Hope - The Real Thing

Every tomorrow and every today have the chance to be a better day.

There is hope for tomorrow.

There is hope for our financial futures, there is hope for our physical future and most importantly, there is hope for our spiritual futures.

It's not too much to be who we are. It's also not too much to be who we should be, when we go forward in God's strength.

So, why talk about God's strength, not just about people strength? Because we wear out, we get tired. The weather turns gray and wintery and we get blue. The next thing happens and we change again. We as people can be swayed by every inner turmoil to inner peace and back again.

God doesn't change. The Creator of the foundations of time itself and the foundations of this world cares about each of us individually and personally. (Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!)

He stepped out of His place, into ours. He carried a cross, to take our punishment and He rose again, to give us eternity. And while He walked among us, He promised us His care, as a Father. He told us there would be storms, and He promised us His peace during them. He promised us protection. He never said there wouldn't be battles, but He did say He would fight them for us.

If you think about that, it's awe-inspiring. If we think about the gifts that God has given us, about what He has done for us, it's amazing. He even takes it further. God tells us that we can come to Him directly, because of what His Son did.

So, what is the practical application? It's looking every day for a way to encourage, a way to share hope. Sometimes it's smiling and encouraging, even when we don't feel like it.

Hope doesn't always come in a basket or a trinket. Sometimes we find it in a quiet voice saying it will be ok, take the next step. Other times we find it in the beauty of a single icicle or the intricacy of a single leaf on a tree. Sometimes we find it in the peace of the woods or the power of a mountain landscape or rushing river.

Sometimes hope is found in the eyes of those we love, and sometimes we are meant to share the hope we have inside us to make that person's eyes come to life again. We have a choice every day, to share hope or tear it down. I want to share the hope I have inside of me with you. I want to share with you the beauty of life, of creation of God's grace and strength in the midst of all of the bad stuff.

When the "real" world creeps in on Wall Street and banks and the fear of losing everything. When job losses abound and everything is so heavy we don't know what to do, where do we turn? When the lights go down, when health won't cooperate, who do we lean on?

Personally, I look for a reason to give. I look to God to hold me up when I'm not strong. I thank Him for His blessings.

I remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:29, 30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I also remember His words in Luke 12:22-26 ..."Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

Sometimes we spend so much time worrying, we forget to share the hope that is in us. We forget to give that smile. That strong, encouraging word that they can make it! We may think it's sappy, but its not. In times of struggle, lets stand together and spread hope & smiles like the person next to us may not see another for a lifetime.

Lets not forget to share the beauty of this life God gave us and give people hope for a future of good in the midst of all their circumstances.

Be bold! Share hope & a smile today! :-)