My Thoughtful Spot

The Gift of Hope

by Randy Alcorn

There is a gift God has given his people in all ages that has enabled them not just to hold on, but to experience fulfillment even in times of great difficulty. This gift is hope.

Biblical hope is rooted in the fact that this life and its troubles are brief experiences relative to eternity. Paul said, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

The hope of the people of God is not merely a desire or wish. It is a confidence rooted in God's promise and God's faithfulness. It is a trust that is rooted in Christ's trustworthiness and the certainty of His wonderful plan for us:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I'm going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:1-3).

Jesus gives us no false hope. He guarantees that a day will come when He will reign and all things will be new:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them to be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:3-4).

(You've just read the end of the book. So now you know how the movie's going to turn out!)

The day is coming when all that is wrong will be made right. All that now hurts will be healed. All that causes stress, outside and inside us, will vanish.

Hope is the light at the end of life's tunnel. It not only makes the tunnel endurable, it fills the heart with anticipation of the world into which we will one day emerge. Not just a better world, but a new and perfect world. A world alive, fresh, beautiful, devoid of pain and suffering and war, a world without disease, without accident, without tragedy. A world without dictators and madmen. A world ruled by the only one worthy of ruling. (See my book In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven.)

The Difference Hope Makes

A study was done in which one group of Israeli soldiers was told they would go on a march, but were not told if or when the march would eventually stop. Another group was told the length of the march. They knew there was an end.

Both groups were tested for their stress response. Although they marched not one foot further than those in the other group, those who did not know whether or when the march would end registered a much higher level of stress. Why? Because they had no hope, no tangible assurance that the forced march would end. They felt helpless, hopeless, wondering if they would ever be allowed to rest.

We do not know exactly how long we will be here, but we do know there will be an end. We will not march forever. We will rest. That is cause for certain hope. Even in times of greatest grief Christ leaves us with his hopeful assurance:

You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy...I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:20,22,33).

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries, 39085 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 200, Sandy, OR 97055, 503-668-5200, www.epm.org
©2006 Eternal Perspective Ministries. All rights reserved.

I took this picture today, and I'm just in love with it.

and clean up day. We have taken out our tree as 1. it was taking up a LOT of space and 2. it was really not helping J with his need for normalacy. so, it's gone. Today I pack up the decorations properly and put them away. Other decorations are staying out for a longer period of time. I'm not ready to be done with them yet.

I also have laundry to do and a bedroom to work away at. Plenty to keep me busy! I'll let you all know how I do.

I hugged my dad close, told him I loved him and said goodbye as we left their house for ours. I had no idea it was the last time I'd wrap my arms around my dad. No idea it was the last time I'd see him in this world.

The hurt is so great it's physical. I look at pictures and it rips me apart to realize I can no longer call and talk to him.

I don't talk about it much. Today, I need to.

It's not a great picture of dad, but we love it anyways. It was the last hug for my Katie girl too.

A nice quiet evening after the busy-ness of the last weeks! A few pics to share as well - tho todays aren't uploaded yet.

Our tree ... it was a little bigger than usual and we loved it!

My mom and I

Winner of the "I am a chubby bunny" contest - a new Christmas Eve Hayman tradition.

I think. I'm ahead of where I've been any other year so thats hopeful! Kids have way too much stuff, as usual. thats the downside to shopping deals all year long. Some of these gifts I don't even remember what they ARE. Yes, they're written in my "book" but I'm unable to locate that at the moment. LOL

Gifts are nearly all wrapped. Baking is in the freezer (compliments of my mom). Tree will be decorated today. and then I will tidy some more, relax, read my book, do whatever comes my way - knowing I am READY. Ok, so don't burst my bubble, it's a dream I realize but I'm closer to this than ever before

Hope your holidays are happy. I've been nostalgic lately, missing dad a whole lot. The grinch act I remember him for at Christmas, the memories of spending last Christmas with him and mom, shopping with him last year, so many memories I am so grateful to have. He's having Christmas with the Baby that was in the manger.... wow.

Merry Christmas one and all!

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car - both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along, they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red, but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself "I must be losing it. I could have sworn we just went through a red light." After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection and the light was red again. Again, they went right through. The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous. At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other woman and said, "Mildred, did you know that we just ran through three red lights in a row? You could have killed us both!"
Mildred turned to her and said, "Oh, crap, am I driving?"

A kindly 90-year-old grandmother found buying presents for family and friends a bit much one Christmas, so she wrote out checks for all of them to put in their Christmas cards.

In each card she wrote, "Buy your own present" and then sent them off.

After the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks in her desk!

Everyone had gotten a Christmas card from her with "Buy your own present" written inside, but without the checks!

if I said I was ready to leave tomorrow

if I said gifts for our early christmas were all wrapped

if I said I wasn't exhausted

if I said I didn't have too much to do tomorrow

but the truth is I'm heading to bed because I need to be there! As soon as this most recent load of laundry is dry it's to bed with me. Tomorrow I will get done what I can and the rest will remain undone!

Tomorrow..

the ferret goes to Katie's friends house to stay

mr swim (the turtle) goes there as well

percy goes to the kennel

I finish up the laundry

Katie and I wrap up the last of the gifts

Mark picks up a few gifts that I've heard are at the dollar store (hope to goodness they are still there)

I get the kitchen to such a spot that when we walk in arriving home it looks welcoming instead of like a dump!

We load everyone in the van and head out to my moms.

I try not to cry. I miss my dad so much.

was awesome. I'll try to say more later, but for now I had to share this picture. The nursery class, ages 2-4, dressed up as animals and were in the stable with baby Jesus. It was precious. here they are singing with the group afterwards.