Romans 15:4 - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."

Gosh I love that! Doesn't that bring such comfort in our times of need and hurts? That even during our toughest trials in life where we seem to have lost all senses of security, people around us hurting us and what you thought could and would never happen has happened - these words bring such power and purpose while keeping it all in perspective.

Hope can be found in the scriptures!
Many of us have found this to be true: When we are going through discouragement or rejection, grief, anxiety or loss, Gods word has an amazing ability to encourage our hearts. It's almost as if Scriptures comes alive when we're reading or studying on Gods amazing word.

Hope can be like a roller coaster in life.
I hoped to get the job... ONLY to miss out
I hoped to make the team at school ... Only to be led down
I hoped to get that scholarship for college ... Only to receive a regection letter
I hoped to see my son or daughter make better choices and avoid the pain some of the other kids are making ... Only to be heart broken
I hoped I would get pregnant ... Only to miscarry again
I hoped for a good cancer test and results would be negative... Only to find out the cancer is back
I hoped to be leading in the student ministry ... Only to have people turn their backs on you and shut the door behind you as you walk away

Life can be tough at times. Unfair at times. Some days we are filled with the hope of the future and other days it seems as all hope has been lost.

I will say this, - When God shows up, So does Hope!

Luke 24:13-21 - Now that same day 2 of them were going to a village called Emmaus., about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, What are you discussing together as you walk along? They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? What things? he asked. About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed and before God and all the people. They chief priests and our rilers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and tehy crucified him, but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. and what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

So many times loved ones, we are so focused in on our issue at hand that we lose sight of the hope that God is there in our issues. We forget the fact that the trial we are under is there for a reason. Just as these 2 men, probably disciples of Jesus, had lost all hope walking away seeing their king murdered and all hope in their world lost. Jesus walks along side them, encourages them, speaks to them, sits to have a meal with them and suddenly their eyes were opened. They knew right then they had walked along that long dusty road with Jesus, their king. In their excitement they ran back to tell the others.
There is hope in the name of Jesus. In spite of the most tragic circumstances, we can have that hope that prevails. Jesus is walking with you along your road today. He is with you in that wandering child, in that team and job loss, he is in that cancer, he is in that student ministry - because he is in that hope and in your heart brokeness.

So there are a few more things I want to share about hope before I close today:
Sharing Hope is your calling!
Sharing Hope transforms us!
Sharing Hope is contagious!
Sharing Hope build your faith!

Hope someone needed that today :)
Lonnie~