Optimism, Faith, and Hope:

Practical Steps For Increasing All Three

Here are some practical, spiritual, and relational ways to grow faith, hope and optimism:

Listening Heart

It’s kind of crazy when you think about it.  Wisdom in the Bible is all about listening.  Of course it makes sense that wisdom would start with listening to God, to God’s law and commandments, as well as the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit. 

Here are some quotes that
didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon.

(But it doesn’t mean that they don’t offer real insight into the power of risk over the fear of failure...)

Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)

            I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.”  But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.

The Power of Presence

        This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it.  The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process.  Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most.  Here a couple of examples...