HOPE

If there is any one thing that needs renewal in 2011, it is hope. Resolutions may be made, but many collect dust as they lay unattended in the closest of good intentions. Circumstances may or may not get better, and whether we admit it or not, are often outside of our control. There is, however, a hope that can be renewed which isn’t totally dependent upon us, nor on our circumstances getting better, but on God.

There is a song I used to sing as a child. It was written by Wendell Loveless in 1940 as he saw the world in the throes of war. There was one thing in which he took comfort: that he belonged to God. The words go like this:

What though wars may come,
With marching feet and beat of the drum,
For I have Christ in my heart;
What though nations rage,
As we approach the end of the age,
For I have Christ in my heart.
God is still on the throne, Almighty God is He;
And He cares for His own through all eternity.
So let come what may, whatever it is, I only say
That I have Christ in my heart,
I have Christ in my heart.


Can you sense his confidence? his hope? The source of comfort in the midst of chaos?

Our theme verse for 2011 is found in Romans 15.4

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Over the next year at the Occidental Community Church we’ll be focusing on the 3 ways to renew our hope: through instruction of God’s Word, endurance and the encouragement we receive from God’s Word. All three are like cousins and together forge a formidable alliance that can renew our hope in our Sovereign Lord who is on the throne.

We do not know what the future holds, but we do belong to the One who holds the future. So fellow believers in Christ, keep your hope alive for the day of Christ is near!

Blessings,
Pastor Pete