If you could be a super hero… which one would you chose to be? Personally, I think it would depend on the situation I found myself in. Sometimes being Flash Gordon would be cool – for when I left something at home or for running around the bases in church softball. It would be cool to be able to change into different things like the wonder twins. Of course, Captain America was just cool – so that’s cool. I also loved watching the one guy who could stretch his body and make his arms real long – I forget his name, but that was cool! I don’t think you’d call him a superhero, but my favorite one who was able to get out of tough situations was speedy gonzalez. I always loved how he was able to run super fast and get things done before that cat got him!

It would be cool to have superpowers and be a superhero.

But you know what, sometimes I think we can find ourselves in situations where these powers wouldn’t even help us.

You hear that someone you love is very ill… …Your pet dies …A family member loses a job and all of their benefits …One of those life changing moments where you can’t seem to “fix” it, no matter how hard you try.

Tough things happen. And what happens then? What can we do? Is there anyone powerful enough in the entire world to make sense of those crazy, confusing times?

Well, thankfully, there is, Jesus Christ. And this month in KidStuf, we are going to be looking at how we can depend upon him for our HOPE.

You see, Hope is – believing that something good can come out of something bad.

HOPE. It’s a little word, and we tend to use it for all sorts of things.

• I hope you have a good day
• I hope you get better soon
• I hope I get a new computer for my birthday
• I hope we get to go to the outer banks this year for vacation

This little word can mean so much. And let’s face it; life can be hard. We (and our kids) can face a all sorts of tough things.

• loss of a loved one

• not making a team or getting a promotion

• losing a job or benefits

When it seems like everything is going wrong, that’s when it’s critical to have hope–believing that something good can come out of something bad. That’s when we need to place our faith, trust and HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are a few scriptures that have the word HOPE in them:

• “Our Hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19, NIrV)

• “I will find my rest in God alone. He is the One who gives me hope.” (Psalm 62:5, NIrV)

• “‘I know the Plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

• “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have Eternal life.” (1 John 5:13, NIV)

Our hope may be certain when it’s placed in the all-powerful God of the universe, who makes good plans for us, not the least of which is eternal life with Him. But no one ever said hope is easy.

So, when we’re puzzled by life, pained by it, frustrated by it, angry at it, or can’t see how in the world our situation could possibly fit in God’s big plan (His giant jigsaw puzzle) we have a couple of choices: we can choose to get and stay mad about the puzzle pieces we’re holding, or we can choose to trust God and let Him put the pieces in place.

To trust that He not only has the big picture in mind, but that He’s up to something bigger than just our few little pieces of the puzzle. Realizing that we can’t see the big picture but that He can and He’s in charge gives us hope. So in March, we’ll start focusing on the Easter story through the lens of hope:

Week 1: Whatever happens, remember God has a plan. (Paul is shipwrecked – Acts 27; 28)

Week 2: Whatever happens, remember how powerful God is. (Lazarus is raised from the dead – John 11)

Week 3: Whatever happens, remember what Jesus did for you. (Jesus’ last supper with the disciples – Luke 22; John 13)

Week 4: Whatever happens, remember what Jesus promised. (Jesus promises heaven – John 14)

Week 5: 5th Week Special Edition: Who is Jesus? (Peter says Jesus is the Christ – Matthew 16)


 We have some really Big Ideas we think you and your family might find helpful!

It starts this Sunday, March 1st at 10:30am in KidStuf.