Thursday, December 19, 2013

Hope

Now may The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

Christmas is a time of joy, a time to celebrate the birth of our saviour, a time for family to come together to fellowship and worship the King of Kings. For many of us this Christmas will be bitter-sweet.
 Bitter, as we can only remember our loved ones who now kneel in the presence of our Lord and Saviour, praising and glorifying Him with lifted hands. 
Sweet, as we know we too will one day soon kneel alongside with lifted hands saying, Holy, Holy, Holy!
Bitter, as we celebrate without thier laughter ringing in our ears, thier song echoing only in our memories, and the strum that now only throbs from within. 
Sweet, as they once walked in Christ, but now they walk with Him in glory.
Bitter, as we must wait for the day we too may kneel side by side with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As followers of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, we look forward with hope to the joyous anticipation of being with Christ in glory forever. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for. The things of the future are grasped through faith.  This we know, this we believe. Hope is certain! It is our anchor, it is steadfast and sure! Christ is our hope, and my God is called the God of hope! 
We are only strangers in this land on our way to a glorious and majestic home. 
Our hope is to be more like Jesus every day, our hope is to be ready to leave this fallen world at any moment. 
Hope calls us to be patient, gives us strength and confidence to endure the struggles that our fallen nature, this world, and the Deciever casts upon us. 
Though our lives as followers of Christ may be marked by suffering and loss; our hope is sure, steadfast and certain. 
As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour this Christmas, remembering those who no longer hope but now walk with Christ, may our Christmas be more sweet than bitter- for our loved ones are with the One whom we now celebrate!

To those whose hope is certain,
                     MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

In loving memory to each one who has finished thier journey, entered His gates, and have arrived Home!