Christmas and the Power of hopeful faith: from USA to Republic of the Congo to South Africa (Dec. 21, 2018)

The world has known Kingdoms of many — Times of hope and times of war. Today the world knows a mess of many things. At what cost did the past Kingdoms advance, what marvels does man say they have left behind? Many things can come to mind, and some may blame rulers over various eras of time. Venture with me for a few moments to a deeper understanding.

Beneath having to find fault, looking into the hearts and minds of humankind, there is something quiet and powerful. For many children, during this time of year, there is a genuine belief in joy through Santa Clause. An entire industry and traditions have derived from the power of belief. Kingdoms have risen and found their demise through the power of belief as well. Within every human being, there is a gift and a choice. What one believes can determine one’s ability to face trials and see them as obstacles. Sometimes life is hard and messy; there may be things that a person may be unable to escape or rid themselves of. There are many physical effects of hope, belief, and faith. As we were thinking of Kingdoms and times of ancient history may we enter these stories with the wonder of what God has placed within every human being.

It was dark and cold; no light was visible. As the gentleman shivered in the dark, he felt alone. It seemed that all hope was lost. Suddenly a friend appeared with two lanterns. As they arose, they began to walk realizing they were in a cave. After some time they saw a glimmer of light in the distance. Something deep within the cave grabbed their attention. A crying and screeching that could not go ignored. The sound got louder as one friend looked back. The other friend was stepping forward to the light a bit of distance began to grow between the friends. As one focused on the sounds behind from the darkness of the cave, his perspective began to change. As he looked at the friend, he began to question how this friend could bring so much trouble and anguish into his life. He had lost sight of the light, and the voices of the dark had pierced his heart. As the friends approached the light, the distance between them grew deeper. You see, the gentleman’s heart had misunderstood. It was not the friend who had brought the screeching and voices of darkness into his mind. Both the friends found the Light and were spared from the cave.

This story is one that I can not fully explain in the length of writing for a blog. However, belief and hope are powerful. I have shared part of a very vivid dream I had a while ago. Feeling impressed to share it, maybe someone is feeling similarly lost in a cave or that those around you are not bringing life and hope at all. No matter where you are today, Beloved, know that God is with you and if you let Him, He has got you! This is the wonder of Christmas. You see, it is a journey a path that leads to transformation and celebration. Though we may have to face ourselves and the messy world along the way. Take this second story as an example – true story: (his name has been changed)

There was a young man, named John. He looked up to his elder brother. In his culture brothers are not always ‘related’ yet they are closer than best friends. These brothers have been spending a lot of time together the past few months. John found himself in new areas and parts of town. How he enjoyed trying new things and found ‘freedom’ and fun, he had never known before. As time passed, John began to change. He didn’t see the change, but his friends did. John tried to hold his life together, enjoying dual lifestyles that were tearing him apart inside. As John tried continuing, he didn’t know that he was beginning to die inside. I met John as he was at a crossroads. A man with a hunger for the Lord, yet manipulating scripture as his brother was doing to justify the newfound lifestyle choices. John believed that how he was living was a good life. There was nothing better than having your heart and life right with the Lord, yet is free to do anything he wanted when he was away from the Church building. John’s choices began to trickle into the lives of those around him. As John was a leader in the Church, it didn’t take long for people to know or see what he was doing with his brother away from Church. As I came to journey with John and the Church he attends for a few weeks, I didn’t know the layers he was hiding and suffering behind.

We had met a few times, and the Lord put a strong message on my heart to share with the youth/young adults one week. I struggled and prayed for three days of how the Lord would have such an onerous message to be shared in the Love of Christ. God was faithful as He always is! I brought a few items that evening for illustration. We were discussing the power of Christ not to push sin aside in our lives merely, but to remove the sin from our lives and transform our hearts. We also dealt with the seriousness of making a covenant or promise with the Lord. As we yelled above the intense rain, Scripture was heard and understood. Through many struggles, we pressed on.

Soon John arrived, sitting in the back. He seemed hungry to know what we were discussing. Everyone had a small piece of paper. Through a time of prayer, they sought if there was anything they wanted to give to the Lord if so they wrote it down. Was there something John wanted to get rid of that night? His brother friend had stopped coming to Church gatherings and little did I know that John was fighting an all-out war from within his heart and mind. As we continued praying, there was a small bucket of water sitting in the middle of the room. Within 1-2 seconds of the invitation to burn what they had written on their paper, John had ran from the back of the group to center stage. Not only was he laying everything before the Lord, but he was also burning who he had begun to become. Knowing that the struggle would be real, and painful; John gave up the comforts and ways of living that were once justified by manipulated Scripture.

For John, his gift and sacrifice to God was his entire heart and life. God’s gift to John was true Freedom, Hope, and Love. An ability to have a new found fun that John had not known before. God restored John’s innocence and continues to draw him deeper with the Lord daily. Please pray for John and his brother friend. As John has found the power of belief and faith, a new fire through Holy Spirit is spreading within the Church. A cleaning and refining fire that will not be easy to continue with while surrounded by many distractions, yet one that will continue to bring Life and living water to all who choose Christ.

There is power in belief and faith that hopes. I thank God for the gift of Advent season and the journey of Christmas. A faith that hopes is one that says yes to being light in the darkness. Knowing that there is new life arising among what is dead. Faith with hope moves mountains and is one that is not crippled by fear. This is not perfection, rather a choice in the living of ordinary everyday life to be extraordinary and rooted in Christ. A faith and love that perseveres and finds joy no matter what the surroundings and hard times may be. If in a cave, or trudging through the waters navigating who we are becoming… wherever one finds oneself, there is a choice. Out of the caves, or mountaintop experiences, how will one arise? Here is one last story of the power of a hoping faith.

Within the city, I live there are many diverse locations. Some are peaceful, unique, nature-filled, while others are a bit more challenging. This true story occurs in a part of town that is a bit more challenging.

On a field surrounded by trees, he took his first step. There were gentlemen gathered on both sides of the field. As he steps, within him there is courage and belief that God is up to something great. Across the field sits a picnic table with gentlemen enjoying music and relaxing for the afternoon. On the opposite side, a small group of gentlemen sat on the ground enjoying smokes and other highs of the day. As this son of God steps forth, the land begins to move. Not all felt it; however there was a shaking in the very ground he stood on. A few moments later the team gathered for practice.The men who came are training to be warriors like their coach: warriors who stand against the choices of drugs, alcohol, sex, and many other things. The struggles are real as some of the warriors in training are missing. The brothers share that the one’s absent are getting involved with various practices and other activities. The bond between them is evident. As one brother falls, energy depletes from the very hearts of the team. The warriors are encouraged to hold up the arms of those who are tired and invite them back into the circle. Prayers are said, and practice begins. These warriors fight day and night 365 days of every year. With being surrounded by various life choices, they have found football (soccer) to be an escape of hope and life. This gathering was only one team of warriors in this neighborhood. As we walked to another field where younger children were playing football I could see the impact of this community of faith and hope. People knew the football players who were walking in the street. Many greeted with heartfelt smiles, and you could tell that the Love of Christ is breaking through into this community.

It is more than a simple game of football it is a fight for souls to be free from bondage and the hovering opportunities that surround these children and teens daily as they choose who they want to become. For these, life is a daily struggle in deciding how to live and who to become. For many of you reading this, your surroundings are not as such. If these girls and boys can do it, why can’t we? It all began with hopeful faith of one to dream with God. It does not make the journey simple or easy in this community. God has taken that dream and turned it into a community transforming opportunity over the past five years. As this brother looks at the team members, he sees ones who are created by God and loved by the very heart of God. Hopeful faith says that God is still dreaming and is not done with this community when all other attempts and ministries have abandoned them.

It is currently Advent season, and Christmas in 4 days. What are you hoping in faith for? What or who are you placing your faith in? May we slow down enough to breathe and realize the power within each of us of a hopeful faith. Look at the Lord, our heavenly Father. He is one who lives in hopeful faith with us as well. Christmas is a time to remember than tangibleness of such an existence in who God is. Stop for a moment today. Breathe, and know Who truly loves and believes in who you are and how you were created! There is a lot more to these thoughts, but this is enough for one post ;)