Hello, church! How are you doing today? I trust you are having a great Thursday and are looking forward to the weekend. I hope you were able to watch the Pastors Panel last night where we discussed Phase 2 and other great things happening at Hyland Heights. If not, you can always go back and watch the recording on the Facebook page.
I woke up this morning with my devotional almost finished. I had to add a few last-minute thoughts and I was done. And then I went to the gym…
While I was at the gym, I had the opportunity to speak with a guy that was, for all intents and purposes, hopeless. For a lot of people, this is reality. There is no hope. All they see and feel is confusion. What is happening in the country, conflicting reports about the pandemic, riots, and on and on. States and cities are doing their own thing. Nothing is consistent, and nobody knows when it is going to end or even have an idea of what it will look like when it is done. My question for you, is., are you struggling with hope? What have you put your hope? The news reports? Your stocks? I mean, we’ve all put our hope in Jesus, right? That goes without saying. Or does it? Do you live like your hope is in Jesus? Jump on social media for a little bit and you might think otherwise. Unfortunately, there are times we consume more news than the Word. If we are to have our hope firmly planted in Christ, we must be intentional about what we fill our minds with.
One of my all-time favorite songs is The Solid Rock. Read the verse of this great song.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness And I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name
When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood When all around my soul gives way He then is all my Hope and Stay
When He shall come with trumpet sound Oh, may I then in Him be found Dressed in His righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne
Does it seem like we are in a time of darkness? Or maybe you are overwhelmed with everything going on right now. Read that first line of the first verse again. My hope Is built on nothing less… Can I encourage you, today? Get off of social media, get out of the newspaper (do we still have these?? ) or turn off the TV, and get in the Word. These are troubling times for everyone. Place your hope in the One who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Seek Him for the answers, not a narrative that will probably change tomorrow. Last week we talked about knowing our enemy. He is the author of confusion. He is loving what is going on in the world right now. We need to be the Church! We need to be prepared to offer hope during a time that seems hopeless to a world that is looking for hope. If we are not in the Word, how can we be prepared to offer hope when the opportunity arises?
I love you and am praying for you! Let’s be prepared and ready for the opportunities God will bring our way.
Pastor Tim Fus
Pastor of Worship Ministries