Category Archives: hope

I Can’t?…

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Ever said I can’t to God?…

image via playingmom.com

Fist clenched, foot stomping, I can’t, I won’t to God?

Your ways are not my ways, my ways are better, I can’t God.

image via biblepicturedictionary.com

Camel squeezing through the eye of a needle too rich in rebellion, selfishness, pride, I can’t God?

Struggle continues…Chaos reigns.

Ever said I can’t to God?

image via heartsunbroken.wordpress.com

Little girl, little boy, weak whimper from within, I can’t God?

I’m lost, alone, drowning, tear-filled, I can’t God?

image via sacredheartdunnc.org

I am weak, you are strong, hide me in your heart, I can’t God?

Mighty arms bend down into the lowliness…

image via ruinedfortheordinary.com

Drawn into the embrace of God…

Wrapped in His love…Consumed in grace.

Together, united, as one…

I CAN GOD!

“Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.  all things are possible for God.”

Mark 10: 27

All Natural…No Preservative Self…

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“Everyone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure.”1 John3:3

image via divineexperience.org

To HOPE is to keep one’s eyes on the top of the cross….

image via shinefmafternoons.blogspot.com

while keeping vigil at the foot.

How good, gracious, and merciful is our God that by merely hoping…

Our eyes set on Him who is our HOPE…

We are made PURE.

To be PURE is to be all we are called to be…

no fakes, no masks, no pretense, no artificial flavors…

image via tetley.ca

100% pure, all natural, no additives, no preservatives.

By being in Your Presence Lord in prayer…

image via turnbacktoGod.com

which in itself is an act of HOPE…

We become more purely who we are…who we are meant to be.

Born Within Us…

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“Because there was no room in the Inn, Jesus had to be born elsewhere …

that is, in each one of us.

We may be simple and humble, like a stable…

But with Christ within us we can be magnificent and change the world.” (Michael Moran)

Live + Jesus.

image by fromtheheartofj

THE KING IS COMING…THE KING IS COMING…

HE IS ALMOST HERE!

Strolling in the Green Grass on the Other Side of the Fence…

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image via ecobirder.blogspot.com

Mother Eagle builds a nest.

First weaves together thorny branches. Then lays atop soft filler.

As baby eaglets grow the space gets smaller.

Reluctant to leave, Mother Eagle begins to remove soft filler.

image via hillsborough-nj.org

 Eaglets cry as thorns poke and prod and they try to get comfortable in the nest.

Mother Eagle continues to remove the soft filler until all that is left is a nest of thorns.

Finally when the pain is too much, the eaglets begin a new journey learning to fly.

image via aerie.iving.ca

How easy to try to plop down in a mud puddle of “maybe this is all life has to offer”….

How easy to try to live avoiding all the growing pains of life…

But this is nothing more than hide and seek living when you are always the one hiding.

Pain pushes us out of the comfort zone and brings us to a new plateau.

And by His grace the “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” becomes the green grass we find ourselves strolling in.

Pain and the realization of hope go hand in hand.

If we choose it.

“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Rom 5:5

Transmit or Transform…..

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image via freeblogspot.org

 First steps after an injury…

so tentative.

Fear mixed with “what ifs”?

A push needed beyond our feeble strength.

Our will infused with the Divine encouraging us forward.

Be it physical, emotional, or spiritual pain.

Pain….

image via adam-purcell.com

One can transmit it….

Broadcasting all to join into the pity party of “I give up”, “Woe is me”, “No one has ever had it worse”

or….

One can allow the pain to transform…

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 Stretching the whole of the person in the reality of Hope.

Pain can become the leaven that allows the dough to rise.

image via 123rf.com

Pain can become the impetus for the rising to new life.

Pain and resurrection…the two really do go hand in hand.

It’s a choice.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials.” 1 Peter 1:3, 6

Winged living….

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The caterpillar grows, then hides itself within the confines of silken thread.

In the darkness of the cocoon a metamorphosis takes place.

Chemically disassembled and reconstructed.

New life begins to burst forth…

Fluid pumped from body into crumpled wings…

Beating against the cocoon to dry off.

Kicking, pushing away the silken threads of the old existence.

If one could watch, the process of “coming to be” painful to watch…

seems almost the struggle of death.

If one were to take pity and alleviate the struggle to become

by ever so carefully cutting open the cocoon.

The emerging butterfly would quickly die.

Without the struggle ….the butterfly is unable to dry its wings.

You see the butterfly needs the struggle…

It is part of the becoming.

If you take away the struggle, you take away life…you take away becoming the beauty meant to be….you take away the metamorphosis.

Give thanks for the struggle.  Your Heavenly Father loves you so much He is drawing you to Him.  And in the drawing you are becoming something new, beautiful, with wings to fly.

“People do not put new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise the the skins burst, the wine spills out and the skins are ruined.  rather they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matt 9:17

Life is not a flat line….

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Life is full of ups and downs….

Mountain tops to valleys…

Flying high….to flat on our face

Quickened heart beat when we run…

Slower beat when we rest.

Fast breathing in a hurry…

Peaceful breathing when we sleep.

Yes, Life is full of ups and downs.

Our hearts tell this story.

Our hearts live this story.

Sometimes we wish the ups and downs didn’t have to happen.

That life could be even keel….perfectly balanced.

But, ups and down….such is the way of life.

Ups and downs….such IS life.

For we all know that a flat line announces death.

“The God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory through Christ Jesus will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. ” 1 Reter 5:10

Puzzle Pieces….

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When the pieces of life seem scattered and a mess…

Faith is the glue that puts it all  together.

When the picture of God’s plan seems unrecognizable…

Faith is the glue that puts it all together.

On mountains, through valleys, in darkness, in light…

Faith is the glue that puts it all together.

Stick to Him. The masterpiece will soon be revealed.

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you.  When you look for me, you will find me,  Yes, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer 29: 11-13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VtiHkkbq18&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL8FFFBDC510C33D37

(This is a video I recently saw…had to share…pretty amazing isn’t it?)

Walk by Faith….

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On the journey we walk by FAITH

At times we walk in darkness.

At times we walk shaken.

Yet when all seems dark

the Lord is ever near.

His light blinds us and we cannot see.

We cannot understand His way. We cannot understand His plan.

We walk in mysery.  We walk in hope. Headed for the dawn.

And when the directions seem unsure.
It’s too dark to see the road ahead.

Turn to witnesses of faith whose steps have carved the way.

“By FAITH Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out not knowing where he was to go.  By FAITH he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.”

Heb 11:8-10

TRUST in Him who is your guide.

Walk in mystery. Walk in hope. Headed for the dawn.

“FAITH is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1