Faith Matters with Brian and Andi Hale Our review of the Book of Signs by Dr. David Jeremiah. This is chapter 25, The Dragon. It seems there is more evil operating in the world than mere human sin can account for. Satan, the lord of death, is our perennial adversary, the archenemy of God and His creation. A day is coming when Satan's thrashing will cease. We are in the thrashing time and the temptation is to despair. We have to remember, though, that it won't last forever.

Faith Matters with Brian and Andi Hale Dr. David Jeremiah has lined out '31 undeniable prophecies of the apocalypse' for us in his book, The Book of Signs. Listen in as Brian reviews chapter 9, Persecution. American culture is growing increasingly hostile toward Christianity. We are in the first stages of repression of Christian speech and actions, and even stronger measures may well follow. We must realize that our persecutors can take nothing from us that we don't already have securely fixed in Christ. That is the key to standing up to persecution.

Wear hope-coloured glasses In the fullness of life it is easy to forget that people matter most. They matter more than our goals and our dreams. While we exist for God’s pleasure, our purpose in this life is for the benefit of others. The question is, how do we keep people as the priority amidst so many distractions? The answer is in our connection to Jesus. The relationship you cultivate and experience with Jesus becomes the lens through which you face the world each morning. When you keep your ‘love tank’ brimming with Jesus, and all the colour He adds to your heart, you will find your perspective towards people is renewed. People are no longer an inconvenience, rather, they become walking miracles. This perspective of hope is different to rose-coloured glasses. Searching for the good in people isn’t being blind to their sin, it is simply viewing their destiny through the lens of what God can do in and through their life. Sharing your faith requires a keen interest in people coupled with a perspective of hope. This perspective is built on knowing God’s heart to restore people’s lives to His intent. The offer of reconciliation that brings genuine hope in a world of empty promises is a rare offer. This makes hope contagious. Your hope in God’s plan for others may well be the thing that helps them find true hope themselves, Jesus. Who is God directing your attention to right now? Can you imagine how a relationship with God would transform their life? Why not pray for them today?

See people the way Jesus sees them Society tends to lean towards a default of hopelessness. You only need to read a few newsfeeds and see story after story pushing the heaviness of a world void of hope. As Jesus followers, sometimes we can adopt a default of hopelessness. However that is not what we are called to do. We are called to to speak hope to the hopeless and to bring life to the lifeless.We need to be intentional about changing our defaults from hopeless to the hope-filled, from accepting what those around us are doing, to accepting what God says about those around us. We can learn the art of changing our default from Jesus, He was an expert at turning defaults on their heads. Check out His encounter with the ‘women at the well’ in John 4. She was known by all in the city as a promiscuous woman who jumped from man to man. People kept their distance from her, but Jesus, rather than turning a blind eye to her and keeping His distance, He intentionally engaged. In turn, He not only impacted her life but also transformed the entire city! Simply because He chose to look past her life choices and see her as a person. He didn't see her as hopeless, He saw her as valuable. We are called to bring hope. To do that we need to be able to see people the way Jesus sees them. Let’s be people who are intentional about seeing our families, friends, and workmates transformed. Because you are connected to and learning from the master of default changing, Jesus!

It is easy to make comparisons between the current state of our society and the ongoing narrative of Christianity being pushed out of the public square. Society has thrown out many of the Christian values which have woven the very fabric of humanity and decided to set up shop selling cheaply crafted morals. This has bled society dry of its heart. Crime is high, terrorism is rampant, suicide is normal and divorce recommended. You don’t need to be a Christian to agree that the future looks grim and seemingly hopeless (if it were to keep playing out the same way). It is essential we let society know that there is a large global remnant of Jesus followers, with a knowledge of societies founding values, a strong passion to ensure they are never forgotten, and a desire to believe for more in the future. More compassion, more humility, more kindness, more love, more hope and more of Jesus in society. Being a Jesus follower may push us to the edge, but we don’t have to be pushed out. Sure we may be in unusual and unique situations, feeling penned in by pressures to conform. Sure the costs associated with faith may rise, but this should not stop us from believing, sharing and declaring that hope is well and truly alive. In fact, our unwavering trust in Jesus, despite odds and opposition will itself declare loudly to a hopeless world that “Hope Still Lives Here!” John 8:12, reminds us that when we walk in the light of Jesus, that we ourselves will carry that life-giving light (the hope that others see). Let’s be beacons of love and safe havens of hospitality in a world void of true love and hospitality. Let’s be the rare smiles, meaningful conversations and long hugs to those used to angry faces, shallow conversation and cold shoulders. Let’s continue to live on mission and do all we can to show the world that hope still lives here, and His name is Jesus!

Dealing with Uncertainty Day 2 of 5 from YouVersion read by Brian and Andi Hale

Day 2 of 5 from New Year, A Fresh Start

You have life-changing, culture-shaping, heaven-touching-earth type of influence. You have a commission to fulfill. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

God will lead us to prosperity and hope. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11‭-‬13 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13