"The world is going to hell in a hand basket" is an old phrase but one that is very current for anyone who studies the news.
We are inundated with stories from the Ukraine where people are being taken over by large governments to Nigeria where children are kidnapped and the government doesn't seem to care. Articles about the vast numbers of children have been abused by the Roman Catholic Church and which of the Kardashians is getting married today.
We need some good news, news that speaks the truth that the world is not going to hell but going into the hands of a gracious Savior. First we must return to scripture and read again the stories of our spiritual fore parents. Their time was not so perfect either but God was always present and always delivered God's people. Second we need to hear the Word of Scripture that God so loved the world that God gave God's only begotten Son. If the gift of Jesus was any indication of God's belief in this world then we have hope. Thirdly, we need to hear afresh the power of Paul's word when he said, "all things work together for good, to those who love God who are called according to God's purpose. Yes, it takes a lot of faith in this era of doom and gloom.
It is up to you and me, as those called by God, to bring the Good News, the words of hope to all people. We get to do this through our privilege of preaching and through our sacred honor of being with people in moments of need. We need to help our people turn to a season of prayer for all of God's children from every point of the globe. We need to help raise the concern of others who are suffering and who are in need of the help of God's people and of God's good news.
We can't let the situations get us down. We need to remember God is alway God and by the presence of the Holy Spirit good things can happen if we join together to do the work of God.
It is not always an easy task but with God all things are possible.
Hoping for the new day,
Dana