Hope Dealer

It only takes a little bit of hope to turn things around. Some say I encourage them, and I hope that’s true. We all need encouragement and hope for the future, and those vital things seem in short supply these days. I pray the words I share from my perspective of the messy middle of life meet you right where you are and help you find and connect to God’s grace.

I’ve been moving states over the past few weeks and have to search harder than usual to find the joy in each day. I’ve had a few disappointments, days full of frustration, and setbacks caused by the lack of caring by others. But I know without a doubt good things can be found. My grandchildren are one such a bright spot in my life. The pink carnations and thoughtful treats my husband brought me last night were a welcome surprise and helped me feel at home even though I didn’t yet have a home here in my new state.

What we might think of as a small gesture to encourage someone might not be so small to the one needing the encouragement. Last night, for example, I was nearly at the end of my patience rope when my husband blessed me. I needed the encouragement he offered. Those flowers represented hope to me.

Today is a day Christians celebrate the One who is Hope—Jesus. I’m celebrating with my son and his family, along with some doughnuts and coffee, right in the middle of the mess following my move. Yes, I moved into my new home this week! Life is full of ups and downs, with grace at the center of it all—because of Jesus. I deal out encouragement and hope with my words—written, spoken, and sung— because it’s my gift, and I know how important it is to receive those things. But Jesus is the best hope dealer of them all. You can always count on Him.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9

And his name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21

These photos were taken during my move to my new home state of Arizona! I am beyond excited to be back in Arizona as I lived here several years ago, and it is my favorite place to live.

Jesus has begun a new thing in my life, and I am here for it!

I plan to return to my regular writing schedule soon, including recording audio of my posts (in my voice for my paid subscribers) each Sunday. First, I need to open a few hundred boxes. You can always connect with me in the Substack app as well.