That Just Happened…When Suddenly Hope Broke Through
(Pete Hise, w/guest blogger, Helen Musick)

This weekend as we continued in our Christmas series, When Suddenly, Transformation Pastor Helen Musick teamed up with our artists to bring a message of Hope. I’m praying for you to experience that hope this week…the overflowing hope we read about in Romans 15:13 – I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here are Helen’s reflections from this weekend: When Suddenly Hope Broke Through.

1. Moving from last week’s message to this week’s reality… Last week we spent time on the truth that dark times come to all of us, and there are some lessons that can only be learned in the dark. But Christmas reminds us that Hope breaks through the darkest nights, and Hope can break through today, no matter what. That is the real message of Christmas.

2. Quest’s first music video… Ani and the band rocked it out to True Love simultaneously on stage and at Triangle Park in downtown Lexington. (And in the rain no less!) That has got to be one of the coolest things we have ever done! (Any my nephew Andrew rocked it on lead guitar!  I’m a proud aunt…). Between that and Ani’s acoustic start to O Come All Ye Faithful, our artists took us to a new level this weekend.

3. “You take the pain out of church…” I loved my friend’s words as he described his experience of coming to Quest this weekend. For my friend and for so many others…church has been anything but a place of life, joy & hope. Reminds me how much I love my church!

4. Justin vs. Christmas… Justin and Erik were priceless as they caroled and went head-to-head with the Salvation Army bell-ringer all in the spirit of Christmas. Thanks guys for showing us that the true meaning of Christmas includes dressing up like elves and doing an off-key two-part harmony of our favorite Christmas songs. (Special props to Rebekah Reasor for her cameo role as the disgruntled homeowner. Do I hear Oscar talk already?)

5. What just a small whisper of hope can do… Michael and Karen’s story inspired deep, re-orienting hope in so many of us. If we will just give Him a chance, miracles really are possible. Michael and Karen are living, breathing reminders of Hope that does not disappoint. (Thanks for sharing your story!)

6. Hope spilling out and overflowing… As I looked out at the faces of people who barely made it through the doors this weekend, I knew that hopelessness was close to taking them out. But I also watched as hope was kindled for people who realized that it’s in the darkness that the Light shines brightest.

7. Impatience, Preference, Perspective… Hopelessness was called out by name and walls fell down as people identified their barriers to hope and declared that impatience, preference and perception would not take them out anymore.

8. Hope is not found in something but in Someone. 2,000 years ago hope was born for you so hope could be born in you. Where is your hope this Christmas?

9. Their journey never left them hopeless… The Wise men’s faces where tangible expressions of what real hope looks like. They were always expectant, and their hope is not wishful thinking but active trust. Watch the Nativity this Christmas – and renew your picture of hope.

10. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…Go back and read Isaiah 9:6 again and again. Jesus is meant to be all of this to us and more…in life giving, experiential, tangible ways. How incredible! He really is a Mighty God