The Windshield of Hope

In this sermon by Greg, the focus is on the importance of remembering God's faithfulness as the foundation for hope. Using Psalm 103 and the Advent tradition, Greg encourages listeners to look back at the ways God has been good—describing this as glancing in the "rearview mirror"—so that they can look forward with hope, as symbolized by the Advent candle. Through personal stories of loss, change, and new life in his own family, Greg illustrates how gratitude and hope go hand-in-hand. He discusses our tendency toward "spiritual dementia," forgetting God's blessings, and urges practical ways to regularly recall what God has done, such as writing down answers to prayer. Greg underscores God's character: His forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, satisfaction, and renewal. Reminding the congregation that these qualities are ongoing. Even when hopes are deferred or prayers seem unanswered, God's past faithfulness sustains hope for the future. With references to the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and his own experiences, Greg concludes by encouraging everyone to anchor their Advent journey in gratitude and anticipation, trusting that the God who has been faithful will continue to renew and sustain them.