Advent

How good does it feel when somebody writes you a personally handwritten note? How much better does it feel when that note is designed just to give you hope, to help you be encouraged?

As part of Advent for week one, I’d like to encourage everyone to write at least one handwritten node of Hope. There are people all around you who need a dose of Hope. They look at the darkness of this world and they don’t see much hope for the days ahead. But you and I don’t place our hope in our nation, in our neighbors, or any person… We place our hope in our King Jesus Christ.

Advent is about the coming of the Christ. An Advent note of Hope. It’s about the coming of the Christ in the life of a person who is feeling so discouraged that a lift up may make all the difference in the world.

Think for just a moment a person you know that needs more hope for the days to come. He could be a family member, a neighbor, a coworker,… It could be anyone. And this note is completely safe to send. The goal is not to proselytize, or try to convert someone to Jesus Christ. The goal is to say there’s reason for Hope.

A second part of this week’s Advent project is to consider someone that you’re especially thoughtful of that has passed on. Go to the store and grab a poinsettia that could be a remembrance on their behalf. Bring it to Northwest with you next time you come, and Donna will have special stickers for you to write who it’s in memory of, who is remembering them, and a special way to stick them both in the plant. Each week we hope to populate the stage with more and more bright red as we think about the people who have gone on before us.

I hope this week for you can be a week of Hope. Jesus says,” These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace. In this world. You will have tribulation, but be of Good shear for I have overcome the world.”

Some among Us, especially those who are really good with English, will notice that I said Jesus says rather than Jesus said. Well, it is true that I’m referencing a past tense event, it’s also true that Jesus still speaks these powerful words today and we need to hear them as if Jesus is whispering in our ear right now. In this world, Jesus said, we will have tribulation, but we need to be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.

Walk and hope this week, but share that help with at least one other person. Your note might require you to reflect why you have hope. The Bible teaches us that we are to be able to give a reason at any moment about the hope that we have.

Be careful if you’re sending this to a co-worker not to push your faith in Christ, but to push the hope you have. I know that’s a fine line. But it’s a fine line that we need to be careful at. After all, they wouldn’t be a good thing to give another person hope and find yourself without a job. So be smart.

And lastly, here’s my letter of Hope to you:

This culture we live in can it get me really down sometimes. Especially this last year. I’ve had more than my fair share of physical challenges, and the tension of a divided culture.

Recently I woke up in the morning, it was staring out my back window. I’m surrounded by beauty with giant trees all around me, a little pond with wildlife, living in it, and a pretty well-mannicured neighborhood that I live in. As I look across the street and down by the mailboxes, I can think of each neighbor. Their situation, and their friendliness to me. And it helps me smile. It gives me hope.

After all, when we get a full dose of people telling us there is no reason for any help, we need to really do a gut check and ask if that’s really true. After all my whole life people have been saying the end is near. And maybe that’s true in the scope of human history. But it’s also true that each day that they’ve said that I’ve gotten up, enjoyed my friends, love my family, it went to bed with reason for Hope in the next day.

I hope that you’ll have some help this Chris. Even though. Understanding no matter what. Dune Sayer told you at the end of the world is near, we’re at least breathing right now, I’m writing anode to you right now, and we’re enjoying the piece of the simple things in life.

As a matter of fact, I will end this note to you, but just a few little facts. As I write this. I’m enjoying a hot cup of coffee, looking at a Christmas tree that someone put in the lobby of the hotel on staying at. I’ll join my family for just a nice evening on the day after Thanksgiving. While I can focus on the burdens of this world, it’s also a spiritual ability to focus on the hope that we have. Have a lot of reasons for a lot of Hope in my life. And I just wanted to share that with you.