Hope In Christ Alone Archives - Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel

A Living Hope: A New Covenant and Sitting Among Friends #67

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 06:59:00 +0000

A New Covenant.

There are many questions that surround the new and the old. Out with the old in with the new. That saying can leave a bit of a sting. If we have the old or become the old. We don’t necessarily want it to be set aside because the new came along.

That is how many of the Pharisee’s felt as Jesus was telling them He had come to fulfill the law. The law (the old covenant) was what they knew. It had become their identity. Through it, they knew who they were. It was linked to their family heritage and it was to set them apart from the rest of the world. It would signify them as children of God.

It cannot be a surprise as to why Jesus rocked their world. He was essentially telling them, all they ever knew or understood was going to be turned around. Who and what they held so tightly to, needed to be made complete and it was going to come as something new.

While the old covenant and the laws pointed us to our sin and the need for a Savior, the law was not designed to give us a new heart.

Hebrews 8:7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

The old covenant was established with Moses and is often referred to as the ten commandments. There were also many laws that were given to the people such as festivals, sacrifices, and purifications. You can find them in the first few books of the old testament.

Some are lead to believe that the laws are no longer good or appropriate for our time. We live under grace. While that is true, because Christ came to fulfill the law, all the laws are not obsolete. In Matthew 5 Jesus said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

Christ made the law complete because He could give us a new conscience and a new heart. He would now write the laws on our hearts and put them in our minds.

I understand that many may be thinking we are free from the law. It is no longer relevant. While some laws had their own purposes, God’s law is not abolished.

What we have now in the new covenant.

Step away for a minute here with me. If you are a parent, you make rules and set boundaries. It helps them know how to navigate the world. When your child breaks the rules, there are consequences so they understand the depth of the importance of the rule.

As parents, we want our children to follow those rules not just because we said so, although we may say that, but we want them to follow the rules because we love them and gave them for their safety and growth. We want them to show that love to us by being obedient.

Before we know Christ as our Savior, we are living in rebellion to God. The laws are set so that we can see and understand how far away from a perfect God we are. They are for us to understand what sin is, as Paul explains in Romans 7.

They were never meant to perfect us but lead to Christ who does.

For a long time in my life, as you can read from my testimony here, I thought that rules were to make me perfect. What I found was that they were too hard to keep up with. So, I didn’t. I made my own rules, ones which I thought I could keep. Ones that satisfied my flesh.

I chained myself back to rules, even my rules. I chained myself to my own rebellion. I chained myself to my shame and found my worth in the comfort of those chains.

While all the while I could have been living free. I was given life in Christ but was choosing to go back to the path that leads to destruction. I was free to walk in Christ’s grace.

After all, He already knew I wasn’t perfect. Who was I kidding? It was not possible. It was never meant to be. Hold on to that truth.

What I didn’t understand was that being obedient was no longer just a chore, a to-do or an unachievable task but an opportunity to be pleasing to my Lord and give Him my worship.

It was freedom. It was a gift.

The new covenant that we receive as believers in Christ is not a checklist of being perfect. It is walking in grace and humbly allowing Christ to perfect us.

When we put our faith and trust in Him, we become His child. He loves us!

The boundaries and rules are for our safety. They are so we can continue to receive His blessings and see His glory in our lives.

The new covenant gives life (2 Corinthians 3:7).
It gives us a new hope (1 Peter 1:3). A new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). A hope in the Living God (1 Tim 4:10) that we can receive from nothing and no one else.

Christ has the power to change lives and I would love to talk to you about how He can change yours. Email me at yoursewtrendy@gmail.com

Personal Reflections:

Have you chosen to see the laws for what they are and learned to walk with Christ in obedience? In what areas, do you struggle? In what areas, can you celebrate victories?

How has living up to your list of perfections hindered your relationship with Christ?

Do you use chains in your life as a crutch or as an identity? Are you afraid to let them go because they are all you have ever known or you have become comfortable in them? As a believer, do you believe God can break those chains for you?

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This week’s featured friend is Natalie Venegas from Milk and Honey Faith. I am really excited to be sharing what Natalie has been doing on her blog because it is such a beautiful idea. She has created The Testimony Tour. This tour runs across 10 blogs and features amazing women sharing their testimonies all for the glory of God. Thank you so much for joining us, Natalie. I am glad you are here.

WOW! Thank you all for coming and for the 66 Amazing posts from last week. This party has been wonderful thanks to you, friends, who link-up with us and those who stop by and read posts. Thank you!

You all are amazing writers who share Family and Faith, DIY’s, Recipes, Photos, Giveaways, Homeschool and more. Many of you have amazing journeys of faith and I praise the Lord we are able to connect here!

There are easy share buttons to your left or at the bottom of each post (mobile) and after you link-up. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! From all of us at #SittingAmongFriends

*** Joining Us Here? You are welcome to join me on Pinterest and Pin to Our Sitting Among Friends Blog Party Board where I will be happy to re-pin posts to my other boards. ***

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A Living Hope: A New Hope and Sitting Among Friends #66

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 08:21:00 +0000

A Living Hope: A New Hope

When I became a believer as a young girl, I believed the Bible. I believed that Christ died for my sins and without accepting His gift I salvation, I would be lost forever. I needed a new hope.

My faith changed but didn’t grow very much. For so long I kept hold of only elementary understandings of who God was. A lot of it was a God that I had created through my lack of really knowing Him.

One thing I didn’t get a real grip on was the hope that Christ alone offers. I held onto the beliefs that it was about the rules and quite honestly, I was doing a very poor job of keeping them.

I Didn’t Get It

I didn’t get that I live in Christ and I didn’t need to have the strength to be obedient on my own. That looked quite different than what I had conjured up in my mind or had been taught.

Thinking I had failed so desperately, sadly, I rebelled against God. It was easier to live for myself. I didn’t have all those rules. You can read more of my testimony here, by joining us on The Testimony Tour.

As I continued through my young adult life, my rules became even more lenient and I found myself literally thinking if I don’t look over my shoulder, I never have to face God.

For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:19 (NLT)

What I didn’t know was that the law, the rules, were never intended to make anything or anyone perfect. They were supposed to show me how sinful I was so I could recognize my need for a Savior.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Romans 3:20 (NLT)

Forgiven

What it took me so long to realize was that God had forgiven me. The rules or law had pointed me to my need for a Savior. I remained chained to them not seeing that my hope in Him lead to restoration.

Isaiah 40:31 says But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

My previous choices in life left me weary. They drug me down into a pit of self-loathing.

As I began to trust Christ with my life, He helped me to understand it was not only necessary for me to believe His Word to be true but I had to believe it was true for me.

Christ took my hand from that pit and pulled me out, renewed my strength, and allowed me to soar.

I Find My Hope in Him

You may not have made the same decisions I have. Maybe you came to Christ when you were young and have always lived a “pretty good” life for Him. But if we are being honest, I find from the many conversations that I have, living by the rules always leaves us weary and feeling trapped.

Don’t misunderstand me, please. We have to live in obedient surrender to Christ. Should we say we are living under grace and then go on sinning? As Paul would say, Certainly Not!

This new hope that we have in Christ is about freedom. It about chains being broken. It is brokenness being made whole. It is about taking that new hope and using it for God’s Glory.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

So, what shall we do with this new hope?

Love

In Mark 12, one of the teachers of the law said to Jesus, of all the commandments, which one is the most important.

To which Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 (NLT)

Love. The greatest commandment. Seems simple. Yet, we find ourselves so weary and without strength to do just that.

Yes, there are some who seem so easy to love, but what credit is that to you? (Luke 6:32)

We must trust this hope we have is truly meant for us. Daily, sometimes, hourly or by the minute we can have restoration in knowing that our hope of being perfected (loving others) rests in the hands of the One who is able to deliver.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (BSB)

Christ Himself will encourage our hearts. He will give us the strength to serve and love one another for His Glory. Through seeking a relationship with Him, He will give us a New Hope.

Personal Reflection:

Do you find that serving others makes it easier or harder to love them?
What things, rules, or laws do you find yourself tightening the chains that Christ freed you from?
What is the difference between believing God’s Word to be true and believing God’s Words to be true for you?
How often do you find yourself praying for the people in your life that are most difficult to love?

I would love to continue this conversation. Meet me in the comments and let me know your reflections on the hope you have in Christ.

Linkup with Sitting Among Friends Blog Party

Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. Please make sure to visit another friend in the linkup!

I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

This is a Christian based website and so is the material that I promote here. Please remember that when linking up. I do reserve the right to remove posts.

*Please be sure to visit other blogs to comment and share*

I would appreciate you linking back to Seeking God or #SittingAmongFriends somewhere on your page. (You can also use the SAF picture with a link)

Tag Me with Twitter Shares and I will RT them.

I will also be featuring a friend during the week on my FB page!

Join us at our Sitting Among Friends Pinterest Board by following my profile and then requesting an invite.

This week’s featured friend is Gleniece Lytle from Desert Rain where she helps turn a parched life into a well-watered garden. Gleniece writes about living an abundant life in Christ while living on little. She also shares great recipes. Thanks for joining us, Gleniece. I am glad you are here!

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A Living Hope and Sitting Among Friends #64

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 20:33:00 +0000

A Living Hope

I am so excited to be sharing this new seven-week study with you. This winter has been a bit tough for me. I have been sick and down and out on several occasions. Even today as I write this, it is gloomy and I am getting over yet another bout of whatever is going around.

Times like these can get us down. They can leave us feeling like there is no hope for anything better and wondering when the promise of a tomorrow will come.

Maybe for you, it is not an illness or gloomy weather, maybe it is a loss. Loss of a job, health, finances, a prodigal child. Whatever it is that leaves you feeling bleak and grabbing for any piece of encouragement, I am glad you are here. I am ready to have a new focus — a focus on The Living Hope of Jesus.

Hope for Newness

What I love about this time of year is the hope for newness, growth, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

For the next seven-weeks we are going to thrive on the promise of a new day and new mercies, a new birth, a new hope, a new covenant, a new heart, and a newness that only comes from the hope we can have in the Lord Jesus through His death on the cross and resurrection. All of this bringing us into a new life with Him. Hallelujah!

This study was born out of this verse in 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (NIV)

Great Hope

Take a moment to read all the hope we are given through Christ in this single verse. Sketch those words down on a piece of paper and carry them with you until they become your heart. When you begin to feel life do an overhaul on you, bring this out.

What great mercy we are given. We are given a new birth. We have a living hope. The best part is it all stands on the firm foundation of a living God!

We can begin by giving God the praise for who He is and who He has made us through Him. He is the Father of our Lord. Our giver of life.

For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Colossians 1:27 (NLT)

And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:3 (BSB)

Sealed with a Promise

If you are a believer in Christ, if you have submitted your life to Him, the Holy Spirit comes and make His dwelling in you. You are sealed with the promises of God, on that very day! You are given an eternal inheritance as co-heir to Christ! Pretty Amazing!

1 Peter also says we were given mercy from God. Mercy means that we do not get what we deserve. Simply put because of our rebellion, we deserve death. God, however, is merciful and in exchange for the death we deserve, He gives us the opportunity for life. Life in Him.

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3, Nicodemus wanted to know what it would take to get into the Kingdom of God? Jesus told him he had to be born again (John 3:16). Not physically, but in the spirit.

This means that you have a new birth (1 Peter 1:3). Before this, you were dead in your sins (Ephesians 2:1). For dead people to have life, it needs to be given to them and this was given through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Here is the amazing news. Your new life doesn’t just begin when you physically die. Remember in Ephesians 1 it says on the day of trusting Christ as Savior, you were sealed.

Further, in Colossians, it says God wanted you to know you can have assurance when Christ comes to live in you, you are given the riches of His glory. You become His child (1 John 5:1) and He will care for you as such.

We Become Alive In Christ

The most glorious part of this, I believe, 1 Peter tells us we have a living hope. Meaning here, now, and for eternity. Once we become alive in Christ, we have a living hope that we can only receive from Him.

Our life is given a new identity. We become alive in Christ.

You may be asking yourself, how we can have assurance? How do I know that this is set on a firm foundation?

We can have A Living Hope because Christ lives. Christ not only died on the cross for our sins, He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:4)

Believing Christ’s death on the cross is the most important part of the story leaves out the most exciting part of the story. On the cross, He provided the opportunity for us to be forgiven by taking on himself the sins of the world.

But friends it was critical that He rose from the dead because in that we can have new life. We do not have a God that is made by human hands or a God that his dead. He is a living and active God who conquered death.

Because He is alive, I too can live!

That is Awesome news!

Life at times seems bleak and a bit hopeless, but we have to look at all of the facts with the perspective of who Christ is and who I am in Him! For that, I can only say, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Please continue to join me for this series on A Living Hope in Christ Jesus.

Before you go, please leave in the comments below your favorite verse that keeps you excited about who you are in Christ.

Personal Reflections:

Have you been personally sealed with the Holy Spirit? If so, what evidence are you seeing in your life that would point to the day you became alive?
What can you do during the next 7 weeks to thrive on the promises of God and the present and future that He has for you? (List actual steps or goals)

If you have any questions for me feel free to email me at youresewtrendy@gmail.com. I would love to continue this conversation or you can read more here, and hear what you think or answer any questions you may have.

Dig Deeper Visit Each Post in this Series

A Living Hope – a 7-week study

1.Hope in the Cross

2. A New Heart

3. A New Hope

4. A New Covenant

5. A New Day New Mercies

6. A New Life

7. New Growth

This week’s featured friend is June Caedmon from inspiredbyjune.com. June is an author and blogger. She writes in her romantic fiction novels to glorify God and has a new book out called No Tomorrow. Stop by June site today and also see how she captures life through a lens. Thanks for joining us, June. I am so glad you are here!

Linkup with Sitting Among Friends Blog Party

Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. Make sure to visit another friend in the linkup!

I would love to sit down face-to-face with you but since we can’t do that I love to meet you here. I love to hear your stories and see your work.

This is a Christian based website and so is the material that I promote here. Please remember that when linking up. I do reserve the right to remove posts.

*Please take the time to visit other blogs to comment and share*

I would appreciate you linking back to Seeking God or #SittingAmongFriends somewhere on your page.

Tag Me with Twitter Shares and I will RT them.

I will be featuring a friend during the week on my FB page!

Join us at our Sitting Among Friends Pinterest Board by following my profile and then requesting an invite.

An InLinkz Link-up

The post A Living Hope and Sitting Among Friends #64 appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Flooded With Peace and Sitting Among Friends Blog Party #12

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 07:39:00 +0000

I was heading down the road to begin my hour drive to the University Clinic.

All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed with uncertainty and worry. The tears began to flow. I have been down this road before with my little guy.

Some of you may have experienced something similar. You go to the doctor for a routine or not so routine visit and they look you over and their conclusion, “I don’t know.”

I don’t know how many times I have heard this from doctors. These are top-notch doctors in their field of medicine. This is not about their lack of qualifications.

This is about a God who is not concerned with how much we know or think we know, he finds ways to remind us that He’s got this one. He knows.

I know that doctors don’t know everything but that is one diagnosis I don’t like to hear. I want to cry out, “tell me something, anything at all but not, “I don’t know.”

Diagnosis – I don’t know.
When my son was 7 weeks old, we opened a diaper to discover blood. Diagnosis, “I, don’t know.”

When he was 3 and 5 months old he had a systemic reaction to vaccinations (this is not a post about vaccinations). Diagnosis, “I, don’t know. In fact, we have never seen this before and can’t find any other cases.”

When he was 3 and 4 years old we questioned his balance and excessive falling. Diagnosis, “I don’t know.”

So here we are on another trip with Dr. “I don’t know.”

I think I am okay as long as I can get an answer. My drive alone with a small child depending on me is leaving me completely overwhelmed.

As I begin to quickly lay this at the feet of Jesus and cover this in tear-filled prayers, He gently reminds me, “I know.”

He knows. I don’t know and the doctors may not know but He knows.

I felt an overwhelming rush of peace and calmness flush through my aching heart. These words play over and over in my head like a sweet melody, He knows. He knows!

We can choose to be consumed by trying times. We can be overtaken with worry, regret, doubt and fear.

We can take comfort and relinquish this to the All-Knowing God who has already seen this all play out. In fact, He has set a path for us and marked a way for us to see it through.

With my son, this time, turned out to be okay and most of our “I don’t know” diagnoses have been revealed. God is awesome and always has a way of us relying on Him alone.

I hope these verses throughout were an encouragement and they speak to your heart in times like these when you, too, are in a place of uncertainty. Left with the question or the feeling of who knows.

Be assured, my friends,

God knows!

While you’re here, sit down with some of my friends. They are amazing writers with so many great stories to share with you. Just clink on a link below and you will go directly to their site where you can get to know them more.

Please, linkup your family-friendly inspiring stories, recipes, DIY, homeschool, giveaways, and your life’s greatest passions.

Friends are here to encourage and challenge us in our walk of life so enjoy!

Thank you for posting and linking up. I try to read and comment on as many of these wonderful posts as I can and as time allows. I just want to say you are all doing wonderful work and praise the Lord that I have had the opportunity to come across the path of so many of you.

This party has been fantastic and it is thanks to all of you who stop by and Share this party with your friends. Together we can make this a great place. There are easy share buttons to your left or at the bottom of each post (mobile) and after you linkup.

Thanks! From all of us at #SittingAmongFriends

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Is Love Just a Trend? and Sitting Among Friends Blog Party #11

The post Flooded With Peace and Sitting Among Friends Blog Party #12 appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Beyond Myself and Sitting Among Friends Blog Party #9

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 07:38:00 +0000

There are times in my days that I am just beyond myself. I am beyond patience, beyond reason, beyond love and self-control and all of the things that make me myself. I feel stretched beyond the limit and I am not even sure what my limit is.

I have small children and often times my day, being “good” or “bad” revolves around their behaviors and their attitudes. It makes me feel completely out of control and then I get a bit edgy.

There have been times when life feels relentless and I have to walk away (by myself in another room, mom’s don’t get that much). There have been times I did not know what else to do except cry out the name of Jesus. Nothing said, except the sweet subtle name of Jesus. He knows my heart, He knows my inner thoughts. So I just cry out in His name.

Here is a really awesome song that gives me such encouragement and reassurance in my Lord. I hope this song, “There is Power” by Lincoln Brewster encourages you as much as it does me. Here is a link http://youtu.be/UoOJwel1CQU

But what if?

But, what if I didn’t let my day be controlled by outside influences? My children’s behavior. The driver in front of me while I’m taking my kids to school late. Again! The lady at the checkout, I won’t mention the store, that has blamed me for employees stocking the shelves in front of the wrong tags.

What if, instead of crying out to Jesus at the end of my rope, I walk with Jesus and I let Him go a step before me. What if my decisions and my attitude revolved around Jesus’ promises and assurances to me? What if I don’t let the circumstances or surroundings of my day become bigger than my God?

What if?

My life, if I let it, can quickly define me or my God, if I let Him, will define me.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:1, 4

We can remember the victory is already His or we can let our faith be pushed behind our circumstances. We can remember that we are His children or we can continue to live as children of this world.

I have been wrestling with putting short temporary things in my life (my children’s feelings, the lady at the drive-thru, the person cutting in line at the checkout) on a scale of uttermost importance.

Last week, our pastor was talking about idols and taking things in our lives and weighing them high on the scale.

He gave a wonderful illustration. He explained, it is when you take good things (kids, spouse, family, jobs, our success, money, hobbies, our kid’s hobbies, ministry, etc.) and turn them into ultimate things.

I feel like so many times that I am stretched thin beyond my own recollection, it is due to turning little petty things into monster things.

I have made my ultimate, My God, take a back seat to me and I begin to feel defeated. Why?

Because I belong to Him. First and foremost, when I make God my center, my rock, I cannot be shaken, He is the firm foundation on which I stand.

When I let my surroundings determine who I am, how I feel, and how I respond, I am on sifting sinking sand. Because those are things of this world and like all things they will pass. And when the tide gets high or life gets overwhelming, I shift. I sink.

What are some of the things you are struggling with making your priority or ultimate thing? What are the good or bad things that you have let become your ultimate thing?

What is my solution? What is our solution?

Build our life on the solid foundation of Christ. Remember that we are His children. We need to take a hold of His promises and wrap them around us like a life-saving buoy.

The promises He has given us are not shakable or dependent on this moment but are grounded in eternity. Is our ultimate thing potentially furthering the kingdom of Heaven?

Friends I am so glad that you have sat down with us today. I would love to further this conversation. Encourage us in the comments with your favorite verses to overcome life’s struggles.

I hope you will stick around and get to know some of these amazing writers. Share and Comment, it is appreciated!

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Now Join us as Friends Meet, Sit Down and Share Life at Sitting Among Friends Blog Party.

Please, linkup your family-friendly inspiring stories, recipes, DIY, homeschool, giveaways, and your life’s greatest passions. Friends are here to encourage and challenge is in our walk of life.

Thank you for posting and linking up. I try to read and comment on as many of these wonderful posts that I can and as time allows. I just want to say you are all doing wonderful work and praise the Lord that I have had the opportunity to come across the path of so many of you.

This party is doing fantastic and it is thanks to all of you who stop by and share this party with your friends. Together we can make this a great place. There are easy share buttons to your left or at the bottom of each post. Thanks! From all of us at #SittingAmongFriends

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Hope and Sitting Among Friends Blog Party #5

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Hope. Seems as if we are searching for this thing. Hope.

We are personally ill or have a friend who is battling an illness. We hope for treatment. We hope for a cure. We hope for recovery. We hope for rest.

We have been searching for just the right job. We hope it fits the life of our family. We hope it will bring us satisfaction. We hope our co-workers are nice or at least tolerable.

We are seeking peace in our relationships. We hope they will understand. We hope they will meet us in the middle. We hope for some resolution. We hope the kids will be okay.

Hope. Daily. Seeking. Hope. In Something. In Someone.

This is one reason that I love the Christmas story. Whether you are a believer or not you could not have gone through the Christmas Season and not gazed upon the manger scene.

No matter where you were at, you could not have avoided it. Nearly every street on every block has the manger scene.

Maybe you hoped it had nothing to do with you. Maybe you hoped it had something to do with you. Maybe you hoped it had everything to do with you.

What I love about seeing baby Jesus in the manger is it reminds me of the hope that came.

Jesus Christ came as hope. Hope for the past. Hope for our present. Hope for our future.

Merriam-Webster defines hope as, to cherish a desire with anticipation or to desire with expectation of obtainment.

One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

It is one of my favorite verses because I feel like it defines me. I have a confident faith in what I hope for, the reality of Jesus Christ. Who came in the flesh to dwell among us, died, was resurrected, and now is seated at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf on a daily basis.

You might ask, how do you know that? How can you say that with confidence? Did you see Christ in the flesh and how can you believe these stories?

My answer is hope. My hope came for me. My hope is someday returning for me. My hope is in Jesus Christ. Hebrews reminds us we can have the assurance of this hope.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Romans 8:24-25

Many people may argue that Jesus Christ is not or was not real. Many argue His existence. After all, with my own two eyes, I have not seen Him. I will not argue that point today. Romans, however, tells us hope is not seeing because who hopes for something they have seen. (I do not hope for my neighbor to get better when I have already seen she is well.)

Hope is the anticipation, the eager perseverance of waiting for what we confidently know to be true.

How can I know and have confidence in this hope?

I have witnessed the hand of God in my life. I have witnessed the rescue of my heart. I have felt the peace that comes only from God and we are called to be of witness to that hope.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

Quick story. My five-year-old little guy was outside with me. A recycling truck came by my house and as the giant metal arms of the truck were picking up the recycling bin, my guy got scared, ran away from me right past the truck. As he did, the arms came up and the bin on it hit him square in the face. He flew back to the stone surround of the flowerbed with a near miss to the back of his head. There is really no reason why he came out of that accident with a few loose teeth and a scratch on the chin. Everything about that should have gone severely bad.

I saw every second of it. It plays over and over in my mind. Every time, it brings me to tears. Why? My guy was saved.

My God is good. In God, I have hope. Some days, in some situations, it is all I have. It is what makes me persevere when times are tough and I have nothing else to grab or hold onto.

Hope. Hope for my past. Hope in the present. Hope for my future.

What do you do with this hope? Do you grab a hold of this hope for yourself? Do you continue seeking hope in something or someone else? The choice is yours to make.

If you would like to know further how you find hope in Jesus Christ, send an email to youresewtrendy@gmail.com

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