Have you ever noticed how despair boxes us in? When we’re struggling with emotions of despondency, our focus narrows until all we see is the problem, the person, the same old pattern over and over again. The sense of being trapped, of feeling unable to change or break free, pushes us toward panic or hopelessContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Hope”
Tag Archives: Hope
Hiddenness: Despair to Hope
When we’re awakened in the dead of night by a noise, we jolt out of bed then grope our way in the darkness toward the light switch, banging our shins on the bed frame. We panic when we see a man crouching in the corner – only to realize it’s a chair draped with aContinueContinue reading “Hiddenness: Despair to Hope”
Hope’s Unceasing Power
Since moving on from my litany of Christmas shows, I’ve reached for two movies long on my watch-list; Jesus Revolution and The Shift did not disappoint. For days after watching each, my mind would replay scenes and dialogue with pleasure and deep pondering because these movies uncover humanity’s deepest fears and reveal God’s presence andContinueContinue reading “Hope’s Unceasing Power”
A Thrill of Hope: Sweet Hymns of Joy
Believe it or not, like so many issues of our day, Christmas decoration traditions tend to divide us. Some break out the garlands and trees November first because the garnishes and colors of Christmas cannot come soon enough. Others take no joy in the decorating – it’s more chore than cheer. In like fashion, theContinueContinue reading “A Thrill of Hope: Sweet Hymns of Joy”
A Thrill of Hope: Law of Love
From the first moment we watched Elf (2003) as a family, we made it our movie of tradition, turning it on each year as we decorated our Christmas tree. We’d stop stringing lights long enough to watch – in eager anticipation – as the taxi crashed into Buddy (re: “The yellow ones don’t stop!”). AndContinueContinue reading “A Thrill of Hope: Law of Love”
A Thrill of Hope: Light of Faith
Christmas races toward us while the world and all its wearying ways continue to spin around us. The busier we are, the more likely our spiritual rhythms give way to our growing to-do lists and gnawing pangs of loss. No matter what vies for our attention, it’s up to us to resolve where our gazesContinueContinue reading “A Thrill of Hope: Light of Faith”
A Thrill of Hope: The Weary World
We feel the weariness of the world. Too many people are weary from war, death, and homelessness. Too many families are weary from grief, illness, and conflict. Too many of us are weary from lack, loneliness, and stresses that seem relentless. Weariness can lead to despair – to a hopelessness that tempts us to giveContinueContinue reading “A Thrill of Hope: The Weary World”
A Thrill of Hope: O Holy Night
Twenty years in my Oklahoma church established within me a love for tradition. In particular, as each Christmas Eve approached, I’d anticipate with great joy our soloist’s offering of “O Holy Night.” Somehow when this song crescendoed its way from “the stars are brightly shining” to “fall on your knees” to the triumphant “O nightContinueContinue reading “A Thrill of Hope: O Holy Night”
Reigniting Hope: Campfires to Wildfires
I have the wildest memory from high school — and it’s not what you think. 😉 It’s actually my friends and I sitting around a campfire, at a campground, with my parents. And we’re dressed up. Not fancy-like, but ‘in character.’ Perched in our folding lawn chairs, we role-played a murder mystery game under theContinueContinue reading “Reigniting Hope: Campfires to Wildfires”
Reigniting Hope: Purifying Power
Peter continues what Paul began, teaching us that ‘reigniting our hope’ requires coming together with our Christian brothers and sisters. And not merely as a gathering for one hour a week. What they exhort us toward is genuine, mutual love. If last week’s trio of Christians graces illustrated our unity as a body of ChristContinueContinue reading “Reigniting Hope: Purifying Power”