Daily Dose of Hope

April 6, 2026

Scripture: Philippians 1

Prayer: Father God, hear our prayer this morning. We are awed by your power and strength. We are amazed by your love. Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you show in our lives to teach us and care for us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts right now and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us (help me) be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and help us walk through this Scripture in a way that honors you. Show up and help us discover whatever it is you want us to learn. This is your Word and we want to hear from you. In Your powerful name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. I hope you had a magnificent Resurrection Sunday yesterday! We serve a risen Lord and that makes all the difference.

We have been on a journey through Paul's letters, in chronological order. Last week, we finished Ephesians and today we begin Philippians. This is our eighth letter. And just so you know, this is one of my very favorite books of the Bible, not just because it is short and sweet, but simply because it expresses so much gratitude. We also know that Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell. That really puts things in perspective.

Let's talk a little bit about Philippi. It was also the first European city in which Paul planted a church. You may recall in the book of Acts, Paul meets a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, and she becomes the first Christian convert in the area. Lydia extended the invitation to Paul and Silas and other coworkers to come and stay at her home. Her whole household accepts Christ and is baptized. It's in Lydia's home that the Philippian church begins.

Let's get to discussing chapter 1. Paul begins by stating that the letter is from both he and Timothy, although most attribute it mainly to Paul. He begins by expressing gratitude for the Philippians. It's obvious here that Paul has a deep love and affection for these people. He is grateful for them. While in prison, the Philippians have sent him money and supplies (they were the only one of Paul's churches to do so), most likely at great sacrifice to themselves. So, they send these gifts through a man named Epaphroditus and he is the one who returns with this letter.

If you think about Paul's letters in the New Testament, usually he is upset with the church for something or he is giving them warnings. But the tone of this letter is totally different. Paul is longing for the Philippians; he has deep affection for them. They are partners in the Gospel and he is so very thankful for that. I'm sure he is thankful for the supplies but more than anything, he is thankful for how they are actively living out the Gospel message.

This really is so encouraging to me personally. Being in ministry is not easy. You see beauty and you see ugliness. You stress over things that are out of your control – the number of people who are or are not in worship, people who have wandered away, the need to do more and reach more people. The days can be long. But it is also such a privilege. I'm grateful that I don't have to be sitting in a prison cell to tell you this. I am grateful to the people of New Hope. It is a privilege to be welcomed into your lives and to share in the Gospel with you. I have been loved and cared for in this place. I know I'm a pastor but you have cared for me like a regular person. You have loved my family. You have embodied the Gospel for me in word and deed. And I'm very thankful for that. You will never quite know how grateful I am to God's people here at New Hope. And I look forward to continuing to partner with you in proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, one of my prayers for all of you is that the work that God has started in you, that he will carry it on to completion. None of us retire from faith. If we aren't dead, we are not done. God has started a good work in you and he wants to finish that work.

Paul says that whether he is in chains or defending and confirming the Gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. Let's think about this word "share." They share in God's grace with him. First, they all receive grace, God's unmerited favor, we are all sinners (every single one of us) and we all need the grace of God to walk hand in hand with a holy God. God's grace has been poured out on all of us. So, we share that together.

But the word "share" if you go deeper into the Biblical meaning, it also can be translated as "participate." We participate in God's grace together. We don't just receive it in a passive way, we actually live it out together. Together, Paul is saying, we participate in the spreading of God's grace.

What does it look like for us to participate in the spreading of God's grace together? The family of God is not intended to be a passive body. We aren't just supposed to sit on the sofa or in our comfortable small group settings and just soak up the wonderfulness of God's grace but we are intended to actually participate in it. This doesn't simply mean doing nice things for people but rather building the KINGDOM of God. Alleviating suffering in the name of Jesus. Healing in the name of Jesus. Feeding in the name of Jesus. Praying for people in the name of Jesus. Educating, planting, singing, teaching, playing ALL in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who was, is, and always will be in the business of forgiving sinners and transforming their lives.

And then Paul speaks of how his chains are being used to advance the Gospel. Just in case you have forgotten, Paul is writing this letter about being thankful and grateful while sitting in a dank, Roman prison cell. He is voicing gratitude from prison. How many people can be truly grateful in such circumstances? I think it's important to point out that that is the power of the Gospel. In the midst of extreme hardship, and I know that many of you are dealing with extreme hardship, Paul finds a way to be grateful. He is witnessing to the prison guards and they are coming to know Jesus. He knows that his situation has inspired the rest of the Philippian church to not be fearful about preaching Jesus. There are all these forces at work that would normally rob him of any sense of well-being, and yet this sense of gratitude just wells up within him. What the enemy meant for evil, God used for his good and Paul can see that, trust that, believe that, know that from the center of his very being.

How convicting. I get one person complaining or saying something hurtful and I'm complaining or sad. But Paul didn't do that. He was grateful for each circumstance, knowing that God could and would use that to advance the Gospel. Has there been someone in your life who is seemingly surrounded by horrible circumstances, maybe they are dealing with the evils of aggressive cancer or chronic pain. Maybe they are healing from intense grief or some other hardship. And yet, they are grateful in the midst of it. It doesn't mean they are free from pain and they don't cry (normal human things) but they are truly see each new day as a gift. I've known a few of those people, not a lot but a few. And their lives are a witness to the those around them of the power of the Gospel. It is totally a counterintuitive thing --- I'm dying of cancer, I'm in pain, and yet I'm grateful for this new day. That is the power of Jesus Christ working in us. Trusting that God is in control and we are not.

There is so much more in this chapter but I'm going to stop here. I think we need to just kind of meditate on this.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

April 3, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 6

Prayer: Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I am so far from where I should be. Help me see others through your eyes. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are journeying through Paul's epistles, his letters, which we find in the New Testament. We are about to complete our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.

Today's reading is Ephesians 6. Okay, this is our last day in the book of Ephesians. Paul begins by talking about children honoring parents, fathers not exasperating children, and both slaves and masters having respect for each other. Can I just say how extraordinary this would have been? Children didn't have a lot of value in first-century culture. We would expect Paul to want them to honor their parents but to tell a father not to frustrate their child, not to lead them to a place of anger, would be really different from the culture around them. And for slaves and masters to have mutual respect for each other? This is a total reorienting of relationships because of Jesus.

Let me be clear – by Paul addressing slaves and masters, he is not expressing any kind of sympathy for slavery. Not at all. Rather, this was something that existed in the Roman empire. It was not ideal at all, but it was the reality for Paul in the moment. In the Roman empire, the poverty level was astonishing and it wasn't uncommon for people to actually sell themselves and their families into slavery to simply survive. This was not the kind of slavery we think of as Americans; the African slave trade was abominable and a different kind of horror. So slavery in the Roman empire was different, but the Roman slaves were still slaves and vulnerable to their masters' whims.

What Paul says is that Christ totally reorders our relationships with one another. Rather than being based in power, they are founded in love and respect. I can't overestimate how revolutionary this would have been. Slave and master, according to Paul, could sit side by side and worship the Lord as equals, even if they weren't equals in the culture around them.

But let's keep going. When we take a look at the first-century church, we see the Holy Spirit at work in amazing ways. But we also see opposition. As we've mentioned over the past few days, Ephesus was a very pagan city. One of the largest and most famous temples, the Temple of Artemis, was in Ephesus. Worship of other gods was everywhere. Forces working against God were everywhere. While the church was growing and experiencing signs and wonders, it was also experiencing resistance and opposition. Evil was present and real.

Evil is still present and real. True, it is no match for the Holy Spirit but for us mere humans, we need to be sure to stay strong in the Lord and his mighty power. If we don't, we can easily and without our knowledge, be used by the evil forces of this world. I often say that most of the time, we don't make the devil work that hard because we do such a good job making bad choices. But we must be aware that evil is out there, tempting us, and looking for our weak spots. The enemy wants us to experience defeat and discouragement, rather than the freedom and victory we can experience in Jesus.

So what's the answer? Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. How might we do this in practical ways? Off the top of my head, I immediately think of frequent prayer and dwelling in God's Word. By making these two things a priority in your life, you will know God better, stay connected to the Spirit that dwells within you, and you will have a growing awareness and knowledge of God's truth, wisdom, and love. But what else does Paul say in chapter 6?

·Verse 14-Put on the belt of truth. Our belt is what holds our clothes on the body. Our integrity holds our lives together. Are you a person of integrity?

·Verse 14-Put on the breast plate of righteousness. The breastplate would have protected vital organs on a soldier. Any crack in the breastplate would have been dangerous. Any crack in our righteousness is dangerous, as it allows impurity and evil to creep in.

·Verse 15-Put the gospel of peace on your feet. Our foundation needs to be the peace of Jesus Christ. The enemy will try to steal our peace and if that happens, we stumble. How's your foundation holding up lately? ·Verse 16-Hold up the shield of faith. Paul says that the shield protects us from Satan's arrows. Prayer and Scripture are two ways to stand firm in faith and protect ourselves from those fiery arrows.

·Verse 17-Put on the helmet of salvation. A helmet protects our brain; damage to the head has horrible consequences. Because of our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, we are new people, called to have the mind of Jesus. When we seek to have the mind of Christ, evil has a much harder time creeping into our thoughts.

·Verse 17-Hold up the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word. God's Word is the most powerful weapon against the evil one.. Think of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness-he used Scripture to fight back. Knowing and dwelling in God's Word is critical if we are to push back anything the enemy throws at us.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

April 2, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 5

Prayer: Almighty God, We give you glory and praise. Thank you for the ways you care for us. Thank you for the ways you care for our church. Lord Jesus, help us set aside our scattered thoughts. Help us push away distractions and truly focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Holy Spirit, guide our reading and devotional time today. May we hear a word from you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are journeying through Paul's epistles, his letters, which we find in the New Testament. We have now completed the first six and we are on our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.

Today's reading is Ephesians 5. Paul is imploring the Ephesians to live as God's holy people. Jesus has fulfilled the Old Covenant. The law is no longer what makes people holy. Those to whom Paul is writing would be Christians, with the Spirit of the Living God within them. They are being sanctified by God's grace. It's only through the Holy Spirit in them that this is possible and they can even seek holiness. This standard is actually harder – it's a circumcision of the heart. Paul is asking the Ephesians to seek this high standard because of who they represent. I love verses 8-10, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

But I don't want to neglect the second half of this chapter because I think it's incredibly important. It's here that Paul speaks of mutual submission, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Mutual submission - it's what marriage is all about. Of course, if you grew up in Christian circles, you know how badly the whole of Ephesians 5 has been distorted. The focus has been on wives submitting to husbands. But before Paul talks specifics, he says this: submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. Then, he talks about wives submitting and husbands loving.

We should note that this discussion would have been revolutionary at the time. To say women had a low social and legal status in the Roman Empire is quite the understatement. And here is the Apostle Paul telling the Ephesians that marriage is a covenant and that there needs to be mutual submission between the parties. That means women submitting to men (which would have been the norm at the time in that culture) but also that men should submit to their wives. Husbands submitting to wives? That would have been unheard of!

To make it even more earth-shattering, Paul says that husbands should love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church. How much did Christ love the church? He died for the church! He is telling these guys to love their wives sacrificially. Wow! We read these words through our twenty-first century eyes and we may think something like, "How outdated and sexist." But the truth was anything but the sort. Paul's words elevated the status of wives in significant ways. They were to be loved and valued. There should also be unity and fidelity in the marriage relationship, which means only one wife and no affairs. Paul wants Christian men to understand that holiness within their marriage is also important. It demonstrates that those who are "in Christ" do life differently. They are new people in Jesus and the church, as the body of Christ, is drastically different than the culture at large.

We could probably stop there and that would be enough. But wait, there's more. Paul is using the marriage relationship as an analogy. The relationship of the husband and wife in marriage points to the beautiful relationship between Christ and the church. Just as there needs to be unity between husband and wife, there needs to be unity between Christ and the church. So let's be real, the universal church has messed this up a bit. Sometimes, the church demonstrates unity with Jesus and sometimes it doesn't. I'll stop here today but I ask you to reflect on this question: Does New Hope demonstrate unity between Christ and his church? What do we do well? How do we struggle with this? And how do we do better?

We'll chat again tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

April 1, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 4

Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults. Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life. Help us seek holiness in all we do. Help us become the people you desire us to be. As we work through today's Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts. Help us see things differently. We want to hear from you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Scripture reading plan. We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we are currently in our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.

Today's reading is Ephesians 4. Paul has been discussing the new life we have in Christ and the new faith community that is created, what we call the church. The church, as the body of Christ, is an entirely new kind of community-a family of people who belong to Jesus and to one another AND love one another with the extravagant love of Christ. But this unique community has standards. Look at verses 2-4. This body of believers should be humble, gentle, patient, and bear one another in love. There should be unity among them as a demonstration of to whom they belong.

While there is unity, there is diversity in gifts and strengths. Jesus has made sure that his church has everything it needs to become mature and effective. Thus, some people are given the gifts and graces to become apostles, others prophets, still others evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Jesus obviously excelled in all these categories, but we don't. Thus, we need one another desperately to build up and strengthen the body of Christ.

Historically, the church has focused more on pastors and teachers than the apostles, prophets, and evangelists. If we look at the state of the Western church, you can see how badly this has hurt us. We are incomplete, we are missing some of these critical roles, and without them we are ineffective. We need everyone to build up the church. Here is a quick summary of these roles:

· Apostles are the entrepreneurs of the church, starting new mission and ministries, leading the church into new territory. Without apostles, we get stuck in the same place, not responding to the changing needs of our world.

· Prophets often stand on the fringes of the church, as God's messengers, speaking hard words into the family of faith. We have pushed the prophets aside because we tend to not like hard words.

· Evangelists are the salespeople of the faith. They are particularly gifted at sharing the Good News of Jesus with people who don't get know him. We are ALL called to be evangelistic but certain people are truly gifted in leading new people to Christ. We need them.

· Pastors are shepherds of the flock. They nurture and protect the congregation. They are essentially the caregivers of the flock, ensuring and guarding the spiritual health of the people.

· Teachers are the communicators of the faith. They help the people remain Biblically grounded, teach the next generation about Jesus, and ensure that the church is faithful to God's Word, growing in their knowledge of Scripture and doctrine.

Think about your unique gifts. Are you an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher? How can you use your gifts to build up Jesus' church?

Have a wonderful day. We will talk again tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 31, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 3

Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning. How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day. Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well. In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are. We are yours. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Scripture reading plan. We have been journeying through Paul's letters and we are currently in our seventh letter, the book of Ephesians.

Today's reading is Ephesians 3. Paul starts out the chapter by talking about God's amazing plan for the Gentiles. They are now co-heirs and equal members of the body of Christ. They fully share in the promises of Jesus. And this plan not only brings unity to Jesus' church, but it offers all Christ-followers the ability to access God confidently and directly.

We find a beautiful prayer in verses 16-19 that Paul offers for the people in the Ephesian church. He starts by asking God to strengthen them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember, Ephesus was a very pagan city. The church there dealt with opposition on a daily basis. Paul knew they needed supernatural strength. The same could probably be said of us today. The sources of our distractions and opposition are different but still powerful. How do you personally need God's supernatural strength today?

Next, Paul prayed that they would be rooted in Jesus' love and understand how expansive and deep his love truly is for his people. In understanding this, it would change how they interacted with one another and with the unbelieving world. Having a solid understanding of God's extravagant love for us, we can extravagantly love others. Think about that...when we experience God's love so deeply, it's much easier to act in love toward others, even when they aren't very lovable. I've had to deal with some pretty unpleasant people over the past few months who I didn't feel like being loving toward. But then I read this verse and God quickly reminded me-he loved me when I wasn't so lovable. Because of his deep love for me, I can respond to others with love, period.

Finally, Paul prays that as they have this full understanding of God's love, they will be filled with the fullness of God. What might it be like to be filled with the fullness of God? I'm not sure I've gotten there yet but I sure want to get there. It sounds like there could be nothing better!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 30, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 2

Prayer: Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come. You are all powerful and all knowing. We give thanks for your love and wisdom. We give thanks for your presence. Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts. Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are journeying through Paul's letters, reading them in chronological order. Just a reminder, there are thirteen letters and we are currently on our seventh!

Our reading for today is Ephesians 2. Central to our belief as Christians is that Jesus was not only resurrected but also exalted to a high place. In fact, he sits at the right hand of the Father right now. The amazing thing is that we as believers receive new life in Christ AND we also are exalted with him in the heavenly realms. Today's Scripture states that the purpose of this is that we can be shown the incomparable riches of his grace.

Think about that for a moment. The Message translation says it a different way: Once God has us where he wants us, he will have all the time in the world to "shower grace and kindness upon us." We get to know and experience Jesus' amazing love for us right now. We are exalted with him and he continues to shower us with grace and love. Wow.

But there is more. Our salvation is totally and completely based on faith and nothing else. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone. There is nothing else needed to be saved. At the time Paul wrote this, there were plenty of people who said that circumcision and following the law were also necessary to be saved. Paul has made it clear that NOTHING else is needed-we are saved by the amazing grace of Jesus and all we have to do is have faith. God knows us well and he did this so that we couldn't brag about our salvation because it was totally his doing and not ours. Again, wow.

But there is still more. We are also God's handiwork. Other translations say "masterpiece." We are created by God to do good things that God designed us specifically to do. If you needed a Scripture to illustrate the phrase "God don't make no junk," this could be it. You are God's masterpiece. He lovingly designed you. You are not a random experiment. He had YOU in mind when he made you. Your gifts and talents were also not random but were given to you by God to do good things for his world. You are a masterpiece and you have a purpose. Let that sink in.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 27, 2026

Scripture: Ephesians 1

Prayer: Holy God, Thank you for this day and thank you for the ways you provide and care for us. We rejoice in your powerful and mighty name. As we read through the Scripture today and reflect on what it means for us, help us hear a new word from you. Help us set aside the distractions of the day and really listen for your voice. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are working our way through Paul's New Testament letters, in chronological order. Yesterday, we finished the book of Romans and today we begin our seventh pastoral letter, the book of Ephesians.

Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus is quite extraordinary! The prose is both beautiful and powerful. It speaks to who we are in Jesus, new life in Christ, and what we must now do about it.

The church at Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey, was established on Paul's second missionary journey. On his third missionary journey, Paul spent 2-3 years in the city. He addressed false doctrines and pagan practices. In his letter to the church of Ephesus, written roughly ten years later, Paul commends the Ephesian church on their faith and love. They have done well and we see that expressed in this letter.

There is a lot to say about this first chapter, but I want to focus on the middle portion. Paul states how he has heard of their faith and love, and he gives thanks for them and their dedication to Jesus. He lifts them in prayer, specifically that they will know God even more and will be given supernatural wisdom and revelation. While he is pleased with their spiritual maturity, he is still praying for them, that they continue to grow in holiness. Paul wants them to truly have the knowledge of God, which can't be gained by study but only through God himself.

As I reread this, I couldn't help but think about how we are never done growing spiritually. We never get to the point in our walk in which we can say, "That's it, I've made it, no more study, prayer, or service needed for me!" If we aren't dead, we aren't done. God isn't done with any of us yet.

One more thing I want to mention. Paul speaks of believers being marked by a seal. In the ancient world, a seal was the personal sign of an owner who was sending something very important. It also indicated that what was received was genuine, in that it was truly from the person who it said it was from. The Jews thought of circumcision as a seal ,in that circumcision indicated they belonged to the one true God. In today's Scripture, the apostle Paul is saying that we as Christians are also marked with a seal, the seal of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees to whom we belong and that what we believe in true and genuine. In Christ, you are marked with the most important seal in the world! If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has marked you. You are claimed. You can be assured that you are a child of God.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 26, 2026

Scripture: Romans 16

Prayer: Holy God, We start by praising your name. You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God. Work in our lives. Speak to us. We need you, Lord. Over and over again, we need you. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are working our way through Paul's New Testament letters, in chronological order. Today, we are finishing the book of Romans and tomorrow we begin the book of Ephesians.

Our reading for today is Romans 16. The final chapter of Romans has this beautiful section of greetings to the people that Paul has worked with and encountered in his ministry. I love how this was obviously a letter for regular people. This was not a letter intended for religious scholars. Rather, Paul sent it to people he cared about in an effort to help them in their own lives and ministries.

Another interesting note is that out of twenty-six people who are listed as special workers in ministry, nine are women. This is especially impressive because Rome was a male-dominated society and women had little, if any, social and legal standing. But in the church, things were different. There is also a variety when it comes to the names: some of Jewish, some are Latin, and many are Greek. While I'm sure the early church had its issues, it appears to be a diverse mix of men and women, from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Essentially, it was a great picture of the Kingdom of God.

God's Kingdom is universal, with people from all races, cultures, and stations in life. In God's Kingdom, men and women serve alongside each other. It's a place in which every single human life has value and no one is better than another. God's values are actively at work: love, justice, mercy, righteousness, hope, and freedom for the oppressed. Somewhere in the history of the church, it got off track. The church became less Kingdom-focused and more about growing the institution. It began to resemble the culture around it. Certain people were excluded, corruption crept in, sin invaded. It's hard to read a church history text because it seems so far from the church Paul was trying to establish.

Paul also warns his dear friends about avoiding division and those who seek to create it. He actually says to stay away from people who create conflict in the church. Wow. That's handy guidance. Be aware, be vigilant, listen to the Holy Spirit, and don't be deceived by the evil one.

As much as the church has gone through, we know that the powers of Satan and the powers of men cannot defeat it. I think of Jesus' words in Matthew 16 when he tells Peter that it's on that rock, his confession of Jesus' Lordship, that Jesus will build his church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. The church has and will prevail, despite all our brokenness and sin. God's mercies are new every single day! As a church, we can pray and strive to be a better picture of God's Kingdom. In fact, my on-going prayer for New Hope is that we will become a multiplying congregation-multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational. I pray that we will be the kind of place where people from all walks of life find a place of belonging, a place to be nurtured and loved. I hope you will join me in this prayer.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 25, 2026

Scripture: Romans 15

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Mighty God, Holy One...We come to you this morning with humility and gratefulness. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you that you continue to love and guide us, even though we mess up again and again. Thank you for your patience and your never-ending care. Lord, we are so very grateful. Help us, on this Wednesday, to right our attitude. We belong to you and we are under your authority. Help us see others the way you see them. Help us produce fruit in our lives. Oh, Lord, how we need your help. Please, Jesus, may we hear your voice today. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We have been walking through Paul's letters, chronologically, and we are currently towards the end of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 15. We can tell that Paul is beginning to close his letter in this chapter. He shares his plans to head to Jerusalem and then to Rome on his way to Spain (we don't think Paul actually made it there) and he implores the Christ-followers in Rome to pray for him.

But before we get to Paul's planned journey, let's talk about some of the main themes in the chapter. This idea of God's faithfulness runs through the chapter and even the whole letter. Paul talks about God's steadfastness and truth, and then he does a great job linking Old Testament Scriptures with God's acceptance of the Gentiles. Paul pulls from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and the Psalms. Basically, he is saying that God's faithfulness and his promises extend from the Jews to the Gentiles.

Now let's talk about the trip that Paul is referring to. Now, Paul knew a trip to Jerusalem would be dangerous. There were plenty of people there who wanted to see him executed for his work as a Christian missionary. Paul asks his Roman brothers and sisters to join him in the struggle by praying to God on his behalf. The ESV uses the phrase "strive together" with him in prayer, and the term comes from the Greek word for agonize.

I think this is one of the gifts of the Christian walk, when the body of Christ gathers and agonizes together, to pray for a specific person or situation. While our solitary prayers are important, there is something that happens when we raise up our voices together. We know that we know that we know that we aren't alone. We are lifted up, encouraged, and empowered to keep going. Who is it who needs to know you are praying for them today?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 24, 2026

Scripture: Romans 14

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the potter, we are the clay, and the work of Your hands. Mold us and fashion us into the image of Jesus, your Son. Father, may we be one in You as He is in You, and You are in Him. Glory and praise to you, forever and ever. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We have been walking through Paul's letters, chronologically, and we are currently towards the end of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 14. It is unclear exactly who Paul is speaking of in this chapter. Who were the "weak" and "strong" Christians in Rome? It's possible that the weak Christians were Jewish believers who still felt strongly about dietary restrictions connected to faith but that has not been verified. What is clear is that Paul doesn't judge either group but merely comes down on the side of unity.

The Christian church is one that includes all kinds of people, from all walks of life, from countless cultural traditions, with all kinds of personalities and dispositions. We are brothers and sisters and we are all part of God's family. But just like other normal human families, these differences can lead to conflict and disagreement. Paul's writing in this chapter demonstrates that these disagreements, over what we might describe as seemingly minor stuff, have been around since the beginning of the church. Paul is saying to accept one another and try to no judge one another for those differences of opinion.

An example: Many of you remember our mission trips to the Dominican Republic. The church in the DR has very different ideas about what's acceptable and not acceptable for Christians than we do in the United States. In many of their churches, women sit on one side and men on the other. Alcohol is forbidden, as is dancing outside of church. I have some pretty strong opinions about all of these things. But Paul is saying not to get too caught up in these disagreements. Accept your brother or sister with the different view and don't fall into judgment. What's most important is what unites us.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki