He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” ~Revelation 21:5 WMB On the heels of a hard or painful season, we often need to be kissed with hope before we can move on. The Challenge of Hope Most of us are alike. Things have died in one of our life’s seasons. Some things passed abruptly, while others languished away. Both can be … Continue reading →
All my husband Tim and I could do was hold on to hope as we sat at our kitchen table, watching our breath come out in puffs of white steam. We hoped the electricity would come back on at any moment. We experienced the worst ice storm Nashville had seen in over thirty years, leaving us without electricity for five days. Praying and hoping for the power to come back on was all we could do. But the adversity I … Continue reading →
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. ~Psalm 27:3-4 NIV When my kids were young, we enjoyed reading a book about Louis … Continue reading →
When I was a kid, families signed up each week of December to light the Advent candle and read a special passage of scripture in front of the church. During week one, the scriptures spoke of the hope of the coming Messiah. Week two was about preparing for the King. Joy was the focus of week three, while week four was about loving our Savior. According to The Oxford Dictionary, advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or … Continue reading →
When I think of Christmas, I appreciate the extra light in the darkness that it brings into our lives: candles, stars, and twinkling trees. But the light of Christmas began in a dark place. The prophet Isaiah foretold the first Christmas when he spoke to a world that felt as if it were falling apart. God’s people were scared. Armies surrounded them. Their leaders were corrupt. Their nation was divided. And in all that fear, it seemed as if God … Continue reading →
This year, a friend of mine lost her husband of over sixty years, but her commitment to joy was a powerful witness to me. Watching the result of her choosing joy in the presence of sadness and the temptation to self-pity made me determined to understand the power of joy and to possess it in my daily life. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ~Nehemiah 8:10 NIV I haven’t lost a husband, … Continue reading →
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. ~Hebrews 6:19 NLT Hope floats as fall approaches, and football season soon takes over our weekends and TV screens. I’m not sure what the draw is to football or sports in general, but there’s something about not knowing the outcome. Always hoping against hope that our team can pull it out in the last few minutes. Always thinking it’s possible, until … Continue reading →
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. ~1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV My concept of biblical hope was a little muddled. I knew it was more than wishful thinking but couldn’t say why. Last year, I found a devotion on the spiritual force of hope, which opened my eyes to hope as a spiritual force. Living Hope The spiritual force behind biblical hope comes from the cross of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:3 … Continue reading →
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16 NIV Sophie, my retriever cross, had started panting during our walks, so I took her to see our veterinarian. After a thorough examination, the vet deduced it was most likely a touch of arthritis, due to Sophie’s age. She also remarked how fit and agile Sophie was at the age of eleven. … Continue reading →
If asked, “Where do you live,” we could quickly provide our home address complete with zip code. We would probably hesitate, though, if asked where our heart resides. The answer could prove insightful if we paused and asked ourselves that question. My daughter had an opportunity to pick up some fresh star fruits from a friend and asked me to ride with her. We allowed the GPS to lead us along the route without much thought until our final turn. … Continue reading →
