Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1(KJV)
Autumn is one of my favorite times of year and October the most beautiful, at least it is to me. I stood on the deck this morning; the air was cool and the view spectacular. I never intended to go there; I was just following the color. There’s an overgrown clump of trees surrounded by brush. I don’t know if it’s beautifully wild, or wildly beautiful but the messy mix of color intrigued me. No matter. The moment was eclipsed by a memory and the striking colors dimmed; muddied by overflowing tears and an upcoming anniversary that will forever be woven into the tapestry of my beautiful Octobers.
A Grim Reality
Early last October, my husband and I were at that thicket of trees, seeing what needed to be done. It was gray, gloomy and sprinkling. I recalled that my son planned to come out that month to help tidy up that area as well as other parts of the property, but his health made it impossible. Then it hit me; he would never be out here again. Suddenly, the raindrops felt like bricks and I could hardly stand it, or stand. My husband pointed out the sun behind me. It was brilliant and beautiful, but I didn’t care. It had no impact whatsoever on the dim valley I was standing in. I just wanted to go inside.
Hope to the Rescue
I couldn’t see it until I got to the top of the hill. The treetops in the distant field were golden, striking really. All below them was a dismal, gray-brown blah. I was reminded that where I was is not all there is, and I learned some things about hope that day.
Hope doesn’t alter the pale and painful valleys of life, nor does it remove them. Hope places a gentle arm around your shoulder, speaks peace to your wounded soul and redirects your gaze; from your terrible temporary to a sublime eternity where all things are made new. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25 (NIV)
How About You
Have you been side-swiped by uncertainty? 2020 has provided a boatload of opportunities to doubt, worry, fear. Perhaps you have suffered the loss of a loved one, a job, financial security, physical freedom or some combination of all those things. I’m right there with you.
If there ever was a time for hope, now is that time. Hope is an anchor for the soul; but an anchor is only as good as that to which it is moored. Systems may have failed us, God has not. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Hebrews 6:19.
The Psalmist did a little self-talk that might be of benefit to you. It’s a good question and a good answer. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 43:5.
God bless you and keep you,
Roxanne
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Pictures compliments of Pixabay Creative Commons
After my aunt’s accident, Portland Oregon became my home away from home. I traveled there so much that I went from being one of the ‘huddled-masses’ passengers to a Skymiles® Elite member. Ok, so nobody asked for my autograph. But I did get to board the plane early and had a comfortable seat with a beverage waiting for me. Did this weary traveler appreciate it? You bet I did.
A Bad Rap
The day was long and dismal; the haters many. Evil enjoyed its finest hour as the Savior of the World hung dying on a cross. Darkness seized the day. Mockers shouted blasphemous cruelty at the One who came to seek and save that which was lost. While gamblers parted His garments, the Son-of-Man made provision for His mother and gave eternal hope to a dying thief.
It was the third day. Morning came and the last vestige of night rolled away with the stone. The Son of God rose with power, conquering the very death that once slew Him. Women came to anoint His body for a proper burial but He wasn’t there. The tomb lay empty, housing nothing more than a linen napkin and the empty shell of grave cloths. Life and Light conquered death and darkness; and every hope once buried with Christ rose with Him. And so we live.
Make lemonade. That’s the solution-part of the adage, ‘when life gives you lemons’. Those proverbial lemons refer to life’s trials; bumps that pop up on an otherwise pretty smooth road. Those trials take many forms, i.e. car problems, illness, trials of faith, etc. It could be ‘that one person’ that comes at just the right time with just ‘the wrong’ thing to say that sets your teeth on edge. In any case, the advice is the making of lemonade. In other words, make something good out of a bad situation.
While watching a movie one evening, I saw something move behind the television. It was a mouse. To say that I was disturbed by this sighting is entirely true. It is also entirely understated. I ran to the kitchen. Standing by the counter talking to my sister, I saw it again creeping out from behind the china hutch. That mouse was running amuck in my house and terrorizing me. I screamed. My sister screamed too, though not just in sympathy for me. My scream startled her and she cut her finger, quite badly. Blood was pouring all over the place due to blood thinners she was taking so she had to get off the phone. Realizing that a shotgun would be overkill and a broom insufficient, I did what any red-blooded American girl raised in the suburbs would do. With tears in my eyes, I grabbed my jacket and purse and went shopping.
Penny is the sweetest little chicken. She follows me around the yard and meets me at the car when I come home from work. She found a dirt pile one day and it fast became her favorite place to be. She rolls around in it and works the dirt into her feathers. It doesn’t look appealing to me but it’s both cleansing and relaxing to her. I prefer a warm bath and candles myself, but to each chick her own I guess.
Hopefully Devoted 