{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #1, Hope

First, let me say how excited I am to get started on our new challenge for 2010! We have so many new participants this year, and I am very excited to see where the Lord leads each of us and how He grows us as we study! Welcome to each of you new and continuing participants alike!!!

Challenge Word #1: Hope

As I began looking at what we would study today, I could not believe that we had not looked at this word in our 2008 study! What exactly is hope? It's a word we seem to throw around a lot but what is it really? Well, Vine's Concise Dictionary says it is a "favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen future."

As Christians, we have hope in Christ. We have hope in the resurrection. What are you hoping for? Are you hoping for a better 2010 than a 2009? Maybe you had some difficult trials last year? Maybe you even felt hopeless at times, or maybe even today you are weary and you feel like you have no where to turn. Well, I am here to tell you that just as God has provided for you in the past, He will do the same today and in the year to come. Look back at those trials. Can you see His provision and blessings? You can trust that He is able and He will provide. God is our hope for the future and in all situations. Are you looking to Him or focusing on the difficulty?

In November 2009, my husband became very ill, and he was hospitalized on Nov. 9th. I had been up for 26 hours with him in the ER and then getting him settled in a hospital room. Around 5 a.m. on Nov. 10th, I drove home to take a shower, feed the pets, and then I returned to the hospital 3 hours later. As I drove back to the hospital, there was a gorgeous cloud formation in the sky. As I looked at it, God whispered to me the word “hope.” I clung to that word for the next 3 weeks. I had hope that God would heal him. I had hope that God would sustain me through this trial. I had hope that He would use this for His glory.

One day during those 3 weeks, I fell to my knees in tears, and in a loud voice I asked God if He would just allow my husband to wake up one morning and tell me that he was fine and that he would be okay. Then on the morning of Dec. 1st (exactly 3 weeks after God whispered 'hope' to me), my husband woke up and said to me “Honey, I have hope.” My husband never knew what the Lord whispered to me in the early morning hours of Nov. 10th. But that was a sign that his true recovery would begin. God not only answered my prayer in a mighty way but He used His precious hope to sustain me, to show me He is there with me, and that He is good in all things—even in those difficult times. Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I was filled with complete trust in Him during that trial. I was completely filled with His hope, and that is what sustained me.

Gien Korssen said "There is Someone who cares about us, who watches closely for each individual: God! Through Him we can find rest in spite of the catastrophes that harass the world. He offers us a place to stand, and hope, even in an apparently lost world. He offers a new beginning to those of us who return to Him." God's strength, hope, and power are available to those who trust in Him. Ask God to give you a renewed hope in Him! He will answer in a mighty way!

Today for my 6x6 page, I used Making Memories papers and the new release stamp set from Layers of Color--Rise and Shine. The sunshine stamp was perfect for this page because it reminds me of the cloud formation God gave me that morning of November 1oth. I also used Sketch #166 from Pencil Lines for fun! Papers: Making Memories Vintage Findings, Strathmore Watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Rise and Shine, JustRite 100 Year Dater
Stamp Ink: SU creamy caramel, Ranger Adirondack lemonade
Embellishments: Basic Grey Offbeat buttons, Distress Stickles spiced marmalade, Basic Grey white chocolate chip micro-chip alphas, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers), hemp from Hobby Lobby, DMC floss
Sketch Used: Pencil Lines #166

The scriptures that were meaningful to me for today's study are:
Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. It will be easier for people to find your work if you use our keyword. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. I hope it works as this is the first time I have tried to use it. Eeek!

And remember, you can find all studies in this post here. You may want to bookmark it for easy reference. As you study, remember He provides hope in times of difficulty, sadness, etc. Will you turn to Him and put your hope in Him? Have a blessed day, and enjoy your time in His word. Blessings,