“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” ~ Psalm 42:11 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)
First of all, I would like to thank your wonderful participation over the last couple of weeks – you ladies are so wonderful sharing your grateful heart – you all ROCK!!!!
This week I will not really give you a list, but share my reflection on hope with you. I have looked up ‘hope’ in Webster: “to cherish a desire with anticipation”….Wow – what a definition that is.
As of lately, I only survive on the hope I have – a hope that all things will work out for the good. In Romans 5:4-5, Paul shares: “…and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
What if I wouldn’t have that certain hope? What if I were hopeless like so many these days…It makes me shiver…I am glad that I can put my trust and hope in God. Even when the days don’t seem so sunny, I do always I have Sonshine. My Lord makes my journey lighter.
I so now can understand Christian teachers like Pastor Greg Laurie, who just lost his oldest son in a car accident. If the foundation is not Christ, but our own ability to make it through life – we would be lost. Lost in hopelessness.
I was never a great journal-writer, but over the last couple of months, I have shared – in writing – with my Lord the hope I have. The trust I put in Him. Although I always have prayed, I have never expressed my prayers in writing. As I am looking back over my prayer journal, I can see the changes. All I can say (as the Psalmist states) “For I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God”.
One of my current favorite songs is “My Hope is You” by Third Day. I listen to it often. Let me share with you the chorus:
“My hope is in You – show me Your Ways – God being truth – In all my days…My hope is in You…”
Yes, God is the only hope we can really hang on to, because He has a wonderful ‘record’. He has shown His faithfulness over thousands for years – and I know that He will be faithful until eternity…Hope in Him never disappoints 😛 …
Thank you so much for stopping by today. What are you thankful for this week? Please link your Thankful Thursday post below…
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Hi Iris,
I thank you so much for hosting Thankful Thursday. I look forward to it each week. I did a TT post on hope a couple of weeks ago so this week, mine is on something else.
God bless You Iris always for Thankful Thursday and particularly sharing your encouraging words…This verse means so much and it really hit home when you said,I so now can understand Christian teachers like Pastor Greg Laurie, who just lost his oldest son in a car accident. If the foundation is not Christ, but our own ability to make it through life – we would be lost. Lost in hopelessness..
I think God tries to prepare us for the bigger things to expect in life because He can see what we can and sometimes we can’t understand why He is preparing us till something comes to pass. Praise God, He loves us so much He tries to cushion and strengthen us the best that we allow Him to work in our lives.
Praying still for you and your family Iris and that all is well with you, dear Sister in Christ.
I think think this post was a great lesson for me. I needed to read this. Hope. You picked a great subject! Thanks Iris. As always you do a wonderful job. Thanks again for hosting and Happy TT to you! God Bless~
I am so thankful Iris…that we have a “KNOW-SO” hope. The world has a hope that just “hopes”….”wishes”….even longs for ….but we-as followers of Christ—have a hope that is a “know so Hope! “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:1-6 KJV
(Sorry—got carried away!) I love you and appreciate your ministry and faithfulness to His daughters—to the readers—to the hungry hearts!
Bless you for always being such a gracious host, I love you my friend.
I always look forward to this one… when I have time. And I thank you for hosting this. You are wonderful and appreciated! BLESSINGS!
Hi Iris,
What a great topic!! I wish I would of waited, I would of loved to write on HOPE.
I was so sad to read about Pastor Greg’s son, really shocked. I’ve always LOVED his ministry and still get his devotionals.
What a loss to the body of Christ. Sometimes you wonder…
Yes, I’m so thankful for the HOPE we have in Christ. No matter what, He’s there, He’s faithful, and His promises are true.
Blessings to you as you continue to be such a blessing to so many?
Blessings IRIS…I am so thankful for the HOPE I share with you in Christ Jesus and so many beautiful blogging sistas! I look forward with HOPE each Wednesday for Thankful Thursday! I was not going to do a TT because I’m doing a month of Challenges yet I have so much each week to be so thankful for…I never share
as many THANKs as I really have…and I wish I would have waited for your topic of HOPE but I wanted to have mine ready to go…Sorry that I had to combine TT with my Challenge. Your words bring wisdom and are filled with such gratitude! You speak so truthfully about how difficult our lives would be without this hope..and
how so many wander through life hopeless…or give up hope…or search in the wrong way for hope…May the HOPE you share and the song in your heart carry you through until the completion of “I only survive on the hope I have – a hope that all things will work out for the good. In Romans 5:4-5, Paul shares: “…and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” May YOU IRIS “cherish a desire with anticipation”….and know deep within GOD holds the HOPE we need each day to make it to the next and realize we are just one step closer to Eternity with Him!
Thank you my dear sister in the Lord and friend! Lifting you in prayer! Be blessed!
Thanks for a great topic to focus on this week!
Thanks for this very encouraging post! I am thankful to God that He is my hope and strength daily. Thanks for sharing your thankful heart with us, Iris. Thanks again for hosting this encouraging Thankful Thursday. May God bless you always!
Thank you so much for your words on HOPE! I needed to hear them tonight!
Thank you for leading us every week in TT! Your post on HOPE is so encouraging. What a reminder that our hope is in Him! Happy TT!
Today,7th,July, is Chinese Valentine’s day, so happy Valentine’s day to every sister here.
Iris, thank you so much for sharing the topic of Hope. Do you know that these days I feel so hopeless, I could not feel our heavenly father’s love, even I doubted his love for me…but thank the Lord, he lifts me up not only with his love, but also with other sisters’ love.
Thanks for sharing Hope with us. In go I put my trust and hope
Iris,
Beautiful post! Hope, so glad we have hope in Christ!
Thanks for sharing!
Cheryl
Iris…. oooooo. these words; What if I wouldn’t have that certain hope? What if I were hopeless like so many these days…It makes me shiver…
Oh Iris, I absolutely do not know how people cope with the harshness of life without the hope of God. I would be lost, utterly lost in dispaire without the Lord.
I know your are clinging to His promises. They will not fail you. Your hope will be brought full circle and you will see the promise, in this life time as well as the next.
Iris, thank you for continuing your ministry here and at Laced With Grace. Your encouragement is used for so much good. You wont see the entire impact this side of heaven but I promise you this. Many will come to you one day in heaven and say, “I was one of your silent readers and you helped me in my moments of need.” Love you girl. Hugs, Lynn
Iris, what a wonderful theme for us to ponder upon this week! What a celebration of WHO God is….to focus on HOPE. Thanks for such wonderful inspiration and encouragement. 🙂
Blessings, friend!
Beautifully written! Thanks so much for this dose of inspiration. God Bless You!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful and inspirational post. For the encouragement that there is hope after all! Bless you…
Iris,
Your words touched my heart.
Thank you,
Joanne
Thanks for sharing Irish its love and a nice heart within you….TC mine is up….
Iris, thank you for sharing this. It’s a good message for me. Have a blessed day!
Thank you again for your wonderful thoughts on this, our thankful thursday! Have a lovely day!
Thanks for the reminder to stay hopeful, Iris.
hope floats and abounds here! shalom!
Iris, I love this opportunity to tell our about our precious Lord and Saviour! Thank you for giving us this opportunity to share.
Carolyn
Thanks for your faithfulness and I enjoyed this verse this morning.
Iris, I love these reflections on hope. I needed this today. My post is on forgiveness. The two go hand in hand, don’t they?
My Thankful Thursday post is just going up. I am so grateful to have this center from which to do so much good reading.
I praise God for the HOPE that we have in Him. Only in Him. Thanks Iris for a great post. Blessings on your weekend.
Amazing! I was reading some scripture this morning and just happened to read about our hope in the Lord. Praise God that we are able to put our HOPE in Him!
Thank you, Iris! I haven’t been posting for a few weeks here. Not because I wasn’t thankful but because everyday “stuff” got in the way. I am so thankful that God is in control and when we surrender our will to his and accept what he has planned for us, he works it all for good. Praise Him!! Bless your heart, this morning.
I believe without hope we have nothing. Hope is what sustains us whenever things else around us fails. God is my hope.
So gald to be back to Thankful Thursday. Sorry to leave my link three times! I always enjoy your posts!
Thank you, once again, Iris, for hosting Thankful Thursdays. Yes, our hope in God sustains us as we face life each day.
Hey IRIS,
How are you this beautiful THANKFUL THURSDAY!
YOU ROCK too! LOL
Thank you Iris for hosting Thankful Thursdays; this day is such a blessing and I’m grateful the Lord uses you for such a wonderful blessing, and WOW… — SO FAR 75 OTHER THANKFUL HEARTS! WHOOhOoO
Hugs and HOPE,
Lea
Blessings to you, Iris. Thanks for being such a gracious hostess each week.
Thanks for hosting “Thankful Thursday”! I just linked to my first “Thankful Thursday” post!!
I’m thrilled that I found you & Thankful Thursday! I’ve been blessed beyond measure by the Lord! I praise Him that His mercies are new every morning!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Know that the scripture tells of this effect. Rest assured heart sickness of a hope deferred is a natural law. like gravity it can pull on us pulling us down. Trust in God , Neither be afraid. Worship Him. Take comfort that He understands the effect of hope deferred. “This to shall Pass”
Even in the most tender of heart wounds those that attack us at the core…there is a healing in the walking through it. It is about Him being glorified. It is not about the fear, the pain the discomforts and the threat. It is all about the glorifying of HIM> Then we too shall comfort those with that same comfort which we have been comforted with. It really is quiet cool. You know I pen this for my own recall as well:)
Be Embraced, big hug and an effort at humor as well. It is all so silly really just the enemy design to distract us. To prove us out.
Yes we will Praise God! Yes we will trust God and yes Virginia there is a Santa clause Ha! There is a God who gives us good gifts.
I do not know the suffering your faced with but I do now suffering, and best yet I do know the comforter.
Thank you so much for hosting this much needed TT. I love the theme for this week… HOPE… Thank you so much for the touching words. You blessed my heart.
God Bless,
Michele
Hope, hope, hope!
Where would I be without Jesus? Lost.
How would I feel? Hopeless.
Thankful for your words again!
Sweet blessings to you, Iris! Did you pick up your award from my place?
Thanks for sharing Iris. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28 We all need to be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus.
Beautiful post as always, Iris. Hope is all we have. Thank you.
I look forward to Thankful Thursday each week, thank you for hosting this. 🙂
Have a blessed day!
That is the verse I quoted to myself all the way to California, when I was starting to feel nervous! Thank you Lord for your words of comfort and hope!
Iris, what a great theme! I love the hope I have in Christ. I’m so glad you chose this for today. It really blessed my heart. Thanks so much for hosting such a great meme each week. You are a blessing!!!
Hi Iris! I so agree with what you stated about “some days not being sunny, but you always have the Sonshine!” What a good way to put it! That’s so true, because even though we may not always “feel” happy, we can always have a special joy and peace (as only God can give).
Thanks so much for this post.
Blessings,
Janet
P.S. To Iris and everyone: This week, my post begins with another song. You may view it at:
http://dailyprovision.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/i-say-thank-you/
Hi! Just did a Thankful Thursday post…my first in many many weeks…more like months. Not that I haven’t been thankful…I’ve been without internet for a time and also moving. Here’s to staying put for awhile! 🙂