Hello Everyone!
The vision God has given us is a culmination of many experiences in our lives- both
good and bad. Our heart is to take our experiences and use them to reach out to
other people and help them. Our desire is also to inspire anyone who needs to
experience the hope of Jesus Christ.
Paul commended the Thessalonian church for their "endurance that was inspired by
hope in the Lord Jesus Christ." As long as we have hope we can get through
anything that life dishes out to us. Psalms 27:13 says, "I would have fainted (lost
heart) if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord." Anyone who
hopes in the Lord will not be disappointed.
I realize there are many people who are at a point of hopelessness in their lives.
Some of you have lost hope in your marriage you've given so much of yourself to.
There are some who may have already divorced. It's very possible that you are
wrestling with many emotional giants such as fear, anger, hurt, etc. Many of you,
even some ministers, try to glance into your future and it appears hopeless
because of your failures or circumstances. Some people may try to convince you
that you can't do certain things for God because of past circumstances. I like my
wife's view on this. She says, "Our experiences in failure and God's grace is what
qualifies us for the work we want to do." God has used life experiences in the lives
of many great men and women throughout history to train them for special
purposes.
Bottom line is this: No matter what you've been through or are currently going
through, there is hope and a promising future for you! Don't ever give up-just look
up! If you could see into the heavenly realm you would see Jesus at the right hand
of God making intercession for you (praying for you). You would also see a great
cloud of witnesses cheering you on. They probably would tell you not to lose hope
because God has great plans for your future. Failure does not have to be final.
My life and ministry is a living testimony of that. I had a very difficult childhood.
Then I married at the age of seventeen. My first child Robyn (who I would not
trade for ANYTHING) was born right before I turned eighteen. Nicole and Holly
were born before I turned twenty four.
That is about the time I decided I had missed out on what life had to offer and
walked out on my family. At that time I could not stand the thought of there
being a God. Especially one who wanted me to have such a "dull" and restrictive
life - so I thought. I went out and partied and danced continuously. That's when I
discovered my life still had a terrible void. I finally figured out that Jesus Christ
was what I really needed; not religion but a vibrant and personal relationship with
Him.
Not too long after being saved I was called to preach the gospel. You might would
think that things were going very good for me during that time. My life definitely
was greater than it ever had been. Although my marriage was put back together,
it had suffered a very damaging blow. One that about five years later would cause
the marriage to end. I was devastated. I abandoned all hope that I could ever be
happy again. Furthermore, I lost hope that I would ever minister again.
I made several bad choices during that time. My life and especially an effective
ministry seemed hopeless. But God had a plan!
Today He has graciously blessed me with a beautiful, God-fearing, Jesus-loving wife
(who also can sing; a great bonus in ministry). He has given us an awesome vision
to reach people who need to be inspired with and who need to experience the same
hope we did. He has blessed us with so many great friends who are such God-sent
encouragers. We look forward to serving Christ and His people in whatever capacity
He sees fit.
Always remember this, "There is hope for a tree that has been cut down. It can
come back to life and sprout." - Job. Have you ever seen a tree that has been cut
down and not long after that the stump has new little sprouts blooming out of
it?
There is always hope in Christ! He can give new life to whatever has been "cut
down" in your life.
God Bless You,
Pastor Scott
The vision God has given us is a culmination of many experiences in our lives- both
good and bad. Our heart is to take our experiences and use them to reach out to
other people and help them. Our desire is also to inspire anyone who needs to
experience the hope of Jesus Christ.
Paul commended the Thessalonian church for their "endurance that was inspired by
hope in the Lord Jesus Christ." As long as we have hope we can get through
anything that life dishes out to us. Psalms 27:13 says, "I would have fainted (lost
heart) if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord." Anyone who
hopes in the Lord will not be disappointed.
I realize there are many people who are at a point of hopelessness in their lives.
Some of you have lost hope in your marriage you've given so much of yourself to.
There are some who may have already divorced. It's very possible that you are
wrestling with many emotional giants such as fear, anger, hurt, etc. Many of you,
even some ministers, try to glance into your future and it appears hopeless
because of your failures or circumstances. Some people may try to convince you
that you can't do certain things for God because of past circumstances. I like my
wife's view on this. She says, "Our experiences in failure and God's grace is what
qualifies us for the work we want to do." God has used life experiences in the lives
of many great men and women throughout history to train them for special
purposes.
Bottom line is this: No matter what you've been through or are currently going
through, there is hope and a promising future for you! Don't ever give up-just look
up! If you could see into the heavenly realm you would see Jesus at the right hand
of God making intercession for you (praying for you). You would also see a great
cloud of witnesses cheering you on. They probably would tell you not to lose hope
because God has great plans for your future. Failure does not have to be final.
My life and ministry is a living testimony of that. I had a very difficult childhood.
Then I married at the age of seventeen. My first child Robyn (who I would not
trade for ANYTHING) was born right before I turned eighteen. Nicole and Holly
were born before I turned twenty four.
That is about the time I decided I had missed out on what life had to offer and
walked out on my family. At that time I could not stand the thought of there
being a God. Especially one who wanted me to have such a "dull" and restrictive
life - so I thought. I went out and partied and danced continuously. That's when I
discovered my life still had a terrible void. I finally figured out that Jesus Christ
was what I really needed; not religion but a vibrant and personal relationship with
Him.
Not too long after being saved I was called to preach the gospel. You might would
think that things were going very good for me during that time. My life definitely
was greater than it ever had been. Although my marriage was put back together,
it had suffered a very damaging blow. One that about five years later would cause
the marriage to end. I was devastated. I abandoned all hope that I could ever be
happy again. Furthermore, I lost hope that I would ever minister again.
I made several bad choices during that time. My life and especially an effective
ministry seemed hopeless. But God had a plan!
Today He has graciously blessed me with a beautiful, God-fearing, Jesus-loving wife
(who also can sing; a great bonus in ministry). He has given us an awesome vision
to reach people who need to be inspired with and who need to experience the same
hope we did. He has blessed us with so many great friends who are such God-sent
encouragers. We look forward to serving Christ and His people in whatever capacity
He sees fit.
Always remember this, "There is hope for a tree that has been cut down. It can
come back to life and sprout." - Job. Have you ever seen a tree that has been cut
down and not long after that the stump has new little sprouts blooming out of
it?
There is always hope in Christ! He can give new life to whatever has been "cut
down" in your life.
God Bless You,
Pastor Scott
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