Peace Tree UMC
  • Home
  • About
    • Staff >
      • Jobs
    • Mission >
      • BRO
      • SIS
      • UMW
    • Vision
    • Values
    • House Groups
  • Sundays
    • Plan Your Visit
  • Connect
    • Calendar
    • News
  • Media
    • Online Worship
    • Devotionals
    • Social Media
  • Give
  • Blog

Peace Tree
Our Journey

Following Christ + Making Disciples + Forming Community

Hope in the Lord

7/29/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Sometimes we get frustrated, tired, and don’t  want to talk or hear anymore about the issues going on around us in today’s world. While recently preparing a devotional, God helped me to face the issues I was avoiding in our country and around the world.  Shootings, demonstrations - both violent and peaceful, elections, coups, religious freedom, discrimination, etc… How was I going to respond?

I have been presenting  a book over the past 2 years entitled  “Praying the Names of God” by Ann Spangler.  The one chapter that I kept being led back in my preparation was “MIQWEH YISRAEL” , one of God’s titles/names, which means the HOPE OF ISRAEL.

When you look up HOPE in the dictionary, you see that it can be a NOUN or a VERB. As a noun the definitions are 1) the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best - and - 2) a person or thing in which expectations are centered.  As a verb the definitions are 1) to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence, 2) to believe, desire or trust, and 3) to feel that something desired may happen.

HOPE is what I need right now.

I would like to pose a few questions. Take a moment to think about each of these questions:
-What does it mean to place your HOPE in people?
-What does it mean to place your HOPE in the LORD?
-Do we HOPE (a verb) or have HOPE ( a noun) on other things than GOD?
-Do Christians and Non-Christians have the same kind of HOPE?


We may try to define HOPE, but do these definitions explain  the HOPE of Israel - “MIQWEH YISRAEL”?
Author Ann Spangler refers to HOPE as the great stabilizer. She writes it steadies us in times of fear and difficulty, not because we know that everything will turn out as we want, but because we know that God is trustworthy. Does that sound like HOPE to you?  She states that HOPE is what helps us stay on course regardless of our circumstances.

In the Bible we find that HOPE finds its roots in God - in His goodness, His mercy and His power.  We can EXERCISE our HOPE in God by enduring patiently.  We can NURTURE our HOPE in God by reading His Word.  Although we do HOPE for earthly blessings, do we truly realize that our Greatest HOPE should be aimed at our life to come, when God will not only wipe away our tears but invite us to shares His joy forever?

In Jeremiah 17:7-5, 13 it reads “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. … LORD, your are the HOPE of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame.  Those who run away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.”

Does “lack” of HOPE in God damage our souls?  HOPE in God is not just a matter of emotions.  It is not wishful thinking.  It does not depend on our circumstances.  HOPE in God is rooted in our relationship with God.  HOPE in God gives us the confidence that God is working for our good in all things.  We may at times feel disappointed, depressed, afraid, sad, or confused, but with HOPE in God we will never give way to despair.  HOPE gives us the power to endure until the day God fulfills the greatest of all His promises - spending the rest of our lives forever in His presence. 

In Hebrew Scriptures,  HOPE is connected to the expectation that God is a deliverer who will save those who trust in Him.  It urged Israel then - and - us now to wait confidently for Him to act.  Jeremiah 29:11 states “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.”  In the New Testament, HOPE is rooted firmly in Jesus, - in His life, His death, His resurrections and in His coming again in glory.  We also have HOPE for this life because the Holy Spirit indwells in us.  This HOPE the Bible shows is a type of strength that enables us to be “patient” and “enduring” regardless of what we face.

But how do we build or grow our HOPE?  HOPE grows best in the soil of faithfulness.  We need to live our lives for God, loving His law, doing His will, immersing ourselves in His Words, believing that He is who He says He is, and worshipping Him together with His People. 

My prayer for each of us as we head out to our homes, neighborhoods, jobs and in whatever situation God places us every day is found in Isaiah 40:31 which reads: “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 faint.”​

My HOPE in the LORD is exactly what I need.

+Connie Jackson
Picture
Comments

    Peace Tree

    Follow the journey of a new church as we answer the call to reach people in Collierville, Memphis, and the Mid-South.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    Alzheimer's
    Baptism
    Bible
    Building
    Children
    Church
    Collierville
    Community
    Compassion
    Core Values
    Crucifixion
    Disaster Response
    Disciples
    Division
    Faith
    Family
    Germantown
    Good Friday
    Gospel
    Grace
    Guatemala
    Health
    Holy Week
    Hospitality
    House Groups
    Justice
    Lent
    LGBTQ
    Love
    Marriage
    Memphis
    Mission
    Movies
    Murfreesboro
    Parables
    Pastor
    Peace
    Prayer
    Pre Launch
    Presence
    Reflection
    Salvation
    Schools
    Service
    Students
    Suffering
    Summer
    The Call
    Tragedy
    TV
    United States
    Unity
    Vision
    Worship

    RSS Feed

Small Group Gatherings
​Sun | Young Parents Fellowship
Sun | Music Fellowship
Sun | ZUMBA with Kris
Mon | Open Play Pickleball
Mon | United Women in Faith

Mon | Mellow Mushroom G'town
Tue | United Women in Faith
Tue | Leadership Meeting
Tue | Book Club
​Wed | Open Play Pickleball
Fri | Family Fun Night
Large Group Celebrations
Sundays at 10:00 AM
(doors open at 9:30 AM)

Peace Tree at Shelby Drive
​9315 E Shelby Dr
Collierville, TN 38017

Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Get In Touch
Call | 901.286.5532
Email | peacetreeumc@gmail.com
Prayer Requests | E-News
Mailing Address
Peace Tree UMC
9315 E Shelby Dr
​Collierville, TN 38017

Copyright © 2021 | All Rights Reserved | 9315 E Shelby Dr, Collierville, TN
About | House Groups | Sundays | Connect | Media | Give | Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • Staff >
      • Jobs
    • Mission >
      • BRO
      • SIS
      • UMW
    • Vision
    • Values
    • House Groups
  • Sundays
    • Plan Your Visit
  • Connect
    • Calendar
    • News
  • Media
    • Online Worship
    • Devotionals
    • Social Media
  • Give
  • Blog