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didn't expect that


1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

This has happened to you before as it has to me.  You are involved in a conversation, and the person you are talking to reveals something that you weren’t ready for.  Or maybe you are in a place where something happens that you didn’t expect and you weren’t responsible for.

It happens pretty often.  But you have to respond.  It stops you in your proverbial tracks and makes you think or say something you might not be ready to deal with.  How we respond will speak about our faith in God if we are ready ahead of time.

The people I get to deal with come from many different walks of life.  Some have the means or resources so they don’t have to worry about money.  Others are relationally rich because they are outgoing and make friends very easy.  Many come from backgrounds and situations where there was little or no hope at all.  Their dreams of the future have to do with still breathing and little to do with success or being rich or making a difference.

As we share with others, we will lead people to think and do greater things, or we will lead people to have no hope at all.  Again, how we respond to people and to situations speaks volumes about our faith. 

There is very little that shocks me, but one of the greatest things that shocks me and make me hurt is hearing someone share that they have no hope, no dreams and not much strength to move forward.

It is in our power to influence people to dream and to have hope.  It is possible for us to help people see what they have never seen before and go places they or we have never thought possible.  It all begins with us sharing the hope that God has given us.  Even when you are shocked or something happens that wasn’t planned, you can deal with it because God has filled your heart with hope that can’t be taken away!

1 Timothy 6:18 (NLT)
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

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