Hope Victorious

Return to me O return to hope once more You’re not so far away - But any distance at all hurts you Return again to hope Be set ablaze with the knowledge of my love for you A deep feeling of my pleasure with you - Resting In ME That tender place where hope is born My power whispers “possibility” to your questions and fears You choose rest in me - And your mind becomes quiet   We listen for your “yes” Together we wait for your choice, - Say yes to me again. For it is that trust, your yes to me   - That breaths life on what is possible And Hope ignites within you Together we dance this dance Your hurts and fears pull on you - I see it, I know Still I am waiting for you Your yes is louder than your thoughts - But still you have to choose to say it I’ve got enough for you Your mind knows - Your heart remembers Still it is not easy - I see that, I know Your yes is not cheap to me - It is everything! And so I wait for you Together we wait...

  Corn on the Cob, Peach Pie, Cherry Tomatoes, Sour Cherry Pie, Apricots, Green Beans… For me, these are the tastes of summer! Eating these things reminds me of being a kid, growing up with a big garden and orchard. My grandparents had a farm, with animals, a vegetable garden, a field of corn and an orchard of fruit and nut trees. Growing food takes a lot of work, planning and energy. Harvesting it is both a reward and a lot of work! I remember the extremes of summer harvest. The easiest harvest: From as early as I can remember, I loved to wander in the garden and look for any ripe cherry tomatoes. I would pick them off the bush and pop them in my mouth. I loved how they tasted fresh of the plant, warm from the sun. I liked the classic red cherry tomatoes, but another favorite was the yellow pear-shaped ones. I often hid a small salt shaker in the rock wall near our garden. I would use it to season larger tomatoes that I would rinse off with the garden hose. Of course, I also...

  Trust is like falling Will you catch me? Will you hold me?   Love is like sinking Deeper and deeper Being covered in warmth and gentle weight   Trust is like flying Taking off and feeling the strength & power New heights - the thrill of new perspective   Love is momentum A driving force within me like a rising tide And yet it is on its way to me in waves   Trust is an invitation     –     Love is an invitation   Trust calls me deeper into love     –     Love calls me deeper into trust   I am gaining and soaring I must let go of fears and thoughts of what is not possible   Trust makes a demand Love is the movement towards me and within me Love is the invitation and yet  –  Love is my response   Trust is required And yet it too grows with time  –   better and better still  ...

  Last Sunday I woke up tired and discouraged. I had woken suddenly twice earlier in the early morning hours from violent and dark dreams. I was tired from a busy holiday weekend of travel and time in the sun. The fear and oppression of my two bad dreams was occupying my mind as I started my day.  I began thinking of what I needed to do that day and about some of the issues and decisions that are yet unresolved within my family of 6. I felt overwhelmed. Sundays are full, exciting and rewarding days for a pastor. This particular Sunday I was hosting the service, but not preaching. I wanted to arrive early, but wasn’t leading the pre-service prayer time. I do not allow myself to consider the question, “do I feel like going to church today”. I have already decided that I want to be there. While I also have a responsibility and role, I don’t want to go out of obligation or duty. I want to be joyful and expectant, fully present and engaged. If I don’t have hope while there, I hav...

  My favorite dreams are flying dreams Sometimes I find wings have grown out from my arms -         While they are beautiful and painted with shades of vibrant color They are more impressive in strength and ability I soar The winds The heights Perspective and Power   Other times I am as I am -         But my mere arms have discovered new potential My body buoyed and propelled My arms guide my flight I slice through the air Navigating speeds and direction My favorite dreams are when I fly I have flown fast and I have flown slowly I have reached high heights                Looking far down at my home in miniature forms I have flown low Skimming just above the ground or treetops I have flown great distances When I’ve had to rest in the current of wind The force of air holding me up from beneath On...

  Ingredients: Hope – honestly assess my hope level. The amount is not so much the important part, just being honest and having a gauge for where I’m starting. Remind myself that my hope, however small, is not in myself anyway. I can’t generate hope, but I do have access to more!   Do I believe there is a solution? -    If I don’t believe there is a solution, my brain will not look for one. But if I believe change is possible, then I will persist in finding a way to bring it about. Testimonies – remember the times my joy has been restored in the past. Remember the things I enjoy, my victories and times of overcoming adversity.   Faith – Return to Hebrews 11:6 Mark 9, and remember the significance of “enough faith”. Faith is necessary, but even a little is enough. I can bring both my faith and my doubt to Jesus. Remind myself that I have faith that God exists and that He is good to me. That amount of faith IS enough! Steps: The most important thing i...