HOPE: One mile ahead!

I was driving to Minneapolis this past weekend to visit my niece who just moved there and saw a sign on the way that said:  Hope:  1 mile ahead.  That sign got me thinking about hope!

What is hope?  How do you find it?  How can we capture it for just one moment?  Hope's definition is desire, expectation, expectancy, trust, confidence, reliance, faith, belief, assurance, security, reassurance, encouragement and/or prospect.  Think about your own definition of hope - what does your heart tell you it is in your life?  Ahh....a very nice thought to ponder!

One of my all time favorite sayings is from Emily Dickinson who said:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all...."
Isn't that beautiful?  Hope perches in our souls!!!  Hope sings without words!!!  Hope never stops at all.........wow - I find that amazing!!!

Joyce Meyer teaches that we are "Prisoners of Hope" and encourages us to not give up when times are tough.  We have the hope of Eternal Life if we know God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Now that is truly hope with a promise!!!

The scriptures tell us in Hebrews 11:1,  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

Do you know someone who needs hope?  How can you offer hope in a tragic or extremely sad situation?  Where do you find that assurance?

Do you have a desire that is supported by some confidence that it will be fulfilled?  Have you ever been persistant in hoping for something against all odds?  Do you have grounds for expectation in some area of your life?  Or, do you have something that you place your confidence in to achieve, fulfill or accomplish?  If so, what is stopping you???

Do you have hope?  If not, why not?  If so, how so?  Think about it..........
HOPE is wonderful, HOPE makes you feel alive, HOPE is the heart and soul of faith!!!

Consider spending 15 minutes contemplating what hope means to you in your life....
And if you are a believer:  Praise God for the wonderful HOPE we have in HIM!!!