Hope literally means to have a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, grounds for believing that something good may happen. A sense or a feeling of trust. In this uncertain world , each one of us looks daily for this sense of expectation, or trust that something good is going to come our way, if we do not ever expect anything , our lives may feel empty. Everyone of us have different ways or means whereby we may fill our void of expectation, responsibilities at work, expectations from others in our lives, business as usual with everyday life, sharing with friends, loved ones, filling that space of hope. It’s all useful, rewarding at times , yet some people may find themselves unable to hope even given all the methods to fill the void of expectation. Lonely in a room full of friends or a place full of responsibilities. Today I awoke saying to myself , “It’s a beautiful day to hope!”I believe we choose daily to hope , choose daily to have an expectation that something good may come our way, choose daily to trust in a better way , it’s a choice that we make daily.Hope is our daily lifeline, we may choose to say “this is a day I choose to hope,” or “I choose to have no expectations at all, no hope at all.” Granted we all continue to be uncertain about the outcome of each choice, but I believe looking to hope daily will help us to continue to reach out and receive all that life has to offer. This is a beautiful day for me to hope-of course the choice is yours.

As we celebrate this Easter

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus-” this certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God Himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from His position as our High Priest, with the honor and rank of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19-20. This Melchizedek’s name means justice. Our savior came so that we all may be set free, receive forgiveness of our sins, receive justice, salvation and that all may receive a new body one day, not because we deserve it but because He chose to take up His cross and take on all the sins of the world. He died, He arose again to life- so that all who receive Him as Lord and savior, will also have everlasting life. That is truly why we celebrate Easter. He is love and He wants love to always prevail among all families, friends and churches. I pray that your Easter is filled with the love of Christ and that you grow to know Him as your risen savior!!!

Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the Earth?

“Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and caused the dawn rise in the East? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness?” Job 38:13 In Contemporary English Job 36:30″And when God sends lightning it can be seen at the bottom of the sea.” That is a very amazing thought that at the farthest depths of the sea God’s creative work from heaven may be seen. We can not comprehend the greatness of His power or His majesty. It’s overwhelming , to think that all of us are of the greatest importance to Him and our every need , heavy upon His heart as a concern to Him. These are the things that I ponder about as I gaze into the heavens , or sit by the water and watch the seagulls play in the wind.  He sees everything, your every need is important to Him. Just ask Him to help you with your every day needs!

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Enjoy your friends and families- we have so little time on our journeys here! I love the song ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth, and let it begin with me….’I am thankful that Christ was born so that we may have peace, healing, deliverance and most of all salvation! When we think we have no choices, God is the God of restoration and peace! Have yourselves a Merry little Christmas and a  Happy New Year !!!!

I love Christmas!

What I love about living on the lake-at Christmas- is that it always feels like you are home. Some people take retreats to stay in a place like this, it does not feel like you are home, some people love that part!

Even on a fierce day, with winds howling, the lake view is always there, the fire warms the room- this lake is too big to freeze.

I love the Christmas tree! One story tells (modern story) was developed in medieval Livonia (present day Estonia and Latvia), and early modern Germany brought decorated trees into their homes, and with the Baltic countries during the second half of the 19th century, at first among the upper classes. Early trees were first decorated with “roses made of colored paper, apples, wafers, tinsel, and sweetmeats.” In the 18th century it began to be illuminated by candles  which were ultimately replaced by lights. Stories are widespread and vary from culture to culture.

I love to decorate a tree and enjoy the feeling of home it renders when it’s all aglow, and all other lights are off. That peaceful setting speaks again, of home to me.  Wherever your heart may be , you can call it home, wherever you can feel the sense of comfort and peace, you can surely call that home. I believe that the peace that fills my heart at Christmastime and always, is the Prince of Peace. No other person, place or thing can put peace in my heart but Jesus; the babe who was born so that I may have this peace and assurance of my life being an eternal one. As a counselor, what messes so many people up at this wonderful time of year, is pain. Pain of the past , pain of lost loved ones, the pain of rejection of others, sometimes just pain that never was healed from childhood . But the place where all those things can not matter anymore to me, is the place of peace in my heart that brings me above all other things and gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling of home. May you find Jesus this holiday season, He came to this earth to bring peace, and He died so that you might live! Merry Christmas everyone!