As we prepare for Lifeline 2022, Joe and I shared our thoughts about this year’s theme: “You Keep Hope Alive”.

Romans 15:13 (ESV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

The world is a fearful and unsatisfying place without the hope of eternal life with Jesus. Apart from the expectation that comes from the hope of heaven, our world can seem to be lacking in peace, celebration, or joy.

There is life in hope. There is joy in hope. There is purpose in hope.

Hope is to be at the foundation of all our decisions, emotions, and pursuits. Hope fills us with joy in the middle of trials and perseverance in the midst of failure. Hope guides us to abundant life.

Our heavenly Father longs to make us a people of hope. He longs for his followers to live a lifestyle that declares to the world, “This life is not all there is.” He longs to fill us with a heavenly perspective that we might throw off pursuits of worldly pleasure and live for eternity with him.

Sometimes we can lose hope. We can get distracted, discouraged and unfocused. Why does this happen?

We fail to embrace to fruits of the spirit – the very things we ask for that we fail to do ourselves.

Do we love well? Or get bogged down in hate?

Do we choose joy? Or choose grumpy?

Do we promote peace? Or spread and promote conflict?

Do we demonstrate patience? Or fly off the handle?

Do we offer kindness? Or are we offering indifference?

Do we seek goodness? Or seeking the negative and critical?

Do we ground ourselves in faith? Or trust our own understanding?

Do we embrace gentleness? Or are we rough around the edges?

Do we embody self-control? Or is it anything goes?

What about things like forgiveness? Think about this: if God forgave you like you forgive others, where would you be?

Is it more about Him? Or more about us?

Name something you pick.
  1. Flowers – 28
  2. Fruit – 25
  3. Nose – 23
  4. Dog/Pet – 6
  5. Teeth – 6

Congratulations to Dallas and Charla of Utica for correctly guessing this week’s Family Feud for a Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon & Joe