Hope

What do you hope for that has yet to happen? I assume that we all hope for something to happen, something to change, or something to get better in our lives. We use the word ‘hope’ all the time…. I hope you take the job. I hope your meeting goes well. I hope you like it. I hope I win the lottery.

But any one of us who has starred down in the face of hope, waiting for something to change, knows that hope is so much more. To have hope is to want an outcome in your life that makes things better in some way. It could mean changing a challenging situation into something better or it could mean hoping for something good to happen in the future.

For you today, what do you hope for? Maybe it’s for a physical challenge to get better. Perhaps, it’s for you to find a spouse. Maybe, you hope to pay off your debt. Of course, this time of year, many are just hoping to graduate or finish school!

The uncomfortable part of hope is that that is unseen. Yet, although we can’t see hope, we can be full of hope. I can have hope because I am confident in the God of hope. I don’t trust in “hope” itself; I trust in the God of hope. Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

The God of hope wants to give you hope. How do we gain hope? By being able to trust God even when your circumstance feels oh, so very painful. Think, for a moment about Romans 15:13. As we trust in God for ____________________ (that thing we hope for) trust produces hope, whereby we receive joy and peace, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to keep on hoping and trusting God in our situation. 

No matter what circumstance you are going through today, there is always hope in God and His promises. God is always faithful and true to his nature.

So, how do we endure when we hope and hope and do not see an answer? We keep trusting God. We realize that hope, joy, and peace are always available to those who keep on trusting, day after day, year after year.

Hope isn’t about being lucky or dreaming, it is about believing there is a God who is Who He says He is. He will always be faithful. He is always trustworthy.

I have found that understanding hope came as I understood the power and importance of prayer. Prayer became for me, the vehicle in which I shared with God the longings of my heart, waited, and trusted in Him to meet my need. The God of hope longs to be in a relationship with you. He longs for you to come to Him with those things you hope for. He is, after all, the God of all hope.

Take a listen, our Living Hope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1fwZtKJSM

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Follow His Steps!

I’d like to think I can dance, but Zumba class at the YMCA reminds me I have a long way to go. I’m kind of a newbie to Zumba, so things can only get better from here. My friend and I give ourselves grades for our Zumba dance moves. She’s at a YMCA in California and I’m here in San Antonio. This last time, we both came in with a B-.

Anyone that’s taken Zumba, may know the basics I’m just catching on to. You just follow the instructor. That’s it. Usually, when she does something on one side, you can count on it being on the other side. So, if you’re alert, you can halfway keep up. I usually find myself a step or two or three behind. Sometimes, I follow the person in front of me, until I realize they don’t know what they’re doing either.

The songs are great! Since I’m learning Spanish, I can halfway understand what’s being sung. Then, upon further study, I learned that Zumba choreography is composed using all or some of the sixteen core steps with four basic rhythms, salsa, reggaeton, merengue, and cumbia. Each basic rhythm has four core steps. I was so clueless about all this! 

Periodically, I’ll know the song being played and be able to follow the leader. Today, we did the “The Macarena Dance”, which made me so happy! I could follow it! Then things got even better when out of nowhere, she added “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. Not real Zumba, but I can dance to Michael Jackson any day of the week.

Just as I follow the Zumba leader closely to do Zumba class, I need God’s leadership to help me live the life that He gave to me. I can’t follow the person in front of me who looks like he or she has it together. Nor can I follow social media, politicians, or influential people. I need to follow the One who gave me life and guides me in this life. I need to follow God. Consider these verses that speak to the God we can always follow:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children…” Ephesians 5:1

 “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed Him.” Matthew 4:19-20

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’” Luke 9:23

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galations 5:25

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way should go.’” Isaiah 48:17

God loves you and me so much. He created us and knows everything about how we tick. He longs for a relationship with each one of us! Take a moment and meditate on these verses. What words or phrases describe his leadership? What words or phrases describe your part in following Him?

Follow His steps. It’s quite the journey! Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFna4pEF7M8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio

Looking for More!

I was on my way home from the barn when I noticed Daisy’s pasture door fully open and Daisy was not there. I had just led her into the pasture 5 minutes earlier. Obviously, there was some user error with the lock. Just then, I saw a roan horse galloping across the land heading toward the exit to the road. I quickly went into flight mode and tore off after her. Thankfully, several staff was ahead of me in the endeavor. One of the staff got the entrance to the stable shut while we all went in hot pursuit of my runaway mare.

Daisy, in those few short minutes, was able to rile up every horse there due to her antics. As she flitted and flirted with all the other fenced horses, she seemed to say “Ha-ha, I’m free and you’re not!” The truth was, Daisy was not free. She was not safe at all being on her own. She could have run into a hole, slid, fallen, or gone out on the busy road. Without a fence, she was in danger.

Why is it so hard to be satisfied? Why do we constantly search for more? The grass seems to look greener on the other side, but is it? If only I could _________.   If we could just get__________, life would be better. It seems like ________ has a perfect life. Why haven’t we been blessed with _______? Daisy was looking for more. How do you and I do the same thing?

We tend to go through life always wishing, always hoping this or that would be different. Once this or that is different, we most assuredly have it made. Even after we get this or that, there’s something more to be sought, better than before. And the vicious cycle goes on and on.

Many people appear to be calm and happy on the outside, but inwardly, they struggle with a peaceful heart. True contentment is an inward peace that God can give, even during challenges and suffering in life. It doesn’t mean that life is perfect. It doesn’t mean that we don’t have personal and professional goals. It doesn’t mean that we don’t have fun. 

Personally, I have found that contentment comes as I learn to live in the tension of what I don’t have. I don’t ignore the pain, but I learn to give the pain over to God and ask Him for peace. I can still cry out to God and let Him know what I’d like to see happen, but I rest in knowing that He always, always, always has His best for me. When we’re truly content, we realize there is no need to grumble or complain, because we can trust God is sovereign and taking care of us.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that whatever gain we have in this life is nothing “compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:8) There’s so much in life that I don’t know. But this I do know: When we put Christ and His kingdom first, it brings contentment. Peace. Satisfaction. I know because I’ve experienced it even in the darkest of times.

Are you looking for more? Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God…and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Maybe it's helpful to get a glimpse of heaven. Take a listen: Hymn of Heaven (Phil Wickham): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjB0mkj0XaM

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Luckenbach, Texas

Luckenbach, Texas nestled in the Texas Hill Country is certainly worth a visit, especially for the great bands and dancing. I love it!

What you might not know is the man who founded Luckenbach, Jacob Luckenbach. He was 90 years old when he passed in 1907. @Traces of Texas writes “I can hear the conversation now: ‘No, really, Jacob….75 years from now two men who aren’t even born yet are going to record a song about Luckenbach, Texas, and sell millions of copies of that recording on vinyl platters and your town is going to be famous worldwide.’ I doubt he’d believe you.”

That song, sung by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, is a Texan favorite. It’s a song about a couple whose position in “high society” had placed a strain on their marriage and finances. The song suggests that the couple returns to the basics of love in the small town of Luckenbach. Sound familiar?
 
Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’ 
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys…..

I would agree that Jacob Luckenbach would probably be shocked that his little town became a famous country song so many years later. We often don’t consider what the impact of our life might be after we’re gone. Every day, we have an opportunity to make a difference in the world around us. How do we live a life of significance, no matter what age? How can our life matter both now and after we’re gone?

Learn from Jesus in the Gospels- Of course, being Lent, it’s a good time to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and learn from Him. I love reading through the Gospels because I gain insight into how Jesus lived his life. How he loved. His humility. His love for all. How he engaged those who mocked and insulted Him. How He invested in other leaders. How his life and ministry impact us today.

Perhaps the Scriptures give us a true definition of significance: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) Jesus gives meaning to making a lasting impact…a life of humility. How might following His life of humility affect you and extend your influence?

Reflect on your own life- I believe periodically doing a spiritual inventory can be helpful. Every so often, I’ll grab my journal and Bible and take time to reflect on my life. I have to surrender my idea of success and look to Jesus to show me how I can make the greatest impact. Most recently, I felt like God directly prodded me to sign up for a mission trip to the Philippines. Why? Working with young moms, teaching, praying, and encouraging them, seemed to fit perfectly with how I’m wired. Staying in synch with God’s plan for my life is so important.

Pray and seek God- What plans may God have for you in this next season? How can you love Him and others well? How can what you do have an impact long after you leave this earth? I encourage You to live like Jesus today. Live for the opinion of One. Through His Holy Spirit, He will guide you and lead you in everything. Prayer is my lifeline! I can’t go without prayer. Prayer keeps us close to Jesus. It’s in prayer that He guides us in all things. And our lives become an extension of His, for His good purpose.

Take my Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agROj9nTQP4

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.