Preaching to the preacher

It's funny how it seems that whenever I lead a Bible study or preach or something I feel like I am preaching to myself. It seems for me the time when God's word is most alive for me is when I am in and the midst of sharing it, whether it be with a friend informally or at a Bible study or preaching. Tonight I led a study about God being Lord of our lives and really was struck that we need to surrender ourselves before him. As I was sharing a thought came to me that I found helpful. It seems that in this world we are all competing running the rat race of human existence, the majority of people are running for fear of what lays behind them, as if they are chased by the ghosts of the pasts and the worries of the future, it is fear that drives them to press on, we as Jesus followers on the other hand should not be motivated by fear. We run in a different race, where hope carries us on, where we run for the hope of what lies ahead, with our eyes fixed on Jesus we continue on. I am continually struck by this concept of fear versus hope and really think it is the key to life. As my favorite movie's poster says "Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free." I truly believe that Jesus coming into the world, like Andy Dufresne going into that prison and not accepting the world as it seemed to be gives us the hope that we can live otherwise; that we might be able to live for hope and not fear, for community and not only self, for life and not for death, for happiness and not success. I pray that we may all grow in our faith as we each continue in our journey of faith and that we may spurred on by hope and not fear. Much love to all of you and thanks for your continued support.