Hope Burns On

Hi Friends~


I hope that you were all blessed with a very special Easter.  I apologize for not being here.  Things turned a bit upside down.  Family didn't come down.  I have whip-lash (again.)  I didn't even get to go to church...but I am going to watch the video listed under blogs on the right side. (Northland Community Church)  I am in pretty severe pain, so this is going to be a rather short post.  I am glad you are here!  And, I will randomly choose 2 people to receive cards on Thursday instead of one!  So, leave a comment before midnight tonight!


I am going to share something that I really needed to read today.  It is a Devotion (is that word capitalized?  What do you think?)  And, it is from the book Quiet Moments in the Presence of God.  This book is published by Bethany House.

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"You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth." Psalm 71:5

Hope Burns On

An ancient Ethiopian legend tells about a shepherd boy named Alemayu.  One time he was stranded on a frozen mountain, clothed only in a thin cloak.  After a long and treacherous night, he returned home.  The villagers were amazed that he had survived as well as he had.  When asked to explain, he said, "The night was bitter cold.  The sky was pitch-dark.  Then, far off, I saw a shepherd's fire on another mountain.  I kept my eyes on the red glow in the distance and hoped of being warm."

Hope is a fire that burns in your heart and won't go out even in dark and difficult times.  Hope tells you tomorrow will be better.

Always have a supply of hope on hand to help you plan your tomorrows.

"What a God we have!  And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus!  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for."  1 Peter 1:3

Let's pray the prayer that is included.  Will you join me?

Dear God, I know that my hope is a forecast of Your presence and a foretaste of Your power.   In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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I really needed to read about hope.  I opened the book to any page, and this was there!  I feel that I made a promise to God that I would write this blog to serve the Lord!  And, when I am in so much pain that I can't think straight, or it hurts too much to type, I told you I wouldn't be here on those days.  I feel like I have failed you...and that I have failed God!  I mean I know we all sin.  This feels different.  I need hope.  Now, I know you don't come here to be bummed out...I am here to help encourage you...but, I am in a low place.  A lot is on my plate physically...yet it could be worse.  And, He could heal me in a whisper...even after all of these years.  But, honestly, there are times when I don't have as much hope as I should.  As I feel I should.  And, then I feel like I am further away from Him than I would like to be. 

I would love to hear some of your stories of hope.  You could put them in the comment section...it will uplift others, too.  Or you can email them to me.  tracistarkweather@gmail.com  Please put He IS Able in the subject or I am nervous about opening email when I don't recognize the name.  Or perhaps, you don't want to share a story of hope...how about a Scripture or two about it?  I am very grateful to all of you.  Thank you so much for being here!  May your hearts be filled with hope.

He IS Able!

Traci Starkweather