Hope & Believe

Have you read any of Max Lucado's books?

Let me tell you, he is one awesome author!!! I glean so much from his writing, he absolutely inspires and motivates me!

I have been randomly reading from his book "He Still Moves Stones" today I read the chapter titled "A Crazy Hunch and A High Hope."

Maybe all you have is a crazy hunch and a high hope. You have nothing to give. But you are hurting. And all you have to offer him is your hurt.

Max tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood that has lasted for 12 years. She is unclean and unwanted. She had nothing. But on a hunch she CHOSE to reach out to HIM and touch Him....

Maybe that very hurt has kept you from coming to God. You see others who look so neat, so trim and fit in their faith and when you saw them they blocked your view of HIM. So you stepped back.

Notice that only one person was commended that day for having faith. It wasn't a wealthy giver, It wasn't a loyal follower.

It was a shame-struck, penniless, outcast who clutched onto her hunch that he could and her hope that he would.

This is a good definition for FAITH: A conviction that he can and a hope that he will.

Which sounds similar to the definition of faith given by the Bible.
"Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him" Hebrews 11:6

Faith is nothing mystical it is a CHOICE to believe that the one who made it all hasn't left it all and that he still sends light into shadows and responds to gestures of faith.

"FAITH IS NOT THE BELIEF THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT. FAITH IS THE BELIEF THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT"

"Blessed are the dirt-poor, nothing-to-give, trapped-in-a-corner, destitute, diseased," Jesus said, "for theirs is the kingdsom of heaven" (Max's translation)

God's econony is upside down (or rightside up and ours is upside down!). God says that the more hopeless your circumstance, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light!!!

Healing begins when we do something! When we reach out.
Healing starts when we take a step. God's help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it. Nothing results from apathy.
The great truth is that the healing began with her touch.
And with that small, courageous gesture she experienced Jesus' tender power.

Compared to God's part, our part is miniscule but necessary. We don't have to do much, but we have to do something.
Write a letter.
Ask forgiveness.
Call a counselor.
Confess.
Call Mom.
Visit a doctor.
Be baptized.
Feed a hungry person.
Pray.
Teach.
Go.

Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God will respond,. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. NEVER!

***All of the above is credited to Max Lucado!!!

I pray for you today as you CHOOSE to take the step of faith that you need to in your own life.
I pray that you will KNOW that you are just as valuable as anyone else is.
YOU ARE HIS CHOSEN ONE!
He loves you, He cares deeply about every aspect of your life.
There is nothing that He does not care about, nothing is too small AND nothing is too big!!
Reach out.
Take that first step today.

HOPE & BELIEVE!!!! (these happen to be my "words for the year")

Blessings!
Sherry