Faith...Hope...Love...




Whenever we head out on a journey, it is important to make sure we pack appropriately.  Nothing can make a trip more frustrating than not having needed supplies, clothing and necessities.  Forgetting important medication, leaving behind your passport, failing to pack your favorite outfit or the right kind of shoes for the trip can turn a pleasant experience into a full scale hassle or worse!  Packing is important!  You want to make sure you bring along the essentials!

If life were a journey...which it is...what are the "essentials"  most important to bring along?  What are the things which would make the journey most effective, successful, meaningful and productive?  Things like education, friendships, careers would certainly make the list.  Success, popularity, good health are things we would want to include.  But are these going to really make life the incredible journey it is meant to be?  Probably not!  I know lots of people who have had these things all along their journey and their life is actually pretty miserable.  They lack the "essentials."

What are the essentials?  They are FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.  Without these, the journey will fail to live up to its potential.  The journey can get pretty rough at times.   There are times when the terrain is difficult with twists and turns, dangers and difficulties that we didn't anticipate.  Sometimes the path is easy and level, but other times it is rocky, uneven and exhausting.  If you haven't packed the essentials of faith, hope and love, you are in for real challenges which may be more than you can survive.

This Sunday we will begin a three week series on "Essential for the Journey."  I hope you will plan on joining me for each message.  If you know someone who is having a hard time on their "journey" and could benefit from the messages on faith, hope and love why not invite them to attend with you?  It may just be the invitation they have been waiting for!

Hope to see you Sunday!

Stuart