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One Year of Hope

I drive a good bit to work every morning, and it is always a good time alone. However, having good music on the radio is always hard to find, so I ordered two CDs that I thought would be good listens. One was the new Stephen Curtis Chapman CD, and it blew me away. He put to song his grief. It was real, and I felt like he was singing so many of my feelings. The lyrics written here are from the song "Beauty in the Morning". It is late, and I am tired but I had to go ahead and write my heart. Since July I have had the book One Year of Hope by Nancy Guthrie, and I have not gotten up the courage to deal with the deepest wounds left by my grief. After reading the intro in July I just didn't think that I was ready, yet, lately I have been feeling like God has been calling me to go through this study on the blog. And on the last song of Stephen Curtis Chapman's CD, he talks about how long ago a seed was planted so that, although our world is hardening now, God will use what we know to give us spring again. This is the time it must begin. I can't tell you what to expect, but I want to invite all of the many of you to go through this as a group. We can leave each post for discussion. There are so many of us suffering in different ways that I want to remind you that you are not alone, and together let's be reminded of God's promises and through them the Hope that He gives us. I plan to begin on February 6th, which would mark 18 months to the day that God brought Magdalena into this earth. Nancy writes in the beginning of the book that the readings can be done daily or all at once. Once we get started we can see what works best.
Beauty will Rise
It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left
behind

But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
we have this hope:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,
and if you can't believe I will believe
for you.

Cuz I have seen
the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...

I can hear it in the distance
and it's not too far away.
It's the music and the laughter
of a wedding and a feast.
I can almost feel the hand of God
reaching for my face
to wipe the tears away, and say,
"It's time to make everything new."

Comments

  1. I would love to go through this study. It sounds like something for all of us, no matter what circumstances we are facing.
    Also very excited to hear of your hankie ministry!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8:13 AM

    YES! I want to do it! I let someone borrow my book but I have been thinking about just buying another one! I need to call the bookstore today! I can't wait! I need it! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have always admired the way you use your blog to minister... What a great step!

    ReplyDelete

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