, Part TwoThe Answer, Part ThreeThe Answer, Part FourUsing What God Has Given UsBest Laid PlansLive Without LimitsWhat Do You Want To Do?Unlimited SupplyJust A ... ?Who Is Jesus To You?Why Do the Wicked Prosper?Living By ConvictionThere's No Price Too HighAn Epoch BattleConfusion: A Sign of Trouble AheadDay and NightBuilding Brave
September
The Faith GapWhen Bravery CallsFor Such A Time As ThisBravery In The SilenceOpen Our EyesThe Cheese Stands AloneDreamThe StandoffStrengthFather Knows BestAmbassador for ChristPapa BearBest Seat In The HouseWaiting On The LordThe Last Chapterin God\'s Tender CareDo Not Be AnxiousFinish The PlayA New DecreeThat All Might KnowThe Formula For BraveryHow Will You Respond?Stepping Out In FaithHappily Ever After?P.S.Superlatives
October
The Final Curtain CallBraveLet Your Light ShineThe God Who SeeksI Once Was Blind But Now I SeeSalvation for the Chief of SinnersA Picture of RepentanceJesus Is The Son of GodThe Red BinGoAllInAlwaysJesusOur Identity In ChristThe Christian Duty to ForgiveJesus Paid Our Sin Debt In FullThe Power of Forgiveness ExperiencedThe Consequences of UnforgivenessThe Freedom of ForgivenessDo Not Be Conformed to the WorldBetter Than I DeserveGrace Considers Us WorthyGrace Seeks OutGrace ExtendedUnconditional GraceNovember 3, 2020 | HopeGod Is ConsistentNovember 2, 2020 | Never Alone
November
November 4, 2020 | Stand the HeatNosy NeighborsUnintended ConsequencesCultivating a Biblical View of Sorrow in the Midst of a Global PandemicIt's About MoneyBeing ShrewdAre You Rich?PrioritiesThe Big IdeaThe Bigger PictureDifficult SilenceDifficult AnswersReverent HonestyHumble WaitingFrowning ProvidenceLove One AnotherGod's Love Is...Write It DownTalk It OutPandemic FatiqueHappy Thanksgiving!Stuff-MartSilenceFocusing On The EternalKnowledge of God is a Prerequisite of Faith
December
Praising God by Remembering His FaithfulnessThe Relationship Between Fear and FaithThe Transformation of Affirming FaithThe Freedom of HumilityFaith In The StormThe Adventure of AdventA Sure FoundationA Long SilenceA Divine MessengerA Doubting ResponseGod RemembersChristmas Is Still Worth CelebratingNothing New Under The SunNazareth?Highly Favored OneNow THAT'S An Understatement!He KNOWS You!Mary's SongReading Like An Ancient HebrewGo Tell It On The MountainWonder In The FamiliarOur High PriestThe Horn of SalvationTo My Grandmothers, With LoveMerry Christmas!Hope In JesusThree DaysNow I Can Die in PeaceWait, What?Rejection