Hope Is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmyUgsmCzB4
Copy and Paste this song from Steven Curtis Chapman…..
romans 8:22-26
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 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.
I’ve been thinking about a time when I worried about losing my sister, Paula, to her newly diagnosed breast cancer.
It was terrifying for all of us but of course, mostly for Paula and her new husband, Albert.
Somehow we held onto our hope. HOPE.
I remember writing the song “Hope Is” which became the title track for my second album.
HOPE IS
There is a word. I know it’s meaning. This is a word I dare to speak. I haven’t heard or spoken it lately. But it’s a word I surely seek.
Hope is an anchor. Hope is a prayer. Hope is an island in a sea of despair. Hope is a seedling. Hope is the tree. Hope is the child you hold on your knee.
Hope is a rainbow. Hope will survive. Hope is forever. It keeps us alive.
This is the season of hope.
But many of us feel empty and find it hard to get into the season of Advent because we have so much to do.
The house needs to be decorated, the sweets baked, the cards sent, gift made or purchased, wrapped, sent…and on and on.
But when we are empty we leave a space to be filled with God.
As Carolyn Arends says, “We often ask ourselves whether we're "getting into the spirit" this time of year—but really that's the wrong question. It’s much more important that we invite the Spirit to get into US.”
Let’s slow down and allow the Spirit to fill us with hope.
My sister, Paula, received a miracle ten years ago. We never lost our faith that all would be well.
Yes, hope can sometimes lead to miracles!
Hope. It keeps us ALIVE!
Above: Laura and Paula after the filming of the music video Hope Is. Albert and Paula today.