Hope Rising…

Is your heart broken? Do you feel as if darkness has descended like a thick cloud filling your heart and mind with despair and hopelessness? King David the Psalmist wrote: “Day and night I have only tears for food…My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my HOPE in God!” Many people view hope as wishful thinking, and have fallen for the lie that there is no hope. We live in a world where everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes, and chaos and hostility rage like a wild fire in a drought. Where is hope? There has to be an answer to this question or we can begin to wonder if life is worth living.

The name Phoenix Gear was chosen because of what the Phoenix symbolizes- to rise from the ashes and emerge from a catastrophe stronger and more powerful than before. The story of our company was forged in the fire of tragedy, but we desire to offer hope that has risen from those ashes. What is the HOPE that we trust in?

Jesus spoke these words in the Book of John: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. I am going to prepare a place for you. His disciples were disheartened that their Savior~ their friend~ was leaving and Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus responded, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Further down in the chapter Jesus ends by saying, All who love me will do what I say… Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

This is the Gospel! This is absolute truth you can trust- meaning it is true at all times and in all places. It is something that is always true no matter what the circumstances. It is a fact that cannot be changed. This is the message of HOPE! Too many times we put our hope and faith in the temporal things of this world- money, pleasure, entertainment, people, but all of these things will disappoint. Set your mind on things above. How do we do that? It comes first through faith and trust in Christ, and then the Bible teaches that we must “take our thoughts captive,” meaning go to war against your thoughts. Talk to your mind, by claiming the promises from God’s Word. Write these promises out: 1.I will never leave you or forsake you 2.Do not fear, I am your refuge and your strength, a present help in time of trouble 3. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak 4.The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will HOPE in him!”

Don’t forget that He also promises that in this life you will have trouble, but do not despair- Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone, and then eternity awaits, and if you are a Believer how awesome that will it be!

I leave you with these words from Philippians 4~ written by the Apostle Paul in a prison cell under Nero one the cruelest Emperor’s of all time.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Speak these truths to your mind….

And now, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

~ “Life is hard; struggle well.”~