So, it’s been over a week since my last blog post.  Yeah, I’ve managed to stay somewhat engaged with Twitter.  But blogging - not so much.  Simple explanation, by the way – I honestly just didn’t have time. I wasn’t in some sort of spiritual funk, I wasn’t hating life, blogging or you.  I just never seemed to find a few free minutes.  That seems crazy to say now.  But it felt even crazier to live out this past week.  It’s been a blur of leadership training, creative meetings, planning meetings and some precious time with really good friends.

All of that is my way of saying, life can get pretty crazy.  It seems like the more you want to live for Christ, the crazier it can get at times…and so far, we’re just talking about those seasons of life where you’re loving everything you’re doing!  When you factor in the really difficult times, it can get almost overwhelming.  Please, make no mistake about it.  Ministry can be filled with difficult times.  Days are long, budgets are short, expectations are high and people sometimes blow it in massive ways.  Friends who you love greatly take a vacation from God and it rips you apart.  Projects don’t always come together the way you want.  Bosses don’t always get it.  And the list just goes on and on, right?

My point in saying all of that is not to depress us.  But to get us ready for the amazing truth we find in 1 Timothy 4:9-10.  Yes, this is the next installment of posts on Christian leadership.  Look at Paul’s words:

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive),

that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

- 1 Timothy 4: 9-10

Did you catch it?  ”We have put our hope in the living God.”  Our hope isn’t in the people in our ministries, our programs, our buildings or our budgets.  It’s in the Christ who defeated death and reigns victorious today.  Our hope is a Risen King who has all authority in heaven and one earth.  The One who formed the heavens will guide our days.  What a beautiful hope we have in Him.  Hope that carries us through the crazy good times and the crazy bad times. Hope that will carry us to heaven when our time here is over.  That’s real hope, it’s our inheritance as children of God and it’s more than enough to fuel us for ministry.