Days 9 and 10

Hope. 

Hope is a word that has been stirring in my heart for some time now. There's a phrase I love from a worship song that is now a few years old. The line says, "Let hope rise. Darkness trembles in Your holy light." Ever since the first time I heard that song, that has resonated with me. Let hope rise. Three simple words, but so powerful. No matter what we are going through, there is always hope. And, if we know Him, Jesus is the blessed hope for which we wait!

So when your boss comes down on you, let hope rise.

When you've got too much month left at the end of your money, let hope rise. 

When you've hit the bottom and there's nothing left to hold on to, let hope rise.

When your class of fifth graders is so far behind that you don't know how you'll ever catch them up, and state testing is coming and you feel like you're on a ship that you know is sinking but there's nothing you can do about it, let hope rise. 

Hope of tomorrow and hope of fresh starts. Hope of something better just beyond this current circumstance. 

There is always hope.

I began typing this last night and never had a chance to finish. Last night, before something I had been hoping for arrived. 

I told you that I am praying for financial miracles during this fast, (and this week has been as thin as wall paper around here...). Michael came home from running some errands with his dad to find a check in the mail. Not a check we were expecting, either. It was from the hospital, with "Overpayment" as the description. I just can't chock that up to coincidence, people! And while I was surprised by where it came from, I'm not surprised it came. God is faithful. When Michael sent me a text with a photo of the check sum, I just kind of thought, "Oh! There you are! I knew you would be here!" 

Trust me. God cares for His people. He sees our deepest needs and knows how to meet them at just the right time. Hold on to hope. Love you!!

-R

PS: My son was running a fever at daycare today, and baby girl is coughing quite a bit. Please remember them when you pray. 

Also, my friend at work has a brother who fell and broke his neck right before Christmas. He is partially paralyzed, but some of his feeling is coming back!! Please pray that his body is restored to health! He has been through a lot this year.