Hope Victorious

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus as a baby. I’ve been reflecting on how the impact of that one day in history extends throughout all of time! There was a day and time when Mary gave birth to Jesus, and it was so very long ago! And yet, it is an event that has changed the landscape of our lives forever. As Christians, we believe that the birth of Jesus was an extraordinary event, a miracle of miracles. It was the fulfillment of many prophecies given throughout the Old Testament times. We believe that Jesus was born to Mary and raised by her and Joseph, but that He was the son of God…conceived within Mary by the Holy Spirit. We believe that He lived a life without sin, so that His death paid the price for the sin of mankind. Once Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the power of sin and death was overcome by the purity and righteousness of Jesus. Our faith in this reality gives us access to Jesus, God and all the resources of heaven in addition to eternal life with God....

Jesus smiles over my past because He knows how the Father is still redeeming it and causing goodness and life to come from places of pain and sorrow. He can already see the life that will one day spring up from dark places in me. Jesus smiles with joy over my future knowing the ways His words will bear fruit and be fulfilled in and through me. Realities I will experience that began as quiet, secret whispers within my spirit – He sees me in the fullness of them. And He smiles now, today as He walks beside me. He hears my faith saying: You have a path from here to there and you will walk with me I believe I will get there From where I stand now angry and hopeless Feeling lost and lonely Into the promised redemption I believe I will stand there And I too will smile   If I believe that I will stand there one day, smiling as I turn back and view the turmoil of today, through the lens of all He has done – why not allow myself to smile now? In anticipation In trust...

Guilt and shame, while connected, are not at all the same. The feeling of guilt is one of regret or remorse over a choice or action that, looking back one wishes they had not made. Guilt is not just a feeling; it is also a state or fact. If a person made a choice, carried out an action – they are guilty of that action. The feeling of guilt may or may not accompany the reality of guilt. Sometimes someone feels no sense or regret or remorse over something they did and so they don’t have a feeling of being guilty. Guilt is often followed by a feeling of shame, but it is different. Guilt acknowledges the difference or disparity between what you did and what you wish you had done instead or the experience of the result or consequence of your choice(s). Shame internalizes the feeling of guilt in an accusing way. Where guilt says “you made a wrong choice” , or “you did a bad thing” . The voice of shame says, “You are wrong. You are bad”. Shame is an identity statement whereas guilt is an a...

  I am a spring tightly wound Clenched and determined - I am pinched and under pressure I feel that I will burst What will result?   My tears fall despite me efforts to stop them Sorrow leaking and then pouring out My concerns, once whispers are now given voice Becoming louder they shout their fears I am overwhelmed   Still and quiet I feel your faithful presence Listening Beneath my anguish, I feel the current of your love Softening me Gently reminding me Of what I know to be true   I am not so easily overwhelmed The force of you within me grows I will choose to rest Understood Loved   I am unafraid Come and overwhelm what threatens to overwhelm me I will be rescued by You   I will risk again Trusting, I release Open myself up and breathe deeply Stretch and uncurl Live Dream Thrive once more

  We feel gratitude, but it is more than an emotion. I believe that gratitude is a choice and when it is an intentional and repetitious choice, it becomes a lifestyle. A lifestyle of being thankful and expressing that gratitude has numerous rewards!                 Gratitude is a choice - a disciplined perspective deeper than feelings and unmoved by circumstances. Gratitude is anchored in truth When we acknowledge what we are grateful for, it anchors us more deeply than the current circumstances. Much of our life may seem out of control and constantly changing. Focusing on what we have to be grateful for can train our eyes and minds to look for those things that are deeper, more constant and dependable than the daily changes of circumstances and feelings. Truth anchors us and gives us a sense of identity, security and stability. Gratitude reminds us that we have a source beyond ourself. Gratitude builds faith Gratitude supports hu...

  Waiting can be hard. We all have to wait for things, and often these times are marked by frustration, doubt and uncertainty. Recently I have been challenged to better manage my thought-life in times of waiting. I want to offer some practical strategies for easing the discouragement of waiting. Fiercely go after any place where you are tempted to think “if” ·        If things change… If God shows up….. If the questions get answered ·        Thinking in terms of “if” breeds uncertainty and discouragement. ·        When you focus on doubt – it only increases. Intentionally exchange the word “when” for “if”.   This simple switch is SO powerful. “When” builds hope and anticipation, it focuses your attention on the future and the expectation of change. So often when we wait, we are looking down and filling our mind with what is not changing, what is not working or only what we are w...

  Faith is something.             It is no small thing.             It is not nothing Faith doesn’t just lead us to something, or give us access (although it does!) But the faith,           on its own,               it is something too. Faith has its own reward.             Faith is substance.              Faith is real. When there is none – you feel the absence of it.       You feel the empty void. That frightening place of uncertainty – where questions outnumber answers 1,000 to 1 Where hope and joy are sucked out of the atmosphere by a vacuum of fear, You feel it when there is no faith.   Yes, faith is something I...

  How can a heart hold love like this and not explode? I didn’t think I could love you more You kept growing; changing and becoming So did I Now I love you differently: stronger, more resolved And more – so much more You’ve hurt me and I’ve hurt you We have disappointed one another I’ve seen your best – all the delightfully good and sparkling aspects of you I have seen the hard and less than beautiful parts too I have held the treasure of you closely Just as I have held the sorrows and pain Through it all – love has grown   Love changes Strengthens and holds on You are a part of me I am a part of you Love holds us both

  I used to try to hide the parts of me I felt were unlovable. I knew love wasn’t something to earn; not a reward to be granted. But still I believed that my chances at being loved and accepted were both helped and hindered by various aspects of who I am. We all have strengths alongside our weaknesses and it is natural to want to show our strengths while minimizing our weaknesses. There are things we are proud of and others we are ashamed of. I viewed the parts of me that I was ashamed of as liabilities. They were the heavy encumbrances that I dragged along behind me and hoped others did not see or notice. To be loved, I thought I need to hide or at least minimize these things. To let them be seen increased my chances of being disqualified or dismissed immediately. Who would want me, with all this baggage included? I was convinced that the good and admirable things in me were overshadowed and overwhelmed by the liabilities. I viewed love as a scale, a balance. The good of me on...

  Peace stood quietly Called to me by name An invitation Just outside the border of my chaos Mind in over-drive My effort to solve, understand and achieve           It was not an evaluation           There was no accusation           His arms were out           Palms up           An invitation Peace called to me And I could answer and go Or I could stay           Peace would not enter my swirling chaos           There was no place for him to stand           To be with Peace, I had to leave           Step out of my mess of striving           To choose Peace stood quietly And called to me by name Invitation Peace invited me to stand At the border of my mind        ...

  If I could fly – I would I would dart quickly from tree to tree I might land and sit But then I’d fly again Nearly forgetting the feet tucked up beneath me I would see the tops of trees And hide within the highest branches I would learn where to wait in the wind and rain Feel the sun’s warmth on my wings and the first drops of rain I would spread my wings and fly   If I could fly – I would I’d fly with the wind Then I’d fly against it Testing the strength of my wings I’d skim the water of a lake Dart through the mist of waterfalls I would fly through the damp colors of the rainbows Bathing myself in colors Rejoicing in the return of sunshine   If I could fly – I would I would soar high on the currents The air lifting me, carrying me I would rest; my wings outstretched And ride the momentum of wind and heights I would look down on tree tops Fly through the depths of clouds, just to see them from above I would savor the feeling of strength, wearing myself out The thril...

  When I felt sure that darkness would win for good Hope rescued me                From fear and pain                From hate and shame Hope called to me Through all the questions and the doubts Louder than the lies that shouted and tore me down Deeper than the rules, both those broken & kept Hope called me home Hope reminded me who I am Hope set me free To love and be loved To dream and believe Hope held my heart, healed my sorrow and set me free to live   That first time, again today and a thousand times between; Hope has rescued me from disappointment, pain and questions Hope has been my answer in grief, fear and strife Hope has called me home To God’s goodness and deep love   Hope has rescued me     Lisa Smith April 16, 2014

  Faith pulls the unseen closer. Faith wants more. Apathy is settling for what you have. Apathy is contentment. Faith is risk. Faith is a hunger that drives you farther and deeper. Faith believes that there is more to be experienced. Apathy tells you to be happy with what you have and either that there is no more, or, that it is too hard to access more. Apathy is an enemy of faith. I am convinced that it is healthy to be aware and take action in the places where we are tempted to feel apathetic. If we truly believe what the scripture says: ·                       that all things are possible with God (Mark 10:27, 14:26) ·                       that all things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23) ·                        that God is limitless (...