“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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Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I enjoying coming here every week. It is so good to know that we may go through cloudy day buy we do not have to be in the cloud.
The Son in always shining.
Where would we be without hope! What a wonderful word. Thank you for this most encouraging post. Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you Iris for this reminder each week. It is appreciated. Blessings!
Iris,
It has been so good to have a day each week to list things that I’m thankful for. I have a tendency to take things for granted or to be down about what isn’t going right, so this helps my heart and attitude! Thank you for the weekly encouragement.
Kathy
Hi iris!
I enjoy this week’s TT, though my post is short but I hope I have summed it up, I’m so thankful that I have put my HOPE in HIM.
THere are so many wonderful songs about hope, uplifting and beautiful. Have a wonderful week!
With prayers
Karen
Sometimes I wonder how I ever got through life without my Lord and Savior but his love for me, his grace and mercy kept me until I came to him fully. I have no idea how people get along without hope – It is a life force within me. So much has been going on in my life lately and my hope and faith are keeping me strong. My Dad has now been given six weeks to live with this pancreatic cancer…but we have the hope of knowing that we will be with him again someday. God is good, all the time… I also love that Third Day song… Hugs!
What a great offering of Praise to the King on blogworld!!
What a beautiful thought! I love how – if you look at the original Hebrew and Greek – hope is more than just wishful thinking, but actually an expectation, an assurance of great things to come. And we certainly can have that in Christ.
Hi Iris,
Thanks again for hosting Thankful Thursday. I am greatly blessed by it every week.
I thank God that He enables us to meet through blogging. I am always encouraged by your posts. Thanks for visiting me and commenting too.
Thanks for your Friendship and encouragements. I have two awards to share with you (Share The Love Award and Friendship Award). Do come over when you have time. Take care and God bless you and family always!
With appreciation and prayers,
Nancie
Hello my friend! I am so thankful for you!!
I have given you two awards! Check out my blog to see what it is!
Blessings Iris my friend
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Stop by and visit with me this week… there will be something special waiting for you.
Allow me the privilege to honor and thank you. It is in my Tuesday post, August 12th. You are in my 2nd numbered group besides other places as well as Sharing the Love and Friendship! Just would like to offer you some blessings & hope!