Recognizing Hope.

As humans we're so good at looking at a situation, analyzing our chances and giving up. We look, see that for one reason or another that there's something frightening, something more powerful, something unknown that we feel we cant overcome, so in goes the towel and out goes out confidence and mood.

How much hope do you see in the world today? Not much, its can be a pretty shabby place. Look at the people in Darfur. They're always on my mind because I'm so active in the Save Darfur Campaign. They're being slaughtered, children are being drafted into an army that murders their parents, an army that uses rape as a form of genocide, an army that makes them walk miles, without food, then hands them a automatic weapon and tells them that to eat they have to kill the people they once loved. Hopes in short supply around here.

There's this little group of people, you know 1 million + that marched down the streets of Washington DC this past March and stood at the bottom of the Capitol Building and demanded that the US help by sending foreign Aid and introduce a resolution into the UN to establish a peace keeping force in Darfur to protect the civilians that are being massacred. Is that hope?

This past July 2, 2005, 3 BILLION people participated in a little concert called Live 8, in which, simultaneously in 10 venues in 10 countries, 1250 musicians played, they charged nothing, they weren't asking for money. They were asking for names. They showed the leading countries that were attending the G8 Summit that the world isn't going to sit idly by while billions of people suffer at the hands of corrupt governments and dwindling food supplies. Where's the hope in that?

As Gods chosen, we are given a hope that far surpasses the hope humanity can dream of. We were given the Son of God, who came from the comfort and splendor of Heaven to this dingy dark little planet, lived 33 years of spreading hope and love and finally gave us the ultimate sacrifice. He chose the most painful and hideous death imaginable so that you and I, sinners all, could have a shot at sharing His paradise. And you know what? If it had be only you on the planet, He STILL would have come and done it. I bet everyone was asking "where's the hope in that?" When He hung dying on a dirty cross. Look at what happened next, 3 days later He blew the world away by coming back from the dead, proving once and for all that the God that was, will always Be, not even death and Hell could conquer Him. Hope?

Look around you, I think if you really look, you'll start to see something. Do you hope every morning that the sun will rise? Do you hope every morning that your body will carry you through the day and bring you safely back to shine another day? Did you imagine that simply by going and listening to some of the most talented musicians on the planet, who asked for nothing more than our names on a piece of paper at the door, that we could rock the worlds leaders into giving over 13 BILLION dollars in aid to poverty stricken nations? Could you imagine that by marching 5 miles to the steps of where our nation began that we could help pass a resolution that provided safety for millions of people who can now sleep in their own beds without fear of rape and torture? Did you hope?

Look at this mind blowing world that God has given to us. Look at the trees that sway in the cool breezes. Look at the flowers that open their faces to shine glory to the Heavens. Look at the birds in the trees that sing to the sunrise, declaring the magnificence of the Lord in their own tongue. Do they hope the sun will rise? Or do they understand something that we so often forget, that God swore to us that He would take care of us until the day He returns to take us back to Heaven to spend eternity loving us? Did He not breathe life into your lungs when you were introduced into this world? Did He not look down from Heaven when you cried out that very first time? Did He not put His hand on your little newborn cheek and whisper that He loves you more than anything else in the universe? That one day, when you were older that you would read the story of His beautiful amazing Son and truly understand that you are valued over the beasts of the field and the plants of the earth? I think if you give it another go and have a good look around you'll find that magnificence is in everything He has given you. That even when things are so dark and dim that you can do nothing but fall to your face and cry that there is Someone who will pick you up and carry you in His arms until your ready to stand on your own again. He'll never ask questions, He'll never drop you, He'll never let go, even when your ready to take those first steps of triumph over the darkness, look beside you, He's right there with you. Just have a little faith. Hope? I think you'll see it, just when you need to.

Son of God, shaper of the stars,
You alone, the dweller of my heart.
Mighty King, how beautiful You are,
how Beautiful.

Son of God, the Father's gift to us,
You alone, were broken on the altar of love.
Precious lamb, our freedom's in Your blood,
It's in Your blood.

Jesus, oh Holy One,
I sing to You, forgiven.
Savior, I'm overcome with Your great love for me.

Son of God, strength beyond compare,
You alone, the darkness cannot bear.
Lord of all, Your kindness draws me near,
it draws me.

Son of God, prophecy of old,
You alone, redeemer of my soul.
Come again and lead You people home,
come lead us home.

You are worthy, You are worthy,
You are worthy of all my praise.
You are beautiful (You are beautiful)
You are beautiful (so beautiful)
I will lift up my hands and sing. (I'll lift up my hand and sing.)

With Your great love,
With Your great love,
With Your great love.