Covenant Community Services
June 29, 2010
Hope Lives Here
 
Greetings!

Hope - to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
 
Watching the World Cup this past week has sparked my thoughts about hope. The hope of individuals and nations have been crushed or fulfilled as teams win and advance or lose and go home. With the loss in the USA versus Ghana World Cup match my hope for a USA World Cup miracle was destroyed. Now, I can only wait for 2014 before another stage is set for hope.
 
Hope is contagious. Not many people in the USA are true soccer (football) fans. Many are sports fans that became caught in the drama of hope. This was evident in the USA win over Algeria. If we tied we would not advance so the nation watched in hope and was rewarded when Donovan scored in the last seconds of play. The USA was apprehended by hope. Unfortunately, our hope was crushed days later as the USA fell to Ghana.
 
Despite the loss to Ghana and the exit of our national team from the World Cup, I still have hope. Why because in 2014 we will get another chance at victory. In the meantime, I will watch the world as it places hope in their team and enjoy the drama of victory and defeat.
 
As a follower of Jesus, I am thankful that my hope in Christ is not unstable or fickle like the USA soccer team. No, God is the author of hope. Christ is the foundation for hope. Hope in God will never disappoint or fail. My hope in Jesus, in God's plan, and His will are tried and tested and proven to never fail and that is why we confidently state "hope lives here".
The power of hope in Jesus
 
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;  2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.  3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
 
~ Psalm 25:1-3 ~
 
 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.  

~ Psalm 33:17 ~
Hope fuels life
 
David is the author of Psalm 25. He wrote this psalm in a time of despair, discouragement and defeat. Saul, the King, was in pursuit of David to kill him. David's life was unraveling fast and he had every reason to lose hope but he didn't. David did what he needed to do to stay alive and placed His hope in God.
 
You may never be pursued by a madman king but you will face life issues that call for hope to see you through. Hope in God is sure and steady. You may not receive the outcome you desire but your will receive peace and joy from God through the process. Remember, hope is not an end result but a means to an end.
 
Hope is the fuel of life. Hope is the expectation of a future good. Hope in God is the expectation of a future good that is the fulfillment of God's will and Word. Thus, when we hope in Jesus we are not hoping on an outcome but on the character and nature of God as good, kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving, merciful and gracious. Hope fuels life and moves you forward despite the storm.
 
Hope lives here is the motto of Covenant. We relish in hope. We extend the hope that lives within us to hurting children, youth and families. We operate based on hope and the character of God. Actually, we have nothing else to offer. A service or support may get someone through a storm or troubled time but it will not cure the troubled soul ... only hope can.
 
Friend, this week turn your gaze to Heaven and the hope that is found in your Creator, Maker and God. People will disappoint you. Sports teams will let you down. Even your best friend or spouse will fail to fulfill your hope but God never will. You can trust His character, nature and love to see you through any storm. Lastly, He awaits your homecoming and to reward you with the fulfillment of the ultimate hope which is eternity with Him!
 
Hope Lives Here!
For King and Kingdom,
 

Randy Martin 
661-326-8304