We all have opinions, but do we need to share all of them?

 I saw this picture last week and wanted to share a thought with you today. In case you don't know, Chris sang the national anthem before the Super Bowl. I think he did a great job.

Then I saw this picture inviting the social media world to give thier opinion: Loved it with a heart. Or not great with a crying face.

There were almost 10000 reactions and comments on this post.

And it made me wonder why. Why do we have to pick a side on everything? Why do we have to give our opinion on everything? Chris is a great musician who did a good job. I don't even know any of his songs because I don't listen to much country music, but I just wanna say, "Great job Chris, and thank you".

And the same to Rhianna for the halftime show, "Great job Rhianna, and thank you. And congrats!"

The world wants us to pick a side on everything. Social media thrives on that.

But we don't have to. If you didn't like the anthem or the half time show that's OK. Aren't you so thankful that you have such a blessed and privileged life that commenting on one man's rendition of our anthem is something you could do if you wanted to? 

I know this is  just all my opinion, maybe you have a passionate response you need to share on social media about the Super Bowl song or half time show. Just ask yourself, is it kind? Is it necessary? Is t true? Is it helpful?

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. - 1 Corinthians 1:10

Waiting in Hope

 "We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield" - Psalm 33:20

I have shared with you that waiting is one of my spiritual growth opportunity areas.  So when I read this Psalm this week as part of our Read Together 2023, it struck me once again about my personal waiting. I read that the everage American spends about 5 years of thier lives waiting (in lines, in queues, at stop lights, etc). WOW! No wonder sometimes we get a little impatient, waiting is taking up so much of our time!

And add to that the other things in life that we are waiting on. The next paycheck, retirement, the weekend, that Amazon package, things to change, the prognosis, General Conference...and the list goes on and on. 

And yet we were created to be a people of waiting. When I list all the things in life that I am waiting to happen, or things that I have been waiting on, they all pale in comparison to what we are really waiting on...Jesus to return!

And so let's bring that waiting (called the "parousia"-- which means "second coming") to Pssalm 33:20.

We wait "in hope" for the Lord.

With all the things that we have to wait on in life, what might be more important is what we are waiting in. IN Hope. The word hope in the Bible means a confident expectation, a hope that is certain and for sure. So the Psalmist says his waiting is in this confident expectation of the Lord. That might change how we wait, if the focus can shift to what we are waiting in...in hope. 

I know that you are probably waiting on something today, but regardless of what that is, let's take taoday and wait in hope for the Lord, and then today IN that hope, even as we are waiting. 

And then, "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you" (Psalm 33:22). Amen.