The hope of glory

Jesus Christ — the hope of glory!  I remember the first time I heard these words.  I needed hope in my life badly.

I was at perhaps one of the lowest points in my life and my heavenly father lifted me out of the abyss of hopelessness and delivered me to a place that filled me with an everlasting abundance of hope for the future. 

Since that day I have spent much of my life being bossy and controlling and worst of all not letting God work in my life.  The results were of course predictable — I was miserable. 

Then one day, my heavenly father imparted to me a revelation.  He showed me 2 families.  One family was close and had everything they needed in their lives.  They might not be considered Rich in material possessions but they were rich in abundance of love, peace, joy, etc.  The other family was Rich in material possessions but never quite had what they needed in their lives.  They were always complaining, fighting and criticizing each other.  One family had God in it.  The other did not.  Can you guess which one did?

It was easy for me because one family — the negative one — was my own family.  The other was a distant relative's family.  I knew which family I wanted to be part of.  I wanted "the more than abundant life" that Christ promised in John 10:10.  I wanted the peace, the freedom, the hope.  I wanted to be free of the worry and fear that was NOT ENRICHING my life.   So I made a choice. 

Now I realize that most people understand the concept of making a choice, but many people don't understand the concept of faith.  So when one chooses to stand upon their faith, often it is hard for others to understand.  I mean why would you choose an invisible God over logic and facts, right? 

The easiest definition I can think of for faith is believing in something even when logic tells you not to.  Faith often just doesn't make sense.  Non-Christians often point out parts of the Bible that don't make sense to them. 

But without faith, how do we REALLY HAVE HOPE?  If we live our lives according to the facts, we would be miserable.  The facts are not hopeful. 

I am writing this because it is applicable in our country today.  Our founding fathers were hopeful Christian men.   I believe it is from that hopeful vision of the future that they wrote one of the most significant documents in the history of our country, perhaps the world.  But this vision did not come from comfort.  It came from DISCONTMENT with their current circumstances with the English Monarchy.

We are at a cross roads.  Many people are angry and not one bit hopeful.  Many people are fearful in fact.  These things are not from my heavenly father.   We as people of faith, must stand up for what is right and lead the way to positive changes in the future.  We have no choice.  We are called to stand upon our faith.

So we cannot abandon our country in it's time of need any more than my heavenly father would abandon us in our time of need.  We must put aside our anger and GET REAL! 

Terrorism comes from NO HOPE!  People only willingly give up their lives when they have NO HOPE for a positive future in their lives in this world.  Since the current administration's policies are OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING to decrease this terrorism, perhaps 2008 should be a new strategy.  One that does not need the limits of government and politicians.  

Let us make 2008 our season of HOPE in the world.  We must start within our own homes and work our way outwards to our children, our communities, our government, our country, our planet.  Hope is contagious.  It can lift a person's spirit higher than an eagle can soar. 

Hope keeps people moving forward.  Hope gives people something to look forward to, something to fight for.  HOPE KEEPS PEOPLE ALIVE!

When a government or occupying power takes away a man's hope to provide a decent life for his family and children, that man becomes angry and takes up arms.  HISTORY HAS REPEATEDLY PROVEN THIS TO BE TRUE!

Our message then as faithful Democrats or as people of faith in any nation should be in 2008, that there is ALWAYS hope.  I found mine through Jesus Christ.  Other religions offer hope in their deities.  But without the message of REAL HOPE for the future, I believe things will only get worse in our country. 

There are those without hope who advocate NOT VOTING in the coming elections.  They believe there are no realistic choices.  THAT IS A LIE WE MUST NOT GIVE INTO!   Our inalienable right to vote is what holds this country together.   The only thing one person can do effectually to make a difference in this world is VOTE!  There are people in oppressive countries that would give their lives up just for this right that so many take for granted and do not even use. 

This coming election is vital to the HOPEFUL FUTURE of each and EVERY American.  It is also crucial to those Americans not even born yet somewhere in our future.  We cannot abandon hope and turn our back on our duty to vote especially when BRAVE Americans are dying every day just to protect that right.  If we don't vote, then we are spitting on their graves.  That is not from my heavenly father.

If you have no hope in your life, then I would advise you to check out Jesus Christ — the hope of glory in 2008.  But whatever you believe, please remember to participate in the process no matter how bad it seems.  Because it will only get MUCH WORSE if we willing give our rights and our hope.   Happy New Year and Good Luck in 2008.