From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage@juno.com>
Subject: Greetings to All
Date: Sunday, March 17, 2002 8:46 AM

The Lord is our hope!

"Remember the word to Your servant,
 Upon which You have caused me to hope..."  Psalm 119:49

With all that face us each day it is to Your word that we cling, it is
that which quickens us. Let's look at some verses of Scripture that
tells us of the spiritual hope that we have and its affects.
"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out
within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Romans 5:5

It was spiritual hope that enabled Abraham to become the father of those who
would believe,
"In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, in order that he might become a
father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, 'So shall your
decendants be.'"  Romans 4:18

The Scriptures are a source of this hope,
"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,
that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope."  Romans 15:4

Believers are to be prepared to give testamony to this hope we have in us,
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready to make a
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in
you..."  1 Peter 3:15

Spiritual hope inspires the Believer unto purity,
"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as
He is pure."  1 John 3:3

Our hope is an eternal hope that anticipates Christ's coming:
"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior, Christ Jesus."  Titus 2:13

An eternal hope that is a sure anchor for the soul of the Believer,
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and
steadfast and one which enters within the veil."  Hebrews 6:19

Gloriously this hope is grounded in the resurrection of our Savior,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to
His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  1 Peter 1:3

As the song says,  "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His
righteousness..."  Hope and comfort is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord!
So with grateful and joyful hearts we say thank you!
And together let us glorify the Lord with songs of praise for He is worthy,
oh so worthy, of all honor and praise now and forever.