HOPE THAT IS LIVED IS HOPE THAT IS ALIVE

Part 2 - STEPPING OUT OF THE SHADOW OF FEAR INTO THE LIGHT OF HOPE

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? ~ Psalm 56:3-4

               In my previous blog I was sharing that it is possible to step out of the shadow of fear and walk in the light of Hope.  Today I want to continue with this journey by helping us to see how we can live and walk in the light of Hope and that we are not alone in this journey.

REMEMBER THIS AMAZING FACT: HOPE THAT IS LIVED IS HOPE THAT IS ALIVE

               Have you wrestled with the frustration of being so wrapped up with your past, your pain, or your poor attitude that you fail to realize that if you choose to have HOPE that is LIVED in your life that your life is HOPE THAT IS ALIVE?  People are compelled and drawn to those around them that have an unquenchable hope that is real and not a facade.  It is the type of HOPE that can light the flame, restore the passion, rejuvenate the heart, and transform the mind into an entirely brand new life.

·        HOPE ATTITUDE:  Holding On Praying Expectantly 

Our OUTLOOK depends upon our INLOOK and UPLOOK!

Picture of Apostle Paul's UPLOOK in Philippians 1:12-14...
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

I am reminded of Gandhi's words, 'My Life is my message'.

GOD WANTS TO BE YOUR UPLOOK -- SO...

Remember:  GOD is OUR LIGHT TO GUIDE and STRENGTH TO GROW!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

Remember: GOD is OUR COMPANION and LIFE LIFTER!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Remember:  GOD gives us a NEW SPIRIT OF HIS POWER, HIS LOVE, and HIS SELF-DISCIPLINE!

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7

If you live your life afraid because you're afraid to live, then you live no life at all.
-Unknown

               I know that the Spirit of God gives me everything I need to turn my discouraging fear into determined hope.  The Apostle Paul in his letter to the people at Corinth reminded them and us that..."we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).

               Perhaps we find ourselves living a fearless life, more than capable of becoming the people God meant for us to be and still wants us to become.  Mark Twain gives a wonderful reminder when he said...

“20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”

~ Mark Twain

 Live HOPE!

STEPPING OUT OF THE SHADOW OF FEAR INTO THE LIGHT OF HOPE

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? -- Psalm 56:3-4

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Percentage of Americans with Phobias (Fears):
              

SOCIAL PHOBIA - Approximately 5.3 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or about 3.7 percent of people in this age group, have social phobia.

AGORAPHOBIA - Agoraphobia involves intense fear of any place or situation where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of developing sudden panic-like symptoms.  Approximately 3.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or about 2.2 percent of people in this age group have agoraphobia.

SPECIFIC PHOBIA - Specific phobia involves marked and persistent fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation.  Approximately 6.3 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or about 4.4 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have some type of specific phobia."

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

               How long have you found yourself taking up residency by living your life in the shadow of fear?  Fear can be such a fascinating field of study.  It not only deals with the phobias listed above, but also involves the fear of the unknown, being unsure, or being indecisive about what you are doing and what you should be doing with your life.

               The truth I have found, learned, lived and want to pass on is that there is no fear that can cripple those individuals who claim Jesus as the Lord of their lives.  There is no fear for the man, woman, or young adult who lives a life of faith, trust, and devotion to the Written and Living Word of God.

                                            Don’t give up – God has a plan for you!

               God says...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Jeremiah 29:11

               Jeremiah 29:11 has long been one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  It is also one verse that is right in the middle of a situation when God disciplined His children.  The book of Jeremiah was written in exile. The Israelites were in an exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were hopeless. They did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Why? 

               God had disciplined them because they were disobedient to Him and had turned their attention or worship to false gods. We read In Jeremiah 29:11 “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.”  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

               God says in our most difficult of circumstances and our greatest fears...“I have a plan for you.”

          Have you been in a situation like this where there is no way out? Where it seems hopeless?

CHALLENGE:  Develop a new definition of fear!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF -- MOVING FROM YOUR FEARS TO HOPES...

·        CURRENT ATTITUDE:   False Expectations Appearing Real

QUESTION: What is a fear that has invaded your mind and consumed a great deal of time and energy from your life?  However, in retrospect was it a fabrication constructed from past experiences, expectations, and assumptions creating the paranoia of a possible reality on the horizon that never materializes?

·        NEW ATTITUDE: Face Everything And Rejoice

QUESTION:  When was the last time you were able to come face-to-face with a fear, concern, or anxiety where you managed to perceive that fear as an enemy of the mind and resolved to turn the inward feelings of discouragement to an outward faithfulness of rejoicing?

·        FUTURE ATTITUDE: Forget Everything And Remember

 “We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.” – Robin Sharma

QUESTION:  Have you held on to an area of your life, whether past or current life, that has shackled your life down with way too much excess baggage that needs to be lifted off the mind or heart?

               Doing an inventory of genuine items that have plagued you with mental pain, physical ailments, and/or crippled current relationships is the first step to bring resolve, recovery, and the ability to remember that God has not disowned you, nor has He forgotten about you -- In fact you are on His mind and He wants you to desperately let go of the past and remember Him, rejoice in Him, and know that He is your source of renewal for a fresh start and new life.

Next blog...part 2 - HOPE THAT IS LIVED IS HOPE THAT IS ALIVE

INSIDE - OUT

CHARACTER Mini-Summit  Continued

                                                                                      

               A decision to grow Inside means that others can grow from our Outside.

“True, genuine, sustainable growth is an inside job.”

-Rick Clark

• WHO WE BELONG TO!

Inside – Attitude of the mind and heart.  Rom 15:4-6; Ephesians 4:23

Apostle Paul said in Romans 15:4-6, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,…”  He also challenged us in Ephesians 4:23…to be made new in the attitude of your minds;…’. 

Imagine the next time when you wake up and you stop and give God the chance to fill your mind and heart with His Word.  Imagine the difference you will make to anyone who comes into contact with you and the impact you will leave upon their own minds and hearts…all because you said that this day’s attitude belongs to God and I will live out His attitude in all circumstances.

• WHO PEOPLE SEE WE BELONG TO!

Outside - Actions - 1 John 3:18

          Ask yourself ‘what does it take for me to do the activity of God during the day?’  How would your day be different if you said I will act and allow all my responses and activity to reflect God.  To resemble the lifestyle of someone who is changed by God from the inside out -- you can no longer keep the Living and Written Word in -- it must escape as Jeremiah said in chapter 20, verse 9… ‘But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.’

          Litmus test is this… ‘who knows that you belong to Jesus Christ outside your immediate family?’

Two specific items that reveal what is stored in a person’s heart and mind:

1.     Words – Not just what words you use, but how you use them and the overall tone of the words can either draw people to you or repel them away. 

Scripture to study:   Colossians 4:6 and Titus 2:7-8

2.     Works – Every single living soul lives in a glass house and works and plays in a very clear fishbowl.  Everything we do is seen, interpreted, and judged base on what we core values we have established.  If a person never established boundaries or any sort of core values then the possibilities of their life being tossed back and forth without any rudder for direction on an open and stormy sea becomes a reality. 

Is your current activity driven by the rudder of God’s will and His purpose for your life?

Scripture to study:   Matthew 5:16; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 2:12