What Do I REALLY Hope For?

Today I was sending a friend a message through FB when something I wrote suddenly seemed glib and inappropriate. I typically start any correspondence with friends, family, or anyone with something like, "I hope you (and yours) are doing well." It seems like a nice way to start and for years I have done this thinking to myself that I want to always start my correspondence with others thinking about them and what I hope for them instead of just launching into business or whatever the correspondence is about. It seemed very Christian-like of me.

However, as I was writing these same words for the millionth time today it seemed I was writing something that I didn't really feel or that made sense to me. I should say that I felt it but it seemed to be lacking something. Of course, I want my friends and family to be doing well but what does that really mean. I guess in the back of my mind I've always thought that "WELL" meant things like being safe, being financially sound, being healthy, having healthy relationships, being a part of a growing ministry, and other circumstantial things.

In light of my circumstances over the last 4 months God is teaching me to pay less (or absolutely no) attention to my circumstances. God is God and He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and His concern for us is NOT that we are WELL but that we are becoming more CHRISTLIKE, learning to grow in His love and learning to love Him and others as we walk this beautiful planet He has created. THAT is what I want for my family and friends. I want them to be growing in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ and learning to surrender all for His glory. I want to see them loving our Father more and more and making decisions that reflect and demonstrate their passion for Jesus.

Regardless of your circumstances (and I don't say this unsympathetically to people suffering life's hardships), I REALLY hope for THIS(previous paragraph) to be true in your lives today and everyday.

Growing in His love,

JJ (a follower of Jesus Christ, a beloved son of our Heavenly Father and a man with whom the Great King is well pleased - Matthew 3:17)