HOPE AS A "KNOW SO"

Last month's The Best Times Faith and Hope section by Truth Seekers Fellowship Stacy Tyson focused of My One Word for 2024.....HOPE! Of course, I had to take notes. 'Cause, that's what I do!

One more Monday's Meditation on his scriptural truth notes.

HOPE---defined from a Biblical position. (my paraphrases with additions)

• Hope is a confident expectation things will turn out well turn out well because our Father God who promises is faithful. Hope is built on HIs past works. 
• Hope is NOT just wishful thinking. 
• Hope is built of Father God's trustworthy word and His past works..  
• My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; Cokesbury hymnal, p, 24)
• There is an old saying, A person can live 40 days with out food, 3 days without water, about 3 minutes without air, but not 3 seconds without hope."
• Hope is essential to life.

Everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and and through encouragement of the Scriptures we way have hope. (Romans 15:4, emphasis mine)

So.....Know the "know so" of True Hope!

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS! A time for reflecting is pretty common this time of year.

News commentators have already started looking back---almost ad nauseam in the "celebrity" realm.

Certainly as one reflects, there is a fine line between discernment and self-absorption.

For me, discernment can only come with an open Bible in my lap. 

Of course, also for me, it doesn't hurt to have a cup of tea (and maybe even a donut) to help me "stay in the Word" for more than a few minutes. Meditation takes perseverance, especially when encouragement and hope are desperately needed.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Thanks be to God---who gives patience and encouragement (Romans 15:5) as we make our way in life....learning from one year, even the mistakes, and taking those life lessons from Him, into the next year.

"So long," 2015.......