“Like you, I was disgusted,
but being on the West Coast, it was still reasonably early and I left the game
on as “background noise”. With the 2 quick scores in the 3rd
quarter there was hope, but after Detroit got the 1st down with 2
minutes left … aaaaagh! After the score, if anyone had been asleep
in Eugene, I woke them up with my screams!”
This
is a note from a High School classmate about a Packer game. Yes, I too gave up
hope and went to bed early awakening to the “Good News.” This reminds me of Easter and the death of
Jesus on the cross. Don’t get me wrong there is no connection between the Green
Bay Packers and Jesus, other than the concept of Hope and Joy at times. It is
Advent season and people are lighting their Advent candles. The second candle represent
hope. This is not the Packer win hope or the response that I receive so often
in the hospital from people awaiting news on a test, saying “I hope so.” That
is not hope, but doubt.
This
is the hope we have as an firm foundation. “We have this hope as an anchor for the
soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). That is the hope of the Gospel
and the certainty we have of eternal life in Christ as we trust in Him as
Savior and Lord. There is no danger of saying that I hope they don’t run out.
We have an overflowing promise that nothing can separate us from this love.
My
favorite verse in the New Testament is Romans 15:13 saying, “May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Bestselling
devotional author, Sarah Young writes in Jesus
Today: Experiencing Hope Through His Presence, “Hope shine bright in the
trenches of adversity.” Yes, hope is a bright light in Christ. This woman
went through great adversity of sickness from Lyme Disease bringing her near
death. Interestingly, I too experienced the same near-death illness from tick-borne disease as well. When hope was given up by the doctors of a nenown medical
center God healed me miraculously and instantly when I recited Psalm 103 out
loud. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not His benefits. Who forgives all your
sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit, who fills
you with love and compassion…” (Psalm103:1-3). As these words flows
from my pain and sweat wracked body, God power and physical presence of heat
moved from my toes to my head bringing complete healing.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee
lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars
go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting
Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in
thee tonight.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.