Hope for the Grinch.

He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!

A good reminder, no?

Here's hoping...

Here's hoping the compliments you receive [and give] today are not as flowery [and meaningless] as this one.

[Someone actually mailed {and received} this postcard in 1910!]

Hope for the strong rope.

Sometimes we hope that the rope will hold us.

Sometimes the rope is more reliable than it appears.

Sometimes it isn't.

Here's hoping your rope is strong & durable today.

Hope in Christ [alone.]

A reminder I need all-too often.

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song


This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm


What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease


My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain


Then bursting forth in glorious day


Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory


Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine


Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death


This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath


Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man


Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

[written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend]

Hope that we will do the right thing.

Become the champion of
the numb.
Earn their trust.
Embrace the strength of one.
Decide it can be done.

Corrupt the worst of us.
Capsize their sinking love.
Forgive them from the start.
Command with a melting heart.
Begin, be not afraid.
Fall in, the day is brave.
Remember what has happened in our past.
So much is happening right now.
So much can come.
So much will come.
So much will come.

These are the lyrics to Begin, by Brendan James.
Take a listen & tell me you're not at least a little bit moved to do more.

Begin

Hesse's hope.

"It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is." ~ Hermann Hesse

It is my hope that one day...

we will SEE each other more clearly.

Hope in forgiveness.

I forgave someone once.

They had a different countenance that day. The bubbly, full-of-joy person I saw one day didn't show up that day. That day they were embarrassed, and maybe a little sad.

The last time I saw them, they were joyful and singing in church. That day they were solemn, and confessing that they had done something wrong.

But I believe that the joyful person from the first day was still in there. Today they were just covered up by the pain that sometimes comes with telling the truth.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Because maybe that joyful person in church was covering up the solemn person that sometimes does things that are wrong.

And maybe that day the solemn person was covering up the joyful one that is usually there.

I don't really know how they "usually" are. And the truth is that it doesn't really matter.

Someone once said [in reference to those of us in the Church] that we just clean up really well.

Because sometimes I am the joyful one singing to Jesus on Sunday morning. [All the while, knowing about the not-so-great choices I have made.]

And sometimes I am the solemn one knowing that I don't always make the best choices. [All the while, knowing the freedom that comes with the light.]

The difference is my bad choices usually stay in the dark. And that day, theirs was brought into the light.

And the really beautiful thing is that there is freedom in that light. Though they may not feel it right away.

Because sometimes it's like when your eyes have to take some time to adjust to the light after they've been in the dark.


Especially if it's been awhile.


But in the light there is warmth & love. And the hope here is that she remembers grace shown.

[And that I do as well.]