Outside there is a fresh snowfall today.
But inside, hope springs anew.
A week or two ago I shuffled through the snow to our forsythia bush and cut off a few branches. I placed the bare sticks on our mantle. This weekend those dead looking sticks burst into bloom.
And I am reminded again of hope. There is life buried under the snow. There is a future filled with life, beauty, and warmth. Spring will come again.
God's promise is true. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22)
And isn't that where all hope is found?
In God.
In His Word.
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4)
Because when I look around me, I don't see much reason for hope. Certainly not in my failures, in my selfish heart, and not in this barren world.
These are some of the words of hope, God's words of truth that I'm thinking on today.
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24)
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 43:5)
"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." (Psalm 119:114)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3)
Spring. New life. The resurrection.
There is real Hope.
Great post and one that I have been needing-thanks!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!! I've done that when we've had forsythia available to cut... but now we just get to look at everyone else's out and around.
ReplyDeleteI love their color. Your's are beautiful!!
Beautiful post....it did my heart good. In His Love, Jamie
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Thank you. I've been so down because of the snow, snow, and more snow. Your post has reminded me of the promises that have been made to us.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
What a wonderful post such uplifting scripture.
ReplyDeleteGod bless sue
Thank you. Have been going through tough times and did need this reminder this morning.
ReplyDeleteInspiring, as I sit here in eastern NC staring out the window at a world covered in another ice storm. My forsythia has not bloomed but the flowering quince has been soldiering on thru all of this winter weather.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful. I live in The Netherlands and we already have Spring here. We went from Autumn into Spring this year. No Winter at all, very strange.
ReplyDeleteYour forsythia looks so wonderful. Mine is nearly in bloom too.
Have a wonderful day.
Reminds me of the old hymn, "My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for Me, and paid the price of all my sin at Calvary." Thanks for refreshing verses!
ReplyDelete