New Hope Daily SOAP - Daily Devotional Bible Reading

Daily Dose of Hope April 17, 2026   Scripture: 1 Timothy 1   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  You are such a good God.  It's so hard for us to conceive that the God who put the stars in the sky and put the planets into motion is the same God who loves us and has numbered the hairs on our heads.  We thank you so much for your love and care.  Open our minds and hearts as we approach your Word today.  Help us hear a word from you.  How we yearn to hear from you, Lord.  We need you.  Over and over again, we need you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through the letters of Paul chronologically.  We are starting our eleventh letter today; can you believe it?  I would love to hear about what you have been learning from these readings.  We have covered a lot of ground. Today's reading is 1 Timothy 1.  In this letter to Timothy, Paul gives instruction to his younger friend about how to lead the churches in Ephesus.  Paul intends to travel there soon but expects to be delayed and thus, writes this letter to encourage and guide Timothy. But this is not a private letter.  It was written to Timothy with the intention that these instructions be read aloud to the churches.  It's not a very long letter, but Paul addresses a number of topics in it, including doctrine and a warning against false teachers, public worship, guidelines for pastors and deacons, moral instruction, social responsibilities, and how to deal with material possessions.  This all would have been in reaction to struggles the churches were encountering.  Towards the end of this first chapter, Paul gives a mini testimony.  He speaks about being a blasphemer and a persecutor (v. 14) but Christ showed grace toward him.  From a worldly perspective, there wasn't much hope for him.  But no one is beyond the grace of God.  In fact, Paul says that Christ's grace was poured out abundantly, and overflowed, in his life.  And then, Paul makes some pretty strong, definitive statements.  He is responding to the deceptive and false teachers who were confusing the new believers. Read through verses 15-17 again... Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Paul makes it clear that the Gospel message is trustworthy, unlike the hollow claims of the false teachers. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Thus, the Gospel message is true AND universal.  Jesus came to save the whole world.  The Gospel is also personal. Paul speaks of his own experience of the Gospel.  He was a pretty bad sinner and Jesus even saved him.  Why did God show him this amazing mercy and grace?  To demonstrate his immense patience as an example to others who might believe in him.  Have you experienced the Gospel as trustworthy, universal, and personal?  Do you know it as TRUE?  Do you understand that Jesus' offer of salvation is for all nations, all tribes, all people? Finally, have you personally experienced Jesus as your savior?  Have you said YES to Jesus' offer of grace, repented of your sins, and decided to live a life following Jesus? If not, today can be your day!  Maybe you need to recommit your life to Jesus. You've wandered, you've walked away, or you've simply been going through the motions.  Today is the day to make a new commitment to Jesus Christ. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope April 16, 2026   Scripture: Philemon   Prayer: Holy God, On this Thursday morning, we lift up our face to you.  We call upon your name.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  You are almighty and wise.  How thankful we are that you sit high and look low.  Lord, forgive us for our many sins and faults.  Give us strength and courage to do better.  We give you this day, Lord.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's letters and now we find ourselves in Paul's tenth letter, when we look at them chronologically, and that is the short letter called Philemon.    Paul wrote a congregational letter to the church at Colossae (Colossians) and then added this more personal letter to Philemon, kind of as an addendum. It is difficult to ascertain the specific circumstances behind this letter. Paul is obviously being very discreet and diplomatic in the letter, not wanting to alienate Philemon regarding his slave, Onesimus. What do we know?  Paul is appealing to Philemon regarding Onesimus, who has accepted Christ through Paul's ministry.  Paul expresses that Onesimus is useful to him, loved by him, and Paul would keep Onesimus with him if he could. We also know that somehow Onesimus has been separated from Philemon, that Onesimus may have wronged him in some way, and Paul asks that Philemon welcome him back as "better than a slave," as they are brothers in Christ. Paul is willing to pay any debt that Onesimus may have toward Philemon.   One of the main learnings from this text is the extent to which Christ-followers are bound to one another through the faith.  While this letter is about a personal situation, Paul includes other individuals and the church community in this letter as well. The point was not simply to put pressure on Philemon, but because there are theological and social implications when one joins the covenant community of the church. We belong to one another. While we don't have to be in everyone's business, we are accountable to one another. We need one another for support, encouragement, mentoring, but also to ensure we are not drifting or making decisions contrary to the faith.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we will spend eternity together.   Reflect on Romans 12:4-5, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope April 15, 2026   Scripture: Colossians 4   Prayer:  Jesus, Oh, how we need you! We need you to work within us and through us.  Change our hearts, O Lord, so that we can bring glory to you. More of you, less of me. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's letters and now we find ourselves in Paul's ninth letter, when we look at them chronologically.    Our reading today is Colossians 4.  This last chapter of Colossians begins with a word to slave owners to treat their slaves in a way that was fair and right. Please note that Paul's mention of slavery is in no way supportive of it.  I've said this before but it bears repeating.  Slavery was a reality in the Roman Empire. Paul's discussion of loving others as Jesus loved them and his focus on people being equal in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), suggest his disapproval of the institution. Among those in the early church, slaves were treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.   Paul does offer a last bit of advice on Christian living to the church at Colossae. He reminds the Colossians that three things are crucial: prayer, wisdom, and grace-filled speech/communication.  First, their lives were to be devoted to prayer. This isn't too different from his command to the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. A devoted prayer life includes a lifestyle of prayer, rooted in both gratitude and vigilance. I love how he asks them to pray for open doors to share the Gospel message, specifically that God would provide opportunities for Paul to share the Good News of Jesus wherever his life journey took him.   Then, there is this focus on wisdom. Remember, Paul is encouraging them to stay away from the false teachers and immerse themselves in Godly wisdom. Wisdom provides the right atmosphere for the Christian walk. We must be wise in what we allow ourselves to ingest into our minds and bodies, wise in our talk, and wise in our actions. This is so critical because it's our everyday, walking around lives that are the strongest witness to those outside the church.   Finally, there is an emphasis on grace-filled speech and communication. Oh, how our mouths get us into trouble over and over again. My guess is it wasn't too different 2000 years ago.  Paul implores them to speak words of grace which are also "salty," words that make a difference but also words that are well-seasoned, not offensive, effective. Words can build up and words can tear down. Paul is saying to use words that effectively build up the Kingdom of God. Those who follow Jesus need to be intentional and careful in what and how they speak.  We could just as easily have this same discussion today. Without even thinking too much about it, Christians are so careless with what they say and do. Certainly, the foundation of transformation is a devoted prayer life, to which Paul alludes. When we are vigilant about prayer, when we develop a lifestyle of prayer, then we are less careless in the other areas of our lives. We are wiser, we are more grace-filled in speech and actions. It's possible that if every single person at New Hope made an intentional commitment to maintain a devoted, vigilant lifestyle of prayer, then Jesus could surely change the world through us. Certainly, our church would be transformed in pretty incredible ways!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope April 14, 2026   Scripture: Colossians 3   Prayer: Almighty God, We belong to you.  Sometimes, we get distracted and wander.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us stay fully focused on you.  Help us remember who and whose we are.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us hear a word from you...Jesus, this is your day, we are your people.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we are currently in Colossians.   Today's reading was Colossians 3.  In this chapter, Paul begins a discussion on sanctification, encouraging the believers at Colossae to grow in their walk with Christ and reflect Jesus in all they do.  He implores them to live differently than those around them; they have a higher calling.  The false teachers were concerned with life on earth but Paul is telling the Colossians that there is so much more for which to live.   Paul begins by speaking of the vices that must be set aside as Christ-followers.  Then, he begins to speak of virtues.  I love this!  He speaks of these character traits like clothing; "clothe" yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Because they are new people in Jesus Christ, they put on new clothes that represent that new life.  One can accept Christ and receive salvation, but it is a process learning how to live like a believer.  It takes practice putting on these new clothes and yet it is so very important.  They must also learn to forgive one another and love each other.    We take these concepts for granted in today's church because we talk about love and forgiveness so often.  But this would have been new stuff for these early believers.  For many, it would have been a drastic shift from their previous life.  While we talk a great deal about love and forgiveness in the modern-day church, I think we also still are figuring out how to live out these concepts.  If you ask people who left the church why they did so, it often amounts to being mistreated by a church member or being turned off by hypocritical behavior.    It would probably do all of us some good to do an assessment.  How much do we reflect compassion in our interactions with others?  How often do we reflect kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience?  How loving have we been toward others over the past week?  How forgiving have we been?  Take a moment and think about each virtue.  Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10.  What areas need work and how might you practice living these out?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope April 13, 2026   Scripture: Colossians 2   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, On this Monday, we come to you today in awe.  You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy.  And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy.  Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us.  Thank you, Lord, for your patience.  Help us to focus more on you.  Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better.  Work in us.  Stretch us.  Challenge us.  Convict us.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's letters and now we find ourselves in Paul's ninth letter, when we look at them chronologically.    Today's reading is Colossians 2.  Paul was very concerned that the people of the Colossian church would be swayed by fancy and smart-sounding arguments.  The arguments of false teachers often sound very convincing.  They typically take a small bit of truth and twist it so that it sounds just right enough that people will be convinced.  Paul knew this.  His goal was for them to grow in their knowledge of Christ, become mature, well-developed disciples, so they would see through the untruths.    If they were rooted in Christ, like a solid tree with deep roots, then they would be less apt to be affected by the winds of false teachings.  I love this idea of growing our roots deep into Jesus Christ.  If we look at plants, we tend to focus on that which we can see.  We see the trunk, the branches, and the leaves, and they maybe very beautiful.  But what's most important is what we can't see-the deep roots which are vital to the health and longevity of the tree.  If a bad storm comes, the tree will stay put because its roots are deep and strong.  Paul wanted the Colossian church to have a deep root system as well, one that was firmly based in Jesus Christ.  If they grew into strong, mature believers with strong roots, then they would be much less likely to be swayed by the fancy, sophisticated arguments of false teachers.   Historically, we haven't focused on having deep roots.  In fact, our discipleship in most American churches has been quite shallow.  We have required little of our members; we've asked them to simply warm a pew.  Where has that gotten us?  Being rooted in Jesus Christ means so much more than church attendance.  It means reading and knowing God's Word and abiding with Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading.  It means connecting with others for real accountability and listening to others who tell us hard truths about life and faith.  It means serving others with the love of Jesus.  It means giving sacrificially.  And when the strong winds blow, we are ready.  We stay solid and united in Jesus Christ, our roots strong and steady.   Let's convene again tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope April 10, 2026   Scripture: Colossians 1   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today distracted and with scattered thoughts.  Help us focus, Lord, on you and your Word.  Help us, in the next few moments, to be silent, still, and remember that you are God...Thank you, Lord, for your care and concern for our lives.  Thank you for how you show up in amazing and unexpected ways!  We give you glory, Lord Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters and today we begin Paul's letter to the Colossians.   The author of Colossians is Paul but he mentions that it is also from Timothy.  When Paul wrote this letter, the church at Colossae was facing threats from false teachers.  As we read this, we will find a clear theme: the centrality of Jesus Christ.  While details aren't known, there was apparently a movement within the town to remove Christ from the church.  Thus, Paul goes to great lengths in this short little book to describe the person and work of Jesus and what it means to live as a Christ-follower.  While Paul did not start the church at Colossae, he very much feels responsible for it.  Therefore, Paul writes this letter with much urgency from a Roman (or possibly Ephesian) prison cell.    Today's reading is chapter 1.   I would like to highlight verses 15-18, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  Here we see the emphasis on the identify of Jesus Christ. Notice how in the previous verses Paul speaks about Jesus as Savior, as the one who rescues and redeems us.  Now, Paul is speaking of Jesus as Lord.   This section is considered a hymn to Jesus Christ and it is rich in theology.  Jesus is the visible manifestation of God, God in human form; Jesus is God and nothing less. God's character can be seen in Jesus Christ.  Let that sink in. But there is more.  Jesus was present at creation and serves as Lord over all creation. He is supreme over all things.  Jesus is Lord and everything exists to reveal his glory.  Then, Jesus as creator and redeemer are brought together again.  Jesus, who is head over all creation is also head over the church, his body.  Obviously, Jesus existed without the church but the church cannot exist without Jesus.  The church is the visible body of Christ in this world but Jesus serves as the head of the church.  A body can't function or exist without a head.  The church cannot function or exist without Jesus.    It almost seems laughable to me that there was a movement within Colossae trying to remove Jesus from the church. A church can't be a church without Jesus. It's totally absurd. And yet, even as I write that, I realize that there are probably many churches in existence right now that basically function separate from Jesus.  Maybe they are religious social clubs or possibly political organizations but they aren't the body of Jesus.  This could have happened gradually and slowly.  After all, we live in a very distracted, self-reliant culture.  I have to admit, even the thought of this is so, so scary to me.  How can we ensure that Jesus stays central in all we do at New Hope?  Pray, friends.  Pray diligently and specifically that Jesus stays at the core of all we do.   We will chat again on Monday.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope April 9, 2026   Scripture: Philippians 4   Prayer:  Holy God, You are a God of order and a God of purpose.  The world may seem chaotic, but you are not.  You have ordered your world with perfection.  Help us trust you.  Lord, fill us with your perfect peace.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been walking through Paul's letters and today we finish the letter to the Philippians.   Today's reading is Philippians 4.  Philippians 4 is one of my all-time favorite chapters in the Bible!  Why?  Because in the midst of living in a society that strives to be happy and fails, Paul shares with us the keys to true joy.  We are going to just focus on v. 4-8 today but be sure to read through the whole chapter.  It's truly a beautiful end to his letter to the Philippians.   Philippians 4:4 is a great verse to memorize.  Paul writes, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Have joy in God.  Be joyful in the Lord always.  What's interesting to me about this letter that Paul uses some form of the word joy fourteen times in these four short chapters.  He is serious about joy.  And he isn't at some resort somewhere drinking good wine and eating steak.  Not at all, he is in a Roman prison cell.   Paul is in a dank, dark, poorly ventilated Roman prison cell.  Keep in mind, Roman prison cells were designed to strip a prisoner of dignity.  They were filthy, often crowded.  Unlike today, there was no such thing as being condemned to serve a sentence in prison.  Although people could spend a lot of time in prison, it was time in which they were awaiting trial to then be given their real punishment, which could very well be death.    Paul, at the time he wrote this letter, has probably been in prison for about four years.  He had no idea what was going to happen to him.  He had been charged with inciting riots among the Jewish communities in different cities and he was simply waiting to hear whether or not he would be put to death.    And yet, Paul writes to rejoice in the Lord always.  To the world, this wouldn't make any sense.  What makes sense to the world?  Well, seeking happiness.  Happiness is based on your happenings.  When your happenings, your circumstances, are going really well, when you feel really good, when things are going your way, then you are happy.  But joy is something else entirely.  Our world doesn't really understand joy.  Joy is not a feeling or an emotion.  Joy is not dependent on circumstances or whether things are going our way.  No, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it's the manifestation of God in the midst of ALL circumstances.  It's an orientation that declares every day is a gift from God.   But Paul goes on in verses 5-7,  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When tragedy hits, when we are in the midst of despair but when we know that God is near, then it creates space for a different response than anxiety.  Rather than constant worry and anxiety, we can move to prayer and petition.  So now this is beginning to make a little more sense.  When we are gentle and know the Lord is near, we seek God in prayer.  This isn't a formula by any means but Paul is saying that one generally follows the other… Choose to REJOICE --- Be gentle/be like Jesus --- Know God is near ---- Seek God in prayer. This in turn, will lead to less anxiety and more thanksgiving.  Why?  Because gratitude does something to our heart.  When we are thankful, we are reminded of God's faithfulness.  We are reminded of all the times God has shown up and taken care of us. I recently read that there are two kinds of people:  Those who are currently facing hard circumstances and those who will soon be facing hard circumstances.  Think of what Jesus said in John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart because I have overcome the world.  This is the reality.  When, not if, we face trouble, we have 2 choices:  anxiety or rejoicing.    Anxiety is generally how the world responses.  Sometimes, it's how we respond to.  But it is the world's go-to response.  It leads to more distress, more seeking escape in things like food, alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, anything that will bring pleasure, no matter how short-lived.   God is calling us to respond differently:  by rejoicing.  Rejoicing reminds us who God is, who we are, and that we are not alone.  REJOICING leads to peace.  Anxiety leads to inner conflict and misery.    Let's end this part of our discussion with verse 8, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  I would encourage you to memorize this verse.  This is about changing our thought life.  It's a method/strategy for dealing with worry and anxiety.  So often, we get in a loop.  We play the tape over and over again in our head.  What if this happens?  Why did that happen?  What will I do if this occurs?    I'm wondering if Paul, in his Roman prison cell, sometimes fell prey to this kind of thinking.  It's like he is telling us, "look, you think you can't rejoice but you can.  Stop thinking about the bad stuff and start thinking about that which is true, that which is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or worthy of praise."    This means turning off the news.  It means turning off Facebook.  It means removing the external sources of negativity from your life as much as possible.  Focus on what is worthy of praise.  What things in your life are worthy of praise?     Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope April 8, 2026   Scripture: Philippians 3   Prayer:  Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives.  Thank you for your presence and your peace.  Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty.  Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through Paul's letters.    Today, we read Philippians 3.  We find here that Paul considers himself living in a state of in-between-ness.  He is in the middle of a journey. The longing for arrival is strong, but what he has in front of him is the journey. He can only press on, stay the course, be thankful for what God has put in front of him.   Up until this point, Paul had a pretty interesting journey.  Remember, he started out as a zealous Jew.  He talks about this earlier in the Scripture passage.  He says that at the beginning of his journey, he thought of himself as righteous, as deserving, as better and more religious than others because of his background.  Paul writes this in verse 4-6…If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.  Paul is almost challenging the others --- look, if this journey is all about accumulating religious merit badges, I win hands down. I was circumcised on the eighth day, I was part of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew if there ever was one.  Remember, he was a Pharisee, which was one of the strictest sects of Judaism.  He persecuted Christians, who he felt were breaking God's law.  He held people's coats as they stoned Stephan. And at that time, he felt that these things proved his spiritual worth to God and to others.   I wonder how many of us look at our Christian journey in a similar way?  Even after we say yes to Jesus, even after we get involved in church and small groups and we are trying to walk with God, we have the same tendency as the apostle Paul.  We try to prove our spiritual worth to others and to God.  Of course, we are influenced by all the normal sources of pride that the world tells us are important, right?  Money, stuff, accomplishments.  I hope those things have less a hold on us but if we are real, we know this kind of stuff still seeps into our lives.    But then, there is also a need to demonstrate what good Christians we are, our spiritual merit badges.  I'm in three Bible studies.  I took this training and then I led it.  I've been on this committee four times.  I've been a member of the church since I was in the womb.  Pastors do this too.  You know one of the very first questions that another pastor will ask you when you first meet them at some luncheon or event?  So, how many people are in your congregation?  As if that somehow is what defines your value. But the good news is, there is more to the story.  Paul tells us that the journey is far from over.   In fact, Paul has some pretty strong words about accumulating these spiritual merit badges, taking pride in how "spiritual" we are.  He says, v. 7-9, But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  So he is saying, now that I know Jesus, I understand that all those things pale in comparison with knowing Jesus.  They aren't gains, they actually are now losses.    Those things I thought were so important, those things that I thought demonstrated my value, those things that I thought earned me some gold stars with God – they are nothing.  Jesus is everything.   But Paul goes one step further.  These spiritual merit badges are not simply counted as losses now that I know Jesus, now "I consider them to be garbage."  His whole life, these were things that he took huge pride in, they were what made him admired in his community.  He was a real Jew if ever there was one.  He was learned, he knew the law backwards and forwards.  His family was adhered to tradition and they were admired and esteemed.  And now, he is saying – now that I know Jesus, these things are like rubbish in comparison.  He is telling the Philippians, God has brought me to a new place in my spiritual journey, one in which I realize that I'm nothing without Jesus Christ and that nothing else besides Jesus matters.    In v. 10, Paul is saying that because he now knows Christ, he seeks to be like him.  But he has not arrived.  He has not made it.  This journey we are on is just that, a journey.  We don't arrive at the destination and say, "Yea, I've made it.  I can now stop striving to be like Jesus."  No, faith is a lifelong journey.  Paul says we can't look backwards, we must "forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead."  There is more ahead.  At the moment, we are all in a state of in-between-ness.  We haven't made it.  We haven't arrived.  Rather, we must press on toward the goal with God has for us in Christ Jesus.  What is the goal?  To seek his glory, to be part of his Kingdom, to be with Jesus eternally.  All of the above.    Until then, we pay attention to the journey.  Paul is saying, how you do life as a follower of Jesus matters.  It is not all about the destination, it is about the journey, the day to day struggle and gratitude and joy of following Jesus Christ. How are you doing on your journey?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope April 7, 2026   Scripture: Philippians 2   Prayer:  Holy God, Thank you for your incredible mercy.  Your compassion is never-ending and your love is powerful.  We are overflowing with gratitude.  Help us demonstrate this same compassion and love toward others.  May we become people of grace and see people through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been on a journey through Paul's letters, in chronological order.  We started our eighth letter yesterday and that is Philippians. As I mentioned, this is one of my very favorite books of the Bible, not just because it is short and sweet, but simply because it expresses so much gratitude.  We also know that Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell.  That really puts things in perspective.    Today's reading is Philippians 2.  There is so much substance in this chapter and we could probably spend a week on this chapter alone.  Paul begins the chapter with this amazing narrative about the attitudes that should characterize Christians. We should be of a similar mind, having a mutual love for one another that looks like Jesus' selfless love.  In fact, the one person to whom we should compare ourselves is Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of humility, sacrifice, and love. This is often referred to as the Christ Hymn.  This is some of my favorite Scripture and I can read it over and over again.   One element of this Christ Hymn that we need to at least mention is how Jesus became a human and emptied himself of being God (called kenosis).  He actually set aside his glory to become one of us and die on a cross.  He is God and yet he went through all the pains and trials of humanity to redeem us.    If you get a chance today, simply take some time to meditate on verses 1-11.    Paul then begins speaking to the Philippians about working out their salvation with fear and trembling.  First, obedience to God was a central concept for Paul.  Whether he was present with them or not, the expectation is that they should stay obedient to the faith.  With salvation comes an expectation of obedience. What does that mean?   We know, and Paul has certainly established this in other writings, that salvation is a free gift.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. If we have said yes to Jesus, then we receive salvation. However, once saved, we don't simply go on living exactly the same way (if we do, then maybe there was no real heart change to begin with). Thus, our attitudes, behavior, and speech should demonstrate our new life in Jesus in some way. When Paul says we work out our salvation through fear and trembling, he is getting at this point. Yes, salvation is a free gift but then we begin to figure out how to live as saved people. We grow in obedience to Jesus, we live out those attitudes that Paul speaks of earlier in the chapter (humility, love, sacrifice), and we begin the process of becoming more like Jesus.   What has your sanctification process been like?  How are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope April 6, 2026   Scripture: Philippians 1   Prayer:  Father God, hear our prayer this morning.  We are awed by your power and strength.  We are amazed by your love.  Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you show in our lives to teach us and care for us.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts right now and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us (help me) be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and help us walk through this Scripture in a way that honors you.  Show up and help us discover whatever it is you want us to learn.  This is your Word and we want to hear from you.  In Your powerful name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  I hope you had a magnificent Resurrection Sunday yesterday!  We serve a risen Lord and that makes all the difference.   We have been on a journey through Paul's letters, in chronological order.  Last week, we finished Ephesians and today we begin Philippians.  This is our eighth letter.  And just so you know, this is one of my very favorite books of the Bible, not just because it is short and sweet, but simply because it expresses so much gratitude.  We also know that Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell.  That really puts things in perspective.  Let's talk a little bit about Philippi.  It was also the first European city in which Paul planted a church.  You may recall in the book of Acts, Paul meets a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, and she becomes the first Christian convert in the area.  Lydia extended the invitation to Paul and Silas and other coworkers to come and stay at her home. Her whole household accepts Christ and is baptized.  It's in Lydia's home that the Philippian church begins.  Let's get to discussing chapter 1. Paul begins by stating that the letter is from both he and Timothy, although most attribute it mainly to Paul.  He begins by expressing gratitude for the Philippians.  It's obvious here that Paul has a deep love and affection for these people.  He is grateful for them.  While in prison, the Philippians have sent him money and supplies (they were the only one of Paul's churches to do so), most likely at great sacrifice to themselves.  So, they send these gifts through a man named Epaphroditus and he is the one who returns with this letter.  If you think about Paul's letters in the New Testament, usually he is upset with the church for something or he is giving them warnings.  But the tone of this letter is totally different.  Paul is longing for the Philippians; he has deep affection for them.  They are partners in the Gospel and he is so very thankful for that.  I'm sure he is thankful for the supplies but more than anything, he is thankful for how they are actively living out the Gospel message. This really is so encouraging to me personally.  Being in ministry is not easy.  You see beauty and you see ugliness.  You stress over things that are out of your control – the number of people who are or are not in worship, people who have wandered away, the need to do more and reach more people.  The days can be long.  But it is also such a privilege.  I'm grateful that I don't have to be sitting in a prison cell to tell you this.  I am grateful to the people of New Hope.  It is a privilege to be welcomed into your lives and to share in the Gospel with you.  I have been loved and cared for in this place.  I know I'm a pastor but you have cared for me like a regular person.  You have loved my family.  You have embodied the Gospel for me in word and deed.  And I'm very thankful for that.  You will never quite know how grateful I am to God's people here at New Hope.  And I look forward to continuing to partner with you in proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  So, one of my prayers for all of you is that the work that God has started in you, that he will carry it on to completion.  None of us retire from faith.  If we aren't dead, we are not done.  God has started a good work in you and he wants to finish that work.  Paul says that whether he is in chains or defending and confirming the Gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.  Let's think about this word "share."  They share in God's grace with him.  First, they all receive grace, God's unmerited favor, we are all sinners (every single one of us) and we all need the grace of God to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  God's grace has been poured out on all of us.  So, we share that together.  But the word "share" if you go deeper into the Biblical meaning, it also can be translated as "participate."  We participate in God's grace together.  We don't just receive it in a passive way, we actually live it out together.  Together, Paul is saying, we participate in the spreading of God's grace.  What does it look like for us to participate in the spreading of God's grace together?  The family of God is not intended to be a passive body.  We aren't just supposed to sit on the sofa or in our comfortable small group settings and just soak up the wonderfulness of God's grace but we are intended to actually participate in it.  This doesn't simply mean doing nice things for people but rather building the KINGDOM of God.  Alleviating suffering in the name of Jesus.  Healing in the name of Jesus.  Feeding in the name of Jesus.  Praying for people in the name of Jesus.  Educating, planting, singing, teaching, playing ALL in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who was, is, and always will be in the business of forgiving sinners and transforming their lives.  And then Paul speaks of how his chains are being used to advance the Gospel.  Just in case you have forgotten, Paul is writing this letter about being thankful and grateful while sitting in a dank, Roman prison cell.  He is voicing gratitude from prison.  How many people can be truly grateful in such circumstances?  I think it's important to point out that that is the power of the Gospel.  In the midst of extreme hardship, and I know that many of you are dealing with extreme hardship, Paul finds a way to be grateful.  He is witnessing to the prison guards and they are coming to know Jesus.  He knows that his situation has inspired the rest of the Philippian church to not be fearful about preaching Jesus.  There are all these forces at work that would normally rob him of any sense of well-being, and yet this sense of gratitude just wells up within him.  What the enemy meant for evil, God used for his good and Paul can see that, trust that, believe that, know that from the center of his very being.  How convicting.  I get one person complaining or saying something hurtful and I'm complaining or sad.  But Paul didn't do that.  He was grateful for each circumstance, knowing that God could and would use that to advance the Gospel.  Has there been someone in your life who is seemingly surrounded by horrible circumstances, maybe they are dealing with the evils of aggressive cancer or chronic pain.  Maybe they are healing from intense grief or some other hardship.  And yet, they are grateful in the midst of it.  It doesn't mean they are free from pain and they don't cry (normal human things) but they are truly see each new day as a gift.  I've known a few of those people, not a lot but a few.  And their lives are a witness to the those around them of the power of the Gospel.  It is totally a counterintuitive thing --- I'm dying of cancer, I'm in pain, and yet I'm grateful for this new day.  That is the power of Jesus Christ working in us.  Trusting that God is in control and we are not. There is so much more in this chapter but I'm going to stop here.  I think we need to just kind of meditate on this.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Daily Dose of Hope April 3, 2026   Scripture:  Ephesians 6   Prayer:  Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.  Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.  I am so far from where I should be.  Help me see others through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's epistles, his letters, which we find in the New Testament.  We are about to complete our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.   Today's reading is Ephesians 6.  Okay, this is our last day in the book of Ephesians.  Paul begins by talking about children honoring parents, fathers not exasperating children, and both slaves and masters having respect for each other.  Can I just say how extraordinary this would have been?  Children didn't have a lot of value in first-century culture.  We would expect Paul to want them to honor their parents but to tell a father not to frustrate their child, not to lead them to a place of anger, would be really different from the culture around them.  And for slaves and masters to have mutual respect for each other?  This is a total reorienting of relationships because of Jesus.    Let me be clear – by Paul addressing slaves and masters, he is not expressing any kind of sympathy for slavery.  Not at all.  Rather, this was something that existed in the Roman empire.  It was not ideal at all, but it was the reality for Paul in the moment.  In the Roman empire, the poverty level was astonishing and it wasn't uncommon for people to actually sell themselves and their families into slavery to simply survive.  This was not the kind of slavery we think of as Americans; the African slave trade was abominable and a different kind of horror.  So slavery in the Roman empire was different, but the Roman slaves were still slaves and vulnerable to their masters' whims.    What Paul says is that Christ totally reorders our relationships with one another.  Rather than being based in power, they are founded in love and respect.  I can't overestimate how revolutionary this would have been.  Slave and master, according to Paul, could sit side by side and worship the Lord as equals, even if they weren't equals in the culture around them.   But let's keep going.  When we take a look at the first-century church, we see the Holy Spirit at work in amazing ways.  But we also see opposition.  As we've mentioned over the past few days, Ephesus was a very pagan city.  One of the largest and most famous temples, the Temple of Artemis, was in Ephesus.  Worship of other gods was everywhere.  Forces working against God were everywhere.  While the church was growing and experiencing signs and wonders, it was also experiencing resistance and opposition.  Evil was present and real.   Evil is still present and real. True, it is no match for the Holy Spirit but for us mere humans, we need to be sure to stay strong in the Lord and his mighty power.  If we don't, we can easily and without our knowledge, be used by the evil forces of this world.  I often say that most of the time, we don't make the devil work that hard because we do such a good job making bad choices.  But we must be aware that evil is out there, tempting us, and looking for our weak spots.  The enemy wants us to experience defeat and discouragement, rather than the freedom and victory we can experience in Jesus.    So what's the answer?  Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God.  How might we do this in practical ways?  Off the top of my head, I immediately think of frequent prayer and dwelling in God's Word.  By making these two things a priority in your life, you will know God better, stay connected to the Spirit that dwells within you, and you will have a growing awareness and knowledge of God's truth, wisdom, and love. But what else does Paul say in chapter 6?   ·Verse 14-Put on the belt of truth.  Our belt is what holds our clothes on the body. Our integrity holds our lives together.  Are you a person of integrity? ·Verse 14-Put on the breast plate of righteousness.  The breastplate would have protected vital organs on a soldier.  Any crack in the breastplate would have been dangerous.  Any crack in our righteousness is dangerous, as it allows impurity and evil to creep in. ·Verse 15-Put the gospel of peace on your feet.  Our foundation needs to be the peace of Jesus Christ.  The enemy will try to steal our peace and if that happens, we stumble.  How's your foundation holding up lately? ·Verse 16-Hold up the shield of faith.  Paul says that the shield protects us from Satan's arrows.  Prayer and Scripture are two ways to stand firm in faith and protect ourselves from those fiery arrows. ·Verse 17-Put on the helmet of salvation.  A helmet protects our brain; damage to the head has horrible consequences.  Because of our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, we are new people, called to have the mind of Jesus.  When we seek to have the mind of Christ, evil has a much harder time creeping into our thoughts. ·Verse 17-Hold up the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word. God's Word is the most powerful weapon against the evil one..  Think of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness-he used Scripture to fight back.  Knowing and dwelling in God's Word is critical if we are to push back anything the enemy throws at us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope April 2, 2026   Scripture:  Ephesians 5   Prayer:  Almighty God, We give you glory and praise.  Thank you for the ways you care for us.  Thank you for the ways you care for our church.  Lord Jesus, help us set aside our scattered thoughts.  Help us push away distractions and truly focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Holy Spirit, guide our reading and devotional time today.  May we hear a word from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's epistles, his letters, which we find in the New Testament.  We have now completed the first six and we are on our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.   Today's reading is Ephesians 5.  Paul is imploring the Ephesians to live as God's holy people.  Jesus has fulfilled the Old Covenant.  The law is no longer what makes people holy.  Those to whom Paul is writing would be Christians, with the Spirit of the Living God within them.  They are being sanctified by God's grace.  It's only through the Holy Spirit in them that this is possible and they can even seek holiness.  This standard is actually harder – it's a circumcision of the heart.  Paul is asking the Ephesians to seek this high standard because of who they represent.  I love verses 8-10, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.   But I don't want to neglect the second half of this chapter because I think it's incredibly important.  It's here that Paul speaks of mutual submission, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Mutual submission - it's what marriage is all about.  Of course, if you grew up in Christian circles, you know how badly the whole of Ephesians 5 has been distorted. The focus has been on wives submitting to husbands.  But before Paul talks specifics, he says this: submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.  Then, he talks about wives submitting and husbands loving.    We should note that this discussion would have been revolutionary at the time.  To say women had a low social and legal status in the Roman Empire is quite the understatement.  And here is the Apostle Paul telling the Ephesians that marriage is a covenant and that there needs to be mutual submission between the parties.  That means women submitting to men (which would have been the norm at the time in that culture) but also that men should submit to their wives.   Husbands submitting to wives?  That would have been unheard of!    To make it even more earth-shattering, Paul says that husbands should love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church.  How much did Christ love the church?  He died for the church!  He is telling these guys to love their wives sacrificially.  Wow!  We read these words through our twenty-first century eyes and we may think something like, "How outdated and sexist."  But the truth was anything but the sort.  Paul's words elevated the status of wives in significant ways. They were to be loved and valued.  There should also be unity and fidelity in the marriage relationship, which means only one wife and no affairs.  Paul wants Christian men to understand that holiness within their marriage is also important.  It demonstrates that those who are "in Christ" do life differently.  They are new people in Jesus and the church, as the body of Christ, is drastically different than the culture at large.    We could probably stop there and that would be enough.  But wait, there's more.  Paul is using the marriage relationship as an analogy.  The relationship of the husband and wife in marriage points to the beautiful relationship between Christ and the church.  Just as there needs to be unity between husband and wife, there needs to be unity between Christ and the church.  So let's be real, the universal church has messed this up a bit.  Sometimes, the church demonstrates unity with Jesus and sometimes it doesn't.  I'll stop here today but I ask you to reflect on this question: Does New Hope demonstrate unity between Christ and his church?  What do we do well?  How do we struggle with this? And how do we do better?   We'll chat again tomorrow.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope April 1, 2026   Scripture: Ephesians 4   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us seek holiness in all we do.  Help us become the people you desire us to be.  As we work through today's Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts.  Help us see things differently.  We want to hear from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Scripture reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we are currently in our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.   Today's reading is Ephesians 4.  Paul has been discussing the new life we have in Christ and the new faith community that is created, what we call the church.  The church, as the body of Christ, is an entirely new kind of community-a family of people who belong to Jesus and to one another AND love one another with the extravagant love of Christ.  But this unique community has standards. Look at verses 2-4.  This body of believers should be humble, gentle, patient, and bear one another in love.  There should be unity among them as a demonstration of to whom they belong.    While there is unity, there is diversity in gifts and strengths. Jesus has made sure that his church has everything it needs to become mature and effective.  Thus, some people are given the gifts and graces to become apostles, others prophets, still others evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  Jesus obviously excelled in all these categories, but we don't.  Thus, we need one another desperately to build up and strengthen the body of Christ.   Historically, the church has focused more on pastors and teachers than the apostles, prophets, and evangelists.  If we look at the state of the Western church, you can see how badly this has hurt us.  We are incomplete, we are missing some of these critical roles, and without them we are ineffective.  We need everyone to build up the church.  Here is a quick summary of these roles: ·      Apostles are the entrepreneurs of the church, starting new mission and ministries, leading the church into new territory.  Without apostles, we get stuck in the same place, not responding to the changing needs of our world. ·      Prophets often stand on the fringes of the church, as God's messengers, speaking hard words into the family of faith.  We have pushed the prophets aside because we tend to not like hard words. ·      Evangelists are the salespeople of the faith. They are particularly gifted at sharing the Good News of Jesus with people who don't get know him.  We are ALL called to be evangelistic but certain people are truly gifted in leading new people to Christ.  We need them. ·      Pastors are shepherds of the flock.  They nurture and protect the congregation.  They are essentially the caregivers of the flock, ensuring and guarding the spiritual health of the people. ·      Teachers are the communicators of the faith. They help the people remain Biblically grounded, teach the next generation about Jesus, and ensure that the church is faithful to God's Word, growing in their knowledge of Scripture and doctrine.    Think about your unique gifts. Are you an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher?  How can you use your gifts to build up Jesus' church?   Have a wonderful day.  We will talk again tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 31, 2026   Scripture: Ephesians 3   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning.  How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day.  Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well.  In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are.  We are yours.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Scripture reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we are currently in our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.   Today's reading is Ephesians 3.  Paul starts out the chapter by talking about God's amazing plan for the Gentiles.  They are now co-heirs and equal members of the body of Christ.  They fully share in the promises of Jesus.  And this plan not only brings unity to Jesus' church, but it offers all Christ-followers the ability to access God confidently and directly.    We find a beautiful prayer in verses 16-19 that Paul offers for the people in the Ephesian church.  He starts by asking God to strengthen them by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Remember, Ephesus was a very pagan city.  The church there dealt with opposition on a daily basis.  Paul knew they needed supernatural strength.  The same could probably be said of us today.  The sources of our distractions and opposition are different but still powerful.  How do you personally need God's supernatural strength today?   Next, Paul prayed that they would be rooted in Jesus' love and understand how expansive and deep his love truly is for his people.  In understanding this, it would change how they interacted with one another and with the unbelieving world.  Having a solid understanding of God's extravagant love for us, we can extravagantly love others. Think about that...when we experience God's love so deeply, it's much easier to act in love toward others, even when they aren't very lovable. I've had to deal with some pretty unpleasant people over the past few months who I didn't feel like being loving toward. But then I read this verse and God quickly reminded me-he loved me when I wasn't so lovable. Because of his deep love for me, I can respond to others with love, period.    Finally, Paul prays that as they have this full understanding of God's love, they will be filled with the fullness of God.  What might it be like to be filled with the fullness of God? I'm not sure I've gotten there yet but I sure want to get there. It sounds like there could be nothing better!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope March 30, 2026   Scripture: Ephesians 2   Prayer:  Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come.  You are all powerful and all knowing.  We give thanks for your love and wisdom.  We give thanks for your presence.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts.  Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today.  In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's letters, reading them in chronological order.  Just a reminder, there are thirteen letters and we are currently on our seventh!    Our reading for today is Ephesians 2.  Central to our belief as Christians is that Jesus was not only resurrected but also exalted to a high place. In fact, he sits at the right hand of the Father right now. The amazing thing is that we as believers receive new life in Christ AND we also are exalted with him in the heavenly realms. Today's Scripture states that the purpose of this is that we can be shown the incomparable riches of his grace.   Think about that for a moment. The Message translation says it a different way: Once God has us where he wants us, he will have all the time in the world to "shower grace and kindness upon us." We get to know and experience Jesus' amazing love for us right now. We are exalted with him and he continues to shower us with grace and love. Wow.   But there is more. Our salvation is totally and completely based on faith and nothing else. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone. There is nothing else needed to be saved. At the time Paul wrote this, there were plenty of people who said that circumcision and following the law were also necessary to be saved. Paul has made it clear that NOTHING else is needed-we are saved by the amazing grace of Jesus and all we have to do is have faith. God knows us well and he did this so that we couldn't brag about our salvation because it was totally his doing and not ours. Again, wow.   But there is still more. We are also God's handiwork. Other translations say "masterpiece." We are created by God to do good things that God designed us specifically to do. If you needed a Scripture to illustrate the phrase "God don't make no junk," this could be it. You are God's masterpiece. He lovingly designed you. You are not a random experiment. He had YOU in mind when he made you. Your gifts and talents were also not random but were given to you by God to do good things for his world. You are a masterpiece and you have a purpose. Let that sink in.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope March 27, 2026   Scripture: Ephesians 1   Prayer:  Holy God, Thank you for this day and thank you for the ways you provide and care for us.  We rejoice in your powerful and mighty name.  As we read through the Scripture today and reflect on what it means for us, help us hear a new word from you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the day and really listen for your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are working our way through Paul's New Testament letters, in chronological order.  Yesterday, we finished the book of Romans and today we begin our seventh pastoral letter, the book of Ephesians.   Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus is quite extraordinary!  The prose is both beautiful and powerful.  It speaks to who we are in Jesus, new life in Christ, and what we must now do about it.    The church at Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey, was established on Paul's second missionary journey.  On his third missionary journey, Paul spent 2-3 years in the city. He addressed false doctrines and pagan practices.  In his letter to the church of Ephesus, written roughly ten years later, Paul commends the Ephesian church on their faith and love. They have done well and we see that expressed in this letter.    There is a lot to say about this first chapter, but I want to focus on the middle portion. Paul states how he has heard of their faith and love, and he gives thanks for them and their dedication to Jesus.  He lifts them in prayer, specifically that they will know God even more and will be given supernatural wisdom and revelation.  While he is pleased with their spiritual maturity, he is still praying for them, that they continue to grow in holiness.  Paul wants them to truly have the knowledge of God, which can't be gained by study but only through God himself.    As I reread this, I couldn't help but think about how we are never done growing spiritually.  We never get to the point in our walk in which we can say, "That's it, I've made it, no more study, prayer, or service needed for me!"  If we aren't dead, we aren't done.  God isn't done with any of us yet.    One more thing I want to mention. Paul speaks of believers being marked by a seal.  In the ancient world, a seal was the personal sign of an owner who was sending something very important. It also indicated that what was received was genuine, in that it was truly from the person who it said it was from. The Jews thought of circumcision as a seal ,in that circumcision indicated they belonged to the one true God. In today's Scripture, the apostle Paul is saying that we as Christians are also marked with a seal, the seal of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees to whom we belong and that what we believe in true and genuine. In Christ, you are marked with the most important seal in the world! If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has marked you. You are claimed. You can be assured that you are a child of God.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 26, 2026   Scripture: Romans 16   Prayer:  Holy God, We start by praising your name.  You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God.  Work in our lives.  Speak to us.  We need you, Lord.  Over and over again, we need you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are working our way through Paul's New Testament letters, in chronological order.  Today, we are finishing the book of Romans and tomorrow we begin the book of Ephesians.   Our reading for today is Romans 16.  The final chapter of Romans has this beautiful section of greetings to the people that Paul has worked with and encountered in his ministry.  I love how this was obviously a letter for regular people.  This was not a letter intended for religious scholars.  Rather, Paul sent it to people he cared about in an effort to help them in their own lives and ministries.   Another interesting note is that out of twenty-six people who are listed as special workers in ministry, nine are women.  This is especially impressive because Rome was a male-dominated society and women had little, if any, social and legal standing.  But in the church, things were different.  There is also a variety when it comes to the names: some of Jewish, some are Latin, and many are Greek.  While I'm sure the early church had its issues, it appears to be a diverse mix of men and women, from different cultural and religious backgrounds.  Essentially, it was a great picture of the Kingdom of God.   God's Kingdom is universal, with people from all races, cultures, and stations in life.  In God's Kingdom, men and women serve alongside each other.  It's a place in which every single human life has value and no one is better than another.  God's values are actively at work: love, justice, mercy, righteousness, hope, and freedom for the oppressed.  Somewhere in the history of the church, it got off track.  The church became less Kingdom-focused and more about growing the institution.  It began to resemble the culture around it.  Certain people were excluded, corruption crept in, sin invaded.  It's hard to read a church history text because it seems so far from the church Paul was trying to establish.   Paul also warns his dear friends about avoiding division and those who seek to create it.  He actually says to stay away from people who create conflict in the church.  Wow.  That's handy guidance.  Be aware, be vigilant, listen to the Holy Spirit, and don't be deceived by the evil one.    As much as the church has gone through, we know that the powers of Satan and the powers of men cannot defeat it.  I think of Jesus' words in Matthew 16 when he tells Peter that it's on that rock, his confession of Jesus' Lordship, that Jesus will build his church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. The church has and will prevail, despite all our brokenness and sin.  God's mercies are new every single day!  As a church, we can pray and strive to be a better picture of God's Kingdom.  In fact, my on-going prayer for New Hope is that we will become a multiplying congregation-multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational.  I pray that we will be the kind of place where people from all walks of life find a place of belonging, a place to be nurtured and loved.  I hope you will join me in this prayer.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope March 25, 2026   Scripture: Romans 15   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Mighty God, Holy One...We come to you this morning with humility and gratefulness.  Thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  Thank you that you continue to love and guide us, even though we mess up again and again.  Thank you for your patience and your never-ending care.  Lord, we are so very grateful.  Help us, on this Wednesday, to right our attitude.  We belong to you and we are under your authority.  Help us see others the way you see them.  Help us produce fruit in our lives.  Oh, Lord, how we need your help.  Please, Jesus, may we hear your voice today.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been walking through Paul's letters, chronologically, and we are currently towards the end of Romans.    Today's reading is Romans 15.   We can tell that Paul is beginning to close his letter in this chapter.  He shares his plans to head to Jerusalem and then to Rome on his way to Spain (we don't think Paul actually made it there) and he implores the Christ-followers in Rome to pray for him.    But before we get to Paul's planned journey, let's talk about some of the main themes in the chapter.  This idea of God's faithfulness runs through the chapter and even the whole letter.  Paul talks about God's steadfastness and truth, and then he does a great job linking Old Testament Scriptures with God's acceptance of the Gentiles.  Paul pulls from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and the Psalms.  Basically, he is saying that God's faithfulness and his promises extend from the Jews to the Gentiles.    Now let's talk about the trip that Paul is referring to.  Now, Paul knew a trip to Jerusalem would be dangerous.  There were plenty of people there who wanted to see him executed for his work as a Christian missionary.  Paul asks his Roman brothers and sisters to join him in the struggle by praying to God on his behalf.  The ESV uses the phrase "strive together" with him in prayer, and the term comes from the Greek word for agonize.    I think this is one of the gifts of the Christian walk, when the body of Christ gathers and agonizes together, to pray for a specific person or situation.  While our solitary prayers are important, there is something that happens when we raise up our voices together.  We know that we know that we know that we aren't alone.  We are lifted up, encouraged, and empowered to keep going.  Who is it who needs to know you are praying for them today?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope March 24, 2026   Scripture: Romans 14   Prayer:  Abba Father, You are the potter, we are the clay, and the work of Your hands. Mold us and fashion us into the image of Jesus, your Son. Father, may we be one in You as He is in You, and You are in Him. Glory and praise to you, forever and ever. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been walking through Paul's letters, chronologically, and we are currently towards the end of Romans.    Today's reading is Romans 14.   It is unclear exactly who Paul is speaking of in this chapter.  Who were the "weak" and "strong" Christians in Rome?  It's possible that the weak Christians were Jewish believers who still felt strongly about dietary restrictions connected to faith but that has not been verified.  What is clear is that Paul doesn't judge either group but merely comes down on the side of unity.    The Christian church is one that includes all kinds of people, from all walks of life, from countless cultural traditions, with all kinds of personalities and dispositions.  We are brothers and sisters and we are all part of God's family.  But just like other normal human families, these differences can lead to conflict and disagreement.  Paul's writing in this chapter demonstrates that these disagreements, over what we might describe as seemingly minor stuff, have been around since the beginning of the church.  Paul is saying to accept one another and try to no judge one another for those differences of opinion.   An example:  Many of you remember our mission trips to the Dominican Republic.  The church in the DR has very different ideas about what's acceptable and not acceptable for Christians than we do in the United States.  In many of their churches, women sit on one side and men on the other.  Alcohol is forbidden, as is dancing outside of church.  I have some pretty strong opinions about all of these things.  But Paul is saying not to get too caught up in these disagreements.  Accept your brother or sister with the different view and don't fall into judgment.  What's most important is what unites us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope March 23, 2026   Scripture: Romans 13   Prayer:  Holy and Almighty God, We come to you today in humility but also with expectancy.  We need to hear a word from you.  We need to sense your presence and be reminded of how you walk alongside us.  In these next few moments of silence, help us settle our mind and gather our scattered thoughts, focusing on you and you alone...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's pastoral letters and we find ourselves in Romans.  This is our sixth letter.   Today's reading is Romans 13.  This chapter begins with a text about submitting to the governing authorities.  This is an interesting one, considering that most of the disciples and even Paul did not obey the governing authorities, continuing to preach the Gospel many times after being thrown in jail and told to stop.  And throughout the ages, many Christians have boldly (I would say rightly) challenged their governments in times of war and persecution.    So remember, when something doesn't seem right on the surface when we read Scripture, we need to go deeper.  I personally think that Paul is teaching that authority as a structure exists because God is a God of order, not chaos.  In a perfect world (and we know that doesn't exist but stay with me here), government exists to provide law and order, to punish evil, and protect the innocent.  Government is God-created and should be a good thing.  But to honor or submit to the government does not mean never to question or even challenge it.  This Scripture does not teach blind obedience, even though some might have you believe it.  Why?  Because our ultimate submission is to God first.    And Paul is not saying every command from every leader automatically equals the will of God.  If that were the case, Daniel would have sinned by praying to God when the law said not to.  The apostles would have been sinning when they preached the Gospel after being told not to.  Paul would have been sinning when he continued to spread the Good News.  We submit to God first.  He is our ultimate governing authority.  Thus, we can honor our leaders and pray for them, but the laws of God always trump the laws of man.  Governments are intended to protect us and provide accountability but they never replace God's perfect laws of justice, love, and compassion.  Respect for the laws of the land NEVER replaces the laws of God.  Hope that helps.   Let's move on in the chapter.  Paul goes on to say that love actually fulfills the law.  When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us, changing us from the inside out.  We become new people and that change should be obvious in how we treat people, the words we speak, and how we behave.  Paul is getting at this truth.  He makes the point that because the day of salvation has come, we should behave accordingly.  We should experience salvation to its fullest now as we will experience salvation in its fullness in the future when Jesus returns.   There is an urgency to this.  We aren't supposed to sit around, eat bonbons, and think, "One day I'll get my act together."  Rather, the time is now.  Not only do we never know what the future holds, but we also know to whom we belong and who we represent.  Of course, we will mess up here and there, but overall, our speech and actions should reflect mature Christ-followers, people who are striving for a life characterized by holiness.  This isn't legalistic but comes from a true desire to look more like Jesus.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope March 20, 2026   Scripture: Romans 12   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come to you today praising your holy name.  You are a good God!  Thank you for caring for us, for walking alongside us, but  most of all thank you for Jesus, who died our death, so that we can walk hand in hand with you.  Help us live like resurrection people in the way of Jesus.  We don't want to get stuck in our religion.  We want to live transformed lives in Jesus.  How we need you, Lord.  We are stubborn people.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters.  We are now in the book of Romans.  Don't forget to let me know what you are learning.  Offer feedback – let me know about your big takeaways.   Today, we read through Romans 12.  Just so you know, Romans 12 is some of my very favorite New Testament Scripture!  It is incredibly powerful.  Paul is saying that because of this amazing gift of salvation, those who receive it should be truly committed to God.  Christ-followers should dedicate their whole life in service to Jesus Christ, become living sacrifices.    This would have had significant meaning to Paul's audience, as the sacrificial system was still alive and well.  But unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, Christ-followers voluntarily offer their living bodies, every part of their existence, to the work of Jesus in the world.  They make Jesus not simply their savior but also their Lord.  Doing this is the kind of worship that God finds right and pleasing.  We might call this surrendering everything to King Jesus.   This clearly separates us from the surrounding culture.  Living for Jesus rather than ourselves or things of this world is unusual.  People notice.  Paul urges the Romans to not fit so well into their culture but experience life change as Jesus transforms their thinking.  Faith isn't just about the heart and emotions but also about the mind.  God wants to change our way of thinking so that we better reflect Jesus.  Do we fit into our culture?  Be honest with yourself.  Do your neighbors, coworkers, and other acquaintances know that you belong to Jesus?  Is your thinking more influenced by Scripture and the things of God or the national news, politics, and social media?  How easy it is to simply blend right into the culture around us. Paul's words to the Romans certainly ring true for us today.   Paul addresses several other concepts here too.  He talks about spiritual gifts.  Similar to the Corinthians, there is evidence the Romans also were arguing about which gifts were better.  Paul makes it clear that all the gifts are critical.  Plus, all believers belong to each other.  The church cannot function without everyone and their various gifts.  No one should be conceited – just keep in mind that by itself, your gift just isn't that great.   Finally, there is Paul's closing to the chapter.  I just love this.  He is talking about how to demonstrate love to other people.  If we all simply took this to heart, what a different place our community would be!  Paul emphasizes the Proverbs here, stating, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  Let's be real, the church hasn't been so good at this.  What would we as Jesus' church look like, what would we need to change, if we focused on not becoming overcome with evil but overcoming evil with good?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki            

Daily Dose of Hope March 19, 2026   Scripture: Romans 11   Prayer:   Almighty God, we start by pausing before you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God.  God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak through it to us. It's truly a miracle.  Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.  Don't forget to let me know what you are learning.  Offer feedback – let me know about your big takeaways.   Today, our reading is Romans 11.  Paul is stating that because Israel rejected the Gospel, the Gentiles had the opportunity to receive it.  Interestingly, Paul says that the salvation of the Gentiles was meant to instill a desire in the Jews for the same amazing gift.  But that didn't necessarily happen.  At the same time, the Gentiles really didn't do anything to make the Jews jealous of this gift.  Think about it, Gentile Christians throughout the centuries have had the opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with Jews, to demonstrate the abundant life that comes by walking closely with Jesus.  While that may have happened occasionally, more often we see Jews treated with persecution, oppression, and violence.    Do you have any Jews in your sphere of influence or circle of friends?  What are their thoughts of Jesus?  Spend some time right now praying for their salvation and how God might be calling you to share the story of Jesus with them.   There are two other things I want to mention from the chapter.  The first is this idea of being grafted in.  Paul compares Israel to the natural branches of an olive tree and the Gentile believers as the branches of a wild olive tree.  Some of the natural branches, the Jews, have broken off, but the wild branches, the Gentiles have been grafted in.  Because of this, the Gentiles are now can receive God's promises and receive salvation.  We are part of God's Kingdom, his family.   While the Gentiles have been grafted in, that doesn't mean that God is done with Israel.  Paul is making a point that God's purposes won't be complete until Israel is grafted back into God's people.  All people, Jews and Gentiles, were intended to share in the promises of Abraham and his seed.  This is all part of God's full redemptive plan.    The last thing I wanted to mention was the doxology at the end of the chapter.  When I first read the chapter, it seemed out of place. But upon further reflection, it makes sense.  Paul is overcome by God's mercy and grace.  He begins the doxology with a groan or sigh.  Think about it - Paul has just gotten done discussing God's plan of salvation for all people and how this demonstrates God's goodness, mercy, and incredible wisdom.  Paul is finding all of this so incredibly powerful and needs to stop his letter to simply write some words of worship before he moves on.  He is overwhelmed with gratitude to God and worship seemed the most appropriate response.   When was the last time you were overwhelmed with gratitude or thanksgiving to God for what he has done?  What is your response?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 18, 2026   Scripture: Romans 10   Prayer:   Almighty God, We thank you for a new day and we praise your perfect name.  We are grateful that your mercies are new every single morning.  Help us see you in this day.  Help us recognize your voice.  Lord, help us reflect you today in our words.  Help us reflect you in our behavior.  Help us remember who and whose we are.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 10.  Romans 10 is packed with substance.  There are two things that strike me in this chapter.  First is Paul's discussion about the heart.  He is making an argument that the law is not what makes someone righteous, but their belief in Jesus.  He is speaking of a new circumcision, essentially, a circumcision of the heart.  It isn't about what we do or what is done to us (in the case of a baby boy being circumcised), it is about our heart.  Do we believe in Jesus?  Do we love Jesus?  Have we made a commitment in our heart to Jesus Christ?    Keep in mind this was a total 180 degrees from what the Jews knew and believed.  I think sometimes we are pretty hard on the Jews.  Why don't they just believe?  Well, this was really different from everything they had been taught about being right with God.  Paul seems to get this struggle and it frames his arguments with Hebrew people.  He is anguished that they don't believe.  While it is a huge shift, he knows how much better life is when Christ is at the center.  As we can all imagine, the law (works) is a terrible thing to build your life around because you are never good enough.  On the other hand, with Jesus, he has declared us good enough because of his saving work on the cross, not because of anything we have done or haven't done.  This totally levels the playing field, as Paul expresses in verse 12.  It doesn't matter if one is Jew or Greek for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.  This is great news, everyone!   The other piece that made an impression on me this morning was Paul's emphasis on sharing the good news.  Starting with verse 14, he writes, How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  And that is still the case today, isn't it?  How can anyone know if they have never heard?  I think we make the assumption that most people around us, like neighbors, coworkers, golf buddies, and gym friends, know about Jesus.  Often, people have a vague idea about Jesus or even an incorrect view of Jesus.  Yet, they must know and profess Jesus to be saved.  I've also learned that some people, especially younger ones, truly have no idea what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.    Friends, the harvest is tremendous but the workers are few.  How can they believe if they have not heard?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 17, 2026   Scripture: Romans 9   Prayer:   King Jesus, We come to you today with praise and lifting your name high.  You are a Lord of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Thank you so much for allowing us to experience those things in you.  Also, Lord, thank you for showing us a new way of doing life.  The ways of this world are empty and temporal but your ways are eternal and fulfilling.  Help us be bold in our faith, staying strong in the midst of whatever challenges we face.  Help us live like the people you have called us to be.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 9.  One thing that is evident to me in the beginning is Paul's anguish for his people.  He is heart-broken for his Jewish brothers and sisters who have rejected Jesus.  I kind of picture him on his hands and knees praying for softened hearts.  And then I thought about how we should probably all be doing that.  How many people do I know, do you know, who don't have a saving relationship with Jesus?  Why aren't we on our hands and knees praying for their hearts to be softened and more open to the Gospel?  And how many of our brothers and sisters in the church are focusing on the wrong thing – religion instead of Jesus?  This also drives me to prayer.  Just a thought.   One other aspect of this chapter that kind of hit me is Paul's warning.  It appears that he is warning Christians to be careful.  Afterall, the Jews began to think that their connection was God was simply a right.  That they would be accepted because of their Jewish blood.  I can't help but think this is a warning to all of us – don't get too comfortable.  None of us have a right to be here.  We have a relationship with God and we have salvation because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.  We did nothing to earn it and we don't deserve it.  I worry that at times, in the church, we might fall into the same trap that the Jews fell into, thinking we are superior or have some kind of right to be here because we have "been in church" so long.  In doing so, there is the possibility, just maybe, that we might look down our nose at others and not extend grace and mercy like we are called to do.  Paul's warning is real, my friends.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope March 16, 2026   Scripture: Romans 8   Prayer:   Almighty God, We come before you this morning with awe and humility.  Help us remember all you have done for us.  We are nothing without you.  We need you desperately, Lord.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you.  Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 8.  There is so much substance in this one chapter.  Overall, Paul is telling us to live by the Spirit and he is encouraging us because no matter what, God's love prevails.  I'm going to touch on a few of the main points.    The first part of the chapter details how we need to live according to the Spirit.  Yes, we are human beings, so we have a sinful nature, but that doesn't mean we have to live according to that sinful nature.  Paul says that once we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwells us, meaning the Spirit can guide us, convict us, and direct us.  In fact, we are only living in true freedom if we are allowing the Spirit to guide us.  Being led by the sinful nature is just another form of bondage and that leads to death.  When we live by the Spirit, we know that we are children of God, we have the assurance of salvation and new life in Christ.    In the next part of the chapter, Paul focuses on our present sufferings.  Keep in mind, the church at the time was enduring tremendous persecution.  It wasn't easy following Jesus in the Roman world.  But Paul says these sufferings are nothing compared to the future glory that they will experience.  These present hardships will not last.  Eternity with Jesus, on the other hand, will last forever.  He is encouraging them to stay the course, hold on, because it will get so much better.  In fact, he says something quite extraordinary:  All of these difficulties and challenges will actually be used by God in some way to bring him glory, to extend the purposes of his Kingdom.   That doesn't mean they won't be painful or really, really hard, but God won't let anything go to waste.   One part that I just love is when Paul speaks about all creation groaning for all things to be made right again.  Ever since the fall, God has been putting things in place to make things right, to basically reverse the effects of the fall.  Not only do we as human beings look forward to when death, suffering, and pain, are no longer part of our world, but so does all of creation.  I can't help thinking about that line in the praise song, So Will I, when Hillsong sings, "If the rocks cry out in reverence, so will I."  Y'all, even the rocks are yearning for God to make things right again, once and for all.    Paul also speaks about how the Spirit intercedes for us.  I love this.  When things are really, really bad, when we don't have words or don't have the strength to say the words, we can trust that the Spirit of the living God is interceding for us at the throne of grace with words we can't understand.    Have there been times in your life in which you just didn't have the ability to pray?  Maybe you were incapacitated or so distressed that the words couldn't come out.  I know I've had times in which all I can do is cry out, "Jesus!"  And I know, I trust, that the Holy Spirit understands and is working on my behalf.  How cool is that?  What a mighty God we serve.   But I can't finish this devotional without talking about the last part of the chapter.  Paul gives us this beautiful picture of God's love and how nothing at all can ever separate us from it.  I use this Scripture quite often in funerals, especially when the person has died under difficult circumstances.  I find it so hopeful that if that individual believed in Jesus, that nothing can separate them from God's love.  It very clearly says that death cannot separate from God's love, even difficult, painful deaths like drug overdoses and suicide.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Daily Dose of Hope March 13, 2026   Scripture: Romans 7   Prayer:   Almighty God, We are in awe of you.  You are all-powerful and all-knowing.  You are the one who was, and is, and is to come.  We give you all the glory and praise.  We rejoice that you, the one who created all things, also cares so deeply for us.  We are overwhelmed by your love and grace, which you offer freely even when we mess up.  Thank you so much, Lord.  As we think about our day to come, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...Oh Lord, how we need you.  We pray this in your powerful name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 7.  This chapter describes our relationship to the law.  The law demonstrates how sinful we truly are.  We continually fail to follow the law, God's people throughout history have continually failed to follow the law, despite their best attempts.  The law exposes how vulnerable we all are to sin; it is like holding up a mirror.  It shows us our frailties and brokenness.  Paul mentions coveting.  The law tells him not to covet but that just makes him want to covet.    Keep in mind, this does not mean the law is bad.  It just shows how weak we happen to be.  On our own (that is, without Jesus), we will continue to mess up and do those things that we really don't want to do.  But in Jesus, we are new people.  We have the Holy Spirit living within us. That doesn't mean we won't mess up – we are still human.  But (and Paul will address this more in the next chapter) we have the ability to resist temptation and live for Jesus.  Again, none of this is because of us but because of who lives in us.    How often have we done something that we know is wrong even though we didn't want to?  That's our sinful nature.  Paul says that he does what he hates and doesn't do what he knows is right.  This is a problem we all face!  None of us are immune.  But as we grow in our walk with Jesus, I'm hoping we begin to resist that nature and lean into what we know is right.    What has been your experience with this?  How do you struggle with sin?  And how have you seen your thoughts and behavior change as you have grown in your Christian walk?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Daily Dose of Hope March 12, 2026   Scripture: Romans 6   Prayer:   Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe.  You are amazing.  You offer new life.  And yet, we still struggle to keep focus on you.  Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts.  Help us take a moment of silence and remember who you are...Holy Spirit, speak to us today.  We want to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 6.  In this chapter, Paul discusses why we should no longer sin once we have become believers of Jesus.  In the previous chapters, he has talked about how we are no longer under the law.  That's true.  We are saved and our sins are forgiven.  That's also true.  But that doesn't mean we should start acting like fools.  Rather, the standard is higher.   Paul also considers sin to be an enslaving power.  I'm not sure we really think about it that way.  I typically think of sin as brokenness or a separation between myself and God.  But Paul sees it as something much deeper – it's a power that is actually fighting for control of all creation.    Humans are enslaved to sin.  And slaves don't typically have any control over their bodies.  They are forced into labor, they are punished at will, and they can be assaulted without any kind of recourse.  To be enslaved is to have every part of you controlled by another.  If humans are enslaved to sin, then the only thing that has mastery over this slavery is Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.    Paul explains that when someone accepts Jesus, they experience a spiritual death to sin.  They then also experience a rebirth.  They become new people in Jesus.  As new people in Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin, as our old selves were crucified.  Sin is no longer our master.  It no longer has the same hold on us.  That being said, we still have a daily choice to make.  We are still human and sin is still tempting.  But we make a choice to live righteously.    Think about your own temptations.  What daily choices do you make because you now live for Jesus?  How have your own daily choices changed as you have grown in your walk with Jesus Christ?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope March 11, 2026   Scripture: Romans 5   Prayer:   Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 5.  In this chapter, Paul explores the origin of sin in a unique way.  He speaks of Adam, through which sin entered the world.  If you are familiar with the study of the spread of disease (called epidemiology), then you have probably heard of patient zero.  Patient zero is the first person who brings a specific disease into an area.  To find this person, the epidemiologists trace the outbreak through all sorts of people, interviewing, contact tracing, digging, and digging some more to find out where the disease began.   Adam was patient zero for sin.  It was through Adam that sin came into play.  After that, all humans were "infected" with sin.  There was no way not to be infected. The world was no longer a lovely, perfect place like the Garden of Eden.  The world was now broken, filled with hardship, disease, and death.    But if Adam brought us sin and death, Jesus brings us life.  Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.  Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to a holy God.  We can do life, walking hand in hand with God–no walls, no barriers, and no shame.  Jesus has removed anything preventing us from accessing God.  You see, when he died on the cross, the blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of all humanity for all time.  He cleansed us from sin and gave us his righteousness.   What is righteousness?  That's a word that Paul uses an awful lot.  Righteousness is the quality of being morally right, virtuous, and just.  Jesus is totally righteous and we aren't!  But through the cross, in the act of cleansing us from sin, Jesus imputed (gave) his righteousness to us.  We are made righteous by Jesus.  Now, God doesn't see our messed up, broken lives–he sees that which Jesus has freely gifted us.  In Jesus, we are saved and made righteous.  And as Jesus continues to work within us, let's hope that the righteousness of Jesus really takes root in a different way.  As we seek to grow closer to Jesus, may the righteousness, the virtuousness, the justice, and the love of Christ grow within us and make us better reflections of him.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki                

Daily Dose of Hope March 10, 2026   Scripture: Romans 4   Prayer:  Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us.  Thank you for that.  We are sorry for the ways that we resist.  Help us to want what you want for us.  Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient.  Conform our will, Lord, In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically.  Just for review, we have read Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Corinthians, and now we are in Romans.    Today's reading is Romans 4.  This is an interesting chapter.  Paul clearly wants his Jewish listeners to know that justification by faith is not a new concept, but there is actually a precedent in the Old Testament.  Likewise, he wants his Gentile listeners to know that they have a rich spiritual heritage when they believe in Jesus, as the Old Testament attests to this salvation.  Paul highlights Abraham and David, two great men of faith, to demonstrate that even under the old covenant, people were saved by faith rather than by works.   Paul discusses Abraham's faith. Abraham believed, against all hope and even though it was a crazy thought, that he would become a father in his old age and even become the father of many nations.  Sarah was something like 100 years old.  This was not a reasonable thing to believe!  Despite some mishaps along the way (think Hagar and Ishmael), Abraham had faith that God would do what God said he would do.  It was Abraham's faith, rather than his adherence to the law (works), that God credited him as righteous.    It is also our faith, specifically our faith in Jesus Christ and belief that he died for our sins and was resurrected, that God credits us as righteous.  To be righteous means to be in right standing with God.  Let's be clear.  We are not righteous at all on our own merit.  Rather, because of Jesus, we are credited as righteous.  We essentially get to hang on Jesus' righteousness coattails, and I am so very glad for it!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 9, 2026   Scripture:  Romans 3   Prayer:  Everlasting Father, We thank you that you are a God of hope.  You are a God who keeps his promises.  You are a God who always has our best interest in mind.  Forgive us for those times that we want things to go the way we want things to go.  Fill us with your wisdom and discernment.  Help us try to think about things from a more eternal perspective.  How difficult that is for us!  Lord, we submit to you our lives, our families, our jobs, our burdens, our physical bodies.  We give them to you and we trust you.  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  My prayer for each of you is that as we move through this season of Lent, you will make plenty of time to read, interpret, and pray over the Scripture.  What is God teaching you through Paul's letters?  We have now reached Romans, which I think is fascinating but one of the most difficult of Paul's letters to understand.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  What is God teaching you?  What are you gleaning?   Today's reading is Romans 3.  Paul continues to discuss the sinfulness of human beings.  No one is righteous, no matter one's religious upbringing (Jew vs. non-Jew), occupation, or station in life; every single person is a sinner.  It sounds a bit hopeless but Paul is leading up to something very important.  Yes, all people are sinners and all people fall short of God's standard BUT we can be saved through the gift of grace that comes with believing in Jesus Christ.  It's pretty incredible really.  We are all a broken mess.  We are born inclined to sin and this sinfulness creates a barrier between God and us.  But Jesus' sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins.    What in the world does that mean?  When Jesus died on the cross, our sins and the sins of all humanity died up there with him.  If you think back to the Old Testament sacrificial system, the priests would sacrifice animals to atone for the sins of the people and the community.  And the people could not sacrifice their sick and lame animals, only the strong, healthy ones.  They needed to feel the sacrifice.  And then, the animal's blood was shed to demonstrate that sin has consequences.  It wasn't pretty at all but it wasn't supposed to be.  Now, Jesus is the final, perfect sacrifice.  It was his blood that was shed to atone for the sins of all people, for all time.    Let's go just a little deeper here.  As God himself, Jesus was holy and totally without sin.  He gave his life to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.  His death on the cross created a bridge between God and us.  No more barrier.  If we have said yes to Jesus, then when God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but rather Jesus' sacrifice.  The blood of Jesus essentially covers us or atones for us.   Now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are free to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  And we did nothing to earn this or deserve it.  As Paul writes, it was a gift of grace.  Grace is God's unmerited, amazing love that is freely given to all those who believe.    How have you experienced God's grace?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 6, 2026   Scripture:  Romans 2   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today rejoicing in your powerful name.  Thank you for who you are and all you do.  Thank you for loving us.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts, help us set aside distractions, and truly focus on you right now.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we want to hear your voice...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.   Today's reading is Romans 2.  Through the end of chapter one and most of chapter two, Paul points out the sinfulness of humanity and the righteousness of God.  Whether Jew or Gentile, each person will have a day of reckoning, in which they will stand before God.    But then, Paul's words take a turn as they are directed specifically at Jewish listeners.  He doesn't mince words.  The Jewish audience may think they are better than the Gentiles because of circumcision and the law, but truly actions speak louder than words.  What good is the law if they don't obey it?  Paul accuses the Jews of judging the Gentiles for not doing things "right" but really they should be judging themselves.  Their faith was superficial and all about outward appearances, so they look good in front of other human beings, not God.   What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.  What's going on in your heart right now?  Unfortunately, it is too easy for us to make faith about a list of things that make us look good to others: attending church regularly, serving and volunteering, being part of a small group or Bible study, making moral choices, being a good person, you get the idea.  But if our heart isn't right with God, all those good things are worthless.  What God values is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.  And God knows what's there – he can see through us right to the core.    When God looks at your heart, what does he find?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope March 5, 2026   Scripture:  Romans 1   Prayer:  Almighty God, Thank you for a new day and a new chance to give you glory and praise.  You are an amazing God.  How incredible it is that you, who created everything, know my name.  You know every hair on my head.  While I am so grateful for your love and care, it is sometimes difficult for me to adequately wrap my brain around your expansive love and mercy.  Help me be a better reflection of you, Lord.  Help me see others through your eyes.  Help me be merciful, kind, and good.  Lord, I know I fall short.  So often.  But I want to do better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, hear my prayer...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  We just finished our fourth letter (2 Corinthians) and today we are beginning Romans. Today's reading is Romans 1.  Romans is probably one of the most impactful books of the Bible.  Much of our Christian doctrine is rooted in this book.  My own experience in Romans is that sometimes I need to read a chapter more than once to understand its meaning.  Don't be discouraged if that is the case for you too.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your reading and reveal what God wants you to know in each chapter.  Romans is written in the form a letter.  Paul starts by identifying himself: he is a servant of Christ, an apostle, and one who is set apart for the Gospel.  He is writing to a church in Rome that he did not establish and has not yet visited.  He wants to be clear from the beginning who he is and what he believes.  He is clear that the purpose of his writing is Jesus.  Really, it's all about Jesus Christ, and we will see that theme woven throughout the entirety of Romans.  It's certainly a good reminder for us–it is simply all about Jesus. We get quite distracted but Jesus is what matters. In the middle of the chapter, Paul is clear about his purpose - sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take a look at some of the statements that Paul makes: -I am obligated to both Greeks and non-Greeks, to those who are wise and foolish. -I am eager to preach the Gospel to those in Rome. -I am not ashamed of the Gospel. Paul knows who and whose he is and that defines every other aspect of his life.  He is a person sent to share the Good News to all people, he is looking forward to preaching Jesus to the people of Rome, and he is totally unashamed, unembarrassed, and ready to be a minister of the Gospel.  What are your thoughts about this?  We live in a time and culture in which people are hesitant to share their faith, worried about people's reactions, and content to just leave things be.  Paul was anything but content.  He felt obligated, eager, and totally unashamed!  Spend some time in prayer asking God to speak to you, specifically what God wants you to learn from Paul and our new study of Romans.  Ask God to open your heart and mind to new concepts and challenges. Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope March 4, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13   Prayer:  Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the pastoral letters of Paul.  Toay, we are finishing Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.   Our reading is 2 Corinthians 13.  Paul has some strong closing comments for the Corinthian church. The Corinthians want evidence that God is speaking through Paul. Paul turns the argument around and tells them to assess their own faith. According to Paul, they should be examining themselves, not cross-examining him.   Paul wants the Corinthians to look closely at their own behavior and attitudes. Do they point to faith in Jesus? This is the test to which he is referring. It is so much easier to point a finger at others and criticize their behavior, speech, and lifestyle, than it is to examine our own. I can't help but be reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:3-5, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.   Just as the Corinthians wanted to focus on what they perceived as Paul's weaknesses, we also get fixated on what we see are the problems of others. All the while, we feel perfectly comfortable with a massive plank in our own eye. Ask God to reveal to you the times in which you were quick to judge others rather than examine your own life and faith.   One last thing.  You probably noticed that Paul ends his letter by telling the Corinthians to greet one another with a holy kiss.  At that time, a kiss on one or both cheeks was a common greeting.  In fact, in many places around the globe, this is still a very normal greeting.  In Cuba, we double-cheek kiss when we enter the church and again when we leave.  In Mozambique, I believe we did single-cheek kisses.  Early churches considered these kisses to be holy, an expression of the deep bond between believers and a sign of unity in the body of Christ.  Paul is known to have encouraged the practice several different times.   So, what do you think?  Should we bring this to New Hope?       Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope March 3, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Provider, Sustainer, Thank you for being the God who creates, cares, loves, and saves.  All we have is from you.  As we talk about today's text, give us a fresh revelation; help us see your Word in a new way. Lord, thank you most of all for Jesus.  Thank you for his sacrifice.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us actually live the way you taught us.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the pastoral letters of Paul.  We are nearing the end of 2 Corinthians. Our reading today is 2 Corinthians 12. In this chapter, Paul continues his discussion on boasting but it takes a definite turn.   He tells the Corinthians to be careful not to lift up visions and revelations but instead to have the humility to share how God has showed up in difficult seasons, times of weakness.  Paul had quite a divine encounter on the road to Damascus during which he met Christ and he could boast about it.  It was an impressive story!  Sometimes, he choose to share his experience because it was such a powerful testimony  But he is telling the Corinthians to be careful here.  There are times when that is appropriate and there are times when it isn't.  Use discernment and be careful of motives in sharing divine experiences.  When he finishes with the "foolishness" boasting about his attributes (which you recall he did to make a point to his rivals), he quickly states that he will only boast in his weaknesses. Because in our weaknesses, God demonstrates his power. In our weaknesses and shortcomings, Jesus has room to do his work. We only think our earthly attributes make us strong. It is truly our weaknesses that make us strong because that's where God comes in and demonstrates his miraculous work.  Paul speaks of a thorn in his side.  He calls it a "messenger of Satan" sent to both harass him and keep him humble.  I've read all kinds of things that this thorn could have been.  It might have possibly been a physical illness, such as a chronic illness.  One scholar mentioned an eye issue, although I have no idea how he came up with that.  Other academics have suggested that Paul could have been dealing with a mental health issue, such as depression.  Considering all he had been through, this would certainly make sense.  Still others say that Paul was battling a spiritual attack.  Really, it could be any or all of these.  And we will never know.  Maybe that is better.  Because all of us deal with a thorn in our flesh too. We all have something we struggle with, something that reminds us of our weakness and humbles us.  Paul says in today's chapter that he pleaded to God for help.  You may have also pleaded to God to help you with your thorn.  Paul wants the Corinthians to know, and this is very helpful for us too, that God didn't ignore his pleas.  Rather, God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Basically, God had given Paul all he needed to come out victorious in this situation.  When Paul was weak, God was strong.  So, stop whining, stand up and use the weapons and power I have provided to you! What are your weaknesses? Rather than lamenting about them, have you ever thought that Christ might use them for his glory? Take a moment and spend some time in prayer, submitting your weaknesses, really your whole life, to Jesus today. Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 27 and March 2, 2026   Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10-11   Prayer:  Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through Paul's pastoral letters.  I am so sorry, last Friday, my devotional did not post and I did not notice until Saturday.  I decided to just combine Friday and Monday's posts.  Thus, today, we will cover 2 Corinthians 10 and 11.   Let's start with chapter 10.  After a lengthy discussion on the collection for Jerusalem believers, Paul returns to the issue of defending his love for the Corinthians and his authority as an apostle. Paul is concerned with his own reputation but he is more concerned with saving the Corinthian church from these rivals who are promoting a false Gospel.   It's interesting that many people read Paul's epistles and think of him as uncompromising and even harsh at times. But that apparently isn't the Paul that the Corinthian church witnessed. They thought of Paul as weak and timid. In this chapter, Paul is defending himself against such accusations. He is not timid but bold. However, he doesn't wage war in the typical sense. He wages war with God's power. Thus, we can suppose that Paul fights with spiritual weapons such as prayer and divine wisdom.   According to the Scripture, these weapons allow him to demolish strongholds. The Corinthians would have been familiar with strongholds, places with much fortification to help defend against attack. But it would have also been common knowledge that no amount of fortification could defend against a strong, forceful offensive attack. The power of God, Paul's spiritual weapons, were much stronger than anything that his rivals could present. Paul stands ready to attack the "stronghold" erected by those in Corinth who oppose him and slander his name. No amount of verbal attacks on his character, no intellectual arguments, no worldly debate could match the power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was on the side of Christ and that was his most effective weapon.   Do you make use of spiritual weapons?  And if you don't, then why not?   Let's move on to chapter 11. Up until this point, Paul has avoiding boasting and self-aggrandizement. Because of this, he has gotten slammed by his rivals. Now, he asks the Corinthians to bear with a little foolishness as he boasts. He seems to think there is no other way to address these charges against his authority as an apostle and Christian leader than to clearly articulate why he is qualified. But unlike his rivals, Paul makes it clear that he knows boasting is nothing but foolishness because it leaves God out of the equation.   Paul begins his foolish boasting to counter the attack of his rivals. From reading this, we can guess that those opposing Paul took pride in their Jewish heritage, in their ministry work, and in their visions and revelations. Paul matches them point for point. But he does so knowing it's all a bit ridiculous. The only thing that really matters is boasting about God.   Paul's original discourse with the Corinthians about boasting is found back in 1 Corinthians1:26-31. Reflect on the difference between this and what Paul is expressing in today's passage, Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the   shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."    More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 26, 2026   Scripture:  2 Corinthians 9   Prayer:  Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us.  We thank you for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances.  Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness.  Help us seek pure hearts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through Paul's letters.  We are working our way through our fifth pastoral letter, 2 Corinthians.   Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 9.  In this chapter, Paul is continuing his discussion on giving. Paul is trying to rouse some enthusiasm among the Corinthian believers on the topic of giving, specifically giving to the destitute believers in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Christians were experiencing a famine and possibly loss of their livelihood due to converting the Christianity.  They were initially very interested and enthusiastic but apparently, they haven't followed through on their commitments.   Today's chapter leads to some interesting thoughts. You reap what you sow, not just with material resources but also in other ways. This idea is found throughout Scripture but most notably in Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.   But it also suggests that giving is an individual decision of the heart. We don't give for public recognition but to please God and demonstrate his love to others. God doesn't want us to give out of a sense of obligation but truly out of a kind and generous heart. All we have comes from God, we are simply giving a portion back to God's work in this world. Finally, Paul is suggesting that when we give to God's work, we will be blessed. God will ensure that our needs are met. Notice Paul doesn't say that our wants will be fulfilled but rather our needs. We will have what we need to be content.   What does it take for you to be content? Do you give with a cheerful heart?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope February 25, 2026   Scripture:  2 Corinthians 8   Prayer to the Divine Tutor from St Clement of Alexandria (150–215):   Be kind to Your little children, Lord; that is what we ask of You as their Tutor, You the Father, Israel's guide; Son, yes, but Father as well. Grant that by doing what You told us to do, we may achieve a faithful likeness to the Image and, as far as is possible for us, may find in You a good God and a lenient Judge.   May we all live in the peace that comes from You. May we journey towards Your city, sailing through the waters of sin untouched by the waves, borne tranquilly along by the Holy Spirit, Your Wisdom beyond all telling. Night and day until the last day of all, may our praises give You thanks, our thanksgiving and praise to You: You who alone are both Father and Son, Son and Father, the Son who is our Tutor and our Teacher, together with the Holy Spirit.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through Paul's letters.  We are working our way through our fifth pastoral letter, 2 Corinthians. Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 8.  There is significant need among the believers in Jerusalem and Paul is imploring the churches in Macedonia and Greece to give, not out of obligation but truly out of love for their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in Jerusalem were Jewish believers who the Gentile Corinthians had never met. This offering would not have been part of a tithe, but rather over and beyond their normal giving, in order to help those who needed it. While the Macedonian churches were located in a fairly wealthy and prosperous area, that doesn't mean all the churches were affluent. There were some among them who were wealthy but many more were just working class or poor. And yet, Paul is calling them to give anyway. He has called all the Macedonian churches to give; this includes Corinth but also Philippi and Thessalonica. He is asking the Corinthians church to finish up their previous collection, keeping in mind the extreme need in Jerusalem. This is not a command, by any means, but rather encouragement to do what is right. Giving does not come naturally to human beings. We seem to have this need to keep things for ourselves. We tend toward selfishness over sacrifice. Generosity is something that God nurtures in our hearts. Jesus taught often about being generous. Think about Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The beauty in the Scripture is that it demonstrates that when we invest in the things of God, our heart will be pulled in that direction as well.  We start by giving sacrificially and God changes our heart. What's been your experience with giving? Do you tithe? If you don't, then what keeps you from giving on that level? Have you ever given above and beyond the tithe, as Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to do? What motivated that giving?  How has God blessed your giving? Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 24, 2026   Scripture:  2 Corinthians 7   Prayer:  Holy and Almighty Father, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We know we are broken and need you.  We are weak.  We are vulnerable to temptation.  Lord, fill us with your strength.  Give us your stamina and wisdom.  We can't do this life without you, Lord.  It's in the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through Paul's letters.  We are working our way through our fifth pastoral letter, 2 Corinthians. Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 7.  Paul continues to express his love and dedication to the Corinthians. Despite their disobedience and their lack of confidence in him, Paul has confidence and love for them. In fact, Paul says that he would live or die with them. He is making the point that their relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ will not end with physical death. They are united for eternity. This means something! Have you ever considered that you are united with your fellow believers for eternity? This usually brings me great joy. I've met Christians all over the world who I know I won't ever meet again in this earthly life. But yet, we will be together in heaven forever. At the same time, there are believers who I know with whom I've never quite gotten along. Guess what? I also will spend eternity with them. Our bonds as Christian brothers and sisters are strong, friends. Is there a Christian brother or sister with whom you have disagreed, and you need to make amends? Our allegiance to Jesus should always trump our individual disagreements. I'm not saying to be a doormat. However, think about the disagreement, pray about it, and see how God wants you to proceed. There is one more concept in this chapter I wanted to mention.  Paul rejoices that the Corinthians have experienced Godly sorrow and repentance.  2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguishes between godly sorrow, which produces "repentance leading to salvation," and worldly sorrow, which leads to death. Godly sorrow is about remorse for hurting God and others, while worldly sorrow is often just regret over being caught or facing consequences.  Have you experienced Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow?  Can you see the difference? Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope February 23, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6   Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today in awe of your love for us.  Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice.  Thank you for sitting high and looking low.  We give you all the glory and praise, Lord Jesus.  Help us to be less selfish and more like you.  On our own, we mess it up.  We need you, Jesus.  We need you minute by minute.  Guide our thoughts today, Lord.  Guide our words and guide our actions.  May we look more like you today, Lord, than we did yesterday.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's pastoral letters chronologically.  We are now in the middle of 2 Corinthians.   Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 6.  Paul wants the Corinthians to know that there are boundaries surrounding the behaviors of the covenant community. As we have discussed in previous chapters, most of Corinth consisted of individuals who worshipped multiple gods; idolatry and sexual immorality were a part of the pagan existence. Now, people are coming to know Jesus and entering the Corinthian church.  This requires a huge shift in thinking about what is acceptable. Paul continues to teach that while they have freedom in Christ, that is not an excuse for behavior that displeases God. They are called to holiness.   It is from that place that Paul tells the Corinthian believers not to be yoked with unbelievers. A yoke refers to the wooden crosspiece that was fastened over the necks of two oxen and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull. When one animal is yoked to another, generally the stronger animal can help make up for the inadequacies of the weaker animal. Think about Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." When we are yoked together with Jesus, he helps lighten our load and provides rest for our souls.   But Paul is saying not to be yoked with those who are not Christ-followers. As in the reference from Matthew, being yoked with someone suggests a close, almost intimate relationship. Do not yoke yourself with someone whose values, attitudes, and behaviors are fundamentally different from your own. Paul is referencing marriage but also other relationships. Do not bind yourself to people who have a worldview that is opposed to your own.   I want to be clear; Paul is not saying that Christians aren't to associate with unbelievers.  Frequently, Paul encourages believers to eat with those who don't yet believe and build relationships with those who need to know the hope of Christ. But having an unbelieving friend or acquaintance is totally different from an unbelieving spouse, business partner, or bestie. Set your boundaries.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 20, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5   Prayer:  Almighty God, As we move into our Friday, we pray that today will be a day that we see glimpses of your glory.  We need you, we yearn for you.  Lord, help us set aside our distractions and settle our scattered thoughts so we can focus on you and you alone.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We have been journeying through Paul's New Testament letters.  I don't know about you, but its been great to learn more about Paul's relationship with his churches.  There is so much substance here.  Currently, we are in 2 Corinthians.   Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 5.  In the first ten verses of the chapter, Paul is tackling the difficult topic of what happens to us when we die. In Paul's culture (as in ours), there was fascination but also fear regarding the end of physical life. This piece of Scripture discusses the future resurrection and transformation of believers and the certainty of being with Jesus after death. We can be assured of this based on God placing the Spirit within us (Paul calls it a deposit). The Holy Spirit offers us assurance of salvation and that this earthly life is not the end.   Now, let's take a moment and talk about verse 17, one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Paul starts with the statement, "Therefore..." because the previous statement pointed out that Christ is no longer viewed from a human perspective, as he is God. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and his life, death, and resurrection form this radical, fundamental breakthrough for all creation. Because of this, things are different. God's Kingdom has been inaugurated and a new way of doing life is here. So, if someone is in Christ, meaning they have accepted Jesus and are united with a life-giving Savior, then this new way of living and being has started. They are no longer the same person. They are being transformed from the inside out by the power of the Spirit of God. The old person, the "pre-Jesus" life, is in the past. They now do life differently - new attitudes, new behaviors, new ways of thinking-focused on the ways of Jesus rather than the ways of the world   I want to add that becoming a new person is a choice. Others call it a process. It's both really. Becoming the person that God created us to be in Jesus Christ is not going to simply happen by accident. We participate in the process. The Holy Spirit works in us and we cooperate with God in the transformation. What has your "becoming a new creation" process looked like? None of us have arrived either. What are the places in your life in which God may be still calling you to change to look more like Jesus?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 19, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4   Prayer:  Holy God, Almighty Father, the Great I AM, Throughout all time, You are good.  Your ways are perfect.  Teach us your ways, Lord.  Help us to know you better, to know you more.  Lord, on our own, we are powerless.  We are desperate for your wisdom, love, and mercy.  More of you and less of me, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We have been on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them chronologically.   We started with Galatians, then we walked through I and 2 Thessalonians.  We recently finished I Corinthians and now we are in 2 Corinthians.  It's been a great journey thus far.   Today's reading is 2 Corinthians 4.  Paul wants the Corinthians to know that his ministry is not about letters of judgment.  Yes, he is sending them a letter of rebuke but that is different from judgment.  He disapproves of their actions, but he loves them.  Paul wants them to know that his is a ministry of the Holy Spirit.  And where the Spirit is, there is freedom that comes from knowing and being transformed by Jesus.   The message of Jesus is an amazing treasure that we have been given, but we keep it in jars of clay, our frail, broken bodies.  Jars of clay would have been a normal sight in Paul's day. They were basic, earthenware vessels, used for everything from cooking utensils to toilets. They were inexpensive but breakable and could easily be knocked over and damaged.   And we, as Christ-followers, get to be the vessels that hold the Good News of Jesus. God chooses to store his greatest treasure in our own weak and flawed human bodies. They aren't too unlike the clay jars, common and fragile. Yet, God chooses us. In all our brokenness, God chooses us. In the mess of the world, God chooses us. In the midst of hardship and oppression, God still chooses us. We get to be the bearers of the greatest news in the history of all humanity. God chooses us.   Just let that sink in a bit.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 18, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3   Prayer:  Holy God, We are weary.  We are tired.  We need you.  You are great and mighty.  You are merciful and loving.  How we need that right now!  Lord, speak to us today.  We need to hear your voice.  We pray that your voice will be louder and clearer than all the other voices that crowd our thoughts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, please speak to us...  God, we give you all the glory.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Happy Ash Wednesday.  If you live in the greater Brandon, Florida, area, I invite you to attend the New Hope Church Ash Wednesday service at 6:30pm in Logan Hall.  There will be meaningful worship, a brief message, and the imposition of ashes.   For our devotional, we are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  We have just started our fifth pastoral letter, 2 Corinthians.  Today, we are taking a look at chapter 3.  In the beginning of the chapter, Paul is explaining why he doesn't need letters of recommendation. Apparently, this was a common practice to provide letters that verified the authenticity of an apostle or leader. Paul mentions providing them in some of his other epistles but does not feel the need to have them for the church at Corinth. After all, he founded the Corinthian church so they should be well aware of his gifts and skills as an apostle. This whole discussion gives us a bigger picture of what Paul is dealing with-people are challenging his credentials and leadership. This must have been very distressing for Paul, who put so much love and self-sacrifice into his churches.   Paul then moves on to a discussion about boldness and spiritual blindness. He can be bold because there is no veil separating him from God. Remember, Moses had to pull a veil over his face when he went to speak with God to protect himself and the Israelites from God's powerful glory. It also reminds me of another veil-the curtain that separated the priest from the holiest of holies in the temple, where God's presence dwelt. Under the Old Covenant, there were many veils which served to protect people from God's power and glory. While it was for their protection, it was also a physical and spiritual separation.   Paul makes the point that even then, while the veil was technically gone, the Jews still behaved as if it was there; they experienced a spiritual blindness of sorts. But in Christ, there is freedom. There doesn't have to be separation from God or blind adherence to the Old Covenant. Christ introduced a new way of doing life, where the veil is gone, and we can now contemplate God's glory. In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can day by day be transformed into his likeness.   Verse 18 really resonates with me today. "...we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory..." This is sanctification. The more we grow in our walk with Jesus, the more we experience his grace and look more and more like him.   A question: do you look more like Jesus today than you did five years ago? Why or why not? What do you want to look like five years from now?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 17, 2026   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2   Prayer: Lord God Almighty, You have given us everything.  Not only did you create the world, but you created us.  Everything we have is a gift from you.  Forgive us for when we begin to think that things are "ours."  Soften our hearts.  Help us become more generous.  Lord, I give you my whole self.  I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice; may I be pleasing in your sight.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  We have just started our fifth pastoral letter, 2 Corinthians. Today, we are taking a look at chapter 2.  In this chapter, Paul explains the reason he delayed his return to Corinth from Macedonia. His first visit had ended poorly. An influential man in Corinth had challenged Paul's apostolic authority.  This man said Paul had no credibility from Jesus.  So Paul left. He knew that if he returned as originally scheduled, it would create another difficult visit.  Paul really wanted to protect the church but he also needed to deal with this conflict. He sent a letter instead. This also created discord in the church.  Not only were they upset with the tone of the letter but they were upset that Timothy rather than Paul delivered it.  But Paul stayed away until he saw how things placed out.  Eventually, the church sided with Paul. They decide that the man who opposed Paul committed a grave sin. The church punished him, and he repented.  Some scholars suggest the term used here might be better interpreted as saying the church "reprimanded" the man. Paul urges them to end the punishment, to forgive and comfort the man, and to reaffirm their love for him. Paul insists that forgiveness must happen in each direction in order to keep them from being tricked by Satan.  Let's think about this – how might the enemy use unforgiveness to gain a foothold in our churches? Paul also wants to assure the church of his deep love for them and their dependence on one another. He isn't the kind of leader who lords authority over them. Rather, they belong to each other. He is their coworker in the movement of the Gospel. Are you aware that as the body of Jesus Christ, we all belong to God but we also belong to each other? Our work in the Lord is dependent on one another. We need one another. We are not independent contractors for Jesus out there on our own trying to share the Good News. Rather, we are all in this together, helping and supporting each other, praying for one another, and encouraging each other in our work. Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope February 16, 2026   Scripture:  2 Corinthians 1   Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning.  No matter what our week or weekend has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew.  Lord, forgive us for our many failings.  We want to do better.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters.  On Friday, we completed our fourth pastoral letter and today we begin our fifth, 2 Corinthians. While 2 Corinthians is the second letter we have that Paul wrote to Corinth, there are hints in the text about other letters (at least one); most likely got lost so we don't have access to them.  Paul established the church at Corinth on his second missionary journey and you can refresh your memory on that in Acts 18.  After he leaves Corinth, it doesn't take long for him to hear rumors that things are going south there.  That's when he writes I Corinthians.  Just to review, in I Corinthians, Paul provides a strong rebuke of the Corinthians about their worldly aspirations, their arrogance, and their shallow view of Christian leadership. This didn't serve to endear Paul to the influencers in the Corinthian church.  In fact, they got really mad.  Many in the church rejected his teachings and his authority.  Thus, Paul visited them personally in what he called his painful visit.  He references it in the very first verse of 2 Corinthians 2 (we will read I tomorrow).  He was addressing head-on the conflict and immorality in the church.  After that, he wrote a second letter, which I mentioned earlier, and Paul references that a few times in chapter 2.   Apparently, after the visit and letter, many of the Corinthians were repentant and felt terrible about what happened to Paul and the way he was treated.  2 Corinthians (likely his third letter) is Paul's response to those feelings.  He wants to reassure the people and restore his relationship with the church while also offering them wise counsel and not back down from previous statements. In today's Scripture, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of God's faithful promises. God has anointed us and put his seal on us. From antiquity to present times, a seal indicates ownership. Our bodies are not our own but belong to God. And God has put his Holy Spirit within our hearts as a deposit, or a guarantee, of what is to come. The promise is that we will be with Jesus at the resurrection and that we will continue to be made into his likeness in the meantime. How do we know that the Holy Spirit is living within us? How do we know that we belong to God? Think back to your own childhood. How did you know that you belonged to your earthly parents? Besides having the same name, there is an awareness and even a confidence that they are your parents and you are their child. This is obviously an imperfect example because while some earthly parents are responsible, protective, and loving, others are not. But we can know that God our Father is faithful, trustworthy, protective, and loving. Do you know that God is your Father?  And, do you know that the Holy Spirit is within you?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope February 13, 2026   Scripture: I Corinthians 16   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you on this Friday with humility and gratefulness.  We praise your powerful name.  Thank you, so much, Lord, that you came to earth to dwell among us and show us a different way of being.  Help us to pay attention to your example.  Help us to be more loving and more merciful in all we do.  Help us to be even but a small reflection of you.  You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through the apostle Paul's pastoral letters in chronological order.  Today, we are finishing our fourth letter – I Corinthians. Our text is I Corinthians 16, the final chapter of this letter.  For the most part, Paul gives practical advice and wisdom. He speaks of taking up a collection for the greater church and of welcoming Christian workers who will be coming to their area soon. It's right after this call to welcome and respect the new leaders that Paul makes this statement, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." I think we would do well to also heed this advice. This idea of being on guard or being alert seems to suggest that we are in a battle not just with earthly powers but also against the power of evil. There are forces in this world that work against Jesus Christ and as his followers.  The Corinthians (and us for that matter) should be aware, alert, and on guard. How easy it was for the Corinthians to drift and get distracted. Umm...sound familiar? Remember whose and who you are might be another way to say it; stay focused on the things of God! Then, there is a call to be courageous and strong. We know from the previous chapters that the Corinthians were arrogant and complacent. Paul is asking them to have courage and do what God has called them to do. Again, I'm thinking Paul could just as easily be talking to the modern church. We have tradition, we have beautiful worship, we have access to all kinds of knowledge, but we don't have courage. This is starting to get personal. Might I add that this kind of strength has nothing to do with physical stamina and the ability to lift heavy weights. This is an internal strength that comes only from God. Finally, Paul says to do everything in love. Yes, being on guard, standing firm, and having courage and strength are critical but they are all pointless if not done with love. Paul is not calling the Corinthians to use aggression or self-assertion (remember, this is how the Corinthian church viewed Christian leadership). Rather, Paul is saying to exhibit all these qualities while demonstrating the love and grace of Jesus. That means, no bullying people to Jesus, no shaming people to Jesus, no manipulating people to Jesus, but only loving people to Jesus. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 12, 2026   Scripture:  I Corinthians 15   Prayer: Abba Father, You are our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer.  Thank you, Lord, for wanting to be in relationship with us. You are a God who sits high and looks low.  You, who are over everything, also care deeply for us.  We are so grateful.  Help us do all we can to glorify you.  We desperately need you, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through Paul's pastoral letters.  We've been through Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, and we are now in I Corinthians. Today's reading is I Corinthians 15.  Paul is asserting in this chapter that the resurrection of Jesus is central to the Gospel. Apparently, there were Christians at Corinth who were espousing the view that Jesus was not raised and that the resurrection was not true. It's possible that they were reverting to their old Greek view of immortality of the soul and not the body. It's also possible that they were simply skeptics who were trying to poke holes in the resurrection story. But Paul is stating here that if resurrection did not occur, our faith is totally useless. That would mean that Jesus did not defeat death, it would mean that we are misrepresenting God, and it would mean we are still dead in our sins. Some thoughts: The resurrection is SIGNIFICANT. All that Jesus did, his whole life was vindicated with the resurrection. The resurrection proved that Jesus was who he said he was, God is who he said he was, and affirmed Jesus' divinity. Think about Paul's words in Romans 1:4"and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord." The resurrection is so important in that it provides assurance and hope that our physical death is not the end. It not only points to life after death but also the future resurrection of believers. Let's visit Romans again, 8:11 says, "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." Jesus' resurrection promises victory over death. But the resurrection is also TRANSFORMATIVE. It is transformative for us as individuals and forus as the body, for the church. I think the most important aspect of believing in the resurrection is that Jesus' resurrection is what provides the power to change us now. It provides the power for complete transformation, to bring what was essentially dead to something that is alive and vibrant and productive. When someone says yes to Jesus Christ, a spiritually dead person becomes united with a life-giving Savior. When that happens, his resurrection produces a resurrection in us. The word resurrection actually comes from the same root as resurgence or rising again. We become connected to a life-giving power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This resurrection power has the ability to revive us, restore us, renew us, transform us. The apostle Paul states inI Corinthians 5:17, "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" There are certainly no shortage of books that detail the evidence for Jesus' resurrection. One good one that is short and easy to digest is Lee Strobel's The Case for Easter. What are your thoughts on the resurrection? Spend some time in prayer about this today. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope February 11, 2026   Scripture:  I Corinthians 14   Prayer:   Almighty God, Thank you for a new day and a new chance to give you glory and praise.  You are an amazing God.  How incredible it is that you, who created everything, know my name.  You know every hair on my head.  While I am so grateful for your love and care, it is sometimes difficult for me to adequately wrap my brain around your expansive love and mercy.  Help me be a better reflection of you, Lord.  Help me see others through your eyes.  Help me be merciful, kind, and good.  Lord, I know I fall short.  So often.  But I want to do better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, hear my prayer...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are journeying through Paul's letter in the New Testament.  We are currently on our fourth pastoral letter, I Corinthians.   Our reading for today was I Corinthians 14.  This chapter is all about order in worship.  A lot of the text has to do with the speaking of tongues. I want to be clear that Paul is not against speaking in tongues.  However, he is clear that tongues benefit the speaker more than the listener. Prophecy, on the other hand, benefits the listeners. This is a passage often taken out of context. Yes, tongues are a gift of the Spirit and for many people, tongues provide an intimate way to communicate with God. But within the context of worship, tongues (spoken publicly) are appropriate only if there is an interpreter. According to Paul, the question to always ask is "Does this build up the body of Christ?"   Speaking of taking passages out of context, the second half of this chapter about good order in worship has been misused by many. Is Paul saying that women need to always be silent in church? No, he isn't, as he is supportive of women's participation in worship in other passages. Just a few chapters before this, in I Corinthians 11:5, Paul mentioned women praying and prophesying aloud in worship.   What does he mean in today's text? Keep in mind, this is a pastoral letter that is addressing a specific situation in a specific place. Corinth was a wild, out of control place. These women have grown up being influenced by this environment. Don't get me wrong, the Greek and Roman world was still highly patriarchal and women had little if any rights or privileges. But in the church, women were valued and had a certain degree of freedom. They could learn, speak, pray, and work alongside the men in many ways. Most likely, in this situation, there was confusion and disorder in the church worship and Paul needed to address it. The Greek word used in the text for speak actually is better translated "chattering." Most likely, these women were interrupting worship with their constant chattering. Maybe they were asking questions. Maybe they were talking amongst themselves. We really don't know.   This leads to an important point. We cannot pick certain Scripture verses and pull them out of their contexts, trying to force an application today. What's important is to look at what the whole Biblical narrative says about a certain topic. Does the whole Biblical narrative insist women be silent in worship OR do we see women lifted up by Jesus, involved in the ministry of the early church, and working as effective prophets, leaders, and teachers (often praised by Paul)? When one or two verses seem out of place, contradicting the rest of the Biblical narrative, then there is probably a deeper meaning behind them. The key is go deeper, study, learn the context and background, and try to discern the author's original intention.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope February 10, 2026   Scripture:  I Corinthians 13   Prayer:  Today, let's pray from Scripture.  Dear God,  Your Word says that, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  This is certainly who you are, Lord.  Help us live this kind of love out in ways that make a difference in the lives of those around us.  More of you, less of me.  We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are journeying through Paul's pastoral letters.  Currently, we are in I Corinthians.   Today's passage is I Corinthians 13.  This is going to be a pretty familiar chapter for many of you.  It's often called the "love" chapter and it is read at weddings and funerals.  It's absolutely beautiful prose but we often get Paul's intention wrong when we read it.   Remember, the Corinthian church was a total mess. They were arrogant, there were strong divisions between rich and poor, there were petty arguments and serious factions, and as we learned yesterday, they were holding up certain spiritual gifts as better than others.  Let's just say it wasn't a picture of Christ's love and grace.   It's in the middle of all of this that Paul tells them what it means to really love one another. This isn't romantic love (eros), brotherly love (philia), but rather agape love. What is agape love? It's the love that God demonstrated to us and calls us to demonstrate to others. It is unconditional, sacrificial love. There is no selfishness in agape but only a concern for the what is best for the other. Paul is outlining this love to the Corinthian church to give them a word picture of what it could look like. Agape is not a feeling or emotion but rather a choice. We make a choice to love others this way and it requires commitment, faithfulness, and sacrifice without requiring anything in return.   Paul, at the end of his discussion about spiritual gifts, wants to make a very important point.  Yes, you can have a gift of prophecy or a gift of tongues, but if you are using it without love, then it is totally useless.  And, you have missed the point.  These gifts were gifts of grace from the Holy Spirit to uplift and equip the body of Christ.  The body of Jesus on earth should be a picture of his love.  If it isn't, we have a really big problem.  Jesus is love and we are called to be as well.    One of my seminary professors, when teaching on agape love, encouraged all of us to do what he called the Wal-mart exercise (I've spoken of this in previous sermons). Really, you can go to any place the public gathers. It could be the mall, Target, or Publix. He suggested sitting down on a public bench and just watching people go by for five minutes. For every single person you see, say "Jesus died for this person. He/she is infinitely loved by God. I'm called to love this person as well." For me, this is challenging. I have to be very intentional about not falling into the trap of judging the person because of how they look but truly looking at them, trying to see them as God sees them, and then focusing on how God wants me to love them unconditionally too.   This has changed me. God's agape love for me is real. My love for others should be too. What would it look like if all of us who are part of New Hope started to "agape" each other? How would this change us as people? How would this change our relationships? How would this change us as a body of believers and our witness to the world?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope February 9, 2026   Scripture: I Corinthians 12   Prayer:  Dear God, You are amazing!  How awesome it is that you who created all things are also so intimately involved in our lives.  We give you glory and praise for who you are.  We are so thankful for your love.  We want to know you more.  We want and need to hear your voice.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are journeying through Paul's pastoral letters.  Currently, we are in I Corinthians. Today's passage is I Corinthians 12.  Paul starts by reminding the believers of their former ignorance.  Afterall, there was a time not too long ago that they didn't know about the one true God but worshiped idols.  Now, they know Jesus and have the Holy Spirit within them – the Spirit of the Living God inside their physical body!  One of the many transformations that happens to us when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior is that the Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual gift (sometimes even more than one.)    A spiritual gift could be seen as a God-given capacity that allows each believer to serve and uplift the body of Christ. And how do you get into this body of Christ?  In verses 13-14, Paul writes, For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. The body of Christ is Jesus' church.  The specific word that Paul uses here for gift is charisma, which comes from charis, which is the Greek word for grace.  A spiritual gift is a gift of God's grace.  It's not something we have earned or developed.  But there is a wide diversity of gifts that the Spirit offers, and Paul lists many of these, including the gift of preaching/teaching, prophecy, apostleship, evangelism, and shepherding. There are even more specific gifts under these main headings. But while there is diversity in gifts, there is unity in purpose. The body of Christ requires all these different people with different and unique gifts to be working together to ensure that Jesus' mission continues to be carried out in the world. One gift is not more important than another but they are all essential to have a fully functioning body.   The Corinthians knew about the spiritual gifts.  This would not been new information to them.  But the problem was how they were using the gifts.  Certain gifts were being lifted up as more important than others.  And there appears to be a bit of a free for all in how the gifts are being used.  So, Paul wants them to know a different way.  He wants them to understand that all the gifts work together to bring unity to the church.  In fact, the church needs all of the gifts to be fruitful and effective.  He doesn't want the Corinthians to stop using their spiritual gifts, but he wants them to do so with maturity.  And as we will see in the next chapter, he wants the church to use their gifts with love (rather than arrogance or pride.)   Do you know what spiritual gifts you have been given? If not, I strongly encourage you to pray about that today. There are some really good spiritual gifts assessments that are free online as well. God has given us gifts for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. If you know your gifts, are you currently making use of them at New Hope or in your local church? There are many parts but one body. Your gifts are needed to form a fully functioning, healthy, thriving community of faith!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 6, 2026   Scripture: I Corinthians 11   Prayer: Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing.  Thank you for the way you care for us.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you.  We want to hear your voice.  Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We have been walking through Paul's letters and it has been challenging!  We've made it through Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, and we are now in I Corinthians. Our reading for today is I Corinthians 11.  The first part of the chapter has to do with head coverings. I didn't choose that for our main focus today but I do think it is worth a brief mention. Paul implores the women to cover their heads and the men not to cover their heads. This is confusing to us in a time and place in which head coverings serve an entirely different purpose (typically shade from the sun, warmth, or an accessory). But in ancient Greek and Roman culture, the main difference between a man and woman's attire was that women covered their head with a scarf-like material. The only women who did not do this were high class mistresses, slaves, prostitutes, and pagan prophetesses. Thus, when the women didn't wear their head covering or it fell off in the movement of worship, it was a significant distraction. In a highly patriarchal culture, it definitely sent the wrong signal, one that Paul really didn't want these women to send. Then, there is this whole issue with the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion.  Remember, they didn't have church buildings and they met in people's homes.  In fact, they met in some of the wealthier members' homes, because they had bigger homes that could accommodate a larger group.  Makes sense.  But the wealthier church members, who probably knew each other fairly well because they all ran in the same circles, were meeting ahead of time for a grand meal, that they would pair with communion, and they were eating and drinking and eating and drinking.  You can see where this is going.   By the time the poorer church members got off work and arrived, the wealthier people had been eating and drinking for quite a while.  All the food was eaten and they were drunk.  There were also no seats in the main room.  So, the poor people were basically sitting in a different area, hungry, without what they needed to receive communion together with the rest of the church.  It was like two separate churches, one for the rich and one for the poor.  And, not surprisingly, resentment was growing.  This is totally patronizing for the poor people.  Paul is appalled.  You can hear it in the letter, "Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? Why are you bringing this mess to church???"  Paul was basically saying that the Corinthians could not call what they were doing the Lord's Supper.    Keep in mind, the Corinthian society was very segregated.  Rich people didn't associate with poor people.  Classes stayed separate.  It isn't surprising that the rich in the church didn't want to hang out with the poor people.  They were dirty and hard to make conversation with.  And the poor people probably were really intimidated by the rich people.  Yet, Jesus had set up his church to be different from culture and that is what Paul is getting at here.  The Gospel turns things upside down.   We can look at Christians throughout the ages – the huge disparity of rich and poor, the way people of color were often turned away at the church door.  We had that in our own denomination.  I just got done reading White Trash (by Nancy Isenberg), which attempts to tell the story of class in America.  And it talks about how the wealthy classes totally discarded the poor.  They called the poor "waste people."  It was like their lives had totally no value to them.  And this is what got me: The wealthy aristocracy, who called the poor whites and blacks around them waste people, they attended church every Sunday.  They believed in God, they professed faith in Jesus.  And Jesus walked closely with the poor.  The Gospel was good news to the poor.  So, what happened?    As a church, I'm not sure we have really wanted the Gospel message.  We like it, as long as it gets us into heaven but we don't like it when it means we have to change our lives and our prejudices and our perspectives.  We like wearing a cross but not carrying one.    In Corinth, they were basically showing that their belief wasn't genuine.  They were demonstrating a value system, it just wasn't Jesus'.  I think through the ages, the church has demonstrated a value system, it just often has not been Jesus' value system.    What about New Hope?  What value system do we demonstrate?    What value system do you demonstrate?  I promise you, the way we live Monday – Saturday is showing the people around us who we are and who we belong to, just like in Corinth.  It's just as true today.  Who do we belong to?  Is it going to be about us or is it going to be about Jesus?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope February 5, 2026   Scripture: I Corinthians 10   Prayer: Lord Jesus, We rejoice in you.  We praise your name.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the one who was, and is, and is to come.  We cannot possibly express our gratitude in words.  You have offered us mercy but you have also given us freedom.  Thank you for that.  Help us live like free people.  Help us demonstrate your love and grace to others who cross our path.  Help us see people through your eyes.  We love you, Lord.  Amen. Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We have been walking through Paul's letters and it has been challenging!  We've made it through Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, and we are now in I Corinthians. Our reading for today is I Corinthians 10.  The chapter starts with story-telling from the exodus out of Egypt, mainly because these stories are critical learning experiences for God's people.  What's fascinating is that Paul includes his Gentile audience in these stories.  Look at verse 1, For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.  Paul has stressed that as Christians they are not bound to the law.  Despite that, they are now a part of God's people.  However, and this is critical, they are NOT to fall into the pattern of the Israelites or so many of those in Corinth.  They are not to worship other gods, they are not to intimately involve themselves with those who oppose God's people, and they are not to question the goodness of God.  They need to be careful.  Temptation is there and they could easily fall into sin as their ancestors did. Paul continues to write about freedoms. Yes, we have the right to do everything but that doesn't mean we should do everything. While we may have the right to do something, the biggest question to ask is, "Is this building up the body of Christ?" Paul emphasizes that while legalism isn't good, neither is it good to be overly permissive. There are times when we should curb our freedoms if it might harm a new Christian or hurt the witness of the Gospel The bottom line is we need to think about our words and actions in every situation. I've been in small Christian gatherings in which certain members feel the need to loudly communicate their dislikes about a specific Christian ministry, another Christian church, or even a fellow believer. Now, thinking about Paul's reasoning, they have the freedom to do this but is it beneficial? Is it building up the body of Christ? What if there was someone in the group who was a new believer or on the fence about faith? How would such a discussion affect their faith journey? Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. Blessings, Pastor Vicki