October 21, 2008

by Sheila Walsh on 10/21/2008 01:10

Jesus Christ: Hope You Can Stake Your Life On

Dear Friends,

I am flying home from an amazing weekend in St. Paul, MN. It was a record- setting event for Women of Faith as over 3,000 women made commitments to follow Jesus Christ. That's about 20% of the audience of 15,000. I don't know whether the difficult times we find ourselves in as a nation have added to the hunger for truth and security, but God moved in a powerful way through the arena.

On Friday night, Mandisa, former finalist on America Idol, gave a beautiful concert. She talked about her experience with Simon Cowell, one of the harshest judges, and how his unkind comments about her weight had hurt her. When she appeared on the show the following week, all her friends and the producers of the show were encouraging her to "let him have it". Instead, she told him that as Jesus had forgiven her, she could forgive him. I remember watching that episode and being deeply moved by her integrity and grace. Our audience loved her. It was fun to vote for her on the show, but it was a true joy to stand beside her as a sister in Christ.

On Friday night as I spoke, I included a story that I don't usually talk about. Just briefly, I mentioned a scare we had with Christian when he was three years old. Blood tests made it seem possible for twenty-four hours that he had leukemia. In the end, he was just very anemic. I shared that I knew it was possible that as I was receiving good news, another Mom was getting a very different call. As I signed books on Friday night, I met her. Her son, Connor, who turned twelve on Friday has leukemia. As we talked and hugged one another, she told me that she knew God had me include that story just for her to let her know that he saw her and he is holding Connor in the palm of his hand. Please pray for the Gordon family that they will receive God's grace and strength for everything they face. I am always humbled and awed by the strength of women who face what seems unbearable to me but are able to do so by God's strength and comfort.

Every now and then on the concourse, I get to do something really fun. I met a family who had come together - a mom, daughter, grandmother and a few family friends. They wanted me to know that the year before the other daughter came for the first time and had given her life to Christ but she had been unable to attend this year. The mom told me that she was so unhappy about it so they got hold of her on one of their cell phones, and we were able to talk for a few minutes. It was such a fun moment to be able to include this girl who felt so left out. Ah, the joy of modern technology!

As we get closer to election day, we will be hearing more and more about what the different candidates have to offer. Whoever wins will inherit a very difficult job in deeply troubling times. Some of the promises they may be able to deliver on and others may prove impossible to honor.

In contrast, I've been studying what Christ offers. Christ's promises are not based on the whims of government or political alliance. Or the daily fluctuations on Wall Street. They are not affected by foreign powers or who sits in the Oval Office. You can stake your life on them.

Christ promises peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Christ promises strength in weakness. "My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Christ promises joy. "These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full." John 15:11
Christ promises love. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you." John 13:34

Christ promises HOPE!

There are so many more, and they are yours to stand on and wrap around your heart. If you feel as if your heart is troubled by the volatility of our present times, perhaps you could copy this text out and carry it everywhere with you.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid."

I love what I heard Beth Moore say one time: "This ends well for us girls!"
Because of Jesus, indeed it does.
May you know that joy and comfort this week.

In his love and grace,

Sheila

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