Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Always Hope - Always Always Always Hope!

Are you ever amazed at the themes different stages of life bring? I am. For a while now it seems everywhere I turn I hear the word hope. In music, sermons, and scripture hope seems to be a hot topic. This word hope has a special hold of my heart. If my children allowed it, I'd have the words Always Hope tattooed on my wrist.  For me hope is intensely personal. After a long walk in the darkness of a deep depression, I emerged in May 2010 into a world of hope. Hope that light will outshine darkness every day. My journey out of darkness was long and hard fought. It included a great deal of love and never-waivering support from my husband, and the guidance of a gifted therapist. One day I'll share more of that journey but for now, here are some words of hope I love.

But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice and always put your hope in God. Hosea 12:6

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

For God has not given us a spirit of fear: but of power and of love and of sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

They say you'll find yourself one of these days
As if they know I'm lost and could never be saved
A gamble is what I'll take trading ashes for gold, hoping life will give its sake
Life is too short to stop and stare at the blank page that tells your way
Hold On by Phillip Phillips

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all-in-all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ Alone by Keith Getty

"If you will trust God with your anguish it will birth something precious to you. It will birth something that you will not trade back." Beth Moore

And so I will always hope.

4 comments:

  1. As I mentioned before, this is my word for the year, thank you for sharing these wonderful words of Hope!

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  2. Oh what a great word for 2013. I'm never letting go of this word.

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  3. I have always thought of myself as having lots of faith and hope but over the past several years and more so in recent months I had lost sight of my hope and not very happy with most aspects of my life. When I first read your post, my thoughts were cynical, but the next day and over the past week, I feel like I have been able to start crawling out of my hole and once again hope, maybe not for the things I want but for the things that I need and I have surrendered all to God. The path I face is not going to be easy but I am hoping for greater happiness and well-being. Thank you for making me think again about hope. I bought a carving of the word to remind me. Thank you for openly sharing your experience and growth.

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    1. Oh, friend I am sorry you have been in this place. I remember too well those feelings of hopelessness and despair. I pray you feel hope in your life in every moment.

      Dear Lord Jesus, bless this dear one with hope that only you can provide. Fill him/her up with your joy and hope. In your name!

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