October 18, 2018
Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

New International Version (NIV)
                   What should we do when we are sad?  Jeremiah prayed his tears.  In an amazing piece of poetry, he poured out his heart alphabetically for his people.  Each verse of the first two chapters begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Jeremiah’s sorrow seems to know no end as we begin the third chapter.  Then, as so often happens, when we least expect it, hope appears.

                Out of the depths of his depression, Jeremiah remembers the Lord’s love.  He finds his new mercies in the morning.  Then he stops talking about himself and starts talking to God:  Great is your faithfulness!  This is a magnificent moment in Jeremiah’s life.  It can be in ours.

                When you have almost given up, hope will find you.  The disciples on the road to Emmaus were headed home after the death of Jesus.  “We had hoped . . .” they explained to Jesus who joined them in disguise.  Then Jesus reminded them of himself.  When he broke the bread, they recognized him.  Hope returned, and they returned to Jerusalem.  God’s work was not finished.  It had only begun.

                Emily Dickinson wrote my favorite poem about hope:  
“Hope is the thing with feathers 
that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
 Pray with me:  
Father, help us to hold on to your hope today.  Our grip had started to slip.  Now let your hope hold on to us until we can see you again.  Whatever we have stopped doing for you, help us to begin again in hope.  Great is your faithfulness, Lord to us!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.    
  This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
 
Joyfully, 
 
Duane 
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