HOPE

I hope I get an A on the final exam. I hope the weather is nice for the picnic. I hope I can find a new outfit for the wedding. I hope he/she likes me. I hope the surgery goes well. I hope the recovery is short.

What is hope??

The dictionary defines hope as: 1. a feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by expectation. Name it -- claim it ,,,I don't think so.

Just because I hope someone will like me doesn't mean they will -- they might hate me!
Just because I hope surgery will go well and recovery will be short , doesn't mean it will -- the surgery might be way more complicated then anyone expected and there might be double or triple the recovery time. Does that mean I'm lousy at hope or my hope isn't as good as yours?? Or am I looking at hope in the wrong way? On one of those "big" birthday's when I was having trouble dealing with the number ( oh to have that number again -- hope??) someone wrote in my card Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. When the world thinks about hope it's a, I wish it so-- but when God talks about hope it's certainty. Do we need to think along those lines? It's natural to want to get A's ,, have people like us,, look nice at events,, and have blue skies and no troubles all the time, but what about when the bottom falls out of everything -- when all the news is grim and you're not sure about tomorrow?? Do we want to hear Jeremiah 29:11 ?? Can I then as Peter puts it in I Peter 3:15 ....be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.... Can I say what I hope for or can I say WHO I hope in.. hope }not --I wish it so .. but hope} that I know who holds tomorrow and I am CERTAIN it will all work out-- I don't know how it will work out but it will. I'm reminded of a hymn LSB 575 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

The world would have us believe the name it claim it game ,but unfortunately that only leads to sinking sand............My hope --- The world's hope is in the shed blood on Calvary's Cross
where I can stand securely not by my own power but because of Jesus.......so no matter what tomorrow may bring I know who holds tomorrow and that's my hope.......my certainty!


Oh and when I start going off about Oh woe is me ----- tell me to read my own blog or better yet -- God's Word !!

It's Graduation Time !

Nothing new for this time of year and nothing new for me,, I have been to many. Family, friend's children, my god-child's --quite a number over the years. So this year's isn't anything new right -- wrong !!! This year a very special young lady will graduate, and start the next chapter in her life-- a life that I really haven't been apart of until the last few years but it's amazing what a few years can do. My first remembrance of her was in church when she was 10-12,,I loved to sit across from her and listen to her sing -- she loves to sing and it has been apparent for a long time. She has always sung from her heart down to her toes and I would just sit and listen to her and not sing -- she sang for both of us and much better than I ever could, but it was more than a good voice -there was passion and not just passion for a certain song but passion for the one that song was for. Her love for her Lord was evident even back then. That was about it for the most part,just listening to her sing- when she sat close enough and maybe a Hi or other pleasantries to her and her family, but nothing special. Then her family moved to a different church and I was busy with life ... fine that's the way life goes,, well almost. When I finally decided it's time to move on in my church life our paths cross once more, this time I end up (not really by my choosing) her youth leader --- I had no idea what I was doing. I certainly am not a jock,, so any kind of sports for fun is out the window and I'm not a frilly girl ,so girly girl things aren't going to do .. but that's ok because that's not what she (and the other 2) were looking for, they wanted to learn --learn as much as they could about God's Word and what God wants from us --- lipstick and football would have been easier!!!!! So we learned -- boy did we learn,, I learned how much I don't know.........but there was that passion again --- that passion for her Lord........she hadn't lost it --if anything it was stronger than ever. So off to some retreats and conferences so I could see how little I knew and I could see what passion for Christ and His Word was. This young lady has taught me a lot over these last couple of years more than she will ever know.. not just book -but heart-- what it truly means to be a follower of Christ..
Part of me is excited to see her life unfold and all the new adventures she will have, but part of me is going to miss all the times we have had -- talking,, discussing and giving our opinion on everything. Her quick wit can catch you off guard and her slowness!!! will drive you crazy but all in a good way. She's God's child and no matter what happens down life's path He will always be with her even when her family (and I ) can't. Her endless questions I pray will always be a part of her .. I have only seen her one time, sit through a bible class and never open her mouth... but you know what-- you don't learn if you don't ask !!! In this day and age where there are so many young people trying to grab on to something that won't last -- job,, money, material things, it's so wonderful to see people holding on to the solid rock of Christ and that's a prayer I have for all people, not just the graduates. So next week when I watch this beautiful young lady graduate and move on in her life -- I will thank God not only for blessing her with all the gifts He has given her,, but thanking Him for the gift of her, that He gave to me and that we both are His children by grace.

Mom for a weekend Again!!

Last weekend I picked up the two girls and they spent Friday night till Sunday morning with me,, they said they had a good time. Now it's the four boy's turn ( minus the baby -- he hates me !) I will pick them up tomorrow night and bring them back Sunday.......Party time for the boys doing boys stuff with an old lady !!! I'm sure I'll have as much fun as I did with the girls.

It's fun to have kids around ,, something along with a husband of course that I prayed for --for
many years (decades !!!) but God's answer was no to both -- why -- I have no idea, wasn't my dream to be single ,but I read one time that God doesn't with hold any good gift from His children- so if wife and motherhood wasn't a gift God wants for me -it's not whats good for me at this time. It's something that's taken a lot of years to come to grips with ( OK decades) but it doesn't bother me like it use to --- don't get me wrong if God made a man fall from heaven for
me I'd not say no -- but if singleness is the life style He wants for me -- then so be it.

When I think about it - God has really put more than the number of children I asked for -in my
life at various times, its seems when the one group grows up there is always a new group waiting in the wings. Not only do I have my nephews to watch grow up into fine young men but I also have had several more that I have watch grow into very wonderful young people plus God has graciously given me little ones so I can start the process all over again,, and the
best part when I "play mom" I get to be the fun one !!!! I get to sugar them all up then send them home -- and yes I get to come back to a quiet house but that's the perfect kind a house to take a nap in when the kids have tried out the old lady!!!

So I could feel sorry for myself that I don't have......... or I could take time right now and thank God for giving me children in my life even if it's only for a weekend here and there and yes
thanking Him for my singleness so I can come and go as I please and take weekends to "play mom" just another reminder that He does know whats best even if we can't see it .