Quote of the Week

One of the most important effects of the study of a subject should be the development of a spirit of inquiry. The ability to ask real questions is more useful than the capacity to answer simple ones.

1 Corinthians 13 Inspiration

Love always hopes....

Hope is the opposite of despair.  Despair is a feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out right.  Ever been there? 

I have a confession to make.  When I'm in the worst depths of my PMS, despair is the word that most describes my attitude.  "Poor pitiful me.  Everyone is against me.  No one helps me.  The weight of the world is on my shoulders."  Yes, I noticed a theme there, too.  "Me."  Shameful, I know.  I'm praying about and working through replacing my despair during those times with hope.  Here are some of the verses I've been clinging to:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God. 

Psalm 42:11

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. 

Psalm 62:5

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put hope in your Word.

Psalm 119:114

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. 

Lamentations 3:25

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

For everything that was written in the past was to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:23

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. 

Titus 2:11-14

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. 

Romans 5:1-5

May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13