Hope Begins in the Wilderness

There are times in my life that I cannot muster up any feelings.  Nothing makes me happy.  Nothing saddens me.  I feel nothing.  Life has no color.  These are the times that I must walk through each day pretending to care.  These are the times I just want to escape.  These are the times I just want to go "home" (my heavenly home).

I have no reason to feel depressed or down.  Life is good.  I have a home, family, friends, job, necessary material things, and a foundational belief in God.  So, why are there these times of my life that I find myself lost in the dark wilderness?  There's really no excuse for how I feel, and yet, here I stand in the dark.

When I get like this, I go to the writings of David and Solomon in the Bible.  These were two men who could describe this feeling, this despair, with such depth.  Consider this passage:

"So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling.  Everything is meaningless - like chasing the wind." ~Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NLT)

It helps to know I am not alone in my despair.  God is always there.  It is when I am here in the darkness of the wilderness that I find my hope.  He alone is my refuge, my rock, my shelter.  When I focus on Him and who He is, then my despair lessens.  I know I can count on Him.

Then, as I spend time in His presence, He begins to show me the light.  He shows me what is good and what is promised.  As I look at life through His eyes, I see what He cares about.  I see who He loves.  I see His purpose for me.  It is when I live my life in this purpose, then I feel right again.

We put our hope in the Lord.

He is our help and our shield.

In Him our hearts rejoice.

for we trust in His holy name.

Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord,

for our hope is in You alone.

~Psalms 33:20-22 (NLT)

Back to the Future - Reimagined

2015.

Here we begin a new year and one that find myself hopeful for what may be in store for us.  This is the year that Marty McFly time-traveled to in the second Back to the Future movie made in 1989.  What was imagined by the writers has come to fruition.  Well, some of it anyway.

Google Glass is very similar to the device worn by Marty's daughter to answer the phone.  Hover boards do exist (google it).  We use a thumbprint to unlock our screens on the smart phones.  Our world is dominated by flat screen televisions with multiple channels (still nothing on!).  We can make video calls (but who does that anymore?).

But, we still don't have flying cars or power-tying shoes.  We could only imagine so much in 1989.

The Redemption of a Grinch

I wrote this a couple years ago, and found myself needing the message again.  I have felt like Ebenezer Scrooge lately, or even like this Mr. Grinch.  I have allowed external negativity to become my internal state.  If I'm not careful, I may find my heart shrinking as I put my focus on the wrong things, and forget to think about the good things.  I need to put my actions into loving others.

Enjoy this one again.  Merry Christmas!

Every year, I find enjoyment in the classic Christmas movies.   One of my favorite movies is "The Grinch That Stole Christmas."  The vile grinch is described so well in the song.

Longing for a Wonderful Life

This is a central theme for our current adult class on Wednesday nights! Last week, we learned about hope.  This week, we will learn about peace. 

Who doesn't love the classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life? This movie is one we will watch every year as a tremendous reminder for us to appreciate the lives we have.  If you have not seen this, you should make a point to sit down and get lost in the story.

Who Can You Trust?

Yesterday, I got to see the movie, Mockingjay, at my favorite downtown theater.  This is the third movie of The Hunger Games trilogy, and it was only part 1.  As with any movie that does not finish the storyline, we are left hanging for what will happen in the end.

Happy Veteran's Day!

I could imagine some of our veterans experiencing something like Paul experienced.

"I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

"I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm." ~‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭26-27‬ (NLT)

I want to thank the men and women who suffered on my behalf, fighting for the freedoms I still enjoy here in this country.

Happy Veteran's Day!
~Kathy 

What Causes Evil?

This weekend I was able to pick up the movie Maleficent and watch it.  I was compelled at this re-imagining of old story of The Sleeping Beauty, and found the new twists to be believable.  Be careful, there are spoilers in this post, so don't read any further if you still want to see this movie.