Our sons and their families are coming home for Christmas. We have grandsons hoping for a snowy Christmas to go sledding, build a snowman, and throw snowballs! One of them hopes that Papa and Gramma will give him a puppy for Christmas. Their hopes are wishes. It’s how the word is used today. Wishes that I sincerely would love to see come true, even the puppy. That’s a story for another time.

When the Bible speaks of hope, the word is never used a wish. It is a promise made on the character and covenant promises of our Heavenly Father. Advent is a season of confident hope. The first Advent, Christ came to save us from our sin. Currently we live on a bridge, so to speak, that spans the distance from the first Advent to the second Advent, when Christ comes again. It is why the Bible calls the anticipation of our Lord’s return the “Blessed Hope!”

This hope influences all of my decisions and shapes my life. When I look at my grandsons and our congregation at church, I know that we have a future. In peace, love, hope, and joy we faithfully and prayerfully plan, work, and build a godly future for our families. It is indeed what God has called us to do. It doesn’t mean that we will not encounter difficulties. We boldly believe that God equips us to overcome them.

The Corona virus may have changed your life, but it has not robbed you of hope! You may have lost someone dear to you, like so many of my friends. Hope in the Lord! “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.” Psalm 130:7

I once read that, “vision is merely hope with a blueprint.” That’s great! Think about the blueprint of your life.

What is the blueprint of your life? What really matters to you? What do you hope for? With whom, what, and where is your confidence? “I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” Philippians 1:10

I wish you a Merry Christmas! Snow and puppies if you want them. I remind you of a certain fact, Christ is coming again! Dream and build a future. Use what God has blessed you with. His return is our blessed hope and confidence for the future.

Peace!