Podcasts about new hope church

Daily Dose of Hope January 16, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 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 goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 4.  Possibly because they were experiencing so much persecution, the Thessalonians were very interested in knowing when Jesus' second coming would occur.  Paul tells them two things they needed to hear: their persecutors will be judged and in the meantime, living in faith, hope, and love, is the best way to prepare for the next step of their Christian journey.  Jesus will come suddenly, like a thief in the night.  But they have nothing to fear as God's children.  Those who reject the Gospel will face God's wrath but the believers will be protected and get to live with Jesus for eternity.   He reiterates what it means to live a Godly life.  He says to reject sexual immorality, and to seek holiness.  The idea of seeking holiness is deeply rooted in Scripture, including the command to be holy as God is holy (Lev. 19:2), Jesus' teachings to be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48), and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:34-40).  John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, writes that holiness is not perfection or flawlessness but more a maturity of character and increasing love for God and others.  The Thessalonians were coming from a pagan culture that valued self over others.  Living holy lives would have truly set them apart from the culture around them.  People would notice.    The last part of the chapter is kind of interesting, regarding those who have already died.  Just like his talk of the second coming, this is purely pastoral encouragement for them.  Believers who have died in the Lord will be resurrected when Jesus returns.  They can trust in that.  Now, Jesus was pretty clear-no one knows the time he will come back, only the Father.  In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows."  Despite this, people have tried making predictions for thousands of years.  I hear people today say, "Well, these must be end times because of this or that."  My personal opinion is that isn't for us to know or say.  Our responsibility is to take Paul's advice to the Thessalonians and live in faith, hope, and love, pointing others to Jesus and living like people with Good News.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope January 15, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 3   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 goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 3.  Paul and Silas very much wanted to visit the Thessalonian church and encourage them in their persecution.  But over and over again, it didn't work out.  They were frustrated and concerned about the welfare of the new believers.  While they had previously warned the Thessalonian church that persecution was unavoidable, they still feared for their well-being.    Eventually, they send Timothy to visit them and instruct them in the faith as needed.  Timothy brought back good news, as the Thessalonian church was becoming more mature in their faith.  Despite their challenges, the new believers were remaining strong in faith and continuing to demonstrate love toward those inside and outside the church.  This pleased Paul and Silas very much.  They experienced joy knowing that the faith of the Thessalonians remained strong and vibrant.  They thanked God for their perseverance and endurance.   The early church had such a different perspective than we do regarding persecution.  They saw persecution as inevitable; it was simply something that believers had to endure.  It doesn't appear they feared being persecuted either.  They knew that as followers of Jesus, their message would be met with opposition.  In the Western church of today, we tend to fear persecution and rejection.  We hesitate to share the Gospel message because we might offend someone, someone might say something mean to us, or we might get rejected.  These seem incredibly minor compared to the persecutions of the Thessalonians or other believers around the world today who risk everything to share the Gospel with others.   Here's a question for us:  If I were being tortured and persecuted for my faith, would I stay faithful to Jesus or would I give in to the pressure and deny Christ?   It is so important for us to rest in the uneasiness of this question.  If push came to shove, how faithful are we, New Hope?  This is truth:  Christians around the world deal with this every single day.  We don't think about it much but over 388 million Christians around the world suffer persecution or discrimination for their faith in Jesus Christ. That means they experience some kind of hostility as a result of proclaiming the name of Jesus or living out their faith. Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2025, many were kidnapped, imprisoned, or forced from their homes.  In addition, more than 3,600 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.  For other Christians, it means being denied economic opportunities or simply living under the threat of violence.  American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like.  It's not being made fun of or worrying about offending someone, it's risking all for Jesus.   Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 states most likely to punish Christians for their faith. North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen, took the top spots this year. It is almost impossible to live openly as a Christian in all three of these places. In extremist Moslem countries, leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed.  Other nations that are particularly dangerous for Christians are Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran. I recently read this statement and it stopped me in my tracks:  "If we have not prepared ourselves and our twenty-first century churches to die for Christ's name if necessary, we have not completed our responsibility of preparing disciples."  If this makes us uncomfortable, it should.  Because Jesus has called us to a faithfulness that involves more than what we typically think of when we call ourselves Christ-followers.  We can see it in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.  We see it throughout the book of Acts.  What does it mean to be a disciple?  Jesus makes it quite clear, Mark 8:34-35, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope January 14, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 2   Prayer:  Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts.  Help us think less of ourselves and more about others.  Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants.  It is our inclination to complain and whine.  Forgive us, Lord.  We need you.  More of you and less of me.  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 on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them in chronological order.  We are currently on Paul's second pastoral letter, I Thessalonians.  Today, we read I Thessalonians 2. The authors start out the chapter by discussing their motives for preaching the Gospel message.  They have pure motives and have no desire to trick people into becoming converts, which must have been an issue in the day.  Gaining converts at any cost suggests manipulation and the desire to look successful before others.  But their main concern was pleasing God, not people.  That does not mean that the Gospel message isn't pleasing to people, because it certainly is, but that wasn't their main reason for sharing it.  God had called them to this and they were being obedient. Unfortunately, throughout the course of history, Christians haven't always had such pure motives in sharing the Gospel.  Evangelism has often occurred with a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other.  I think Paul, Timothy, and Silas, would be appalled at how far people representing the Christian faith have gone to simply gain converts, without concern for the hearts of people.  As twenty-first century believers, we get to stand on the shoulders of those who witnessed well and those who made a terrible mess of it.  And yet, we are still called to share the Gospel with others with pure motives.  Guided by the Holy Spirit rather than our own prideful motivations, we are called to share the source of our hope.  Just as Paul and friends write in this chapter, our core motivation must be to please God.  It's great if other people are pleased as well with the message, but that isn't our primary purpose.  It's simply all about Jesus. Paul isn't shy.  He tells the Thessalonians that he serves an a model for faithfulness.  In all fairness, he says the Thessalonians are also to be emulated as models of faithfulness.  I want to talk about this a bit.  Paul isn't bragging.  He is making a statement about how the Gospel of Jesus is not a set of ideas to believe but rather a way of life.  The Gospel might be seen as a set of lived commitments.  Paul is saying that believers model the Word of God in their context, they live it out, even when it is hard.  And it was very hard for the Thessalonians but they did it anyway.  Paul wants them to know he sees their sacrifice and loves them; he is willing to sacrifice alongside them as well.   Do you live out your faith in the way Paul is describing?  Is your faith a set a beliefs or is it a total and complete lifestyle with Jesus at the center?  What would it take for you to move toward a lifestyle in which your faith in Jesus is all-consuming?  Who do you know who models this kind of faith?  Paul certainly alludes to attributes that suggest someone is living this way: humility, honesty, sincerity, willingness to work hard on tasks that seem lowly, willingness to be vulnerable, courage to take risks for the Gospel, and a true trust in Jesus.   Take some time and pray about this.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope January 13, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 1   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come before you today with a sense of gratefulness.  You are a God who loves us despite all our faults.  You provide for us despite our selfishness.  You answer our prayers despite our impatience.  Lord, we are so thankful and rejoice in your Holy and perfect name.  Forgive us for the times in which we fall short and we know they are many.  Lord Jesus, how we want to do better.  Help us see others through your eyes.  We so need you.  More of you and less of me.  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 on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them in chronological order.  We just completed Paul's letter to the Galatians yesterday and today, we begin I Thessalonians.   Let's talk a little bit about Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica.  There are some scholars who actually think this letter may have predated Galatians, but the general consensus is that Galatians was written in 49-50 and I Thessalonians was written around 50-51.  They were certainly close together, but the letters are very different.  While Galatians is critical in nature (in response to false teachers who were trying to corrupt the Gospel), I Thessalonians is an encouraging letter in which Paul teaches about living Godly lives during difficult persecution.  I Thessalonians was also written during Paul's second missionary journey.   We get the backstory of this letter in Acts 17.  Paul and Silas have gone to Thessalonica, preach the Gospel, and pretty quickly there is a strong Christian community there.  But the Christians there are accused of defying the emperor by saying they believe in another king, Jesus (refer to Acts 17:7).  Paul and Silas end up leaving the city because of the ruckus.  In this first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul is trying to reconnect.  He's heard from Timothy that the Thessalonian church is doing well, despite the continued persecution.  The letter is actually from Paul, Silas, and Timothy, as they are together in Corinth and have this urge to keep the Thessalonians encouraged.    Let's look at the letter itself in chapter 1.  It was normal in an ancient letter to include some kind of prayer for the recipient after the greeting. The authors state that they continually thank God for all the people in the church, and that they remember them before God because of their work produced through faith and love and their endurance inspired by hope in Jesus.   I am most intrigued by the line "endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."  Endurance is the ability to keep going, to persevere, in the face of difficulty and suffering. We don't know exactly what kind of persecution the Thessalonian Christians were facing but it must have been pretty bad. And Paul was worried about them. They were new believers-how would they withstand these hardships? Would their faith crumble or strengthen? Apparently, they remained strong and steadfast, despite their limited experience in the faith.   This idea of endurance through hardship becomes a virtue in the early church. Here is the important part: their endurance was not a result of some kind of internal emotional strength or resolve but was a result of their hope in Jesus. Their hope was rooted in the second coming of Jesus, which will become a theme throughout this letter.   Think about your own life. How would you rate your endurance in the face of hardship? While we don't face the same kind of persecution as the Thessalonian church, we still deal with other challenges. How is your faith grounded in the hope of Christ?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope January 12, 2026   Scripture: Galatians 6   Prayer:  Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning.  Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you.  We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you.  Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions.  This is your day, Lord.  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 doing a journey through the letters of Paul.   Today's reading is Galatians 6.  We have reached the final chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians.  Keep in mind, as we read this and many of Paul's letters, we are privy to only one side of the conversation. It would be really helpful to know how the Galatians responded to Paul!  What were their initial concerns and fears that made their way to Paul in the first place?  Paul is about to close out this conversation with the Galatians and it's impossible for us to get the whole picture.   That being said, we get the gist.  In this final chapter, Paul certainly emphasizes the main point of the letter, that salvation is found in the cross of Jesus and not in the law.  But it's here that Paul is also addressing "so what does this mean for our everyday lives?"  Faith is what is absolutely critical for Galatian believers but works demonstrate that belief.  While the specific works of the law are no longer relevant, how a believer behaves is still very much relevant!  One scholar said that Paul is saying that faith in Jesus and actions are inseparable, like breathing in and breathing out.  You can't say you believe in Jesus and then not change your actions.  That's why Paul is encouraging the Galatians to bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ in verse 2, why each person must bear their own load in verse 5, and why each person will reap what they sow in verse 7.  He encourages them to not lose heart in doing good, don't grow weary in the assurance that they will reap what they've planted in verse 9.    The next part is actually kind of humorous.  In verse 11, Paul is actually taking the pen from the scribe (letters at that time were usually dictated to a professional scribe) and writing his own conclusion. He is clear that he is writing this part on his own with large letters.  It's especially critical to him and he wants to emphasize it one more time.  He is going back, one last time, to his main point.  He has preached to him the true Gospel – salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone.  Works of the law have nothing to do with salvation.  The false teachers who came after him have preached a false Gospel, saying that to be in right relationship with God, the Galatians have to be circumcised (and follow the whole law as well).    Then, he closes by saying that neither circumcision or uncircumsion matter.  What matters is the new creation.  What does this mean?  The best way to describe it might be a radical transformation that occurs because of our belief in Jesus.  The old ways are gone and we are new people.  It means spiritual rebirth, characterized by a new identity and life purpose.  The new creation means we are no longer defined by our old identity and divisions but by our union with Jesus.    How have you experienced this new creation in your life?  How would you describe you before and after identity in Jesus?    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope January 7, 2026   Scripture: Galatians 3   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, We belong to you!  How often we forget that.  We become selfish and consumed with the things of this world.  We don't spend enough time with you and so we drift.  Lord, please forgive us.  Help us not to be self-consumed and disobedient.  We want to know you more.  In fact, we yearn for your presence in our lives.  How we need you!  Jesus, as we enter into our devotional time, we ask for you to speak to us in a new way today.  We yearn to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast the goes along with the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We have started on a journey through the letters of Paul.  We are starting with what scholars believe is Paul's very first pastoral letter to his churches – Galatians.   Today, we are walking through Galatians 3.  We've talked about how Paul is expressing disappointment that the Galatians have so quickly believed the false teaching that one must become a Jew before they become a Christ-follower.  The Galatians, swayed by Jewish Christians, have begun to drift away from the Gospel that Paul preached to them.  Paul was clear – we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Adding elements of the law, such as circumcision, is simply wrong.  The Gospel of Jesus needs nothing added to it or subtracted from it.  To do so is to corrupt the Gospel.   In today's passage, Paul speaks of the law being our guardian until Jesus arrived.  The promise was given to Abraham but the people needed more boundaries so God gave them the law through Moses.  But with Jesus, we can be justified by faith.  Paul is pointing out that we no longer live "under the law" but are "in Christ" despite our inability to keep the law.  We are no longer condemned by God because of our sin.  Rather, because we now live in Christ, God is our father. Because of the forgiveness and salvation that we have in Christ, we don't have to approach God with fear of punishment, but rather we know that God loves us. We are his sons and daughters and we have the privileges that children have with their father. This isn't because of anything we've done but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.   In verse 27, Paul writes that those who have been baptized into Christ are now clothed in Jesus.  What does that mean?  Well, baptism is a visible sign of the union we have with Jesus.  Our salvation is NOT dependent on baptism (remember Paul is making a point that salvation is by faith alone and nothing else).  But baptism is an outward and visible sign of what Christ has done within us.  Through the inward faith in Christ, we are now sons and daughters of God.  Belief in Jesus is the great equalizer.  As sons and daughters of God, we not only belong to God but we also belong to one another.    Thus, we are brothers and sisters and there is no distinction of race, rank, or sex.  Paul says that whether we are Greek, Jew, male, female, slave, or free, we are all one in Jesus.  You could add any variable to this list.  We are equal in the eyes of Jesus and thus, we should be equal in the eyes of one another.  Over thousands of years, this is a doctrine that has been twisted and or ignored. Forgive us, Lord.  We are all equal and we belong to one another.  Period.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Daily Dose of Hope January 6, 2026   Scripture – Galatians 2   Prayer:  Almighty God, I come before you today with a sense of gratefulness.  You are Lord of all and yet you care for me.  Thank you, Lord.  Help me walk through this day with humility and your wisdom; help me represent you well.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help me gather my scattered thoughts, I want to hear your voice...Come Holy Spirit, and guide this time.  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 now doing a journey through the letters of Paul.  It's a privilege to have you with us today.    The first letter of Paul, chronologically, is Galatians, and we started diving into it yesterday.  Paul was appalled at how quickly the Galatians were swayed by false teachers who corrupted the true gospel.  Paul was pretty clear – salvation is in Jesus alone.  The false teachers wanted to say that new believers needed to become Jews before they became Christians, which meant getting circumcised (for males) and following the law of Moses.  Paul insisted that adding anything to the Gospel beyond simply belief in Jesus was a true corruption of the Gospel message itself.  A core doctrine of our faith is that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.    We talked about the importance of getting a good understanding of what we believe about salvation --- do we believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone?  Or, have we added or subtracted from this doctrine?  This is a main theme of the book of Galatians.    Today's reading provides an interesting discussion about how, early on, the apostles accepted Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and even blessed it. There was a clear understanding, in Paul's view anyway, that Gentile Christians didn't have to follow Jewish law but needed to simply believe in Jesus Christ. But the power of criticism is strong. People within the church were highly upset about this and the apostles started to cave. They began to profess the need to follow Jewish law again and even stopped eating with Gentiles. Paul was forced to confront Peter, who ministered primarily to Jewish Christians, about his hypocrisy which seemed to be spreading among the apostles.   Let's think about the definition of hypocrisy: to state specific beliefs and values to which one's actions clearly defy. The church has often been accused of being hypocritical, professing one thing and doing another. Individual Christians have often been accused of being hypocritical, saying one thing and then doing another. Hypocrisy has been incredibly damaging to the Kingdom. Paul is calling it out in today's Scripture, as he recognizes how dangerous it is for the new Gentile believers. It has the potential to not only confuse them, but lead them away from the Gospel message.   The same can be said today. When we live by the mantra "do as I say but not as I do" then people are turned off. I've had a number of friends and family members leave the church permanently because they couldn't stand the way those who gathered on Sunday and professed one thing behaved poorly the rest of the week. Friends-our behavior, attitudes, and words matter to an unbelieving world!   It's in this chapter that Paul makes this very famous statement, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  What does he mean by this?  My best way of explaining it is to say that as Christians, we have died to sin and our old way of life.  It's now Jesus living in us.  What Paul is saying is that because I've been united to Christ in his crucifixion and his resurrection, his life is now part of mine. I'm not forced to work harder to live out the gospel's demands by myself. I'm no longer under the demands of the law.  Rather, there's a new power source supplying me with all I need, and that source is Christ living in me.    As we continue our week, ask God to give you a hyper awareness of the kinds of things you say and do. Are you representing Jesus well in everything you do, even in social media? Are we representing Jesus well as a church?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope January 5, 2026   Scripture:  Galatians 1   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come before you at the beginning of a new year, a new week, and even a new reading plan, and we thank you for all you've done for us.  You are such a good God.  You are a God who provides, protects, cares, loves, saves, sustains, guides, and directs our paths.  As we head into all these "new" things, Lord, we pray that you will lead us also into a new sense of understanding about who you are.  Help us grow, learn, and be open to thinking about our walk with you in new ways.  Challenge us, Lord.  Stretch us.  Get us out of our comfort zone.  All for your glory.  We want to be stronger disciples.  We want to know you better and be bold in our witness.  It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  Today, we are starting our new reading plan, a journey through the letters of Paul.  We will walk through all thirteen of Paul's letters, going in chronological order.  My prayer is that this new reading plan will be a blessing to you and you will learn and grow in your walk with Jesus.   According to the book of Acts, Paul went on three missionary journeys.  (Some scholars think he may have taken a fourth to Spain but we don't have a lot of evidence for that.)  What we do know from Scripture is that during those three extensive journeys, Paul established churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), in Macedonia, and Greece.  We also know from the end of Acts that Paul went to Rome to stand before Caesar, and there was a church already established there when he arrived.  Apparently, believers from other other places had already established a Christian community.    But all of these churches were young and had their struggles.  Paul sent pastoral letters to many of the churches in response to specific needs or concerns.  He often gave encouragement but he also gave strong criticism and warning as needed.  Some of Paul's letters helped these congregations work through doctrinal issues, while others address more practical concerns.  These letters were hand-delivered to the churches and read aloud to the congregation.  So, as we read these, keep in mind they were intended to be read to a group of believers.  Sometimes individuals are mentioned but the group as a whole is the audience.  The letter would then be passed along to other churches in the region.    The first letter Paul wrote was to the churches in Galatia, what we call the book of Galatians.  The region of Galatia was in central Asia Minor and included several cities to which Paul evangelized during his first missionary journey, including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Most scholars believer that Paul penned this letter around AD 48 or 49.   What was going on with the Galatians?  Why was the letter necessary?    Since Paul had established the various congregations in Galatia, the churches had been plagued by false teachers. These false teachers were Jewish Christians who fiercely rejected the Gospel that Paul preached, that people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Rather, these Jewish Christians were saying that to be saved, people must also be circumcised and follow the whole law of Moses. Besides rejecting the Gospel, they also attacked Paul's credibility. Throughout the letter, we will see Paul continually going back to these two themes-his credibility and apostleship AND the gift of grace offered by the Good News of Jesus.    In this first chapter, Paul is clear that anything less than the true Gospel is not the Gospel at all. Those who teach that something other than faith is needed for salvation are twisting the Good News and Paul expresses shock that the Galatians would be so quick to believe this false teaching.  He tells them that the Gospel he teaches is not from humans but from the risen Lord himself.  He provides support to this by sharing his own conversion story from strict Judaism to belief in Jesus Christ and what God had affirmed to him through this miracle.    Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone is the core teaching of our faith. Are there times in which we try to twist this doctrine? Do we add or subtract from it?  How often have we been around "good churchgoing people" who think that salvation comes from simply being a good person?  Or, people think that in order to receive salvation, they need Jesus and good works?  It can be subtle.  We have to really dig deep here.  What do you believe about salvation?  Do you, deep down, believe that you are saved by Jesus Christ ALONE – by his saving work on the cross and nothing else?  Or, have you tried to add or subtract from this?   Take some time today and really pray on this.  It's crucial, my friends.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope December 31, 2025   Scripture – Acts 28   Prayer:  For our last prayer of this reading plan, let's end with a prayer of peace from St. Francis of Assisi... Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We have been on an incredible journey of reading through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are walking through the last chapter of Acts, Acts 28.   After a few months on the island of Malta, during which Paul was bitten by a viper (with no bad repercussions) and healed many people, they finally are able to secure a new ship and continue the journey to Rome.  When they arrive, Paul is met by a group of believers. I love this. I picture a group waiting by the dock for the ship to come in, anxious to take care of Paul with warm hugs and casseroles!   But Paul doesn't waste much time, after just three days he begins to preach, teach, and discuss his views with the Jewish leaders in Rome. It appears they are more open to Paul's teachings than the Jews in other locations. For two years, Paul stays in Rome, in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to see him. He taught about God's Kingdom and preached Jesus with boldness and without any obstacles.  It's possible he resumed his tent-making in order to support himself but his main focus was conversion.   Paul's intention was always to go to Rome. But just like in our own lives, stuff happened. Riots, jail time, and shipwrecks, all thwarted the best of intentions. Eventually, Paul did end up in Rome and had two years there to share the Gospel. Our life journeys, though probably not as eventful as Paul's, never go in a straight line. There are ups and downs, steps backward, pauses, and spins. But God can and will use each of those experiences to grow us and to help us speak into the lives of others. It's always about the journey, not the destination.   But what happened to Paul after this?  We have some evidence based on his other letters.  Certain letters, which Paul wrote while imprisoned in Rome, are especially helpful.  These include Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, written between AD 60-62.  Titus, as well as 1 and 2 Timothy, were written after Acts and during Paul's travels, AD 66 and 68. We can estimate that Paul lived for about 5-6 more years after the book of Acts ends.    We can also estimate that Paul stood before Caesar (Emperor Nero) around AD 62.  Tradition tells us that he was eventually released from his imprisonment in Rome.  There is some consensus that Paul may have actually gone to Spain after his release, carrying the Gospel even further.  But he did eventually end up back in Rome and tradition says that Paul was actually beheaded there in AD 68.    Paul is considered the most effective Christian missionary who has ever lived.   He took the Gospel to places far and wide, at least as far as the known world at the time.  And he did so at great risk to himself.  He wasn't afraid of physical pain or discomfort.  He didn't care if everything was removed from him.  He had surrendered his life, fully and completely, to Jesus and sharing his message with the world.  As a result, he started many churches and the Gospel spread.    Today is the last Daily Dose of Hope for 2025.  I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.  What did you learn?  How has God stretched you?  I do hope you will join us on our Journey through the Letters of Paul, which we will start on January 5th.  It's been an honor sharing this with you.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 30, 2025   Scripture – Acts 27   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 to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We have been on an incredible journey of reading through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are walking through Acts 27.   Paul's journey continues. This time, he is on his way to Rome. They hit very severe weather, which threatens to kill all those on board. It must have been quite dire, as they throw their cargo overboard to lighten up the ship. It sounds like weeks and weeks of hunger and misery. They finally see land. By this point, there isn't much left of the ship.   The soldiers want to kill the prisoners but the centurion stops them, as he wanted to ensure that Paul was spared. It seems that the situation was a bit of a free for all; those who could swim, swam to shore. Others grabbed pieces of floating debris and yet all managed to get to shore safely.   This is such an interesting passage to me. The Scripture says there were 276 men on board that ship. They must have all been praying in whatever way they were accustomed to do so. I can't help but think that Paul was praying boldly and witnessing to all the men on board. In such a situation, it seems highly likely people would be very open to hearing about the eternal life offered through faith in Jesus. I wonder if that is why the centurion was so intent on saving Paul's life. Had he become a follower of Jesus?   Throughout the book of Acts, we see people boldly witnessing for Jesus.  First, Peter and John and then Paul.  Their focus on Jesus is so central to all they do that nothing else matters.  What about you?  While we live in a different time and place, we still have lots of people around us who need to hear about Jesus.  How bold are you?  Is Jesus central to everything you do?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Cory Klein at New Hope Church of Oxford on December 28, 2025. The text of Scripture is James 4:5-10.

Daily Dose of Hope December 26, 2025   Scripture – Acts 25   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you are almighty and all-powerful.  You are God of all and yet you care for us.  Thank you, Lord.  Help us settle our scattered thoughts and be silent before you...Thank you, Jesus.  Please guide us as we reflect on your Word today.  Meet us in the midst of our reading and this devotional.  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.  I hope you had a great Christmas day yesterday!  We have been on a wonderful journey of reading and reflecting on Scripture over the last eight months, specifically the four Gospels and the book of Acts.  After today, we only have three more days in Acts.  We will take a brief break and then we will begin again on January 5, 2026, to walk through the letters of Paul in chronological order.  I hope you will join us for that as well.   Today, we are working through Acts 25.  Paul's on-going custody and trial continues in this chapter. Felix was recalled to Rome to handle some other events. The man who followed him died after just two years and now we find ourselves introduced to the new governor, Festus. So this means that Paul has been in custody for over two years!   Festus quickly demonstrates that, while he will listen to the Jewish leaders' accusations against Paul, he will not be bullied by them. He appears to want to give Paul a fair hearing once again. Now, the Jews were accusing Paul of both religious and civil offenses. Even if he were not innocent, this raises red flags among the Roman authorities. So Paul uses last card, an appeal to Caesar himself, which was his right to do as a Roman citizen. This also means the Gospel message will now move further up the government ladder. God is at work here.  Think of all the people along this journey that are being exposed to the Gospel message – people at every level of government and society.   I do want to point out Paul's faith here.  He is unwavering.  He knows what going back to Jerusalem would mean and he stands firmly against it.  While we don't have specific Scripture to demonstrate this, we can assume that Paul feels God leading him to go to Caesar.  Paul didn't do anything without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We can safely assume that he is praying, listening, and obeying. AND trusting!   What do you learn from Paul's example here?  If you were being accused of an injustice, how would you handle the situation?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope December 25, 2025   Scripture – Acts 24   Prayer:  A Christmas prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson, Loving Father, help us to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from the evil by the blessing which Christ brings and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to by Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.  Amen.   Merry Christmas!  Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we walk through Acts 24.   The case against Paul was presented by an attorney named Tertullus before the governor Felix. When he finished accusing Paul of stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple, Paul boldly defends himself.  Up until this point, Paul has been found guilty of nothing. It's seems obvious that Felix can find no fault as well, but he is hesitant to release Paul. He goes and visits him with his wife to learn more. When Paul begins to speak of righteousness (some translations say justice), self-control, and the judgement to come, Felix becomes afraid and stops the conversation. That's because these were things with which Felix struggled. He was known for his human rights abuses and injustices, he was known for his lust and lack of self-control, and he had every right to be afraid of the judgment to come.   Sometimes, people are curious about the Gospel and may even feel convicted, but when it comes down to it, they aren't willing to turn to Jesus. We have no evidence that Felix ever became a believer in Jesus but I like to think that his meetings with Paul were acts of prevenient grace, God at work in the life of Felix before he ever knew it. I try to remind myself of that when I speak to people about faith. They may not make a commitment to Christ right now, but seeds have been planted. God will keep seeking them, wooing them toward him. God's not done with anyone yet.   Merry Christmas to all of you.   Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope December 24, 2025   Scripture – Acts 23   Prayer:  Loving God, As we come before you on this Christmas Eve, we thank you for the love that binds us together. Bless each member of our church family and fill our homes with warmth and joy. For those who are alone, please give them peace and comfort that only you can give.  For those who are dealing with struggle and difficulty, Lord, give them peace.  Remind them that you are there to guide, lead, and provide strength.  And continue to speak to us, Lord Jesus, as we make our way through your Word.  We need to hear from you, Emmanuel – God with us.  More of you and less of me.  In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we walk through Acts 23.   Early on in this chapter, we find Paul speaking before the high council and things aren't going well. He gets slapped by the high priest and there is violent disagreement on the council how to deal with him. The discord is so bad that Paul actually has to leave the location. Paul's fate seems uncertain at best. And then, when all seems lost, God speaks clearly to Paul, telling him to be encouraged, for this would not be the end; he would carry the message of the Gospel all the way to Rome!   I read this chapter and it immediately brought to mind what Paul himself writes to the Romans in 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Paul has been through so much at this point, including fear, extreme discomfort, and physical pain. He probably thought Jerusalem was going to be the end for him and he was at peace with that. But God had something else in mind. God wanted to use Paul's bold witness to bring the Gospel further, to higher levels of government, so that more could believe.   What seems like desperate times to humans, God can redeem for his own purposes. What has God redeemed in your life? I know that in the midst of dire circumstances, it is often difficult to see God at work. But later, when we have perspective, we can see how God took what was dark and ugly and brought something good from it. I should say that bringing something good out of a painful situation doesn't mean fixing it for us but rather demonstrating his glory. This is sometimes hard for us to wrap our human brains around. I think it takes lots of prayer and lots of trust.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope December 23, 2025   Scripture – Acts 22   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.  We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we walk through Acts 22.   The chapter starts with Paul speaking to the crowd in Aramaic.  His knowledge of their language demonstrates that he is one of them.  All the lies are just that, lies.  He shares his background as an educated Jew and then tells his conversion story.  Remember, no one can ever argue with your conversion story.  It's your story!  Paul uses this time to talk about how Jesus led him to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.    But when he gets to this part --- mentioning the Gentiles --- things get heated again.  They demand that he be killed for his blasphemy.  It's now that the Roman commander demands that he be arrested and flogged.  But just as this is about to take place, Paul mentions that he is a Roman citizen by birth.  This changes things.   The scholars have mixed opinions on how being a Roman citizen in that day and time determined one's treatment by governing authorities.  Certainly, in Paul's case, it kept him from being flogged and lynched. In fact, the commander seems frightened when he finds out that the man he is about to whip is a Roman citizen by birth. (I would have hated to see what they did to the non-citizens. It was a brutal world.)    But one thing Paul could not get out of was being sent before the Jewish high council. I'm sure the Roman commander would be relieved to give Paul to the Jewish leaders. Let them be the ones faced with the repercussions of dealing with such a controversial figure. What will it mean for Paul to go before the high council? The council, also referred to as the Sanhedrin, was led by the high priest and consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees.  This group had broad authority, overseeing criminal, civil, and religious cases. This was a group that would not be sympathetic to Paul. Part of their role was to discern when the Messiah returned and they clearly did not think Jesus was it. Hearing Paul preaching Jesus as Lord would be deemed blasphemous.   Will their distain keep Paul silent or make him soften his message? I think we can all guess that the answer is no! Paul is resolute in what God has called him to do. No amount of persecution, oppression, or intimidation will keep him from teaching about Jesus. So our question for the day-what keeps us from speaking boldly about Jesus?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope December 22, 2025   Scripture - Acts 21:27-40   Prayer:  Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow.  We know that we are sinful and broken.  We know that we have fallen short.  We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church.  Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way.  How we need you.  We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that.  Help us seek holiness.  Help us love others the way you love them.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please 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 Church daily Bible reading.  We have been on a journey, reading through the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we finish with Acts 21.   It doesn't take long before people see Paul and get worked up.  Some Asian Jews, who saw Paul at the Temple, accuse him of bringing a Greek in the Temple (not true) and teaching people to not follow the law (again not true).  Who were these Asian Jews?  They were most likely from the province of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and quite possibly from Ephesus.  They could very well have remembered Paul from his extended stay in Ephesus and the various conflicts that arose.   It doesn't take long for a few rabble rousers to work up a riot.  Paul finds himself in the middle of it, being beaten by a mob.  When the Roman soldiers hear about the riot, they rush to figure out what's going on.  What's interesting is that they also make assumptions about Paul and have been bound, to be thrown in the barracks.  It seems no one really cares much for finding the truth.    The main charge brought against Paul was that he brought a Gentile into the Temple. This would be a serious offense. The Jews did not allow women or Gentiles into the central courts of the Temple, believing them to be unclean. Although the Law did not specifically forbid Gentiles from going into the Temple courts, by the first century, Herod the Great had expanded the Temple courts so that there was a large area where everyone was welcome, the Court of the Gentiles.    Despite the fact that the charge is false, no one comes to Paul's defense.  None of the Jewish believers, who must have seen the whole thing, say a word.  While this was out of fear, for sure, it is still surprising.  Silence, as we know, always empowers wrongdoers.   Let's talk about silence for a moment.  There is good silence, like being silent before the Lord, and then there is bad silence, like not standing up for what is right.  Bullies exist because the majority stays silent.  Martin Luther King, Jr., famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," emphasizing that friends' lack of support is deeply painful and is what enables injustice.  Unfortunately, we have seen this over centuries in the church.  We saw it with Jesus and the disciples.  We see it in the early church.  We saw it during the persecutions of the first several centuries and through many wars.  How many Christians stood in fear and watched the Nazis murder millions of helpless Jews?  How many Christians have been silent in the face of slavery, racism, and gross injustice across our own nation?   What are the main forces of injustice in our world right now?  Where has the church stood up and done the right thing and where have we been silent?  What about you?   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope December 19, 2025   Scripture - Acts 21:1-26   Prayer:  Holy God, We sing your praises today... For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given,     and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace     there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne     and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it     with justice and righteousness     from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty     will accomplish this.  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 getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts.  Today, we walk through the first portion of Acts 21.   I have to admit, I've always struggled with this passage. Paul is being warned repeatedly by believers, those who have the gift of prophecy, that he should not go on to Jerusalem because it is dangerous for him. Paul has experienced persecution and danger, but what is waiting for him in Jerusalem could certainly be the worst yet. And yet, he insists upon going. Was he ignoring warnings from the Holy Spirit or simply determined to courageously carry out what God called him to do?   Now, most of us will never, ever encounter the kind of resistance and persecution that Paul is experiencing. But how often have we felt the strong call of God in a particular area and then felt dissuaded by our Christians brothers and sisters to carry it out? So often, I think people react to our plans more out of fear for us and/or how our lives might be disrupted than from clear guidance from God. (There are certainly exceptions but I wonder how people's reactions might be different if we asked them to go home and pray about it specifically and diligently for a week.) Paul clearly felt God had called him to return to Jerusalem, minister to the Jews and Gentiles there, and face the authorities, so that God's Word could be preached to the powers that be no matter the consequences. The part of the chapter about Paul purifying himself with the four other men was kind of interesting and worth mentioning.  Why did he do this?  He wanted to show the other Jewish believers that, while the law was not necessary for salvation, he still wanted to honor Jewish traditions. Though these Jews had become Christians, they had not come to the realization that salvation through Jesus made the law of Moses inoperative as a redemptive system. Accordingly, these new Christians still circumcised their children (as a covenant sign), and they observed many of the "customs" of Mosaic law.   There were plenty of Jews who were disparaging Paul, saying he didn't want anything to do with the Jewish law.  Paul is still Jewish.  He has never preached or taught that.  Think about how Paul circumcised Timothy to show respect for the Jewish Christians in the churches for which they were working.  But rumors happen and they can be hard to break.    There were four Hebrew men who had placed themselves under a vow, probably a Nazarite vow. It was about time for their ritual to be concluded by a purification ceremony in the temple. It was suggested that Paul identify with them, paying their temple fees, and, "purifying" himself along with them. This would be done so that the Jews might see that Paul was being obedient to the law. We know that Gentiles, of course, were under no such constraints.  Paul isn't required to do this but he is trying to calm tempers.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 18, 2025   Scripture – Acts 20   Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning.  No matter what our week 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 back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are getting close to finishing this reading plan after going through the Gospels and now the book of Acts.  Today, we walk through Acts 20.   We start with more of Paul's travels.  He stops by a number of the churches to encourage them but also has to take a number of circuitous routes to avoid those who wished him harm.  Paul relies so much on the Spirit here.  He knows where to go and when to go, based on where God is leading him.    At his stop in Troas, Paul spends a lot of time preaching.  I mean, he basically preaches all day and night.  One young man, Eutychus, nods off and then falls out of the third floor window and dies.  Paul sees this happen and rushes outside, grabs him, and through the power of Jesus, brings him back from the dead.  Then, Paul keeps on preaching.  Does not miss a beat.  Anyone who ever thinks I preach too long needs to read this passage.   Towards the end of the chapter, Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time. These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly. They are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.   When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them. My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them. I say all of that to make this point. As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven. But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.   I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends. They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world. But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven! Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven. I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ. Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye. We miss them. But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye. It's simply "See ya later! Until we meet again!" The pain and sadness are real. We must acknowledge that. But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing. Thank you, Jesus.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 17, 2025   Scripture – Acts 19   Prayer:  Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts.  As we venture towards Christmas, help us think less of ourselves and more about others.  Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants.  It is our inclination to complain and whine.  Forgive us, Lord.  We need you.  More of you and less of me.  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 on a great journey of reading the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are covering Acts 19.   Paul's extended time in Ephesus has obviously made a huge impact on the region.  Many people are coming to know Jesus, miracles are happening, and people are no longer participating in the local idol worship.  They aren't buying the trinkets!    Interestingly, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was considered, in its final form, to be one of the seven wonders of the world.  It was extraordinary feat of how human beings can create beautiful idols to try to replace the one true God.  If the worship of Artemis had been fulfilling and life-giving, then the Ephesian businessmen would have had nothing to worry about.  But the worship of idols, two thousand years ago and today, always leaves one feeling empty and wanting.   Paul preached the Word of God, taught about the salvation and abundant life that comes from walking with Jesus, and created a community of people who loved God and each other.  That was attractive to people who were desperate for something more.  I can't help but relate this same scenario to our society today.  What/Who are our modern Temples of Artemis?  Which idols have we sought after, leaving us feeling empty and wanting more from life?    Just a reminder: Jesus is still in the business of transforming hearts and lives!  Who in your life needs to know the abundant life that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus?  Who needs to experience a community of Christians who will love and accept them as they are?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 16, 2025   Scripture – Acts 18   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 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 currently working our way through the book of Acts and today, we dive into Acts 18.   Here, we read more about Paul's missionary journey.  He heads to Corinth, where he almost throws in the towel when it came to preaching to the Jews.  But God encourages him and we continue to see his pattern of heading to the synagogue first, debating with the Jews, and then bringing the message to the Gentiles.  While I'm sure it was frustrating for Paul, he did see a lot of fruit.  Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of life are beginning to believe the Good News.    Priscilla and Aquilla appear on the scene and they are a huge support to Paul, as Apollos will be as well.  What I admire so much about Paul is how he traveled around frequently, built networks of believers (which become churches), and he seems almost fearless.  He doesn't get too attached to any place, although he stays some places longer than others.  And yet, he builds deep relationships.  There had to be a lot of hard good-byes.    Another thing I noticed in today's reading is Paul's ability to disciple people in the faith.  He disciples Priscilla and Aquilla.  He stops by all the different churches where he has built relationships, discipling them and encouraging them.  His various pastoral letters, while they addressed specific problems, were definitely letters intended to disciple and mentor those working under him in the name of Jesus.  He doesn't lead someone to Christ and then just leave them in that infancy stage.  He truly does everything he can to build people up in the faith and help them grow.   Discipling others is hugely important and I think it's something we don't do very well in the Western church.  For so long, our emphasis was getting people to say yes to Jesus.  While that is not a bad thing, Jesus teaches us in the Great Commission to go make disciples.  Remember, a disciple is an apprentice, someone who is truly working to be like Jesus.  This doesn't mean someone who has intellectual belief in Jesus but someone who is doing all they can to be like Jesus in thoughts and actions.  What are some ways that we could do a better job discipling other Christians at New Hope?   The bottom line was that Paul was totally and completely sold out for Jesus and he was willing to make any sacrifice to advance God's Kingdom.  How many of us can say that?  Wow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 12, 2025   Scripture:  Acts 16   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning with humility.  You, Lord of all Creation, Almighty God, came down to earth to become one of us.  You didn't come because you needed to, but because we needed you to.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of incarnation.  As we continue through this Advent season, help us prepare our hearts for your coming.  Help us remember who and whose we are.  In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 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 the Gospels and now we are mid-way through Acts.  Today, we are in Acts 16. There are two parts of this passage I want us to discuss.  The first is when Paul meets Timothy and decides to bring him on his missionary journey, he circumcises him.  Wait?  Didn't Paul just argue at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision and the law were an unnecessary burden for Gentiles?  Yes, he did.  Now he circumcises Timothy.  Is he contradicting himself?  I don't believe so, but there are some layers to unpack.    Timothy's mother was Jewish and his father was Greek so he would not have been circumcised.  Now, Timothy and Paul are going to be visiting many young churches, some filled with Jewish believers.  While circumcision wouldn't be required, it probably gave Timothy a bit more authority in the eyes of those new Jewish converts.  It was probably also a debate they just didn't want to have.  They wanted the focus to be on salvation through Jesus Christ and they wanted to avoid anything that would be a distraction.  Of course, I'm thinking – was there a circumcision check at the door?  How would they even know?  But I digress.    The other part of the passage that is fascinating to me is how the Spirit of God discourages Paul and crew from going one way so that they would end up in Macedonia.  I mean, they had a route already planned out and they were prevented from taking that route.  And then Paul has a dream about a man calling to them and begging for them to come to Macedonia.  So they head in that direction.  When they go into Macedonia, it opens up a whole new area to the Gospel.  They head to Philippi, where they meet a woman named Lydia and she accepts Jesus.  She welcomes them into her home, which later becomes a house church.  This is only the beginning!  By listening to the Spirit and not insisting on their own way, the Gospel was advanced.    How often do we want to force our own way with God?  Yet, the Spirit is always trying to guide us, if we let him.   I can't finish today's devotional without at least addressing the prison story.  Paul and Silas are arrested after a debacle of sorts with a servant girl.  She had a spirit in her that told the future.  Keep in mind, this spirit would not have been of God, so most likely the power was demonic.  She followed the men around and was really wearing on Paul's nerves so he cast out that spirit.  But she was quite a money-maker for her owners.  When they find out the future-telling spirit is gone, they are livid.  They drag Paul and Silas into the public square and have them beaten.  Then, they are put in prison.  It feels a lot like a local mob gone crazy.   But God is always up to something.  An earthquake basically opens up the prison so the men could have theoretically walked out.  But they didn't.  I don't know why they didn't leave.  Maybe the Holy Spirit impressed upon them to stay, we don't have that information.  But because they stayed, the jailer is saved and so is his family!  One door opens another.    God is always opening at doors, always at work, but we have to be paying attention.  How have you seen God working behind the scenes in your life this week?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope December 9, 2025   Scripture – Acts 13   Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you today with humility.  You are holy, you are perfect, and I am painfully flawed.  Forgive me, Lord, for the way I fall short over and over again.  Forgive me for not being loving, patient, and kind.  Jesus, I want to follow your example.  I want to have a clean and pure heart.  How I need you.  Create in me a pure heart, Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  I love you.  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 walking through the Gospels over the last few months and now we are mid-way through the book of Acts.  Today, we are walking through Acts 13.   In today's passage, we read about the first missionary journeys.  The believers feel the Holy Spirit calling them to go, so they go.  Paul and Barnabas, especially, feel called to be missionaries and go to new places with the Gospel message.    In Cyprus, the disciples encounter a Jewish sorcerer (seems like an oxymoron) and false prophet who was getting in the way of the proconsul, or governor, coming to belief in Jesus.  Maybe the sorcerer sees Paul as a threat to his own power, we really can't tell.  But Paul doesn't stand for it.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, he speaks boldly and tells the sorcerer that he is a child of the devil.  The man actually becomes blind.  Seeing the power of God at work, the proconsul accepts Christ.    This particular incident is worth mentioning because it doesn't take long for Paul and Barnabas to encounter opposition.  They know they are sent by the Holy Spirit, they are sharing the Gospel, and there are forces that aren't happy about it!  But Paul and Barnabas are undeterred.  They take care of the sorcerer and keep on going.  I think too often when we encounter resistance, we consider giving up.  We think, "Maybe God isn't calling me to do this ministry or maybe God isn't calling me to share my story with this group."  It's possible, at times, that resistance can mean we are doing the wrong thing IF that resistance comes from godly people.  However, more often, I think resistance means we're pushing against powers that need to be brought down.  Keep going and DO NOT COMPROMISE.  Stay the course.   Back to our passage - notice that wherever Paul and Barnabas go, they stop in the synagogue first and preach to the Jews.  Some follow and believe which simply angers the Jewish leaders and they cause trouble.  It's then that Paul basically says, "Look, we tried to offer you salvation in Jesus.  You reject us so we are moving on to the Gentiles!"  The Gentiles are very pleased.  And the word spreads and many people believed.  This is a pattern we will see repeated again and again.   I think sometimes we keep trying to do something, over and over and over again, without a lot of success because we feel like God has called us to do so.  Sometimes, as in this passage, that is simply a door we need to close so that we can open up a more productive one.  It's okay to say no to good to do what's great for God's Kingdom.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

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Daily Dose of Hope December 5, 2025   Scripture – Acts 11   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We are broken and we need you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning.  Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope once again.  This is the podcast and devotional that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading.  We are working through the book of Acts and today we are talking about Acts 11.   What a great chapter!  It starts with Peter explaining why he entered the house of a Gentile and how the new believers received the Holy Spirit.  Isn't it interesting that the church leaders in Jerusalem don't start by asking Peter about the Gentiles' conversion?  No, they are more worried about Peter being a good Jew.  They are more worried about the superficial.  They are fixated on Peter entering a Gentile's home and eating with him.  Man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart.  God is less worried about the food that's eaten and more concerned about the souls of people.    At the same time, I get it.  These Jewish church leaders had been taught the law from the time they were wee ones.  Yes, Jesus had opened up new doors and broken down barriers, but the law is the law.  This struggle with whether/how to follow the Mosaic Law as a follower of Jesus will be a major theme throughout the rest of the New Testament.  We are quite removed from it as Gentile believers 2000 years later, but this was a big, big deal.  It was very complex deciding what to keep and not keep, what to follow and not follow.  There was also such a huge disparity in background between the Gentile believers and the Jewish believers.  This will come in to play in the next few chapters.   Let's talk a little bit about the church at Antioch.  This is the first place the Jesus followers are called Christians and we have the scattered Jews and the local Greeks worshiping together.  Large numbers of Gentiles come to believe in Jesus, showing God's divine favor in this new direction of the Gospel.  Antioch became a model for a diverse church, but it also became a hub of sorts for Paul and Barnabas' missionary journeys.  This was a church that was driven by a mission to save the lost and they kept expanding past the walls of their own church and community.   What might we learn from Antioch?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Daily Dose of Hope December 8, 2025   Scripture – Acts 12   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We give you all the glory and praise.  Thank you for being a God who provides.  Thank you for being a God who heals.  Thank you for being a God who sees past our brokenness and invites us into relationship with you.  Help us, Lord, to grow more deeply in love with you every day.  More of you and less of me.  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 getting to the end of our reading plan after months of walking through the Gospels and Acts.  I would love to hear what you have learned.  What have been your big takeaways?    Today, we walk through Acts 12.  Things are getting rough for Peter and the Christians.  Persecution is increasing.  Herod is getting especially agitated and throws Peter in prison.  I want to talk about the miracle of Peter being released but first let's discuss the Herod dynasty because I think that's important.  The Herodians were given power of the region of Judea by the Romans.  While they were brutal and power-hungry, they did consider themselves to be Jews.  This Herod from Acts 12 is Herod Agrippa I.  His grandfather was Herod the Great; he was the Herod who called for the killing of the Jewish baby boys after Jesus' birth.  He was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and to whom Jesus was brought.    All of these Herodian kings were insecure and felt easily threatened by those who criticized them or their way of life.  Thus, this Herod was persecuting Christians and had already executed James, the brother of John.    Peter is arrested and thrown in prison with many, many layers of security.  But no soldiers or shackles can stop God!  He sends an angel who frees Peter and leads him out of the prison to a home where many believers were meeting.  The believers had been praying fervently for Peter's release and then they were shocked when he shows up at the door of the home where they had gathered.  Talk about answered prayer!  This is just the beginning of the miracles God is going to do.   Do you believe in answered prayers?  Do you pray bold prayers like these believers?  The boldness of our prayers speak volumes about how we feel about God.  It's clear that the early church believed that God was all-powerful, that God was a God of miracles, a God of provision, and a God who would take care of their every need.  The big question is – do we?   Finally, let's talk about Herod's death.  After securing some kind of peace deal, King Herod stands before the people and gives his royal address.  The people go wild!  They begin to say this is the voice of a god, not a man.  And insecure Herod just soaks it up.  But God is having none of it, and he strikes him down dead.  Y'all, arrogance does not pay.  God calls his people to be humble.  All glory and honor belong to God.  Yes, there are times in which we can be appropriately proud but we have to be very, very careful.  The way of Christ is always humility.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 4, 2025   Scripture - Acts 10   Prayer: Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning.  Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you.  We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you.  Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions.  This is your day, Lord.  Amen.   Welcome back, friends, 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 are currently walking through the book of Acts and today we taking a look at Acts chapter 10.   Things are changing.  I love this text, as it shows that God is always up to something new to lead more people to the Gospel.  Cornelius, an Italian centurion, is a God-fearer.  This means he is a Gentile who believes in God but does not follow the law to the tee.  He is respected among Jews and gives to the causes of God.  God sends an angel to tell Cornelius that he needs to send for Peter.    At about the same time, Peter falls into a trance in which God presents him with all kinds of food, much of it unclean according to the law.  Its clear God is doing something different here.  He tells Peter to get up and eat.  When Peter protests, God tells him that nothing that God makes is unclean.  It's at that same time that Cornelius sends for him.   Peter then goes to Cornelius' home.  Keep in mind, this would have really been a no-no according to Jewish law.  Jews did not associate with Gentiles; they especially did not walk into their homes.  It would have rendered them unclean.  But Peter knows that God has called him to do so.  He speaks to Cornelius, his family, and friends about Jesus and they believe and receive the Holy Spirit.  This is new territory, everyone!  These are the first Gentiles that become believers.  We stand on their shoulders.  More tomorrow…   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope December 3, 2025   Scripture - Acts 9:32-43   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 back, friends, 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 are currently walking through the book of Acts and today we finish up Acts 9.   We learn that after Saul's conversion, there is a period of peace for the disciples of Jesus.  This allows them to move freely, share the Gospel, and do the works of healing and teaching.  In today's passage, we see the Holy Spirit working through Peter to heal a bedridden man and then resurrect a dead woman.   I would like to focus on Tabitha, also called Dorcas, a disciple in Joppa (a town that is now part of modern-day Tel Aviv).  Dorcas took care of most of the widows in that area.  Really, she had created a community of widows who had become her family. Remember, widows are some of the most vulnerable people in that society.  Without a husband or son to care for them, they have no way to care for themselves.  If it weren't for God's people, they would be doomed to a life of poverty and/or prostitution.  Dorcas cared for these women and they loved her dearly.  This is a woman whose life had significant impact on a group of women that would otherwise have been overlooked in their culture.  When Peter sees the situation, he is moved with compassion.  He prays and Dorcas is restored to life.    We serve a God of resurrection.  How do you need to see resurrection in your life today?  Let's reframe that a bit.  In the hustle and bustle of Christmas, where can you see new life and resurrection?  Where can you be a Tabitha?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope November 28, 2025   Scripture: Acts 8:1-26   Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Even though you are incredibly mighty and take care of us in such fundamental ways, we struggle to stay focused on our faith.  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/podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan for New Hope Church on Brandon, Florida.  We are currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we are talking at the first half of Acts 8.   After Stephen's killing, the new Christians are forced to scatter around the area.  Saul (who will become Paul) is going door to door to question people and throw Christians into prison.  This is serious stuff.  I want you to just imagine what that would be like.  We live in a place where we can worship freely but what those new Christians experience isn't too different from many parts of the world today.  Just keep that in mind.    What's interesting to me is that wherever they go, the believers spread the Gospel.  They aren't deterred by their experience in Jerusalem.  Rather, the opposite seems to be true.  They are bold and tell the story of Jesus wherever they go.  Think of your own life.  How do you share the story of Jesus?  Do you?   One more interesting part of the passage is the bit about Simon the sorcerer in Samaria.  Sorcery is absolutely forbidden by God because it relies on powers that are not of God.  When I speak of sorcery, I'm referring to black magic, the occult, witchcraft, etc.  Sometimes, there is no power attached to these things and other times, they definitely have power and it comes from the evil one.  So, friends, this is not something you want to mess with at all.  Just stay away from it.   Sorry, I digress.  Simon had become a believer after hearing Philip preach but the Holy Spirit had not yet come to the church in Samaria.  When the apostles (Peter and John) come to Samaria and lay hands on the believers, the Holy Spirit comes to them and they receive the power that comes with that.  Simon witnesses all of this and he wants it.  He offers Peter and John money to receive this power.  Of course, they are appalled.  They tell him he is wicked and needs to repent.  His heart is not right before God.  Simon appears to be repentant and we don't hear any more about him.    The apostles continue to visit Samaritan villages to spread the Gospel.   We will chat some more on Monday.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope November 27, 2025   Scripture - Acts 7   Prayer:  Amazing God, thank you for giving us life in Christ Jesus. This Thanksgiving, we ask you to continue to strengthen us in Jesus Christ, driving roots deep into the soil of who he is, your Son. In the days following this celebration of your awesome provision, may the Holy Spirit well up thankfulness in our hearts to overflowing every day. Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus. Amen Happy Thanksgiving!  Welcome 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 currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we working through all of chapter 7.  This chapter covers the stoning of Stephen, which seems a strange thing to talk about on Thanksgiving.  Or, maybe it's not.  We'll get to that.  If you remember, yesterday, the Jewish leaders were trying to get people to slander Stephen.  They were threatened by his wisdom.  So, they have him dragged in front of the Sanhedrin.  It's there that Stephen gives a long, eloquent history of how God worked through his people, leading up to Jesus.  Stephen doesn't mince words.  He is pretty clear that the Jewish leadership has persecuted all the prophets who have come before and then persecuted the Messiah to the point of execution.  Not surprisingly, the Jewish leaders are offended by his directness and they get really worked up when he looks up at heaven and declares that he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.  Keep in mind, this would have been blasphemy to the strict Jews who sat on the council.  There was no real trial, no real discussion.  They simply drag Stephen out and start throwing stones. Stephen was the first Christian martyr.  This was, of course, a sign of what was to come.  But Stephen also offers all Christians a beautiful model of how to live and die, trusting fully and completely in Jesus Christ.  This seems pretty foreign to us and for that, we should be thankful.  But this is truth:  Christians around the world deal with this kind of persecution every single day.    We don't think about it much but over 360 million Christians around the world suffer persecution or discrimination for their faith in Jesus Christ. Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered in 2022, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.  Most of us have seen the horrors that Christians in Nigeria are currently experiencing.  For other Christians, it means being denied economic opportunities or simply living under the threat of violence.  American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like.  It's not being made fun of or worrying about offending someone, it's risking all for Jesus. Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 states most likely to punish Christians for their faith. Last year 11 nations were guilty of "extreme persecution." Afghanistan took the top spot this year. It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed.  North Korea is next, as Kim Jung-un wages a war against any foreign influences.  Then, we have countries like Somalia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria.  On this Thanksgiving Day, let's give thanks for our ability to worship freely without fear of persecution.  But let' also give thanks for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are staying faithful no matter what.  We pray for their safety, but also their perseverance, resilience, and faithfulness.  May we have even but a small amount of their courage and strength. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.  Please know, I am grateful for everyone of you and count you all among my blessings. Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 26, 2025   Scripture - Acts 6   Prayer:  Almighty God, As we move into our Wednesday, 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 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 currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we working through all of chapter 6.   In Acts 6, we see the choosing of the first deacons to serve the widows from both the Greek and Jewish communities.  The apostles felt strongly they needed to keep preaching and teaching but they knew someone needed to be in charge of serving those in need.  There was a conflict that had to be dealt with – the Greek Jews felt that their widows weren't being cared for in the same way as the Hebrew Jews when it came to food distribution.  It wasn't insurmountable issue at all, but it could certainly create battle lines if not addressed promptly.  Stephen is chosen to lead the group who would ensure all of the early believers are fed fairly.  This is such a great model for solving a problem in the church.  They had an issue, they came together and discussed it civilly, and a solution is chosen.  No drama.   I should also note this is the first time we see a differentiation in the roles in the church.  Deacons are caring for the physical needs of the people.  The apostles, serving more like elders, are preaching and teaching.  There are many people in one body with many different gifts.  It takes all of us for Jesus' church to be effective and fruitful.  This will get clearer as the church develops.    Later in the chapter, things take a turn for the worse.  Stephen is being targeted by the Sanhedrin.  They don't like how the Gospel is spreading.  I wonder if the Jewish leaders are beginning to feel like things are getting out of control.  They see the church growing and they don't have a way to stop it.  Stephen is exhibiting extraordinary wisdom.  How do you fight against that?  Well, you cheat and lie.  And that's exactly what they did.  They have people say that he is speaking blasphemy against Moses.  They are willing to do whatever they need to do to slander Stephen.  They are abandoning Torah in favor of keeping political control.    More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 25, 2025   Scripture - Acts 5:17-42   Prayer:  Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day during this Thanksgiving week.   We are so very grateful that your mercies are new every morning.  We are thankful for your mercy, grace, and patience with us.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word.  In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome 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 currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we are finishing Acts 5.   The apostles are witnessing and people are coming to faith in Jesus.  They are seeing signs and wonders.  Even Peter's shadow falling on people is leading to healing.  The Holy Spirit is working in powerful ways to demonstrate God's glory and grow the young church.  Healing and deliverance are the norm, not the exception.    This really makes the Jewish leaders jealous and worried.  Afterall, they want to control their perceived grip on religious power.  The apostles are thrown in jail but freed by an angel.  They go right back to the Temple courts and witness to the Gospel.  When the Jewish leaders question and threaten the apostles, the believers are clear that they are going to follow God over man.  Their boldness is amazing.  It's clear the Spirit is in them in a powerful way.  But what I am always alarmed by is their joy at being suffering disgrace for the Gospel.  I mean they are flogged!  That's extremely painful.  And they praise God for this.    This leads to some pretty difficult questions for us.  First, when have you suffered disgrace for the Gospel?  Second, when have we experienced discomfort for the Gospel?  Seriously, what is the worst we have experienced for the Gospel? And finally, if you have experienced disgrace or discomfort, were you filled with joy?   I think we tend to go to great lengths to avoid disgrace and discomfort.  Why?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 24, 2025   Scripture - Acts 5:1-16   Prayer: Almighty God, As we move into a new week, 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 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 currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we are staring Acts 5, specifically the first sixteen verses.   The story of Ananias and Sapphira is kind of disturbing.  But keep in mind that this is happening within the context of the new church community.  This is a community in which people are selling all their possessions and living in unity, of the same mind and spirit.  Then, Ananias and Sapphira, in contrast, tell everyone they are selling a piece of land and giving all the profit to the church.  But they secretly keep a big chunk for themselves.  This is the thing – if they had been honest and said they were splitting the proceeds and keeping some for themselves, it would not have been a big deal.  Afterall, it was their property and their money.  They could decide how to use it.  The issue was in the deception.  Rather than being filled with the Holy Spirit (as we see in the rest of the community), they were filled with a spirit of evil.    Here is an interesting question – were Ananias and Sapphira true believers?  They probably were.  Their story is told in the context of the actions of "all the believers" in Acts 4.  They knew the Holy Spirit.  It's possible that Ananias may have earlier promised to give the whole amount of the sale of the property to the church and then they changed their mind and decided to be deceptive rather than truthful.  Maybe the best evidence that they were believers is that they were disciplined for their actions.  They wanted attention and accolades but they lied to get it.  They were even given a chance to fess up but they stuck to their lies.  As a result, they died.    It shows us that believers can be led into bold, obvious sin.  And really, don't we see this often in the church?  A respected church leader falls from grace – the inappropriate relationship, embezzled funds, something is just not right.  Satan is active and at work in our lives and we have to be on guard, prepared with the full armor of God.  You guys, spiritual warfare is real.    If this story seems harsh, it is.  You are totally right.  I've thought about this.  The church was young.  They were really setting boundaries.  The apostles were establishing their own leadership.  This was a warning to the church as a whole.  Deception and evil will not be tolerated.  We are not to look like the culture at large.  We belong to Jesus.  We reflect Jesus.    Does New Hope reflect Jesus?  What can we do better?  What can you do better?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope November 21, 2025   Scripture - Acts 4:23-37   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 to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Happy Friday!  We are so glad you have joined us today.  We have been doing an intense deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  We have made it to the book of Acts and today, we are finishing up Acts 4.    The Jewish leaders had threatened Peter and John not to preach and teach Jesus.  Peter and John knew that was not going to be possible.  So what do they do?  They immediately gather with other believers for a time of prayer.  They pour their concerns out before the Lord.  They proclaim the majesty of God's greatness and power and they ask him to give them more boldness.    I want you to adequately grasp this.  They don't hide.  They don't cower.  They don't pray for protection.  They pray for boldness.  They never had any intention of backing down, but they do know that they will need Spirit-filled courage.    Think about the situation in your life right now that is causing the most stress and anxiety.  How can you reframe it like these disciples?  It's not about backing down.  It's about God giving you the strength, courage, stamina, and wisdom to face it head-on.  Please use good sense here and proceed with prayer.  But don't let fear make you make down.  Were Peter and John scared?  Probably.  They were human beings.  But they surrounded themselves with believers to pray over them and build them up with the strength of the Spirit.  What a great model! I want to jump down to the end of the chapter.  The believers are together and share all they have.  They are of one mind.  They sell their possessions and lay them at the apostles' feet.  They are filled with grace in a powerful way.  This is the way the church began.  Do you think maybe we have gotten off course a bit?  The reality is that a lot of history has occurred between the church of Acts and today.  But what do you take from this passage?  What elements of the church might we need to bring back to right now to be more in line with the teachings of Jesus? Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 20, 2025   Scripture - Acts 4:1-22   Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 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 doing a pretty intense walk through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin Acts 4. Peter and John have been brought before the Sanhedrin.  Why?  Because they were preaching Jesus crucified and risen.  Peter has spoken as one filled with the Holy Spirit and it is powerful!  Many were coming to belief in Jesus.  These Jewish officials felt threatened.  And yet, they couldn't deny that the man had been healed.  The officials ask Peter and John by what authority they are preaching and teaching.  What do they say? They state clearly that they are preaching by the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  What was kind of fascinating and also kind of sad as I was doing research for this Scripture was the number of academics who struggled with this passage.  They struggled with the exclusivity of Peter and John preaching Jesus and only Jesus.  Peter is clear – it is by Jesus this man was healed and it is only by Jesus that we are saved.  And here we are 2000 years later and all kinds of academics can parse words and want to make the speech different.  Yet, Peter was clear.  He says this in verse 12,  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.  My favorite line from the chapter is, When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  This is always such a humbling verse for me.  Do others look at us and know we've been with Jesus?  It didn't matter that Peter and John hadn't had proper schooling, whatever that is.  They might not have even been literate.  But here they are, filled with the Spirit of the Living God, and it is obvious.  Everything about what they spoke, how they looked, and how they behaved, made it so evident that they belonged to Jesus.  And that begs the question --- could people say the same for us? Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope November 19, 2025   Scripture - Acts 3   Prayer: Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We are broken and we need you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning.  Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...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.  This week, we have just started the book of Acts, after walking through all the Gospels.  What a great spiritual journey this has been and I'm so glad you have joined us!  Today, we walk through Acts 3. The chapter starts with Peter and John heading into the temple in the afternoon.  There is a disabled man there, who could not walk, and was brought into the temple every day to beg for money.  This passage always makes me smile.  Peter says something like, "Look, we don't have any money but we have something better."  And he heals him.  The man wasn't expecting it at all.  He was expecting more of the same – begging, barely making it, having no dignity, simply existing.  And what Peter and John offered him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was so much better.  The man jumps and leaps throughout the temple courts and praises God.  People are standing there, jaws dropped, shocked.  They recognize him as the same man who used to beg at the temple gate, and now they are filled with wonder and amazement. And then the two men use this as an opportunity to preach about Jesus.  Peter says, "Why does this surprise you?"  He talks about Jesus.  He makes sure the people don't think this is a magic trick or something that happened by Peter's own power.  This is totally, completely, a result of the power of Jesus Christ.  What I find interesting is that Peter tailors his witnessing to the people around him.  These are Jewish people.  Thus, he goes way back to the Jewish fathers, explaining how Jesus was always part of God's plan.  Yet, he was killed and then resurrected.  Peter continues by telling them that Jesus is the one God sent, Jesus is the one that the prophets were speaking of, Jesus is the one you should have recognized!  It's really fascinating to me that Peter, throughout Acts, does such a great job, balancing human culpability for the death of Jesus with the inevitability of Jesus' death as part of God's plan.  This death was necessary and God knew it had to happen.  Prophecy said it would happen.  But, at the same time, it only occurred because human beings sinned and ensured that it would happen.  God didn't force anyone's hand.  He didn't make anyone do anything. One aspect of Peter's message that is critical is repentance.  I don't think we talk about repentance enough.  Let's look at verse 19, Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...  Peter tells the Jews who are listening that, regardless of what has come before, regardless of the mistakes of the past, it is time to repent.  Now is the time to turn to God and allow him to cleanse your sins so that you can be refreshed and be made white as snow.  Life is different with Jesus.  Allow him in and experience new life.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 18, 2025   Scripture – Acts 2   Prayer: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have just started the book of Acts, after walking through all the Gospels.  What a great spiritual journey this has been and I'm so glad you have joined us!  Today, we walk through Acts 2.   I'm going to start by reading the first three verses, On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.    You guys, this is incredible.  First, let's talk about the roaring windstorm.  Throughout Scripture, wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In ancient Hebrew, we have the word, ruach, which means breath/wind/spirit and we see this word quite a bit in the Old Testament.  Wind represents the life-giving work of the Spirit.  Think about it.  In Genesis 2, God breathed life (ruach) into Adam.  In Ezekial 37, we are in the valley of dry bones and God has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, saying "I will put my Spirit (ruach) in you and you will live."  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is typically referred to in the Greek as pneuma.  The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary to form life in her womb.  In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.    I can't help thinking, how many people need to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit right now?  How many people are really struggling, barely holding on, languishing in doubt, pain, anger, cynicism?  Or maybe, you simply feel nothing?  There is NO true living without the presence of the Spirit, only existing.    Next, we have the tongues of fire.  Let's sit here for a second.  Fire is often descriptive of God in the Old Testament and it speaks to the purifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit.  In this sense, the Spirit causes things that are impure to become pure...lives, hearts. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says "I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  Peter speaks of the new Gentile believers as experiencing the Holy Spirit and having their hearts purified.    If something is pure, it is only one thing–pure gold, pure oxygen.  It isn't filled with contaminants or additives. It is totally and completely that one thing. I picture the Holy Spirit coming upon that group of believers on the day of Pentecost and purifying or refining their hearts so they would be totally and completely dedicated to the things of God, not half filled with the stuff of the world and half filled with the things of God.  I wonder that about our own hearts.  What contaminants have we allowed to seep in?  What do we need to purify? Come like a fire, Holy Spirit, and burn in us so that we can be pure and totally devoted to the things of Jesus.   Let's read some more Scripture, beginning with verse 4 (this is truly a paraphrase), All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  This made a racket and a crowd forms...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?  Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."  And then Peter gets up and says, we aren't drunk, it's only 9 in the morning.  Let me tell you what his means...and he shares with them the Gospel, he speaks of how the Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, he speaks of Jesus' ministry, his death, his resurrection and it says this,  Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"  Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."   And what happened? 3000 believed and were baptized.  The Holy Spirit came, the people were given power to act, and they did it!  They trusted God and they responded.  This was essentially the beginning of the church.  At the end of chapter 2, we see how the people begin to gather to worship Jesus, to pray, to learn, to take care of one another, to celebrate the Lord's Supper.  They sold all they had and gave it to the poor among them.    We talked about how the Holy Spirit is life-giving and purifying but it also has power.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do really hard things.  If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has made a home within you. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES within you.  And God didn't give us that power simply for our own use.  It's for the mission of sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.    Why do you think we struggle so much with that?  What part of the mission causes you to hide in fear?  Friends, we have POWER within us and it is given to us for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ.  Let's just let that sit and settle.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 17, 2025   Scripture – Acts 1   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 to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.   Today, we are starting the book of Acts, one of my favorite books of the Bible.  This is the second volume of the two-part work of Luke-Acts, written by Luke, a co-worker of Paul.  The original title of the book was The Acts of the Apostles.  Certainly, different apostles appear throughout the stories, but the only single character who unifies the book is Jesus, appearing in the beginning of the book in human form and then acting through the Holy Spirit throughout the book.    As we work our way through the text, it's going to be incredible to see how the Holy Spirit transforms, leads, directs, and shapes the new Christians and the young church.  Chapter 1 opens with Jesus ready to ascend into heaven.  Even though this is post-resurrection, the disciples still didn't understand everything.  We find them asking Jesus when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel.  Their understanding of God's Kingdom is still a bit misguided, but Jesus redirects them.  He says only God knows the time and place for that.    But there is something even better ahead.  And Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming.  The Spirit of the living God is coming and when it does, they will receive a power like no other.  This is the same truth for us:  When God's Spirit comes upon us, we have the ability to  witness, to bear testimony, to all the things of Jesus.  It really isn't about us but about God's Spirit in us!   And then, Jesus ascends into heaven.  They don't quite get it yet, but now it's a waiting game.  The Holy Spirit is coming and they have no idea what they are in for.  Tomorrow, we get to talk about Pentecost and the birthday of the church.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 14, 2025   Scripture – John 21   Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word.  In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...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.  Happy Friday! As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we walk through John 21 and conclude the Gospel of John.    In today's passage, the resurrected Lord appears to the disciples who are out fishing.  At first they don't know it's Jesus, but when they recognize him, they rush to the shore.  Peter jumps in and swims to get there faster.  It's a happy reunion.  After another miracle of abundance (an amazing catch of fish and no net ripping), the disciples find Jesus on the shore ready to cook some breakfast.  One note here - Jesus' resurrection was a spiritual and physical resurrection.  If you recall, he could enter locked rooms without going through the door but he also ate food and needed nourishment.  Jesus did not appear to them as a ghost but as a real human being.    This is the narrative in which Jesus and Peter reconcile.  It's my guess that Jesus has already forgiven Peter for his denial but we can assume Peter has all kinds of pain and mixed feelings associated with his betrayal.  It's time to address these inward feelings of shame and brokenness.  Jesus has big plans for Peter so this healing needs to happen now.  And it does, but in a way that only Jesus can do it. In a series of three questions, possibly correlating to Peter's three denials, Jesus arranges a miracle in the heart in Peter.  Three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?"  Peter then has to say out loud, "You know I do, Lord."  With each cycle of questioning, we can begin to see Peter's shame lift.  Jesus didn't doubt Peter's love but maybe Peter did after his failure before the crucifixion.  An unspoken forgiveness takes place and Jesus reinstates Peter to do what Jesus has called him to do – shepherd the people of God.  But at the same time, Jesus is still calling Peter to do something very, very hard.  In verse 18, Jesus makes it clear that continuing Jesus' mission and leading his people will eventually lead Peter to his own death.  In verse 19, Jesus refers to how Peter will lay down his life.  Jesus knows this won't be easy for Peter and he says that Peter will have to go where he doesn't wish to go.  Jesus is reinstating Peter here but he is also vouching for his integrity.  He is telling the others that Peter does, in fact, have what it takes to lead the flock.   This final chapter in John brought to mind several questions for me: -Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile?  Pray about how to handle that situation. -Is there someone in your life that needs forgiving? -Is Jesus calling you to do something hard?  Are you avoiding it?  Why? -What has been your biggest takeaway from the Gospel of John?  How has it been different for you from the other Gospels?   Have a great weekend!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 13, 2025   Scripture – John 20   Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Even though you are incredibly mighty and take care of us in such fundamental ways, we struggle to stay focused on our faith.  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.  As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we walk through John 20.  Let me start by saying this.  The resurrection of Jesus is the most critical event in our faith; we could argue it was the most critical event of all time.  Jesus wasn't simply resuscitated.  He wasn't just alive in a spiritual way. It wasn't his ghost that showed up in that room with the disciples.  Jesus was dead with no pulse, no heartbeat, wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb, AND then he became alive again in a totally real, physical sense.  Death to life.  That is huge and that is what today's passage discusses with lots of great detail. It starts with an empty tomb.  Mary Magdalene heads over to the tomb on Sunday morning. We know from other Gospel accounts that she wanted to properly prepare Jesus' body for burial, as the Friday tomb situation had been rushed. It's then she saw that the stone had been removed. She goes to get Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved (most likely John, the author). They rushed to the tomb. Jesus' body was no longer there but the strips of cloth used to wrap his dead body were still present.    John went inside. He saw and believed. Think about those words. He had been walking with Jesus for three years. John saw miracle after miracle, healing after healing, feeding after feeding. But none of it made sense. It now makes sense. What Jesus said would happen has happened. The cross did not have the final word. Jesus Christ defeated death and darkness. He overcame the world.   Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples, and then specifically to Thomas, who said he needed to see the scars himself to truly believe.  Jesus knew that his dear friends would be feeling thoroughly defeated and they needed his presence.  The Holy Spirit was not yet here and they needed to see his physical body to have the peace that only Jesus can bring.  He also wants to encourage them to continue his mission.  Nothing is done.  One of my favorite verses is John 20:21, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And then he breathes on them so they receive the Spirit.  They won't fully receive the Spirit until Pentecost but I think they got a taste of God's Spirit right here, enough to empower them and encourage them to keep on keeping on.    The transforming power of God was at work then and is still at work today! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us as believers. There is power in that, friends! We are resurrection people. We believe that what was dead can be brought to life. We believe that we are new people in Jesus Christ. We believe that we are raised with Christ. We believe that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye. How have you seen resurrection power at work in your life? Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 12, 2025   Scripture – John 19   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.  As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we begin John 19.    Our passage begins with Jesus before Pilate.  Even Pilate, the Roman official, recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Pontius Pilate is an interesting guy.  He knows that Jesus hasn't done anything wrong, certainly nothing worthy of execution, and he truly wants to free Jesus.  The text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. He tries to placate the Jewish leaders.  He has Jesus flogged.  He offers to release Barrabas, a noted insurrectionist, thinking for sure they would rather have Jesus set free rather than a murderer.  But that isn't what happened. And Pilate isn't willing to stand up for what he knows is right.  His own role in Jesus' death lands him a mention in the Apostle's Creed, the most famous and oldest Christian Creed.  Think about it, for two thousand years, Christians around the globe have been declaring that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate.    Bottom line:  The Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it's convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed.   The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it's a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Afterall, Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn't follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go.   Has your hatred of another person ever made you compromise your own values? We think we are so much better than these Jewish officials but I think sometimes we are just like these Jewish officials. Dig deep today, friends. Examine your own heart. The remainder of the chapter is pretty powerful.  Jesus carries his own cross to the place of his execution.  The soldiers cast lots for his clothing.  He breathes his last breath without any of his bones being broken by the soldiers.  They pierced his side with a spear.  Lots of prophecy being fulfilled here.   Finally, two faithful Jewish men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, take Jesus' body and place it in a tomb.  Not a lot can be done to prepare the body for burial because it's Friday afternoon and the Sabbath is upon them.  Things will have to wait.  But things may look a lot different on Sunday morning.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 11, 2025   Scripture - John 18:19-40   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/podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up John 18.   Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council.  They can't stand him.  They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father.  They physically assault him.  They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law.  They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate.  As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.  We could go in a lot of different directions with this.  But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." "What is truth?" Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth.  Pilate questions if there can be truth.  The Greek word for "truth" is aletheia, and it means something like "divine revelation."  It literally means "what can't be hidden."  The Hebrew word for "truth" is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. This is such an important discussion because we live in a world in which people are still searching for truth and meaning.  There is an idea that it's okay for you to have your truth and me to have mine.  But yet, that only works up until a point, until our disagreements become really fundamental.  Here is some truth for you: Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person.  Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel.  The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH.  For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here.   He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!"  Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.  If we really believe this, this fundamentally changes how we think about the world.  If Jesus is truth, then everything he said throughout the Gospels is true.  It means he came back from the dead and will return to judge all people.  It means he is God.  Do you believe this?  Do you?  I'm pressing this point a bit, I know.  And it's for a reason.  Because if we really, really believe Jesus is truth, then this one fact will inform every other piece of our life.  It will affect how we treat others. It will affect how we worship. It will certain affect our priorities. It will change how we spend our money. It affects what we think about during the day. It will change how we talk to people. We will think about sharing Jesus a lot more. We will think about Jesus a lot more in general.  We will pray more.  We will read the Bible more.  We will become more deeply devoted to God because he is Truth and nothing else in the world is. Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 10, 2025   Scripture - John 18:1-18   Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today in humility and awe.  You are a good God.  You, who put the stars and planets in motion, also created us.  You care about the most minute details of our lives.  You have numbered the hairs on our head.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for caring so much.  Help us be put even a small reflection of your love toward those around us.  More of you and less of me, 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 in the book of John, as we walk through the whole of the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we start John 18.   We start in the Garden.  Unlike Mark's Gospel, Jesus does not plead that the cup be taken from him.  Rather, he steps forward and boldly declares that he is Jesus of Nazareth, the one they are looking for.  The Garden of Gethsemane is a common place.  He is not hiding and he is not apprehensive.  He offers himself in place of his disciples who are there with him.  He affirms the anti-violent path given to him by God and rebukes Peter when he cuts the high priest's slave's ear off.  Jesus will not allow anyone, including Peter, to deprive him of his role in God's victory.  Jesus knows he is innocent, he knows this is unjust, but he also knows it is necessary so he will do what must be done, not for his sake but for ours.   I always wonder what Judas is thinking in this moment.  Does he have a sense of satisfaction?  Or, is there part of him that has regret?  Does he see Jesus' innocence and begin to see what he has done?  I don't think we will ever know but I can't help but wonder.  Judas was a complicated character and if we are honest, we've all been Judas at one time or another.  We have all betrayed Jesus.   Speaking of betrayal, we also get to read about Peter's first denial of Jesus to the servant girl in the high priest's courtyard.  The first of three, of course.  What was going on in Peter's head?  We know he had to be scared to death.  Was he praying?  Had he forgotten everything Jesus taught him?  Was he trying to figure out how to just get out of the situation alive?  I mean, he was Jesus' very best friend.   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope October 6, 2025   Scripture – John 16   Prayer:  Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!  We magnify your precious and powerful name.  How often we forget how mighty you are.  You created all.  You created us.  Thank you, Lord, for who you are.  Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness.  In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you.  We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion.  Help us see others through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.`   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are going through the book of John currently as part of our deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are taking a look at John 16.   Jesus starts by telling the disciples that he is teaching them all of this because things are going to get hard.  He wants them to know just how hard.  Not only will Jesus be arrested and killed, but the disciples themselves will experience persecution.  I'm not sure that this has crossed their minds.  Remember, they are still thinking that Jesus will establish an earthly Kingdom that will overthrow the Romans.    Jesus reiterates that he will be going away, there will be grief, but then there will be joy.  He uses the analogy of a woman having a baby.  There is lots of pain during childbirth but when the child comes, it's all worth it.  There is so much joy in holding that new baby.  So Jesus says that the disciples will have tremendous grief but then they will have tremendous joy.  They question him, of course, because they really don't understand.  This is still very confusing to them.  This doesn't fit their idea of what it supposed to happen.    But the final verse of this chapter is one of my favorites and definitely worth memorizing.  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."   Jesus knows that they don't get it and that the next few days are going to be excruciating.  Really, the next few years will be hard.  But we live in a broken world.  He didn't come to take away pain and suffering.  In fact, he says that in this world, we will have trouble.  Expect it.  But because of Jesus, we can actually have peace in the midst of trouble. We can have the kind of peace the world does not offer, a peace that only makes sense connected to Jesus.  Jesus is the one who conquered death, he overcame evil, he won victory over Satan.  Because of his victory, we also can experience victory.  Because of his resurrection, we also can experience resurrection.  All the troubles of this world won't go away for us, but we can get through them.  Jesus can make a way when their seems to be absolutely no way.  He can bring peace to our chaos.  He is the one who overcame the world.  And that, my friends, is such great news.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 5, 2025   Scripture – John 15   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.  As most of you know, we are right in the middle of a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into John 15.   The Scripture that we read from John 15 is incredibly powerful.  Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."   Jesus is talking to his followers about how to walk closely with him, essentially what it means to be a disciple.  What is a disciple? A good working definition, for our purposes, is  an apprentice, someone who wants to learn all they can from another person so they will do what they do and become like them.  To be a disciple of Jesus, that means we have to actively learn about Jesus, know him, become like him.   And this Scripture gives us a really important clue as to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  A disciple remains in Jesus. Older translations use the term abide. To remain or abide in Jesus means not simply to have said yes to Jesus, but to have a connection with Jesus, we are in union with him, we stay with him, we rest in him. Let's think about this. The presence of Jesus is always with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is always there, but we tend to move away from him. Jesus is saying here, remain in me. Stay close to me, stay connected to me, stay in conversation with me. How do we do this?  Well, through prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and other spiritual disciplines. If we don't pray, if we don't read the Bible, if we don't worship, we will not feel connected to Jesus. We are not remaining in him and the result will be evident. We will feel dry, parched, alone, we will start to gradually make choices that don't represent who we are in Jesus, the world will begin to seep in, gradually, so gradually sometimes that we don't even notice.   I've used the teacup example before.  If you drink tea (and use teabags), then you are either a dipper or a steeper.  If you dip that teabag in the water, you go up and down and up and down and the tea never gets that strong.  A lot of people are like that with faith.  They are dippers.  They dip into prayer and dip out of prayer.  They dip into Bible study and dip out of Bible study.  They dip into church and dip out of church.  But Jesus wants us to be steepers.  He wants us to steep in prayer, Bible study, and worship.  He wants us to soak in his presence so we are like really strong tea.   Now, part of abiding is to acknowledge that we need Jesus and are totally dependent on Jesus. Think about this---the branch is totally dependent on the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. And believers receive the "sap" of Christ's grace through our life-giving connection to him. Intentionally remaining in Jesus is recognizing that we can't do this life alone. We need Jesus. I need daily, sometimes hourly, times of prayer to abide with Jesus.  How are you doing abiding in Jesus?  (Use a scale of 1 to 10 right now to assess how well you abide in Christ, 1 being not at all and 10 being totally soaking him in all the time).   Let's take a look at the next part of the Scripture, John 15:5-8, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."   So we can see the other characteristic of a true disciple is producing fruit.  When we abide or remain in Jesus, then fruit should be the natural result.  Resting in Jesus makes us changed people – our attitudes are different, our behavior is different, it's noticeable.  We are more patient, more kind, more loving, more generous, more gentle; basically, we look more like Christ.  We bear fruit not by squeezing it out of ourselves but because we are extensions of the vine, pruned by the gardener.   Think about a grapevine.  I've never been very successful growing grapes in Florida but most of us have seen a grapevine at some point.  They are typically grown on a trellis.  They have to be pruned and trimmed by the gardener in order to produce new healthy branches that bear fruit.  If you don't prune, then you are going to have a lot of leafy green but it won't produce new branches that bear fruit.  It will look good but it won't produce anything.  And the point is of course, not simply to look pretty on the trellis, but to actually produce some fruit.   Of course, our purpose is not simply to look good, to look Godly or righteous, but to ACTUALLY produce fruit.  So, God may need to prune us to ensure that happens.  I used to be afraid of God's pruning, but I've found in my own life that God prunes me because he loves me. He wants to remove those things in my life that are hindering my spiritual growth.  This could mean bad habits, bad relationships, things that are toxic, generally anything that is getting in the way of me becoming the person God wants me to be. Sometimes God removes things directly (like he simply removes something from our life like a relationship or a job or you name it – think of something God removed and in retrospect, needed to remove from your life).  Other times, God convicts us so that we will make the move to remove whatever it is that is creating a wedge in our relationship with him.    Think about your relationship with God right now.   What has hindered you from bearing more fruit or bearing fruit at all?  Fears and insecurities from your past?  Selfishness? An unhealthy attachment to stuff? Unhealthy friendships, unhealthy behavior patterns?  Complacency, being too comfortable, laziness, fatigue, lack of passion? Whatever it is, acknowledge it now.  God wants better for you.  He wants to walk closely with you.  In fact, God wants HIS best for you.  He wants you to live a fruitful, abundant life.  Do you want that?  Really, do you?    Let's spend some extended time in prayer, asking God to reveal himself to us right now.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 4, 2025   Scripture - John 14:15-31   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 to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive of the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish John 14.   We have just read about how Jesus has washed his disciples' feet, shared a Passover meal with them, and even predicted their denial.  Now, he has moved into this long extended time of teaching.  He wants them to understand what is coming.  Jesus is saying, there are confusing, hard days ahead. In fact, over the next few chapters, he warns them of this several times–things are going to get really tough. Jesus knows that in a few short hours, he will be arrested in the garden, his trial will soon begin, and cross is looming large. He is preparing them for what's to come...He won't be with you them body anymore—but will send the Holy Spirit (he calls the Spirit the Advocate, which comes from the Greek word Paraclete meaning the helper, the one who comes alongside).   Jesus basically says this is what I promise that Spirit will do in your life: The Spirit will constantly be with you and constantly be guiding you, leading you, teaching you, reminding you of all the truths I have taught you. In fact, you can think of the Holy Spirit as a gift.  You can think of the Spirit as my presence with you always.  And if my presence is with you always, then even in the midst of confusion and trouble, you can have peace. It's the Holy Spirit that will allow you to experience a special kind of peace that is only possible connected to Jesus; it's a peace the world absolutely does not offer.  How incredible.    Jesus then tells them he has to go away.  Remember, they really don't understand any of this.  It's going to take time, reflection, and perspective, and the Holy Spirit, for this all to really come together for them.    But it's worth mentioning that 50 days later, in Jerusalem, in another room, the believers are gathered together, hiding and waiting, not really sure what's going to happen...when the Holy Spirit shows up and fills the believers.  This changes absolutely everything.    While we will talk more about Pentecost when we cover Acts 2, I do want to talk a bit about the Holy Spirit today.  What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?   Assures believers that they belong to God. I can't tell you how many I've counseled that worry that they haven't really been accepted by God. They have asked for forgiveness and said yes to Jesus Christ, been born again, but there is something within themselves that still makes them think they aren't deserving or that God doesn't want them or love them. The Holy Spirit, working within us, has the power to assure each of us that yes, God has accepted us and adopted us as his own.   Romans 8:14-16, For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.   Galatians 4:6, "And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."   Helps us become more Christ-like, more holy. It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. When we talk about the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out, this is what we are talking about. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. You can't reproduce the character of Jesus on your own or by your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. They will only get us so far. It is the Holy Spirit that has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives.   Philippians 2:13, God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.   When we hear the phrase, "the power of the Holy Spirit," many people think of miracles and intense emotions. But most of the time, the Holy Spirit's power is released in our lives in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or feel. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we have done something wrong, The Holy Spirit often nudges us, sometimes with "a gentle whisper" and other times with a not so gentle whack to the head.   Strengthens Our Faith.  It is through the power of the Holy Spirit within us that our faith grows stronger and stronger, even in the midst of hard circumstances.   Ephesians 3:16-18, I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.   I love this imagery of roots going down deep into God's love to keep us strong. How deep are your roots? Are they shallow?   When we are weak, when we don't know the words to say, the Holy Spirit prays for us on our behalf, kind of holds us up if you will.   Romans 8:26-28, And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.   Do you need deeper roots? Is your faith wavering? Spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to help.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope October 30, 2025 Scripture - John 13:1-17 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 to us through it. 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, friends, 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 the Gospels and Acts. Can you believe we have already done a deep dive through Mark, Matthew, Luke, and we are half way through John? I would love to hear about your big takeaways thus far from the Gospels? What is Jesus teaching you? Today, we begin John 13. This is familiar and beautiful Scripture. The time for the Passover meal has come, the disciples are sitting and reclining at the table, and Jesus himself gets up to wash their feet. This might not sound that odd to us but foot-washing was a lowly task in 1st century Palestine. Think about it: their feet were very dirty; the men wore sandals, they walked everywhere, and the roads were filthy with dirt, dust, and animal droppings. Thus, this was the job usually saved for the lowliest of servants. Peers did not wash each others' feet. In Luke's Gospel, the disciples actually start arguing about is the greatest among them; their attitudes certainly indicated that they weren't going to stoop so low as to wash each others' feet. In today's Scripture, when Jesus gets up to wash the disciples' feet, the disciples are shocked. How could he? Of course, Jesus always has something deeper in mind. Jesus is a perfect example of humility and selflessness, which will ultimately be demonstrated in its most extreme form on the cross. This Sunday at New Hope, we will be talking about Christian leadership. This passage is such a powerful picture of the way God intends Christian leadership to be: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (v.3-5) Jesus knew who he was. He understood his relationship with God, so he was free to serve others without worrying about what people thought of him. And, you know, that goes for us too. As Christian leaders, we can do the most lowly task or the most amazing task. Nothing is too high and nothing is beneath us when we are serving other people. I know you have probably met Christian leaders and pastors who have been arrogant jerks and I'm apologizing for them right now. That wasn't the way God intended this job to be. We are chief servants. All of us as Christian leaders, in the church, at our job, at our hobbies, in our homes, we are all to be chief servants, doing our best to imitate the servant leadership style of Jesus. We serve others --- we serve our spouses, we serve our friends, we serve our employees, we serve our neighbors. That doesn't show weakness, it shows strength. Our identity is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ, not in our role or our job. And when we start to get that mixed up, that's when we will get in real trouble. More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope October 29, 2025 Scripture – John 12:20-50 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, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast which goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish John 12. In the beginning of today's reading, the Greeks ask to see Jesus. Something I discovered in researching today's devotional is that first-century synagogues welcomed Gentiles. I had no idea; I assumed they were the domain of Jews alone. We know that Gentiles were actually drawn to Jesus. They were outsiders and there was something about Jesus that outsiders flocked to. We are seeing that in this passage. Jesus speaks of his coming exaltation. The hour is coming in which the Son of Man might be glorified. In fact, the Son of Man is the seed who will fall, die, and produce much fruit. He is one who will willingly give up his life for the benefit of others in obedience of the Father's will. Jesus knows his mission. He understands his mission. He doesn't need reassurance here, but a voice from heaven comes to help the divided crowd gathered around him. So, let's go back to the beginning of this passage. The Greeks want to see Jesus. But will they be able to actually see him? How well do we see him? I do want to briefly touch on the rest of the passage. There is a lot of substance here. Jesus says that if someone believes in him, they also believe in the one who sent him. So, if you believe in Jesus, you believe in the Father. Jesus is saying that he is a light that points to the Father. He is, essentially, the image of the invisible God. We can't separate God and Jesus. God is Jesus and Jesus is God. Let's talk a little bit about verse 47, which is often misunderstood. "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." The purpose of Jesus' first coming was not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jesus' first coming was all about showing us a different way of doing life, dying on a cross for our sins, and offering us salvation. But let's be clear, that doesn't mean there won't be a judgment. Jesus' second coming will be about judgement. Every single one of us will be judged. God will look at the card catalogue of my life and yours and we will see all the appalling things we did. But we will also either be marked guilty or not guilty based on if we know Jesus or not. Where do you land? Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope October 28, 2025 Scripture – John 12:1-19 Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice in your name today. You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, 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 currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 12. There is a lot going on this chapter. It begins with Mary anointing Jesus with an expensive perfume, much to Judas' dismay. The other Gospels don't name the woman who anoints Jesus' feet, but John says that it's Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha. By doing so, Mary is pointing to Jesus' identity as Messiah King, but also as Servant King. She wipes Jesus' feet with her hair, a lowly position, but one that foreshadows Jesus' own actions at the Last Supper when he washes his disciples' feet and demonstrates love through sacrificial, humble service. Judas was all about the money. Remember, he wasn't complaining about the "waste" because he truly wanted to help the poor but because he was skimming from the money bag. He wanted more money for himself. One more quick comment about this. I once had someone tell me that there was no real need to give to the poor because Jesus himself said the poor you will always have with you. I think most of you know that context is everything. Jesus took care of the poor all the time! He was not telling us not to care for the poor in any way, shape, or form. Rather, in this specific instance, he was responding to Judas' superficial complaint. He knew that Judas didn't care about the poor but about his own pockets. In that moment, Mary was caring for Jesus. There would be plenty of time for her to care for the poor in her community and I'm sure she did because she followed Jesus' example. But there is a time and a place for everything. There is a brief discussion, before the Palm Sunday passage, about the need to kill Lazarus. The Pharisees are getting desperate. It isn't enough to simply target Jesus, they also plan to target Lazarus because he is also getting attention for being raised from the dead. These are men of God whose hearts have grown hard. Fear has a tendency to do that. With that, let's move on to Palm Sunday. As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them. Jesus' triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus' entry into Jerusalem this wasn't that kind of parade, especially as the book of John describes it. Basically, we see Jesus being given a royal welcoming. The other Gospels go into even more detail. The people are laying palm branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived. While the disciples appear to be confused, some of the Jews in the crowd would have known that this a fulfillment of prophecy. John quotes Zechariah 9:9,Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that this Jesus is the king. By making this announcement, Jesus knows what this means. His death will be soon. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope October 27, 2025 Scripture – John 11:45-57 Prayer: Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We give you all the glory and praise. Thank you for being a God who provides. Thank you for being a God who heals and cares. God, we pray protection over Jamaica and the other Caribbean islands which are in the way of Hurricane Melissa. Be with the people in the path of the storm. Help them find safety. And we pray that the storm will turn in the name of Jesus. May there be as little destruction as possible. 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. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up John 11. After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, many believed. In fact, he was getting to be quite popular. As a result, the Jewish leaders were scared of Jesus. That is the bottom line. They were scared that too many people would believe in him and they would lose the limited power they had under the Romans. They think seriously about wanting him dead. The high priest, Caiphas, even says that wouldn't it be better for one man to lose his life rather than a whole nation to be wiped out. Caiphas' words actually have a bit of a double meaning, of which he wasn't aware of at the time. However, John picks up on it. Let's reread verses 51-52, He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. While the Jewish leaders decide it would be better for Jesus to die, they had no idea the enormous truth that they set out to accomplish. They didn't understand Jesus' mission at all. Not only would Jesus' death be better for them, but it would open up salvation to all people, everywhere. The Jewish leaders' vision was much smaller than Jesus' vision of his mission, but it was large enough to allow Jesus to do what he needed to do and accomplish what he needed to accomplish. But what their plans did mean was that Jesus could no longer walk around publicly. He had to be very careful. He knew his time would come but he didn't to rush it. There was still work to be done. Tomorrow, we begin Passion Week. Get ready. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope October 24, 2025 Scripture - John 11:1-44 Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Forgive us, for we struggle to keep a focus on you. Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts. Help us remember who and whose we 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 the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 11. In today's text, we again meet Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is a family that Jesus loves dearly. Mary and Martha definitely know that Jesus had the ability to heal Lazarus. They request his presence when Lazarus becomes ill. After he dies, they still want Jesus to come. Afterall, when we are grieving, we desperately need those in our inner circle who will offer comfort and give us a shoulder to cry on. The sisters knew that Jesus loved them and their brother, and that alone would have been enough reason for Jesus to come. But it's precisely because he loves this family that we wonder why Jesus didn't rush to their side earlier. We all know, based on his miracle-working skills, that Jesus could have healed Lazarus with the first sniffle. But Jesus stayed. He didn't go anywhere. It was like he intentionally waited before heading out to go see the siblings. But we soon learn that it is precisely because Jesus loves them so much that he waits. He knows that his glory will be revealed in a tremendous way, and it will be one more sign that Jesus is Lord. It isn't surprising that Martha does not hide her disappointment from Jesus. She goes out to meet him an tell him that if he had only been there, then Lazarus would not have died. At the same time, we can see in Martha a faith that is quite strong. Even though her brother is dead, she knows Jesus can still do something. But will he do it? The short answer is yes. Jesus has something much bigger planned. But I do love that we see Jesus' humanity here in a very real way. When an anguished Mary finally leaves the house to meet Jesus, along with all the mourners, Jesus himself is moved to tears. Think about it. Jesus knows that he will raise Lazarus from the dead. That was his whole reason for delaying his visit. But when he sees Mary's grief and the tears of the people around him, he is moved to weep as well. When we see grief around us, when people are sobbing, and you can just feel their pain and anguish, it isn't unusual to begin to cry as well. We can feel the pain of others. It's called empathy. Jesus loved Lazarus, he loves Martha, and he loves Mary. He feels their pain. He is pained that they are having to go through this. And he weeps. But there is also great dialogue here and I don't want us to miss it. Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. There was no refrigeration, no embalming. The body would have deteriorated in that climate. So, Jesus asks the sisters to remove the stone from the tomb where Lazarus was laid. Martha protests that the smell is going to be really bad. But that's when Jesus says this in verse 40, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" Don't we all want to see the glory of God? Don't we want to see the beauty of God's Spirit? Don't we want to see his goodness and his power? It's here that Jesus says if we believe, we will, in fact, see the glory of God. With that, Jesus prays to the Father and then invites Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Lazarus did come out. He was still bound up with grave clothes. Before the body was placed in the tomb, it was wrapped with linen clothes and treated with various spices. And Jesus says to unbind him. Lazarus was alive. How often do we live bound up in grave clothes? We continue to be tied to old, destructive habits and attitudes. Even though we may know Jesus, we still are bound by old patterns of behavior. It's only Jesus that can remove those from us so we can experience new life in him. Lazarus was alive but he still needed to remove the remnants of death. He needed to be loosed. Do you need to be loosed? What aspects of your old life do you continue to hold onto? Blessings, Pastor Vicki