Hope for a Hopeful Life

2008-10-26T01:33:00.000-07:00

by Pastor Mardy Rito

“Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles and pray at all times. "
- Romans 12:12 [TEV]

A patient imprisoned so helplessly in a hospital bed with various medical tubes and apparatus all over his retiring body is surrounded by every member of his family - all hoping to see him back to normal life once again. His doctors are doing all their best. Applying all the things that they have learned in medical school and in their years of practice hoping to restore him back to life. The only thing that motivates them to keep on sustaining life for the patient is hope - the hope that he would survive and would be restored not just his health but also the lost time with his family as well. This hope enabled them to be positive and to be enthusiastic to do everything they can to prolong the life of their patient.

In the same way, a man in one of the story in a grade school book had set out for a journey to reach the end of the rainbow. For it was a belief that at the end of the rainbow there’s a pot of gold. What kept him going, persevering and aspiring was the hope that he could be the one to own that pot of gold. Amidst the trials, difficulties and hardships, he persisted for he hoped for a prize that was worth his struggles.

On the other hand, a married man ended his life through a rope by hanging himself on a tree. He had chosen to end his life after hearing his wife’s decision of ending their marital relationship. Seeing no hope for the said situation, he committed suicide. Hopelessness makes people act in haste because of their negative decisions. It just mirrors how important hope is in our lives. Hope makes us move on in life with optimism and motivation. Without it, we find no reason to live and just choose to give up.

Hope can make us joyful. It gives us the joy that the gospel produces as we aspire for the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven. It also gives us patience to continue facing our trials because we know that after all these sufferings, we will be admitted to a world that has no room for pains and sorrows. Hope also produces a character of prayer to each one who believes. For as we go on living our life, we should always keep on praying to God for more strength, courage and endurance so we can have all the things that we are hoping for in the future. Jesus is the only hope for you and for me. Nothing and no one else could inspire us to persevere, to move forward, to go on some more extra mile, to walk steadily and to be positive.

He's the only hope that will never disappoint us. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He keeps His promises even if we are not faithful enough. The promise of an everlasting life that He’s more than willing to give is more than enough for us to keep on moving forward and to press on ‘till the end. More than that, there’s also a great reward in heaven that is in store for each one who believes and hold on to Him. Now that’s something worth hoping for.Are you hoping for a hopeful life? Call on to Jesus.

A STEADFAST FAITH

2008-08-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

by: Sis. Mardy Rito

A lone tree standing on an open field is prone to all tests of nature but the reason why it remains standing shows its strength with in and the endurance it possesses. A ship on the harbor remains anchored on the shore after the strike of a super typhoon. Affected by the big waves? Yes. Shaken by the current? Yes. But it was not carried away by the great waves. Why? Because of the strong anchor that secures it.

A Christian, who has suffered a lot of troubles and problems but remains to be a Christian and still doubling his effort to serve the Lord, shows a good example of a steadfast person. Why are there persons that easily give up and turn their back to the church? Why do they easily get discourage and can immediately decide to return to their old ways? How can we avoid these things to happen to us? How can we, as Christians, have a steadfast faith in God?

There is one practical way, and that is by walking close with God. We know that God is our strength and our strong foundation. Being close to Him and clinging to Him give us protection against the unwavering waves and tides of life. Like a ship that is connected to an anchor, a tree with deep rooted roots, a Christian with a steadfast faith in God never falls down or stumbles.

How can we closely walk with God then? Just like in our earthly life, we develop closeness to a person by knowing them personally, talking to them often and “giving in” to their likes. In the same way, we also ought to do these things to God in order to develop a close relationship with Him. To be able to walk closely with Him, we must often talk to Him through our prayers, know Him more by constantly reading His words in the Bible and acknowledge His goodness in our lives through our praise and worship. Let's start walking closely with Him so we may remain steadfast, firm, and strong; not easily shaken by the waves of troubles, doubts, fears, and discouragements that keep on bombarding our lives.

Knowing that God Himself offers a steadfast love for us; all we can give back to Him is our steadfast faith.

"For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth."
- Psalm 26:3

The Shepherd's Heart

Hope for a Hopeful Life

A STEADFAST FAITH