12.27.2016

Believe In Hope

This week I went with my family to visit an amazing celebration of lights in Colton, Oregon. Beautiful lights glittered over several properties, families out of the kindness of their hearts served complimentary cookies and hot chocolate. As I walked around, I was immediately grabbed by the theme of the festivities: Believe in Hope. 

As I think about it, I feel that Christmas and New Years are near each other for a bigger purpose than just vacations lining up. New Years is a time full of hope. Hope for change, blessings, renewal.
The gift of Jesus and fulfilling of God's promises at Christmas give us assurance of that hope. Because of Jesus, we can believe in hope.
Do you have hopes for this new year that you are afraid to believe in? What are you dreaming about that feels too passionate to let your heart invest in? Is there a deep desire in your heart for the near future that you are afraid to admit? Hope for change, for growth, for healing, for providence, for forgiveness and love?
Through Jesus we can boldly hope for these things. He is for us.
He knows our hearts and our desires. His love for us is so big. This year, I encourage you to boldly hope. We know the one who our hope is in, and we know he is worthy of trust. If your hope is not realized, it is because God has something even better planned. And you can hope in that.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1
As we draw near the Father and experience his great love for us, may we feel the freedom to live with blessed assurance and expectation. 
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. -2 Thessalonians 2:16
The celebration of lights invited guests to write down hopes on tags and hang them on Christmas trees. It was poignant to see these hopes shared boldly and vulnerably.
 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -Romans 15:13 
As we look toward the new year, may the unknown path be lit by the joy and promise in Jesus Christ, who invites us to boldly hope in Him.

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2 comments:

  1. Unknown9:52 AM, December 27, 2016

    How beautiful is that Hope Tree...in so many ways. I read somewhere last week that there were 400 years between the last Old Testament prophets and the New Testament, when God spoke to Zechariah and the people were just waiting, hoping and longing for a Savior. God works in mysterious ways and I love how you said when He doesn't give us what we hope for it's usually because He has something better... Amen Kelsey! ♥

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  2. Heather Hart7:04 AM, January 04, 2017

    Love, love, love your hope tree!! What an awesome idea.

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