What Am I Thinking?

Since I've been working online I haven't blogged as much.  Oh, how I miss it!  Someone mentioned to me yesterday about her writing, and today two blogs that I read gave me a springboard to writing.  One is Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky.  She asked "What have you been thinking about lately?"

I think about interviewing, waiting, what I will do if I don't get the job and what I will do if I get it.  I think about finishing soccer and what will be different.  I think about making summer plans, coordinating calendars for shared plans, and plans to pay for all the plans.  I think about mowing (because there's so much to do!), the boys mowing for money to pay for their plans, and the Scout Garage Sale.  I'm even thinking about far off hopes.

So, I am thinking about hope.  I've said and I've heard others say "I don't know how someone who doesn't have Jesus makes it through *blank* (you fill in the blank)."  I still can't answer this question and don't think it's possible because I think that hope without Jesus is empty.

I looked on my Kindle and I have four books with "hope" in the title:  "The Colors of Hope, Scary Hope, Secret Hope, and Saving Hope".  Speaking of Scary Hope, Emily Freeman (same one) blogged last week about this - I downloaded and read it over the weekend.  I've never highlighted on my Kindle so much before!

Monday when I walked in the park a daddy was helping his daughter across the creek in, carefully helping her land on each stepping stone.  I quietly watched as I walked J. the dog by.  The daddy guided his girl to each rock, lovingly telling her when to jump and encouraging her.  There's no way the girl could have done it on her own without ending up drenched.  I watched closer as I noticed that even though the girl was courageously moving forward it was actually her daddy who lifted and placed her forward on each rock with his strength.  And I thought,

Isn't that just like God?  When there's no way I can do it on my own.  When my hope wavers.  When my strength is gone.  When well, always.  He guides.  He encourages.  He gives courage to go forward.  He lifts.  He places me with His strength.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  Romans 8:24 - 26

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13