We have hope...

“The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

This statement of historical fact gives us hope for the future regardless of the problems of the day.

The “Word” in this reading is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  He came into our world in the flesh to be one of us.  He came to pioneer the way to life for us in this world and in the one to come.

THEREFORE:

He understands us…He cares for us…He will help us…He paid the price for our sins that we might know forgiveness…He has made eternal victory possible for us. 

Timeless Words

Theodore Roosevelt’s words are timeless:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of good deeds could have done better.  THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows THE GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTIONS; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

ARE YOU FEELING LOW...

“If you are feeling low, do not despair.

The sun has a sinking spell each night,

but it comes back up every morning.”

Ask yourself, “Have I ever had a day that I did not survive?”

In times of despair or frustration, Jesus advises:

ONE:  God know how you feel. He knows you by name.

TWO:  God cares.  He has created you in His image.

THREE:  God will compensate.  Defeat will not be the last word for the one who                          comes to Him with an obedient, trusting faith.

CRITICAL QUESTION:

Why believe that the preceding three statements are reliable and true?

POWERFUL ANSWER:

The presence of Jesus in our history.  He came at a certain time and at a certain place.  He died on a Roman cross. He arose from the dead.  He lives as the victor over death and evil.  He continues to invite each of us.  He says, “Come unto me…”