“We were saved with this hope in mind. If we hope for something we already see, it’s not really hope. Who hopes for what can be seen? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” Romans 8:24-25 (God’s Word Translation©).

Today is Advent 1, and in my tradition “Hope” is the theme of the day.

When the road we walk on is smooth, hope is a distant concept.

When life piles on troubles until we nearly collapse, hope provides air to breathe, both physically and spiritually.

With Jesus we have hope, the anticipation of things working out, not only in this world, but in the forever.

“God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery—which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 God’s Word Translation©).

Yesterday our nephew-in-law died into the arms of Jesus after more than a year of strenuous combat against cancer. He now lives the hope in the new reality we call heaven. The family and clan have hope in this promise and of the presence of the Comforter, The Spirit. He spent his short life as a Baptist Pastor, but now reaps the rewards which he preached about, and that provides hope for all he met.

Sometimes hope stands as the only thing we have, yet “hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5 New International Version®, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®).

When life looks like nothing more than a formless vacuum, hope sheds that tiny light that promises this is not the end.

May you live in the hope that faith in Jesus gives when nothing else, no one else, can provide what we need to proceed on our way.

“May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 God’s Word Translation©).

It has been a week unlike any other.

Saturday my only brother died suddenly of a massive stroke.

On Monday into Tuesday morning we traveled the 10-hour round trip to the funeral home.

Only hours after we got home I was called to the hospital where our very good friend had spent hours very sick and they were sending her home. They were overwhelmed there in the Emergency Room with so many patients that she was not fully treated.

I stayed with her for 8 hours before having to call the ambulance again to return her to the hospital for overnight.

Wednesday I again drove her home, and even though it seemed they had treated her as needed this time I stayed for a few hours to be sure.

Thursday I made a list for 5 people and went shopping. (We do that, so that when we go to a store we can reduce the need for others to go to the same store, during these pandemic restrictions.) That meant delivering to 3 others right away both in town and out.

Friday, by the grace of God, I recorded a video of the chapel service which, since the pandemic, I have done weekly for the retirement residence where my Mother-in-law lives.

Friday afternoon someone came up on the front porch and stole the light tree which my brother had given to my Mother this past Christmas. The police would not take a report because such minor incidents are to be reported using their online system. I did get it completed.

Then I posted the theft on social media hoping someone might know something. It was shared well over 150 times. Someone, a complete stranger, offered to replace it! (Alas, it cannot be replaced because it was a seasonal item and is no longer in stock.)

So here I sit at 11:30am on Saturday, exhausted, processing my grief, shocked by the emotional impact of the theft, drained from making the chapel video, drinking my third big mug of coffee.

In my spirit I am finding a peace that passes human understanding, but my body feels like it has been run over, stepped on and robbed blind.

I know we are not the only family stressed out like this. I am not asking for pity. I am saying if you can identify be assured we are praying for everyone who feels like they could be the one who wrote this.

But for you I repeat what I wrote to our dear friend in Africa, “God is our Rock and Salvation”.

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“In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up” (2 Corinthians 4:8 God’s Word©). Read more…