Hope Victorious

I’ve been writing for as long as I remember. In high school I remember the frustration of having to “force-fit” my writing into the structured rules and expectations of my teachers. I remember the joy of writing as I wanted to and sorrow of feeling like it “wasn’t any good”. In college I studied biology and chemistry – not much creative writing there!   Writing was a hobby, a way that I processed my thoughts and experiences. Until I published my book in December 2020, I didn’t share much of my writing publicly.   Since then, I have been growing in the discipline of writing and sharing my writing more. Last January I shared a post titled “Purpose & Resolve” where I reflected on the changing, but consistent role of writing in my life. I shared my purpose in writing and my goals for that year for both writing and for my blog. Now, one year later, I re-visited that post and witness how I have grown. The goals I set for 2024 were to prioritize writing on a weekly basis and ...

  As this year closes and another begins, I am aware of the significance of how I choose to view both years. There is great tension within me as I consider the things that remain unresolved and unfinished in 2024. There are several unknowns that continue on from this year into the next. There are hopes and dreams that began in this year that is ending, which will be carried on into the coming year. There are possibilities; some joyful and others offering a sense of dread. As I reflect on the closing of this year, I feel challenged to be healthy in how I both look back and forward. I want to end and begin with hope! I am profoundly aware that how I choose to view this past year directly impacts the way I will view and feel about the coming year. I see and hear people celebrate the end of a year as if the turning of the calendar page seals up the past forever. “Over and Done!” The new year is celebrated as a fresh start, untarnished, a new beginning. Is it? Is it truly fresh ...

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus as a baby. I’ve been reflecting on how the impact of that one day in history extends throughout all of time! There was a day and time when Mary gave birth to Jesus, and it was so very long ago! And yet, it is an event that has changed the landscape of our lives forever. As Christians, we believe that the birth of Jesus was an extraordinary event, a miracle of miracles. It was the fulfillment of many prophecies given throughout the Old Testament times. We believe that Jesus was born to Mary and raised by her and Joseph, but that He was the son of God…conceived within Mary by the Holy Spirit. We believe that He lived a life without sin, so that His death paid the price for the sin of mankind. Once Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the power of sin and death was overcome by the purity and righteousness of Jesus. Our faith in this reality gives us access to Jesus, God and all the resources of heaven in addition to eternal life with God....

Jesus smiles over my past because He knows how the Father is still redeeming it and causing goodness and life to come from places of pain and sorrow. He can already see the life that will one day spring up from dark places in me. Jesus smiles with joy over my future knowing the ways His words will bear fruit and be fulfilled in and through me. Realities I will experience that began as quiet, secret whispers within my spirit – He sees me in the fullness of them. And He smiles now, today as He walks beside me. He hears my faith saying: You have a path from here to there and you will walk with me I believe I will get there From where I stand now angry and hopeless Feeling lost and lonely Into the promised redemption I believe I will stand there And I too will smile   If I believe that I will stand there one day, smiling as I turn back and view the turmoil of today, through the lens of all He has done – why not allow myself to smile now? In anticipation In trust...

Guilt and shame, while connected, are not at all the same. The feeling of guilt is one of regret or remorse over a choice or action that, looking back one wishes they had not made. Guilt is not just a feeling; it is also a state or fact. If a person made a choice, carried out an action – they are guilty of that action. The feeling of guilt may or may not accompany the reality of guilt. Sometimes someone feels no sense or regret or remorse over something they did and so they don’t have a feeling of being guilty. Guilt is often followed by a feeling of shame, but it is different. Guilt acknowledges the difference or disparity between what you did and what you wish you had done instead or the experience of the result or consequence of your choice(s). Shame internalizes the feeling of guilt in an accusing way. Where guilt says “you made a wrong choice” , or “you did a bad thing” . The voice of shame says, “You are wrong. You are bad”. Shame is an identity statement whereas guilt is an a...

  I am a spring tightly wound Clenched and determined - I am pinched and under pressure I feel that I will burst What will result?   My tears fall despite me efforts to stop them Sorrow leaking and then pouring out My concerns, once whispers are now given voice Becoming louder they shout their fears I am overwhelmed   Still and quiet I feel your faithful presence Listening Beneath my anguish, I feel the current of your love Softening me Gently reminding me Of what I know to be true   I am not so easily overwhelmed The force of you within me grows I will choose to rest Understood Loved   I am unafraid Come and overwhelm what threatens to overwhelm me I will be rescued by You   I will risk again Trusting, I release Open myself up and breathe deeply Stretch and uncurl Live Dream Thrive once more