Hope

     As I read through my last post,  I realized that the message I was trying to share wasn't perfectly clear. It is really very simple.  Three words, actually.

I have HOPE.

     Yes, life is hard.  Yes, some days are worse than others.  But - and this is a big BUT, no matter what goes wrong - whether my kids disobey, whether my attitude stinks, whether I can't find a matching pair of shoes in my entire house - I have hope.  I will always make mistakes, so will my husband, my children and my church family - but we have someone in our lives that does not make mistakes.  He is perfect, forgiving, compassionate, loving and FULL of GRACE.  He paid the price for our mistakes with his life.  He is more than just a Christmas story - He is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
     Have you ever really sat down and though about the word Savior?  Savior from what? Do we really need saving?  I know I do!  I am so thankful He paid the price for my mistakes.  He doesn't stop there though - He saves us from hopelessness, discouragement, disillusionment, weakness (when we are weak He is strong), and even boredom (there are so many opportunities to serve, love, share, encourage,  etc...) in the family of Christ.  

      I know there are a lot of misconceptions about Christianity.  One of my least favorite misconceptions is that Christians are supposed to be perfect (or that we think we are) - that COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!  I am not a huge bumper sticker fan - actually, they usually annoy me.  But, there is one that I have always liked and it says this "Christians aren't perfect... just forgiven."  

     As I have pondered how hard things have been this week, I have no regrets.  I am not sad that it was a hard week.  I'm glad. Truly, glad.  If things weren't hard this week then I wouldn't have taken the time to reflect upon the simple truth of the gospel.  I have a feeling, now that I'm a mommy, I am going to have that opportunity daily :). We all mess up - whether in little things, in big things - or, in both...but, if we are believers, we have a SAVIOR!


Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

If you are reading this and you are not a believer - or, perhaps you believe - but you don't know what it means to have a RELATIONSHIP with Christ...please feel free to email me ANY time.  There is nothing I would love more than to be able to tell you more about the HOPE that is found through the gospel of Christ...I have to warn you though - I might be a bit slow.  Life is definitely a balancing act these days :) :) :)