Wait with HOPE

The Thanksgiving feast is over, family has come and gone, and the house is quiet. The snow is falling lightly outdoors, covering the branches and the blades of grass. And it is warm indoors, and my heart is full of memories to hold close.

It was a taste of heaven to have our family home ... we're not a perfect family, but I taste a portion of perfection when we are all together. There's a sense of completeness; all those I love so deeply are all together in one place. My mother-heart is often scattered across the land - from San Francisco to New York City, down to Dallas, and also in the nearby places where some of our family lives, close by to our home. But to have them all under one roof, close enough to touch and hold close ... this is a taste of heaven. And when they leave, it is hard to let go. Again.

This taste of heaven is a gift, 

and gives a glimpse into a deeper reality. 

We've also been given a glimpse into our future reality, our future home. As we come to know our great Creator God, our Savior, we are given the priceless gift of having His Spirit close by, within us - so close.

As we give our best time to read His Words, and spend precious time communicating deeply with God through prayer, we can sense His Presence with us, deep within us. It's like we are under the same roof with our loving God, close enough to touch and hold close. And we hold those moments close - His Presence so close that we can touch it and hold it. And we long to linger; a taste of heaven. It is often so hard to leave the quiet place where we have pulled aside to listen and learn from Him ... 

And with Advent, this magical season of anticipation and excitement, we are reminded to pull close, very close, to focus intently on what we are made for ... for JESUS, "God with us", and for our future home - with Him. Where there will never be any more good-byes, no more times of letting go, no more longings. For we will have our deepest longings fulfilled. We will be completely complete. No more sin, no more struggling to keep our focus on what is best - but close, so close to our Creator and our Savior, forever. 

One day we will always be home, 

together with our Maker.

And today, in the here and now, 

we live with HOPE. 

 "But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day 

when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay."

(Romans 8:20b-21 NLT)

"And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit 

within us as a foretaste of future glory, 

for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. 

We, too, wait with eager hope for the day 

when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children ..." 

(Romans 8:23 NLT)

- - - - - - -

Thank You, loving Lord, for the HOPE You give ... 

for the warmth and love of family, 

for Your Spirit within ...

all precious glimpses, offerings of Hope,

as we wait for our true Home, with You.

And as we wait, may we be faithful and wise,

focusing on the things of most importance.

May we fill our hearts and minds with You,

and may we love and pray for our families, and for others ~

that they, too, will be given the priceless gift 

of Hope for their future Home, with You.