Devotional about Hope...

My good friend Bernie lent me a devotional to read during my recovery time and the one I read this morning needed to be shared. Yesterday was a little bit stressful for me and I am finding that I am not up to handling too much extra stress yet. I was a little emotional and still am while typing these words. These are the times when God sends just the right words to us to speak to us and give us comfort and a little pep talk when it's needed.

The devotional is titled "Hope for Everyday" and is taken from the book Hope For a Woman's Soul... Meditations to Energize Your Spirit.

Hope For Everyday

God has given me much on this earth to enjoy. I love the joy on my son's face each evening as he gets ready for his bath. He looks at me and grins as he sees all his friends lined up along the side of the bath waiting for him in a long... long... long line. He picks up each one, says "hello", and throws it into the soapy deep. When he's finally fast asleep, I gather up all his stuff and put it to one side.

Perhaps there's a lesson for all of us there. The psalmist David writes that in the midst of the stress and confusion of everyday life, God has made known to him the path of life.

So each night now as I gather up my little lamb's bath mates and drop them into the boat, I also gather up the concerns and cares of the day that have filled my heart. Putting them to one side, I make room for Christ, the incarnation of grace. I stop to take notice of the gift of his presence. And he fills me with joy.

~ Sheila Walsh

Hope to Fill Your Heart

Some of us are like cats; we don't know what we want, but we want more of it. Others are like dogs; we don't want much, and we are overjoyed when we get it. Regardless of our personality type or temperament, our Creator takes great delight in lavishing his extravagant grace upon us.

Sometimes grace comes as wisdom - or an empty parking space, a pat on the back, a beautiful sunset, an unexpected act of kindness. Grace might mean finding your lost dog, running into an old friend at the mall, or hearing a wacky joke that doubles you over with laughter. Grace is when the customer service department refunds your money, sends you another item without charge, even hands you a certificate for $10 off on your next purchase, then asks "Is that satisfactory?" Grace turns the corners of your mouth up when things in life are trying to turn them down.

~ Barbara Johnson

Meditations on Hope for Everyday

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." ~ Psalm 16:11

"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises... You are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true." ~ Psalm 119:147-148, 151

"Jesus said, 'Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" ~ Matthew 28:20

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~ James 1:17

Be blessed today and remember that God is in control of every little detail of our lives and His Will WILL be done!

Diane