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On Sunday we celebrate both Easter and Pentecost. Now that is double packed. Let me ask you to take some time and read a couple of chapters to prepare your heart and mind for this Celebration. Begin with John 20:1-18, which is the story of the Resurrection from John the Beloved’s viewpoint. Read it a couple of times and let the truth of it sink in. Then remind yourself of John 14:3, that where I am, there you may be also.  And also John 14:19, Because I live, you will live also. On the basis of this foundational and eternal truths, we are assured that eternal life is ours by the Person and Work of Jesus Christ! Following this venture into the Gospel, now turn to Acts 1, 2 and read how Pentecost occurred that first time following the events 50 days earlier at Passover. It also is the celebration of the early Harvest in the middle of May or early June but it is a time of unlimited and undeniable rejoicing that God has blessed and will continue to bless. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1. It was the day when the Promised coming of the Holy Spirit occurred and the Church was begun with His Fire. How glorious and delightful. It also sounds like a good description of Sunday for us. No one is perfect, but Jesus and He gave His life and soul to purchase our redemption through the payment of shedding His blood for our sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the Seal in Ephesians 1 of our inheritance with God. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. In Whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Eph.1:13,14. Let’s celebrate!!! 

I was with the men praying this morning and Isaiah 43 was referred to over and over with the focus on Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine (v.1) Fear not, for I am with you (5) so I checked and multiple times in Isaiah (actually 39) God tells us not to fear and for multiple reasons which all center around the truth that He is God. Boldly, we are told by Paul that For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Tim.1:7) I asked myself if God ever allows us to fear something and I could not find it. Famine, hunger, drought, enemies, illness, storms… nothing is allowed to be an acceptable factor to fear. So fear is not part of the Christian’s wheelhouse but is to be denied or rejected outright. How? John gives the answer to that. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1John 4:18) Whenever we fear, it is a sign that we need to grow in love in some aspect of life. Do you fear death? Do you fear life? Do you fear illness, loss of a loved one, loss of job, loss of… what do you fear? Then how do you need to grow in love? Eyes off self and on to Jesus. Regardless of what we will encounter, God is with us and we ought not to fear while in His presence because it denies His sovereignty over whatever we are fearing. Think about it.  

I need to apologize to all the mothers at Hope. Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, and I failed to mention it. No excuse. I had it in my notes and was prepared to speak to it with much material but my mind after worship singing (I think it was the Kids song that got me) went straight to the sermon in my head. So I hope that you did have a great Mother’s Day, and I wanted to share some things that should have been said. I come from a wonderful childhood because of a wonderful mother who made the entire home a place of love, warmth, and laughter. She (Martha was her name) loved being a mother. That was her calling and joy in her life. Like all of you, she was willing to give of herself to make her family healthy and happy. Her voice was filled with grace, wisdom, and humor throughout my young years and even till the day she passed into the Lord’s arms. I never knew a day when “No one loves me.” Because there was always Mom. She was truly the heart of the home and constantly caring for all the needs of the family. Yes, she was not perfect in her life with dad (they argued without reconciliation) she did love him all her life. In all of this, she gripped the greatest calling in her life by being a mother and I am the better for it. Moms… there are days when you could just pack up and live another life but just know this from a boy who saw the sacrifice, knew the love, understood the pain, and watch Christ in her – you will never be forgotten by those you have mothered. So keep you eyes on the Lord, enjoy the trials, laugh more than you do, take breaks (lots of them), spend time alone talking to Jesus about your family, and watch God do wonders. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing. But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. (Pro.31:30) Blessings. Happy Mother's Week.

Life is a gift from God. Jesus said multiple times that He is Life (John 11:25, 14:6 etc.) but what does that mean? Life for us is given to us. We are born, not by our choice, and begin to breathe, eat, talk, hear and many more things that are part of “Life” in this world. We cannot give life. We can maintain it for a while, save it in emergencies, direct it, but give it? No, we do not have that power. God plans, determines, achieves, gives and takes according to His Divine will. We are to be stewards of it while we have it. How is your stewardship of your life? My sister in law has had cancer for over a decade and is fighting it today. We have prayed for her and God has answered prayers, but she is not free from it. She has been a very good steward of the life that God gave her. She has loved her family, led a godly life, blessed multiple individuals and yet still fights cancer every day. How do we view life? We must see that our lives are in the hand of God, for His glory, according to His purpose, and determined before the foundation of the world. Rest in this! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph.1:3) Read this powerful, passionate, and poignant passage, Ephesians 1:3-14.