Hope vs Expections

This morning I was asking God about His promises. I felt that they were hard on me. I was so sick of them. It would be easier if I had no promises from Him.

Then I suddenly recalled a sermon from Bayless Conley- something like "Expectations in things set you for the disappointments, but expectations from God set you for success." As I think about it, a question was infused into my thought, "What's the difference between hope and expectation?"

I googled for their definitions and any article that explains the difference. I suddenly realized that I expected a lot of things in my life. I expected something from God and from the people instead of hope. Their definitions are similar- they both internally desired for something in our journey. But they both have a different way of expressing. Hope expresses a feeling or an intuitive that it shall be (which opens to others' point-of-view). Expectation expresses a knowledge or a determined set of values that it shall be (in one's point-of-view of course).

Here is the chart from the article I found that would help us survey ourselves whether we have the attitude of hoping or expecting:

So grateful for the insight this morning. It helps me to hope and expect (a different kind of espectation) in God. It is not with a fearful expectation of judgment (Heb 10:27) but with expectation in what God had specifically and eternally promised (Phil 1:20).

"The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish." -Prov 10:28

Becoming Credentialed?

With the upcoming intake interview, I've begun to think about what my role is and what God want me to do. Several months ago I've decided to take a step toward becoming credentialed in the Potomac District Council Assembly of God. I didn't really wanted to do this, I still feel weird about it at this moment. I've always wanted to become credentialed in a 'nondenominational district" but it doesn't work that way. A part of me asked God to shut this door if He doesn't lead me there. And another part of me wondered if God has opened this door and how that would change me?

It may and may not change me.

After few years of observing few honorable Assembly of God pastors and other denominational pastors. I've seen that not all of them agree with their own doctrines, but all of them have agreed to follow the Christ. I've seen an Assembly of God pastor signing up for a Southern Baptist Conference. I've seen different denominational Body gathers together at Alpha Conference and how each one would look at one another in how we all worship God uniquely- either stiffly or freely. Morever, I've known an Assembly of God pastor who had never speak in tongues continuing his pastoral ministry. What is this?!

As a short-term pastor kid under Assmebly of God dad and a short-term missionary kid under Youth With A Mission parents, I've seen some authentic leaders and hypocritical leaders. And they existed everywhere and nowhere. I have experienced the spiritual abuses and the spiritual healings myself. We are all sinners and we are all His ambassadors. But there is the one very thing that draws me: a few matured Christians in each denomination are well respected in their own denomational group as well as in another denominational group.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Gal 5:25-26