Hope

What joy we have in the Lord. I do not know why but God is loving and merciful to us. I am so excited about living my life for him. Sometimes I think about what nonbelievers live for. I live for the hope that one day I will be spending eternity with God. My heart breaks for those who do not know Christ. Not just because they will be separated from God for eternity, but because they have no hope now.

There are days when the only thing getting me through the day is knowing that all "this" is meaningless. My hope in Jesus Christ is what sustains me. Not only do I have hope for the future but I have hope now.

What do we hope for?
Is it the corner office with a large paycheck?
Is it the best car, or house?
Is it the perfect spouse?

All these things are meaningless in the long run. We cannot take our things with us in the end. We cannot even leave behind these things. Our stuff is going to end up in thrift stores, or at the dump. What we leave behind is the memories that people have of us.

Were we generous?
Were we a good friend?
Did we love people more than ourselves?
Did we love God?

All I can do is hope that I live my life pleasing to God. What I leave behind in memories will be what they will be. All I can do is love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind, and love others more than I love myself. No matter how difficult that is. I have to try. And when I am called home God will say, "Well, done my good and faithful servant."

What do we have to change in our lives to become good and faithful servants?


Peace

Rosded

So today was a good day. I got up early and relaxed got ready for church. I went to the Lakeview location of NewLife Community Church. For the first time I really felt like part of the church. This is what I mean. Having married friends is different than having having single friends. Everyone I know at the Portage Park location is married. Well almost all of them. But, one the preaching was amazing, (nothing against Paster Asa and Pastor Dwayne) but it was nice to see people that I know and who want to sit with me and eat lunch afterwards.
So we went to a Thai place, which now is my favorite restaurant. Rosded is in Lincoln Square, a great "hip" I guess you can say area. There was 9 of us and it was right around 6 dollars a person. I recommend with a large group of people to eat family style. I went with people from my Friday night small group.

The Sundays that I have had so far have been amazing. But I have to say I fit in so much better during this lunch. Again I think it is because they are around my age, with the exception of Roger and Jeanne, who lead the twentysomethings small group.

Finding Peace

Peace - freedom from disturbance: quiet and tranquility

How do you find peace in a world filled with disturbances?