My Favorite Little Word

 My friend, Cindy, came from Maryland to visit me and brought me these beautiful snowflake hydrangea! They were still damp and had a sweet fragrance. I'm hoping to enjoy them all winter!

I'm thinking about my favorite little word. Hope. And no wonder! For the hope I have is grounded in the truth of God. No other hope can match His ability, His control or His promises.

"Hope, the balm and lifeblood of the soul."

John Armstrong (1709-1779)

I love this little word. I believe the promises it holds. Following are quotes I found interesting on hope:

""Our hope in Christ is surer than anything we can see and experience on this earth, and we arrive at that place through faith . . . Faith is a commitment to walk in the footsteps of Christ, not knowing what lies ahead, but knowing that He is with us, therefore we can take the next step."
Sheila Walsh


"Thank you, God, for the very real hope I have in You. Knowing You in all Your goodness, power, mercy, and love makes the hope I have much more than mere wishful thinking. Hope in You, rooted in Your written Word and in the risen Christ, gives me confidence about life on this earth and about eternal life."Lisa Guest, 100 Favorite Bible Verses"

This is another one of those little surprises that I didn't see until I downloaded it. The happy face of the sunflower was what I snapped. When I pulled up the snap to view it, I found the deer watching me!

 "Hope is more than just a word--it's a state of being. It's a firm belief that even if you don't know how, even if you don't know when, God will come through and better days are ahead. Life sends rain . . . Hope dances in the puddles until the sun comes out again." Rain on Me by Holley Gerth

In the February 28th devotion in Look Unto Me: The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon, the scripture verse is "My hope comes from him." Psalm 62:5. "What a privilege for a believer to be able to say these words! If he is looking for something from this world, it is indeed a poor 'hope.' But if he looks to God to supply his needs, whether they are earthly or spiritual needs, his 'hope' will not be in vain. He may continually make withdrawals from the bank of faith, getting his needs met from the riches of God's loving-kindness. This I know--I would rather have God as my banker than all the Rothschilds put together . . .  "We hope through faith that when our pulse becomes faith and our heart struggles to beat that an angelic messenger will stand over us, looking with loving eyes upon us, and whisper, 'Arise . . . and come with me.'" Song of Songs 2:10 . . .

"If these are your 'hopes,' O my soul'  (Psalm 103:1), then live for God . . . Live with the desire and determination to glorify Him who is your eternal supply and whose grace provided your election, redemption, and calling. And remember -- it is only because of His grace your have any 'hope' of the coming glory."

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1

This young buck visits out back, enjoying the abundance of greenery.

Jim Reimann, Editor, Look Unto Me: "We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. . . The believers hope is powerful and permanent -- 'an anchor ... firm and secure' -- anchored 'behind the curtain' to the very throne of God!

"The word hope I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith." 

John Calvin (1509-1564)

This is something you don't want to miss out on. It's real; it's alive, and it's truth. There is no other hope in this world. God is your only Hope. Yes, my favorite little word

"But as for me,  I will always have hope . . ." 

 Psalm 71:14