HOPE is Great Expectation

My husband described HOPE as "Something good is about to happen to you!” He/We never gave up hope….even until his last breath, we stood by “Nothing is impossible with God so we will continue to HOPE that something good is about to happen." How beautiful to live with expectancy instead of living in hopelessness. Even though what we had “hoped for” – to see him healed and whole, God still didn’t fail us, because healing and wholeness are what he ultimately received.

I started this post yesterday morning. I knew HOPE would be my topic for today. My granddaughter’s phone call to come to pick her up so she could spend the day with me interrupted my train of thought. I was still in my gown, so I quickly ran into my closet, put on a top and pants, looked in the mirror and I saw HOPE! I had a “gotcha!” from God. He was confirming I needed this “word” today, and maybe so did you!

I never liked it when I heard someone say, "Don't get your hope up!" What a sad command! I think of those huddled masses yearning to be free who are hopeful that they may one day live in a country like ours. And, so many who are going about it the right and legal way keep their HOPE up, because they pray for the day when something really good happens for them.

I don't like movies that leave you hanging, or have a disappointing ending. I LOVE the happy ending ones! Hello, Hallmark movies! A real life, true story movie played out as our Lord lived on this earth and gave hope and great expectation that something good was about to happen to those He encountered. He always gave hope, yet this same Lord, as despicable as it was, was beaten, tormented and martyred. What a sad ending to all that He taught! OH, but we don’t stop there, because HOPE didn’t stop there. Such good news came on the 3rd day. It wasn’t the ending at all. Our Champion, Jesus Christ won on Resurrection Sunday aka Easter…so, we win and HOPE with great expectancy! Anything is possible with hope!

Right now, life may be tough for you. You might have some health issues, or experienced the recent loss of a loved one. There may be strife in your marriage. You might not have enough money to make ends meet. But, DON"T lose hope! Just when you think the "movie" could get no worse, our Champion will be there because HE LIVES!

Here's why we should ALWAYS have our hope up: Hope gives us confidence and assurance. Hope gives us the ability to trust, to have faith in the present moment, no matter how bleak it may be. Hope gives us peace in the midst of the storm. Hope brings us joy in times of sadness. All those things that give us strength and courage rest in hope. Hope is the prescription for a sleepless night. As long as we have hope, we won't give up, because once we choose "HOPE", anything is possible!

When You Choose HOPE, Anything is Possible

HOPE, means “the exciting expectation that something GOOD is about to happen”. Yesterday, I knew what that's about -- based on my grandchildren's GREAT EXPECTATIONS about what last night held for them. When the tickets could first be bought, my grandson, Payton Wallace purchased tickets for his whole family (me and his friend included) to the premier showing of the new Star Wars Rogue One movie. Needless to say, he is quite the avid Star Wars fan. Check out his bedroom decor' here! He has looked forward to the new movie since he first heard it was coming out. When my Austin grandson, Brennan, heard about Payton going to the 10:30 pm showing last night in Frisco, he one-upped Payton and bought tickets for him and his friend to see it at the 7:30 pm showing in Austin. I love the "cousin" rivalry! Needless to say, their hope and great expectations became reality when we all saw it last night.

This post isn't so much about Star Wars as it is for us to be putting our hope and great expectations for our lives out there. Those of us who have experienced “expecting” a baby – know quite well, that it's a process. We don’t get half way through our pregnancy and say – “I’m through with this – I’m done with ‘expecting’!” No, we know it’s a process, and if we patiently wait for “the appointed time” of delivery, we’ll be blessed with a precious bundle of love and joy. Payton and Brennan, and the rest of us for that matter, did our best to patiently wait for this new episode of Star Wars and it was worth the wait.

This post really isn't about STAR Wars, but THE STAR of the show in this beautiful season of Advent -- expecting and waiting for Him. The birth of Christ gives us the hope, and possibility, that we can live life in a radical way – the way of trusting, believing, and expecting that all He’s promised us will be ours if we patiently wait for His perfect plan for our lives. During this beautiful season, may we find that place of peace -- a time of loving and deepening our relationship with God – delighting in Him. It’s a radical way of living, but the infant in the manger is a beautiful “memory” – our King of Kings is not there. He grew up, and He sacrificed His life so that we can live a life of hope and GREAT EXPECTATION.

Don’t give up! Keep your hope up! Get your EXPECTOR expecting! Remember ….. it’s a process! Your “baby” (your hopes, your dreams) will get here….and you’ll soon be blessed with God’s bundles of love and joy.

Time to Take the Love Test

It's time to take a LOVE TEST -- let's see how we're weathering this week!

Are we patient and kind?
Are we rejecting the temptation to be envious or being a bragger?
Rather than being self-seeking, and prideful -- are we rejoicing with someone else's victories and celebrations?
In spite of the opportunity, are we refraining from being rude or angry?
Are we "hoping" all day, with the expectation that something good is about to happen?
Are we having an "I will not quit" attitude?
Are we protecting our family and friends with an attitude of being their armor bearer?
Are we trusting God in the midst of the storms around us?

If we could answer "YES" to each of the above......then we're passing the LOVE TEST, and it's time to celebrate, because we've found out how to CONQUER..... because LOVE CONQUERS ALL!!