Why I'm Hopeful...and optimistic, and courageous

  

  I was reading the TIME magazine during a slow time at work yesterday.
Usually there is not much in the magazine that appeals to me but the drift of the February 18 copy is all about Optimism. Or, as I see it - HOPE.

  There is a section of thoughts on Optimism titled "The Optimists" and the first thoughts are by Guillermo Del Toro - didn't know who this was until I researched him - but I really enjoyed his thoughts and wanted to build on them.

You can read the whole article here Why I'm Hopeful (*caution - language alert)

  As I was reading his article I wondered if he had ever figured God and Jesus into his thoughts. I wondered about his God-Shaped hole and whether he acknowledges that God is in his life shaping his optimism.

  I especially like his opening sentence - Optimism is Radical. It reminds me that Jesus is radical, that believing in Heaven is radical, that I am radical as His follower.

 Optimism is not uncool; it is rebellious and daring and vital.

  I am an Optimist - I am a glass-half-full person - I may not be daring in the eyes of the world in the choices that I make, but I know that following Jesus is daring. And following Jesus is Hopeful and Optimistic.

  Mr. Del Toro ends his article with the following thought "Look around you now and decide between the two. Inhale or die."  I would build on his words - look around you and decide whether to be courageous, optimistic and hopeful.

  Joshua 1:9 " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."

 

I leave you with a song - from my favorites - the Group VBS  people:  Wherever You Go

Confidence that leads to Hope

So give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den

Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness

Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense

So I can face my giants with confidence

I’m not a warrior

I’m too afraid to lose

I feel unqualified for what you’re calling me to

But Lord with your strength

I’ve got no excuse

'Cause broken people are exactly who you use

Confidence - Sanctus Real

  I love listening to Moody radio on my way to work each day - we wake up to it on the alarm and in addition to the morning music we get the weather, traffic, and news. 

  This morning Jason was sharing that his family is dealing with some "giants" that they need to rely on the Lord for - and because of that their family has adopted the above song for their motto. 

  As I listened to the song I was encouraged to think about where my HOPE and CONFIDENCE lies. 

  I did some research on the Hope of Moses as he led the Israelites through the wilderness. I found a blog by Jennifer Maggio which had some words of Hope for me today:

   "The Israelites were rescued from slavery through the leadership of Moses. He led a national revolt, because God spoke to him to do so. He gathered the people and they literally ran for their lives as the Egyptians came chasing them. They had been beaten, abused, malnourished, and mistreated. And they get to the other side of the Red Sea --- God showed up and gave them a miracle. And they get to other side of the Red Sea and the real testing began. They waited for their deliverance to the Promised Land for 400 years.  Testing comes.

    Exodus 13:17-18  says that God did not lead the Israelites along the easiest route, even though it was the shortest way. He said that if it got too tough and they were faced with a battle, they might just change their minds and give up! They might just turn around and go home!

  Think about that for a minute. 

       Have you been asking God why? 

            Why am I here? 

                   Why am I wandering? 

                          Could it be that you’re being led in a roundabout way, because God is teaching you? 

    Don’t ask why – just drive!

   When you come out of the wilderness, out of the season of testing – there’s rest. There’s peace. There’s hope. So replenish during this time. Take the time to assess what you’ve learned during that time in the wilderness. Take the time to rest in Christ’s eternal peace. 

   One of the fruits of the spirit is hope. 

   Hope was given when you accepted Christ as your Savior."