Showing posts with label rainbow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rainbow. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Listen to the Whisper of God!

It’s the end of another year and so many thoughts go swirling through our minds. For many, it has been a difficult year – job loss, loss of friends, loss of a home, loss of health, and possibly one of the most lasting losses of all – the loss of a child. For some there will be no celebration at the end of the year – only a lot of tears for those dreams that were stolen away so unexpectedly.

How does a person move on? How can a person move into the New Year with joy when so much sorrow surrounds the heart? It’s not easy, but it helps to remind yourself often that you are never, ever alone in your pain. There are times when we feel alone, but the truth is that we are surrounded by hope and it is there for us whenever we call out for help.

Look at nature in any season and be reminded of the One who is in charge. Look at the majesty of the starry sky at night and know that you are counted among the stars. Listen to the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees and hear the whisper of God letting you know He is by your side. Look for the rainbow painting the sky and be assured that you have not been forgotten. Remind yourself often that hope is stronger than your pain! –Clara Hinton

“For every tear you cry, there is a seed of hope being watered.” --Clara Hinton

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me.” --Psalm 61:a

Monday, January 29, 2007

Hope is Alive!

Today is a brand new day, yet when our hearts are hurting nothing seems to feel right. The thrill of unwrapping the gifts of a new day isn’t there, and our hearts seem to fill with only loneliness and pain. We are left wondering when we will get our enthusiasm back for life. When will our joy return? When will we be filled with a song in our heart?

Grief is a hard word to say, and it is even more difficult to understand. When grief knocks on the door of our heart we know it is there because we can feel the raw pain that so suddenly overtook us. However, grief leaves us very slowly and we often don’t realize that our unwelcome guest is inching its way out of the door of our heart until is has been replaced by the wonderful blessing of hope.

Every time we look at a butterfly or the colors of a rainbow, we take one step closer to hope. Each time we feel the warmth of the sunshine upon our face, we grow closer to recognizing the miracle of a brand new day. For every flower that we see bloom, we push aside one sad thought and allow space for a bright, new thought of hope to visit our heart.

Grief is a difficult journey, but we have not been left alone. God has placed his signature of hope in the morning sky, in the twinkling of the evening stars, and in every soft whisper of the wind He has given us the assurance of His love by showing us all of His creation. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. His tender care will carry us through every dark valley into the green pastures where we will find rest and replenishment.

Hope is alive, and every day we are receiving the gift of hope. One day we will wake up with a song on our heart and we will know for sure that hope has arrived! --Clara Hinton

“When I look to the heavens my heart remembers that God is a mighty God, and He loves me forever.” --Clara Hinton

“I have written your name on my hand.” --Isaiah 49:16