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Hi, welcome back to the Christ. Gives Hope Podcast. Today's episode is short and sweet, and we're going to focus on hope. Where hope truly comes from. A secure. Unwavering hope. And with that, we're going to look at perspective and how a shift in our perspective. When the situation you are facing, maybe it's not what you want it to be. Not at all, what you would have chosen, how a shift in perspective can help you, especially in this holiday season. And into the new year. And if you're new here, this podcast is all about you. We aim to bring you Christ's healing love during the hard. The crises, the grief, the difficult life challenges that you may be facing. And we will circle briefly to Stephen ministry at the end. But if Stephen ministry is something that you are not familiar with. We as Stephen ministers, we are all about caring for you when you need it. Most Stephen ministry is a free, confidential, safe space. For you to talk through the areas of your life that you're struggling with. And we want to be Jesus' hands and feet for you. As we walk alongside you. My name is Lisa Stasik and I am your host. I am also a Stephen Minister. I serve alongside many men and women in our Stephen ministry program at St. Lorenz who have a heart for the Lord. They are full of compassion and truly wish to support you and be that steady, calming presence as you face. Life's many challenges. If you are local to St. Lorenz and Frankenmuth Michigan. We have a team of Stephen ministers ready to support you. But if you are listening from elsewhere around the country, I encourage you to check with your local church. Stephen ministry is a national ministry with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. And chances are very good. There's a local Stephen ministry program near you. And you don't have to be a member of St. Lorenz or a member of the Lutheran church, Missouri Synod to receive care. From a Stephen minister. You don't even need to have your faith. all figured out to receive care from a Stephen minister. All right. Let's dive in. Do you have expectations for Christmas? How about expectations for your Christmas parties? Your time with family? Maybe on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day itself. or let's take that a step further. Do you have expectations for next year? We're getting close to the new year. So how about next year? What you envisioned for next year? Or maybe your future in general, do you have expectations made for your marriage, your family, your children, your health, your career. Of course we all do and expectations are not a bad thing. of course they are not, but where we want to be careful is when those expectations can get entangled with our hope. Hope for what we expect. What happens? It says the enemy he'll come in and get us, get us to twist it. Right. It gets twisted into this thing where we put our hope in what we expect to happen. And each of those areas of our lives, right? Our families, our health, careers, the list can go on. We put our hope in what we envision. Whether it's this Christmas season. And we'll talk more about that. Or more broadly. Like our expectations for different areas of our life. And our expectations into the new year, into next year. So today, I want you to think about hope. This tiny word with big implications. Hope. Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It's a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. And we often we put our hope in what we expect. What we expect to happen. What is yet to come. And especially as we get ready for Christmas. Right. Of course we do. We put our hope and how we envision our time with our loved ones. And all the good things that come with this Christmas season and this time of year and all the extra right family loved ones. Christmas holiday. Traditions All the preparing the meals, the gifts, all the things. Right. But what if we make this hope, this expectation? To mean something that it was never meant to mean. And this is where it can get twisted. Twisted. So our hope is placed slowly on the things here and now. What we expect in the planning, the busy-ness, the preparations, the excitement. Of this Christmas season. You know, all the earthly society driven aspects of Christmas. Like the decorations parties, gifts, none of which are bad in and of themselves. But what can easily happen is our perspective on the hope of this season. Is wrapped up in all of the things right. Wrapped up in all the busy-ness of the holidays. Instead of the true reason we celebrate anyway. The One who holds all things in His hand. You know, we're getting ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior. And if I'm honest, you know about that, how often is that? the focus of my day to day? It depends on the day, honestly, in the busy-ness that comes with it. I'm sure you can all relate getting preparations, finalize gifts, purchase, and all the details and the planning. But there's one key thing that I want to point out. About Christmas. And this helps me reign back in my focus. Of what is truly important. This time of year.'Because Christmas. And Jesus' birth. Christmas. ushered in your redemption. Jesus who chose the cross for you could not have died and taken your place. Had he not been born that Christmas morning. Something, so simple and obvious yet. So. Easily overlooked for me too. Christmas. Ushered in your redemption. And it is so worth repeating Jesus, who He chose that cross for you, and He could not have died or taken your place. had He not been born that Christmas morning? So how this relates to the hope we have. Right. That feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Algight your hope. My hope it's secure, no matter what you are personally facing this Christmas season. Your hope is secure in Christ. And there's not a thing that can change that. So if this holiday season brings with it, a joy and delight, as you look ahead to time with loved ones with family, you know what a gift that is. And even in that gift, Our hope is secure and the one who orchestrated you all to be together. But if this Christmas season brings with it, a sadness and despair for the loss of a loved one. Those seats that are empty. Your hope is secure in Christ too. In the one who tells us we will see them again at that promised resurrection. If this Christmas season brings with it, uncertainty of what lies ahead. Questions without answers. Your hope is secure in the One who promises to strengthen you to help you. And the One who upholds you with His righteous right hand. If this Christmas season brings with it, loneliness. Your hope is secure in the God who will never leave you. If this Christmas season brings with it feeling like you just can't get it right. Like, you're not possibly doing enough. Or being enough or measuring up to everyone around you. Your hope is secure. in the One who has redeemed you, who has made you righteous before Him who has chosen you. If this Christmas season brings with it a feeling like you're not important. Like you go unnoticed. Your hope is secure. in the God who sees you. If this Christmas season brings with it, feelings of shame. Of regret. Your hope is secure in the God who has forgiven you. The one who forgives. And chooses to forget. If this Christmas season brings with it feeling like you're not loved. Not wanted. That could not be further from the truth. And your hope is secure in the God who loves you unconditionally, without question without second guessing, without changing His mind. You see your hope? It is secure. Your hope is secure in Christ who will come back and make all things new at that promised resurrection the true yet to come. And that true yet to come. where lasting hope is in the resurrected savior who we are told He's going to come back. He's gonna make all things new with that promise resurrection. That's a promise to hold on to. And that future resurrection. Without God's birth that we are getting ready to celebrate this Christmas season. That future resurrection, the one we claim. Every time we say the Apostle's creed. So next time you're in church. I want you to think about this. We say this every time where you recite the Apostle's creed, we say,"I believe in the Holy Spirit. The holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting." And that is coming and it changes everything. That yet to come. So as you prepare in these days, leading up to Christmas and celebrated birth of your savior, Remind yourself when you're feeling grieved. Lonely uncertain or unnoticed, unloved or unimportant. Shame or regret your true hope is secure in the one who loves you. Who sees you right where you are. Who has chosen you, who has redeemed you. and know wherever you fall into that, whatever you are facing or struggling with this holiday season. No, you don't have to go it alone. We as Stephen ministers, we faithfully come alongside you. Stephen ministry is a confidential, free ministry. It is nonjudgmental. There is no judgment here. It's a safe space. And talking with a compassionate, trustworthy Stephen minister, may be just what God has planned to help carry you through. If you're feeling overwhelmed and broken right now through. the cross of Jesus, God can make you whole. And the heart of Stephen ministry. Is rooted in the biblical principle that Christ cares for people through people. And at St. Lorenz, we have a team of Stephen ministers ready to support you to care for you. More information about our Stephen ministry program can be found at christgiveshope.org. If you're interested in Stephen ministry for yourself or for a loved one. More information can be found at christgiveshope.org and please take a moment to subscribe. So you don't miss out any future episodes. a quick note. This is not medical advice. If you need professional care. Or care. from a physician that is beyond the scope of Stephen ministry. All right. Thank you so much for listening. God's blessings to you.