Wednesday, March 30

Jeremiah 8:18-9:6

Psalms 81, 82, 119:97-120

Romans 5:1-11

John 8:12-20

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:1-11)

I love God-things, don't you? When something meaningful or special happens for you or someone you care about, that just causes you to stop in momentary wonder that God would take time from His busy day to seemingly make something fall into place or otherwise occur. For me, it was realizing that one of my meditation options was the very piece of scripture that I have come to hang my spiritual hat on over these past couple of years. It speaks so clearly that we WILL have suffering, but that through that suffering we will develop perseverance and character; and with that character, we shall learn to trust in hope…hope sometimes for the improbable, the miraculous, even the crazy, but if we can just hold on to that hope, we will be able to draw power from the healing strength of Christ. If life has thrown you some curve balls, I recommend planting HOPE around your living space - in pictures, signs, anything that your eyes can fall on when things feel like they are getting out of hand. I promise…it helps!

Vicki Cravens