Please Sir, may I have some more?

One of my favorite books from childhood, Oliver Twist, implanted hope in my heart at an early age.  Oliver's sincere and open heart remained, even as he experienced tough
times and harsh treatment.  Oliver's caretaker sold him into evil hands all because he asked for more food.

As a child, I lived a timid existence - afraid to speak up and ask questions. As I grew to understand who I am in  all  aspects of my being: physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, I noticed that hope can exist in my heart even when life circumstances turn my insides upside down!

Years ago, I learned from Habakkuk to ask the Lord questions.  He moved from asking two questions (a bit of complaining included) and waiting for the Lord's response.  Life did not magically get better for Habakkuk (it didn't for Oliver either).

However, hearing God's response brought a prayer to Habakkuk's lips and a resolve to rejoice in the Lord no matter what was happening around him.

Recently, when life circumstances turned my insides upside down; when my understanding of situations left me perplexed, I remembered to ask for what I needed.

Please, Lord, may I have some more peace, wisdom, strength?

I sat back and waited and experienced joy while waiting.  Amazing that Grace, isn't He?

Why hope helps

I spent a long day working on priorities, listening to complaints, and writing crucial words.

Ordinarily, such a day would leave me feeling wiped out and out of sorts - like a forest stripped bare.

But, this morning before leaving the warm, comfortable bed, I remembered to hope, to call upon the Lord in my distress.  I read:

For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.  From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you...As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.  Psalm 71:5-6,14

Today, hope was a ladder I climbed - one rung at a time.  When I could not think creatively and did not see a way to resolve issues, I uttered words of hope and praise for the Sovereign One. 

Hope helps.

When was the last time holding onto hope helped you?

Hope Fully

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.                            Hebrews 6: 18-19  New Living Translation (©2007)

Hope in God's words and promises lead us into the presence of God.  Fully hoping in God is a journey I began years ago while in college.  School expenses and workloads were often beyond my reach.  I read that the Lord would supply my needs.  I sang the words: 'He walks with me and He talks with me."  And still I nervously advanced from semester to semester.  I thought, hopefully, I will have the funds I need; hopefully, my studying will result in successful outcomes.  Hope anchored me at the foot of faith, enabling me to grow in faith and trust in the Lord.

Years later, I heard a teaching by Jack Hayford about hope, referencing Hebrews 6: 9 -19.
PastorJack stated hope is:
1.  Conceived: hope must be clearly defined.  Write down that for which you are hoping.
2.  Perceived: know that hope will be assailed.  The enemy wants to crush our hopes.
3.  Believed: be anchored in God's promises.
4.  Received: rest within the veil, i.e., the Presence of the Lord

These words encouraged me over the years to hold onto hope, to hope fully, without reservation or shame.

I learned from my daughter (who learned from J.W.) that the word "hopefully", in Irish, is "le cúnamh Dé", which means "with the help of God." 

When I find myself fretting (as I did this week) about an issue, I pause hopefully - with the help of God.

How do you find hope?  You may want to share at Faith Barista's Jam Session today.

Hopefully,

Hope for Transformation

I spent the end of 2010 reading the allegory, Hind's Feet on High Places, and was struck by the reality:

just as with Much-Afraid, when I fully surrender my life to the Lord, He will transform my 'crippled feet', 'crooked mouth', and 'fearing heart.'

My desire is to walk, speak, and be in such a way that I fulfill my purpose on this earth.  In the midst of my pondering last week, I remembered a crucial truth: I am not in charge of my transformation - my role is to submit to the process...so here I am.

GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19a

What a joy to begin the year with the hope of transformation.  This caterpillar is poised for unfurling as a butterfly in those places of my heart that are under transformation this year.  The adventure continues...
******************************************************
In the dark night of the soul and in the best of times and at points in between, one desire warms my heart: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:18). 

What does this look like in my life day by day?  Today, it looks like a list of gifts for which I am thankful.

#611 - 620

a new year

renewed yearning for living unfettered

new strategies for organizing

renewed hope for accomplishing goals

new butterfly pins, earrings, tealight holder

renewed faith for transformation in me; in others

new recipe for black-eyed peas

renewed passion for living.fully.each.day

new songs

renewed vision for a practice which ushers clients into the door of hope

Hope-filled on the journey,

High Hopes

He stood at the corner holding a sign that told the story:
"Out of work.  Need Help.  God Bless."

She sighed as she gathered her boys close to her.  This is the first Christmas since the divorce she never wanted.

The strained voice on the telephone sought a promise not to be placed in a nursing home.

High hopes dashed by the weights we carry.
*************************************************
Every year I have every intention of keeping Christmas simple. 
I rarely succeed.

This year is different.  I began the process of simplifying my life earlier in the year.

I am hopeful that this year I will stop to see, hear, say what the Lord is communicating to me, through me and through others. 
This is my ADVENTure and my hope this Christmas.

For this Christmas season, I hope for many people to unwrap the gifts of salvation, peace, faith.

I hope to be a carrier of the message of Hope.

How can this be?  The Holy Spirit will give me power to share the good news, to give the practical help, and to quiet the busyness in my life and heart.

High hopes?  Very Present Help is here!

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9

What are your hopes for Christmas?  Share with the folks at the Faith Barista Jam

Hope Lives

Hope lives today,
even with desires unseen.
Instead of wishful thinking,
Hope provides a place on which faith can lean.

Hope anchors my soul;
a truth learned while living.
The results in my heart convince me;

Hope I received is hope I am giving.

Hope Said...

The telephone rang; Lisa wondered if I would join her for a walk in the neighborhood.

After a long work day, I hesitated to go, but hope said: "Sure!  Stop by as you wind around the block."

Lisa, Chrystal, Hope (soon to be 4 years old), Casey (the dog) and I met up and began walking.

Hope asked me why the fence posts were pointed;
she walked in open-eyed wonder.

Chrystal (Hope's mother) and Lisa (Hope's aunt) shared with me a story that continues to ring in my soul.

Chrystal and Lisa looked through a book to seek discussion questions for a group of women. 

Hope listened.

Lisa and Chrystal found a question: if you could have any person's heart, without them having to die, whose would you want?  The ladies thought.

Hope said: Jesus.  She wanted the heart of Jesus.

As I pondered this story, I thought: "I want what Hope said; I want the heart of Jesus."

Jesus did have to die for me, for us, to have His heart.  So wonderful to know that He is alive forever!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26

I am grateful for this heart transplant.  Thank you, Father.

With heart,

Brimming Over with Hope

May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace.  so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!  Romans 15:13 (The Message)

Ten days after my daughter arrived in this world, her pediatrician contacted me to say she may have have a genetic disorder that  prevents the breakdown of milk sugar.  I had to stop nursing her immediately because the very substance I viewed as nourishment could harm her.

My husband and I purchased the special formula that would replace Mommy's milk.  We asked for prayer from our church family. Along with our daughter, we underwent genetic testing. 

The results: no genetic disorder!!  Our hopes and dreams came true!

Fast forward almost three years later.  I am pregnant.  My doctor orders a blood test.  I test positive for the trait of a different genetic disorder.  My husband gets the test; he, too, tests positive.  We prayed throughout the pregnancy.  We hoped throughout the pregnancy.

Ten days after my son arrives in this world, the pediatrician contacted me to announce that my son definitely had a genetic disorder that affected  his blood. 

We asked for prayer from our church family.  Our son underwent additional testing.

The result: the genetic disorder indeed existed in our son's body.  Our hopes and dreams fell in our laps.

Over the years, challenges came and so did victories.  Over the years hope grew - first small glimmers.  Perspective changed; I learned to savor moments rather than lament over possibilities.

I learned that I could not create hope just with my hands, my mouth, or my thoughts - for me or my family.

The powerful presence of  the Holy Spirit enabled our believing lives to brim over with hope!

I am brimming over with hope as I reflect on the Good God's Grace gifts:

#383 -400

young adult daughter living out God's destiny with grace

young adult son persevering and living out God's destiny with appreciation

husband loving, serving,  giving, living passionately and wisely

Lisa dreaming, building, and advancing in her life's purpose

Jennifer dreaming, building, and advancing in her life's purpose

Alicia dreaming, building, and advancing in her life's purpose

Joy dreaming, building, and advancing in her life's purpose

Dream-boosting group monthly calls

Reviving joy in creating photographs

Hearing of friend's successful surgery and recuperation

Sharing dinner with friends

Surprising friend on her birthday

Stopping to watch children playing

Sitting and reading in the quiet

Worshiping with uncluttered mind and heart

Swallowing deeply the truths in Romans

Receiving grace for the day

Slowing down long enough to see butterflies flitting over flowers

I wrote this post as part of Ann's Multitude Mondays 1000 Gifts.

How is hope manifested in your life?

Hopefully,

Desert Doorway

This summer season finds me seeking more - reading more - calling for more time with God...

The increased time came in unexpected ways.  I am reading through the Psalms and lamenting, that is worshiping and found myself feeling the heat...the dryness...in the desert...

So, what comes to my mind and to my spirit?  I remember:

My Anchor Holds

A friend told me that her boat, anchored to the pier, was tossed to and fro in the strong winds.  Although the winds blew strong and hard against it, the boat never lost its anchor.  I identify with that boat as winds blow strong and hard in my life, the lives of family, friends, work colleagues, and more.  In the midst of the storms, I made the decision to live my life trading anxiety for Peace, self-reliance for Help, fear for Love, and turmoil for Comfort.  Once that  decision was made, I let down my anchor.  On days like today, I have to remember that I am anchored.  Gracious words, loving words, comforting presence came from various sources to remind me...so I am grateful for:

#212  generous offer to borrow my friend's camera so that I could remember beautiful scenes in the mountains at the school nurse conference

#213  rich time of sharing with youth

#214  freedom to cry while informing fellow journey-ers about my current storm

#215  understanding more than ever that joy can exist within even when trouble stirs without

#216  decision to go after rest

#217  dinner with Mama

#218  greetings from cousin in town for a visit

#219  curiosity in the eyes of a precious six month old baby girl sitting on my lap

#220  conversations with young adult children

#221  hope that grows!

There's Hope in Sight!

The day began with a somber telephone message.

So sad news

eyes sting

feelings of abandonment resurface

So I feel

heart hurts

now healing comes

If I know You, You will turn this day into a perfect surprise.

There is hope in sight because Jesus lives!

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music." Psalm 145:4

Singing thanks to the Lord while:

#192 connecting with adolescents in a moment of joy

#193 joining with family for food, fellowship, and fun

#194 dancing with a limp

#195 preparing lamb stew for one shut in

#196 walking in the sun

#197 smiling with birthday friend who found a place of refreshing

#198 frosting cupcakes in spring colors

#199 sharing smiles across the room

#200 watching college basketball together

#201 delivering love notes over the telephone

Getting Ready

The winter seemed long this year.  An abundance of cold and snow prompted thoughts of hibernation!

This week has been a delightful reminder of seasonal rhythms...spring follows winter - always.

As I get closer to Easter, I am pondering the impact of the resurrection in my daily life.
  

Hope Inside Haiti

In the midst of the devastation in Haiti, hope peeks out in various ways.

My high school classmate and her husband are blessed to own a company in Haiti. They have provided employment opportunities to at least one hundred people over the years. Now they are extending help and hope to employees through the provision of clean water, food, and other assistance.

Another glimpse of hope inside Haiti is the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation which provides free healthcare to the rural community of Saint Rock. As you seek ways in which to offer help and bring hope to Haiti go to the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation website at www.saintrock.org/aboutus.html.

The place of trouble can be a doorway to hope...