Horizon of Hope…

Looking-into-the-Horizon

“This journey is never finished. ..

Just as in the life of each one of us, there is always a need to start again

to get back up, to rediscover the meaning of our existence.

So for the great human family it is necessary always to redirect ourselves toward the common horizon that is the goal of our journey.

  It is the horizon of hope!

The season of Advent that today we begin once again, restores the horizon of hope for us,

a hope that does not disappoint because it is founded on the Word of God.

It is a hope that does not disappoint simply because the Lord never disappoints!

He is Faithful! He does not disappoint!

+ Pope Francis…12/1/13

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Go Out Into the Whole World…

“I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.

The die has been cast.  The decision has been made.  I have stepped over the line.  I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

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My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God’s hands.  I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals.

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I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity.  I don’t have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live by faith.  I lean on Christ’s presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God’s grace.

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My face is set.  My gait is fast, my goal is heaven.  My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear.

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I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

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I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me.

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And when He returns for his own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me.  My banner is clear;  I am a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.” (Patrick Madrid, author and radio host)

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Amen, Amen, Amen!

“He said to them, “GO out into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

A Trip To The Manger…

Let us in these days before Christmas take a trip in prayer to the empty manger…

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Let us kneel down in the prickly straw, feel the cold drafty air up on us…

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and smell the somewhat stink of the animals’ living space.

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 Let us see within our hearts those places most in need of Our Savior.

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Within this posture of receiving let us wait in joyful expectancy and holy longing for the coming of the Messiah more deeply into our hearts.

So that in the holy hush of Christmas with hopeful hearts of “YES”…

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we may walk forward to receive and be transformed, believe and be set free, adore and soar to the heavenly heights…

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Receive, Believe, and Adore.

YES…YES…YES…

Every YES we utter contains no’s…

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If I say YES to God…

to live a life of faith, hope, and charity…

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I say no to to a life of doubt, despair, and selfishness.

Why is it the no’s seem to creep into my YES?

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Why do the no’s try to whittle away the strength and the authority of my YES?

It is a fallen world. We are fallen people.

While in this world we must do battle against these persistent no’s.

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Yet, His grace is sufficient.

Let us daily, even hourly if in the midst of a battle, renew our YES with trust and confidence in God’s love and mercy.

Let our YES drown out the no’s in the world and in our hearts.

Let not our no’s speak defeat…

Let our YES shout victory!

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YES is more powerful than no.

“Do I make my plans according to human considerations, so that with me it is “yes, yes” and “no, no”?  As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no”.  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no” but “yes” has been in him.  For however many are the promises of God, their YES is in him; therefore the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.” 2 Cor 17-20

Let my YES wear combat boots…..

Combat Boots

YES…three letters that can so quickly spring forth from our mouths. But what happens between the saying and the doing? Between the head and the heart? All kinds of distractions…and busy-ness…and second thoughts….and forgetfulness…and etc, etc etc. I want my YES to MOVE….yes MOVE, I want my YES  to wear combat boots, stomping through all the mush of my brokenness that shows forth through the dragging of feet. I’m not interested in going through life with stiletto heels that get stuck in the mud and slow down the pace. Today I say boldly, “Let me lace up the combat boots. May the YESes of my heart march forward!” Am I ready to truly walk this walk of RECEIVE, BELIEVE, ADORE?