SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 2016
7 A
Prisoners of hope
God is good. And He has a
good plan for each of our
lives. No matter what may be
going on right now, God’s
plan is unfolding. In the
meantime, Romans 12:12 tells
us to “rejoice in our confident
hope. Be patient in trouble,
and keep on praying” (NLT).
I think that’s good advice,
especially in times when it
feels like we’ve been waiting
and waiting... and waiting for
something to happen in our
lives. Hope is vital in times
like these and it will keep us
looking ahead, anticipating,
expecting whatever it is we’re
hoping for.
Over the years I’ve learned
how to lock myself up in a
prison of hope, knowing that
God has nothing but His best
planned for me. He promised
me things concerning my min-
istry and my life. And hope is
what helped me hold on in
those early years when it got
hard.
Anticipation: I remember it
was just three weeks into my
marriage to Dave, when he
asked me one day, “What’s
wrong with you? You have
such a negative attitude!” And
I said, “Well, if you don’t
expect anything good to hap-
pen, then you won’t be disap-
pointed when it doesn’t.”
That was how I felt based
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on my feelings about past
experiences. I had a very neg-
ative outlook on life, so I
spoke negatively about it.
This is the way I used to
live… before I became a pris-
oner of hope. As I grew in my
relationship with God, I
learned how to trust Him, how
to stand on His Word, and
how to stand my ground in
prayer when it got tough.
Today my outlook on life is
completely different from
what it was many years ago.
Now I enjoy my life and I
encourage others to enjoy
theirs as well. Jesus died for
us to live an abundant, fulfill-
ing life. And hope is the confi-
dent, favorable expectation of
this life.
Double for Your Trouble:
Now, I do realize there are
many things that can happen
to us that aren't so enjoyable.
And that can make it difficult
to grasp the idea of enjoying
life. So, think of it this way:
What are you hoping for?
What are you expecting in
life? What are you looking
forward to?
Focus on that.
My negative outlook was
due to my attitude about all
the bad things that had hap-
pened in my life. I was stuck
in the pain of my past, so I
didn't believe anything good
would happen in my future.
Because of all of the negative
things that had happened, I
was programmed to believe
that negative things would
always happen. I lost hope.
Well, God was there and He
knew that. But over time He
kept loving me and dealing
with me, promising me what
Isaiah 61:7 says: “Instead of
your shame you will receive a
double portion, and instead of
disgrace you will rejoice in
your inheritance. And so you
will inherit a double portion in
your land, and everlasting joy
will be yours” (NIV).
That’s a promise for us
all… a promise of double for
your
trouble!
Double
the blessing… double the
joy… double the peace!
Hallelujah! Now doesn’t
that inspire hope in your
heart?
Of course, this double-
blessing promise isn’t for the
double-minded. When you
walk it out in everyday life,
there will be times when
doubt, fear, unbelief and
weariness will come against
you. It’s in these times you
will need to fight a good fight
of faith. You will need to
guard your mind against nega-
tivity about your situation.
I encourage you to find out
what God says about it and
then stand on the promises in
His Word.
The Bible tells of many
times when people encoun-
tered Jesus and He touched
their lives, they wanted to stay
with Him and follow Him…
understandably so. But He
sent them home-back to
everyday life-to live out and
share with others what He’d
done.
They had to hold on to what
He had done for them. In the
same way, we must hold on to
whatever He promises us and
be confident that He is work-
ing in our situation. Hope
releases the power of the Holy
Spirit in these times.
Hope I want to encourage
you to make a decision to cul-
tivate an attitude of hope in
your life.
Speak positive things about
your future and refuse to be
negative. You may not always
feel hopeful but don't give in
to your feelings. Catering to
bad feelings feeds and
empowers them.
But standing our ground
and not giving in to negative
feelings starves them and
causes them to lose their
power over us.
Just ask the Holy Spirit to
lead you. Line your will up
with His and get excited about
serving God.
You could even be one who
inspires others to become pris-
oners of hope!
New Year, new beginnings at annual
Unitarian Universalist Labyrinth
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2066 Highway 101, Florence
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New Year’s Eve is a time of
new beginnings. Each year, the
“New Beginnings” labyrinth at
the
Florence
Unitarian
Universalist
Fellowship
(FUUF) takes participants on a
journey to release last year’s
kaleidoscope of experiences,
and opens awareness to the
glory in today.
On New Year’s Eve, begin-
ning at 5 p.m., the “New
Beginnings” labyrinth will be
drawn inside the FUUF
church. Everyone is invited to
share in drawing and walking
the labyrinth.
Chanting and drumming
will culminate in joyous cele-
bration of 2017 at 9 p.m.
Then, on New Year’s Day,
seating will be arranged around
the labyrinth as Larry and
Linda Addison share new
beginnings in stories and
metaphors.
The
Florence
UU
Fellowship, 87738 Highway
101 at Heceta Beach Road, is
wheelchair accessible.
For more information, visit
the FUUF website at www. flo-
renceuuf.org.
Baha’i invite all to New Year service
On Monday, Jan 2 at 6:30
p.m., everyone is invited to
join a group of friends from
varied spiritual paths to par-
ticipate in our yearly Burning
Bowl and White Stone cere-
mony.
Rev Eleanor Ross of the
New Thought Ministry will
lead the group in a guided
meditation. The group will
reflect on the past year and
consider the thoughts, emo-
tions and behaviors that did
not and do not serve their
highest good. They will then
release them by writing them
down on paper and ceremoni-
ously burning them.
Next, the group will set a
new intention for the coming
year, which they write on a
small white stone that serves
as a reminder.
This is an adaptation of
two ancient practices that
have become widely used in
many New Thought church-
es.
The gathering will end at 8
p.m. with prayers for the
requests left in the Prayer
Pole in the garden of the
Florence Playhouse and
those shared by the group.
For more information con-
tact James Heintz, 875
Seventh St., or call 541-590-
0616.
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
Siuslaw News
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PeaceHealth
offers hospice
training
Beginning in January,
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor
Medical Center Hospice will
host a series of classes
designed to train prospective
volunteers to work directly
with hospice patients in the
community.
The trainings will be held
Jan. 14, 21 and 28 from 8
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Oregon
Pacific Bank’s financial cen-
ter, located at 1365 Highway
101 in Florence.
Each year, Peace Harbor
Hospice serves nearly 200
patients in the Florence,
Mapleton and Deadwood
communities.
Many patients are home-
bound and look forward to
the companionship that vol-
unteers bring.
Volunteers play an impor-
tant role at end-of-life for
many hospice patients.
Classes are free and open
to the public.
Prior medical experience is
not required. Potential volun-
teers must pass a preliminary
background check and show
proof of a current driver’s
license and updated automo-
bile insurance.
Contact Christopher Hunt-
ingdon at 541-997-3418 no
later than Jan. 4 to sign up.
Siuslaw
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