2. The little word "now" is a very interesting word
The little word "now" is a very interesting word. The word means, "at the present moment of time; or without any further delay." The Holy Spirit moved the writers and translators of the Bible to use that little word quite often throughout the Bible. The word “now” is used approx 1350 times in the Bible!

3. If the favor of God isn’t necessarily material or financial, then what is it? It’s simply the undeserved kindness of God. God, in His sovereignty and His good will toward His children, chooses at His own initiative to show undeserved kindness to people.
I don’t know why Mary was chosen for this role, but I do know that it wasn’t on the basis of how good she was. She, like the rest of us, was a sinner, saved by the grace of God. While I do believe we can live in such a way that we are more ready recipients of His favor, I still believe His favor is granted in His sovereignty, which makes it all the more beautiful when we see it.
We can identify God’s favor when we see three things happening…
God has sovereignly chosen a recipient of His grace.
God has blessed that recipient in one way or another.
God has intentions that His blessing be shared with others.
I don’t see, in Scripture, God’s favor granted to people simply for their own enjoyment, but rather so that the lives of others can be changed and God can be glorified. Our enjoyment of His blessings brings Him pleasure and glory in the eyes of others.
God’s gracious kindness is His to give, and He gives it when, to whom, and how He chooses. But Scripture also invites all of us to be partakers – to come by faith and receive the gift of Jesus Christ, freely offered for all the world. In other words, while none of us can demand or expect God’s favor, we can claim it on the basis of grace – on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
The favor of God isn’t about having more money or easier circumstances. It’s about enjoying the kindness of God, sovereignly, yet freely offered to all who will receive Jesus Christ and the life He has to offer
Psalm 90:17
May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.

4. Cor 15: 1-9
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter ,and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Salvation = sozo saved healed and delivered.
you are saved you are being saved you will be saved
He HAS saved us (regeneration) – Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
He IS saving us (sanctification) – 2 Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
He WILL save us (glorification) – 1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

5. We are encouraging churches to adopt HOPE’s simple rhythm of mission, like a heartbeat through the year at key mission moments in the Christian calendar – Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Summer, Harvest and Remembrance – so mission in word and action is given higher priority in church life. We have resources for each of these Mission Moments on the HOPE website and we are adding more