I don’t know about you, but I really do not like the word impossible. It speaks of hopelessness. I remember back in middle school biology class and there was a question of what man needs to survive. The answer was water, food, and shelter. But I believe there is something even more necessary to survival that the textbooks left out and that is hope. You can have water, food, and shelter but life just does not seem worth living without hope. Sadly, that is why so many who have all these other elements take their own lives. They believe there is no hope.

Today more than ever I believe that we as disciples of Jesus Christ have a great opportunity to speak hope to a world that is struggling with what hope even looks like. There was an event in the Bible where a rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Long story short Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor, then follow Jesus. Sadly, the young man went away dejected. The Lord told His disciples a very hard truth. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. In America that is not very good news because compared to the rest of the world we are all pretty wealthy. The disciples then asked the question “Who then can be saved?” Great question.

Jesus’ reply is exactly where hope arises. Because the truth is that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. But Luke 18:27 tells us “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” There is no doubt that everybody needs the impossible today. Whether it is the miracle of seeing someone come to Christ, the miracle of a physical healing, or the miracle of a marriage or family being reunited with God the impossible is possible.

What is the impossible that you need in your life today? Remember the world will tell you that things can never change, things can never get any better. Can I remind you that the world does not know our God? Just wait and see what the Lord does next. He, my friends, is still in the business of doing the impossible and bringing that hope we all are desperate for.

The beginning of a new year always brings about thoughts of setting new goals or maybe revisiting old ones that we never quite accomplished from years past. I recognize that everyone is different, and some people thrive on having goals set for them. While others would rather just kind of take life as it comes. The problem with setting goals is the pressure to hit those goals and dealing with the guilt of not making them. I guess it’s not just goals, but the ability to accomplish any task that we set before us, or someone sets for us.

There is great satisfaction when a goal is reached, and a task completed. Then there are feelings of regret and failure when they are not accomplished. The question I ask is what happened? Why did I not get what I wanted to get done accomplished? I think there is one underlying truth to every task and goal that is not reached. The purpose was not totally understood. It is hard to reach a goal or accomplish a task when we do not totally understand why we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.

Think about the life of Jesus just for a moment. What was His purpose for being born and living this life? What was the goal of His ministry? Was it not to die for the sins of man and draw them into a relationship with God so that we may have eternal life with Him? Have you ever thought what would have happened if Jesus would have fulfilled His goals and purpose as faithful as we do? Good possibility we would all be in heap big trouble.

How was Jesus able to fulfill the goal and task of His life? He completely understood His purpose and task. He understood it early and it was the anchor that held Him when the enemy of the world tried to get Him sidetracked. His purpose was cemented in the word of the Father. Luke 4:18-19, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” Jesus was able to fulfill that which He was called because He kept this purpose ever before Him. Even when the devil approached Him and tried to get Him sidetracked, Jesus knew to stay focused. If He did not all would be lost and He used His most powerful weapon, God’s word. 

My challenge I would present is to really know what the Lord wants us to do and find scripture to back that up. When the world tries to sidetrack us, and it will, we can quote the very scripture of our purpose in the face of the enemy and continue on our path to fulfilling our call. What is the scripture that speaks to your call and purpose? If you don’t know, look, and see that our call and purpose is backed by God’s word and there is nothing more powerful than that. 

When we are young Christmas time is just so magical. It brought only good thoughts and memories. As I have matured the notion that the holidays are magical has kind of lost its luster. I really believed that during the week of Christmas tragedy could not touch people’s lives. Sadly, as we grow up, we find that this is not true at all. The boney finger of death never takes a holiday and people that we love and care about hurt ever so much when those they love depart from them. The truth is that this year has stunk to the highest heaven and I have no regrets or sadness of turning the page of 2020 to 2021. The only regret is that I cannot take the hurt and pain that comes from living this life. Yet, I know the One that can. Let me remind you of King Jesus.

Revelation 7:17, “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” It doesn’t matter if death takes the life of someone we love or we are reminded of hurt and division from a broken family we have a Savior that hears and sees. There will be a day that every tear that we shed will be wiped away by the very hand of our God. I hate it that for many the holidays only bring up memoires of hurt and pain. That pain does not just go away but know that Jesus isn’t going anywhere either. He has promised us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Grab on to these words in this new year. Better days are coming because Jesus is coming. Let us stand together through all that befalls us for our King is with us. It is always darkest right before the dawn.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

It is crazy to think that we just have a few days left in this year. I know what you’re thinking, “Thank God.” Well, I think many would concur with that sentiment. What will this new year bring? If you are like me, you think it has got to be better than 2020. At least we have to hope so. That brings up a great topic for a blog, don’t you think?

What are your hopes and expectations for this next year? Is there more fear in your future or a great victory on the horizon? Will you take that leap of faith to do something for the Lord that you have been holding off on, or will 2021 be just another year of sitting in a pew?

The beautiful thing about a new year is just that. It is a new year. A time of starting over, a chance to move forward and not backwards, to experience the Lord in a new and powerful way. The question we may have to ask is what is stopping us? I will just say it, fear. You know it and I know it. Fear is that thing that always keeps us from experiencing all that the Lord has in store for us. Fear locks us down and locks us away. Let me remind us that fear is not to have any part in our lives. II Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” If we are not given a spirit of fear from God where does that come from? You guessed it and I’m not even going to type his name. Specifically, we are not to be afraid to proclaim the name of Jesus and to live a life that is to glorify Christ.

Let this new year be a year where the followers of Jesus become courageous and fearless. To be reminded that we serve an awesome and powerful God.  In John 10:29 Jesus tells us, “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” We can be fearless because our God is stronger than all. Isn’t that a great truth to remember as we face a new year of excitement and challenges. No one can snatch us from our Savior Jesus Christ and that is what makes it possible for us to be bold and fearless. I say bring on 2021 and let us watch our God work.