Building Hope

Have you ever found yourself in need of an encouraging word even in the midst of a season of indescribable joy? Have you ever needed a word to bring hope for a future you couldn’t see even when you where sure of the One who holds the future? Have you ever needed assurance of more as you stood in the middle of more than enough?

I think as long as we inhabit this side of eternity and even on the best of days and in the most joyous of seasons there will be moments, days, weeks, months….even years like this. I think all our spiritual heroes both in the bible and in our lives experience the need for these things. I actually find that revelation comforting. We ALL need the Comforter.

I have questions. I have doubts. I want more. I need more. He has the answers. He holds the keys. He has MORE than enough.

I found myself in a place of need a few days ago that only He could fill. Well, I find myself there every day if I’m truthful, but that day this daughter was especially NEEDY of the things only her Daddy could provide. And He chose to fill me with hope and peace with words of life and promise and permanence.

Words like…

Everlasting
Glory to glory
Strength to strength
Imperishable
Incorruptible
Indescribable

These are my destiny. These are my calling. These are the promises from the One who has the whole world in His hands and breathes life into our lungs every…single…day. These define my yesterday’s, my today and my tomorrow’s with hope and power and love beyond myself or my circumstances.

What about you? What words is He speaking into your heart today?

Beauty for Ashes

I have a puzzle in the other room waiting for someone to get back to it. We started it just after Christmas and then life got busy and the puzzle has been mostly forgotten. The edge is mostly finished and the pieces for the red chair have been pulled out of the box and placed on the table waiting to be connected. I want to finish the puzzle. I certainly don’t want a wayward chocolate lab or a fire to destroy the puzzle before we get to put it together.

But, my life? The pieces of my life? I’ve tried to piece those together without His help before and that didn’t work so well. I’ve try to do it on my own before. I’ve tried to hold on to my plans and my ideas and the pieces that I was sure I couldn’t live without….good and bad. I’ve tried to hold on for dear life and control everything and everyone I thought I could.

One day He asked me to trust Him with the pieces. One day He asked me to give Him those things I held so tightly. One day He promised me beauty for ashes. And He faithfully kept His word and asked me to do the same again tomorrow and the next day and the next day…

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend (Psalm 5:3 MSG)

The Well

There was a deep well
Anyone could draw from it
Few would take the time

There was a deep well
The water inside was pure
Cool and crisp and clean

There was a deep well
The source was never ending
Made for all to drink

There was a deep well
He said first empty your cup
You will need the room

There was a deep well
She went to the edge to drink
She was satisfied