Scripture
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14

Observation
The older we get the more storage space we need because we gather more and throw less away. Like layers of fossil record, tie-die shirts from the 70′s, Cabbage Patch dolls from the 80′s, to monochrome monitors from the 90′s pile up the story of our life. We don’t throw enough away and life slows down under the load.

Today I see that I’ve read Philipiians 3:13 wrongly for the past 48 years. I used to think that Paul was trying to forget bad things so he could move onto better things. But that’s not so. It’s clear from the context that he could remember many good things, proud deeds of days gone by that would swell his chest with pride. Forgetting the past for Paul meant dumping the attic and garage and starting life each day with a swept-clean perspective. He would not live in old glory days. He would not put hope in past treasures. Instead, he would look forward to what was next.

Application
It isn’t just regrets of the past that slow me down. It’s also all of the wonderful accomplishments that fill a resume. Landfill is all that stuff is. Leslie and I are on the verge of downsizing. Levi’s almost gone. We don’t need a 5 bedroom house anymore. We’re thinking small and sparse. I think that Spartan outlook needs to clean deeper than our closets. I need to clear out in my mind a lot of extraneous good things from the past and get on to what is immediately at hand. The prize is ahead.

Prayer
Father, show me how to clutter-free my life. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to Natalie Grant’s song, “Our Hope Endures” while reading where hope comes from.

Scripture

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Observation

Where does hope come from? Hope is a fresh scent of good things God is cooking up for us. It is the sun that makes us get out of bed in the morning. It is a song in our mind that wakes us up in the night. Hope is what keeps us looking long after the posse went back home. Hope is what keeps us praying longer than is reasonable.  Hope is not a superfulous, expendable extra in life like the cherry on a sundae. Hope is mission critical.  In the toughest conditions, hope is what makes the difference between those who survive and those who do not

We need hope. But where does hope come from? Thankfully hope does not come from us, but from God. Hope somehow doesn’t feel hopeful when we have to talk ourselves into it. But when hope comes from heaven it enables us to believe more than we could ever do so on our own. Hope is a gift from God that keeps us walking forward when the road runs out.

How do we get new hope? Romans 15:13 is full of exciting possibilities of hope. God’s last name is apparently “hope”. With hope come the children of “joy” and “peace”. Hope can get out of control as it abounds in tough places. Hope is power that comes from the Holy Spirit, a power that others do not have to rise above their circumstances. Hope is totally of God. There is only one word in Romans 15:13 that is up to us as human beings. Our responsibility is “believing”. If we will use faith then God will give us hope.

Application

If I will believe, God will give me more hope. No matter how discouraging the circumstances, there is always something we can believe for, no matter how small. We as Christ followers are to be defined by what we are believing for. We are to live from “faith to faith”. We should be believing for something. Though my nose may be bruised from the crush of doors slammed in my face, yet I will continue to believe. In that resolute faith I will have more hope.

Prayer

Father, today you see what I’m believing for. I pray that you would shovel hope into my life. I need this power of anticipation that the Holy Spirit can give to me. Amen.

Scripture
What is desirable in a man is his kindness…. Proverbs 19:22

Observation
What do people want most out of me? Is it my money, my wisdom or my good looks? Hardly. What people want most is kindness.

Kindness feels good. It is a cool drink on a hot day. It is a warm blanket on a cold night. It is a soft pillow on a hard bed. It is a firm place to stand in shaky times.

Kindness is surprising, rarely asked for, never expected but sorely needed. That is why kindness is as enjoyable to give as it is to receive.

Kindness has a cost, however. It demands that I am prepared to do what I don’t feel like doing. I may be tired, grouchy or out of sorts but kindness is acting not as people deserve but as they need.

Application
When I think of some of the kind people that I’ve known, my own kindness falls far short. I need to up the kindness delivery in my life, not just when I feel like it but when it is needed most.

Prayer
Father, make me kind and kinder than I want to be. Amen.