A REASON TO HOPE ...

The sun has returned to Addis. God seems to paint everything here in the richest of colors after the months of rain. The skies are the bluest of blues. The greens and yellows of the fields are jaw-dropping pretty. The vibrant colors of sunsets are stunning. I love this time of year here.

The return of the sun and all the colors has gotten me thinking about HOPE.

When hope is present in a life or situation, things look different, you feel different. Maybe you do see darkness, but there’s something good coming you can sense. There’s light in your heart and perspective that the darkness and despair can't reach. 

But when there’s no hope in your heart, there’s a heaviness to your day and mood. All looks negative and pointless. Your steps are weary and there's nothing ahead to look forward to.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick

But when you feel hope, there's a whisper of a promise that there’s more to life than what you see and deeper things to understand and experience just ahead.  

How's your level of hope?

We can be thankful that if hopelessness lurks in and around you, God offers you Himself.  Unexplainable, limitless, joyful hope. When it fills you, you feel it. Some people don't know this hope. Some people do, but maybe a reminder is needed. More on that in bit ... 

I returned to Addis in late July and it’s been very full of so much teaching. I think the one impacted the most has been me. I have learned as I have taught and have been challenged as I have prepared. I think God strategically lines up specific classes for me at key times because I’m the biggest one needing taught or reminded about things. I’m so glad God doesn’t give up on us the first time, or second or third, and He continues to shape us into what He wants us to be.

The fall semester at ETC (the Evangelical Theological College) started and I have two classes: two classes of Intro to Missions and one class of Intro to Youth Ministry. What a blessing to share with students about the importance of missions. I’ve been reminded of what our mission is as the church. It’s not just what we’re supposed to do, it’s who we are, because it’s who God is.  People apart from God are described in Scripture as ... "objects of God's wrath; enemies of God; in darkness; separated; scattered; like sheep without a shepherd; without hope." There are over 3 billion people in the world still waiting to hear good news. We have to mobilize and get hope to them!!! To also teach about youth ministry is so timely. Young people are strategic in churches and in God’s plan to make His name great. But, are we encouraging them to be all they can be for God? One challenging study showed that what’s holding young people back the most for God's purpose is church culture and tradition. May God help the church to mobilize all ages, all people, to be His people and represent Him well.

Intro to Missions Class

Intro to Youth Ministry Class

I also covered one class for a month for a traveling instructor. The class was Spiritual Formation and I had two sections of that class.  To be reminded of the basics of how we grow up in our spiritual maturity… so challenging and so needed. I felt iron sharpening iron and I was reminded of how we can never really become who were meant to be for God by ourselves.  God made us to worship Him and to live with Him and each other. May we grow up in God!

We did have a New Year celebration here in mid September. I love the holidays here and that I actually get two of some key holidays … two New Years, Two Christmas’, two Easters. So nice. It’s a time to rest, reflect and give thanks. And as always, good food, good coffee and good memories are made.

Not long after the new year though, some unrest happened in Addis (where I live), which was shocking. The new Prime Minister here is doing a great job, but some tribes are still fighting and it actually made its way onto the streets of our capital city.  Rioting and protesting occurred in different areas and it brought a feeling of fear and anxiety. Schools were cancelled, embassies shut down, transportation disrupted, and the internet was blocked. It’s fine now thankfully, and this didn't last long, but please keep this country and the new leadership in prayer. Transition is not easy and wisdom is needed.  

Now I have one week of rest for a holiday, called Meskel, ... which is Wednesday night/ Thursday. During this holiday, tall bonfires will be lit around the city. This is an Orthodox holiday where they believe in history the smoke from a fire led to the true cross of Jesus being found here. It's a colorful holiday and the streets and parades feel like Bible times. It's a favorite of mine to see.

ETC will be back to school Monday. And my other school, Hope College, should start next week, registration is happening now.

So, what do I hope for as life continues here? What is hope? What do people most hope for?

According to Websters dictionary: HOPE is to want something to happen or to be true. To desire something with an expectation of fulfillment. To trust in something or for something.

I think what people most people hope for are …

… health, love, money, success, youthfulness, prosperity, significance, security, comfort, happiness, joy, peace, marriage, family, kids, wisdom, opportunity, healing, a long life. There are many things. 

What should I hope for? And what is my hope based on? These are key questions. And often where I get in trouble and maybe you do too.

I often hope for things that aren't necessarily things I need or things that would be good for me. When we hope for something like money, that might actually become an idol in our lives if we're not careful. God isn't again about our comfort, but about our character. Who we are is more important than what we have.

Then, I often HOPE in myself.  I hope I planned enough. I hope I studied enough.  I hope I say the right thing. In Holly, I hope. What’s wrong with that? Nothing is wrong with confidence in yourself, but the bottom line is … I mess up. I fall short. I let myself down. So, it’s not good to base your ultimate hope in the outcome of things on yourself. Because you’re not perfect. No one is. And the world's story isn't yours, or mine, it's God's. His plan is unfolding, not mine, or yours. His ways are not our ways.

You have to be careful as well of basing your hope on a spouse, a best friend, a boss, a family member, etc. That person is human too. And they will disappoint you too. No one is perfect. It’s okay to hope in, believe in others, their potential. But our ULTIMATE HOPE has to stay on God ALONE. Why? He doesn’t change. He doesn’t disappoint. He's a promise keeper. Because of who He is, of what He’s said, our hope is based on Him. We hope because of Him.  We can move on because of Him. We can look ahead with confidence because of Him.  When other things fall apart, when other people disappoint, He doesn't. He remains. He doesn't leave. Our hope stays.

The Bible's definition of hope is a hope based on God. It's confident expectation of what God has promised and it's strength is in His faithfulness (not our ability). 

But losing hope can happen quickly if we're not careful to keep leaning on God and looking His way.

What causes us to lose HOPE?

I’ve already mentioned a big one.  Our ultimate hope is misplaced. Again, we often put our biggest hope in another person, in a job, in money, success, health, yourself… and again… these aren’t stable.

So a relationship with God through Jesus is the foundation for hope. If you feel hopeless, God has the hope you need.  He offers it to you.

Many other things can cause a loss of hope:

• -Sudden tragedy can cause your hope to tank. No one is immune to hard times. Very challenging.
• -No vision or picture of how things can be different, this can lead to hopelessness. 
• -If you’ve been in a position for a long time and there’s no breakthrough or change, this can cause hope to diminish. 
• -Illness or fatigue can make you feel hopeless and that the fight is too hard. 
• -Solitude, no community, can allow Satan to mess with you and your hope is hit. We need each other, reminding each other of the hope we have. We need to pray for each other.  
• -Not connecting with God all the time and focusing on His promises for you, can push hope to the back of your perspective, which is what Satan wants.

So in all this, we need to keep these scriptures in mind all the time and encouraging each other all the time and sharing this hope all the time so our HOPE keeps stirred and lit and in view...

1 Peter 1:3-4; 13

In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade... set your hope fully on the grace given to you... 

Psalm 42:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God …

Psalm 62:5

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him

Psalm 147:11

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in His unfailing love

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Romans 5:2-5

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God … we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us …

1 Thessalonians 5:8

 Let us put on… the hope of salvation as a helmet …

1 Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything…

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…

Like the sun coming up each morning, our hope can be renewed. We fix our hope not a situation, but on God Himself.

If you feel hopeless this fall season for any reason, put your hope in God. He can make all things new. He can restore your soul. He can straighten any crooked thing. And can calm any storm, part any sea, heal any illness, open any door, protect against any foe, sustain you, help you have impact and significance and purpose and passion … no matter your age or situation. How do I know? His Word says so.

Be encouraged. I'm praying for you as you pray for me.  May God Bless You!

PRAYER REQUESTS…

-Please pray for both schools – that as the fall semester continues and another one starts, that God will keep my hope strong and my impact big for Him- that He will give me wisdom, strategic relationships, creativity in lesson plans.

-Please pray for Ethiopia, that God helps people stay peaceful and that the new leadership will have great wisdom and protection.

-Please pray for my Dad, Mom, and Sister- that God will give them a great fall season.

-Please pray for good health and protection 

Thank you praying and please let me know how I can specifically pray for you as well!