The Thrill of

HOPE...

Revisited

Although I have a previous Christmas post about 'hope', I feel it is something that would encourage again, not just the weary world, but our own, at times, weary hearts. 

In the above picture of a sweet pillow that I couldn't resist purchasing, the inside of the wreath reads, "Ingredients For A Joyful Christmas". Above the wreath are two cutie gingerbread men holding a heart & above it is the word, 'Hope'. I would like to say that the main ingredient of not only a joyful Christmas, but a joyful life, would be... hope. Hope never puts a "The End" in any situation. Hope always wears a smile even if there is a tear in the eye. Hope is positive & optimistic. Hope looks to the future, & is always looking at the bend in the road expectantly. Hope listens for the ringing of the phone, watches for the mail to come. Maybe today... There is no lost cause, no "gone too far", no "done deal",  no "It's no use", with hope. & no person that's beyond it's reach.

We all know the story of Pandora's box & how she entered the land of forbidden curiosity, & by so doing, unleashed wrath, gluttony, greed, envy, sloth, pride & lust, woes like sickness, pain, suffering. However, at the very bottom of the box, was...hope. What comes to me in this story, is the parallel of the two trees in the Garden of Eden. One, the Tree of Life. The other, The Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. Or the Tree of "Forbidden Curiosity". Every single person who has ever lived can identify with Pandora. We have all opened the box. We have all plucked the fruit from the tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil & satiated the desire of having our own way. We have all unleashed the woes because of our rebellious nature, "I will be like God.  It's my life & I'll do what I want." Oh foolish, foolish forbidden curiosity. Foolish & hopeless & futile...but wait...what is this at the bottom of the box, waiting  to be released? It is Hope. & not just hope, but The Great Hope. & His name is JESUS.  

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son..."

"In the beginning was the Word..."

"And the Word became flesh & dwelt among us...full of grace & truth..." 

We celebrate His coming, His advent, His birthday,

every December 25th. & He was named, JESUS, because He would save us from our sins, & also, deliver us from the ravaged consequences of our forbidden & even perverse curiosity. He would also bring HOPE. Yes oh weary heart, old things really can pass away. Yes all things can become new. Yes, there really is a bend in the road, because HOPE is waiting. Pandora's box was closed, trapping 'hope' inside. The Father opened the box & set Him free. Free to do His ongoing redemptive work in the heart's of the captives. Free to be. "For yonder breaks a new & glorious morn..." under a bright & shining star, JESUS came. & at that moment everything changed.  FOREVER....

Raintree Perk of the Day:

"Hope is the thing with feathers,  that perches in the soul,   that sings the tune without words,  & never stops at all..."

Emily Dickinson

Hope. Solid as a rock. Solid as The Rock. & He also is Immanuel. God With Us.