December 1, 2014
Advent is here once again and I’m ready for the push to Christmas. I feel sort of like it’s first down and goal, and I’m about to be handed the ball and there is this defensive line that together weighs in about 2,000 pounds, led by a guy nicknamed “pot roast.” How’s that for a mental picture 🙂
So this morning, in preparation for the season, I’m spending some time in the quiet reflecting on what is to come with a prayerful attitude of hope, not hope as in I hope for this or that, but hope as a positive force that brings Life to all around.
I know a lot of folks who are struggling right now, and the ones who are keeping their joy are the ones who see a glimmer ahead, maybe just a small speck of light down a long dark hole, but a glimmer that offers them hope. Don’t lose your hope.
For many hope comes from constant struggle to stay ahead, for others hope comes from progress in their ability to overcome medical issues, and yet others find hope in their belief that good will win in the end, that God will not settle for failure or defeat.
Use this season of Advent to evaluate where hope exists in your life. And then find some ways to nurture that hope and make it a bigger part of your life. We’ve heard it said – as the old song says: “Accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative, Latch on to the affirmative, Don’t mess with Mister In-between.” When we mess with Mister in-between we’re backing off. Don’t back off.
Hope is not always an attitude or attribute that all can see, in fact many times others wonder at our hope, they wonder how we can be hopeful and withstand some circumstances, but hope is akin to faith as in sometimes hope must be a hope in what we cannot see but understand to be truth…that understanding brings a hope that keeps us pushing ahead.
Hope
Jim
Jim fields' Weblog 
Thanks for the inspirational words.
Thanks…I think they were for me as much (maybe more) than anybody.