Subtle. Quiet. Almost imperceptible. Sometimes like a fragile, fading flower which we cling to in desperation, yet not too tightly less we crush its faint existence. A longing for what is not but what could be, for what one cannot see, but can't live without. A hunger for something more...a Savior, Deliverance.
"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It's not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out. It is this hope, above all, that gives us strength to live and to continually try new things, even in conditions that seem as hopeless as ours do, here and now. In the face of this absurdity, life is too precious a thing to permit its devaluation by living pointlessly, emptily, without meaning, without love, and, finally, without hope."
Vaclav Havel
Hope is rarely thought or given consideration of when life is plodding away at a steady, pleasant pace with its little innuendos of ups and downs. Consciousness of it is reserved for those desperate for change, something to adhere to when great desire has given way to great pain and answers aren't forthcoming, life has lost its sense of right or meaning and lies like a crumbled, broken down wall. When your life or circumstances seem passed over, neglected, forgotten amidst a world whirling, moving....never stopping its endless rush of LIFE when yours has just dashed to pieces on the floor and you're not even sure which pieces to pick up first or if you'll be cut and bleeding in the process with no one in this swirling mass of humanity to see it, turn, have compassion, notice and DO SOMETHING to help lift you up and make sense of the shattered brokenness.
These are the times we desperately need HOPE to break through.
Hope, it's like a seed planted in the ground. It's buried, must die to spring forth to life. Through long winter months the seed lies dormant, waiting for the GOD OF ALL LIFE to breathe upon the soil, warm it with the faithful changing of seasons and rains from the heavens and as the seed is split apart, broken, therein life springs up, slowly at first, struggling to break through the weight of the soil, and then bursting forth on glorious day. It is not an easy process but in the brokenness is fruitfulness, abundance and evidence again of God's great faithfulness and sustenance through the long, dark winter.
Hope, it's like a seed planted in the ground. It's buried, must die to spring forth to life. Through long winter months the seed lies dormant, waiting for the GOD OF ALL LIFE to breathe upon the soil, warm it with the faithful changing of seasons and rains from the heavens and as the seed is split apart, broken, therein life springs up, slowly at first, struggling to break through the weight of the soil, and then bursting forth on glorious day. It is not an easy process but in the brokenness is fruitfulness, abundance and evidence again of God's great faithfulness and sustenance through the long, dark winter.
Psalm 3:2-6 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
"...And hope does not disappoint because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us. Rom 5:5
And so, we are embarking as a family on a journey to bring HOPE. During passion week, we will be traveling with a team to a poverty stricken area of West Kentucky with Hope Boxes and entering 8 schools to pour out Love and Hope and share the GOSPEL. We've been invited in to love on the kids in every grade and are looking forward to this rare and precious opportunity. Would you like to be a part? You can help fund us as I take the whole family on this Faith Adventure. https://www.gofundme.com/family-mission-2-kids-ofappalachia
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Wonderful, merciful SaviorPrecious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men Oh you rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Ohh, we hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Ohh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Ohh, we're falling before Your throne
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Ohh, our hearts always hunger for
Hope for Appalachia
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