“Hope is the silver shaft of sun breaking through the storm-darkened sky, words of comfort in the intensive care unit, the first spring bird perched on a snow-covered twig, and the finish line in sight. It is a rainbow, a song, a loving touch. Hope is knowing God and resting in His love.”
~ NLT Life Application Study Bible: Zephaniah introduction
We Have a Living Hope
So many are feeling hopeless and seeking for hope that I’m not surprised that the two posts read the most this month are about the hope that is still alive for us.
🦋 Hope is Still Alive Because Jesus Lives!
🦋 How the Sand Dollar Points to Hope, Love, and Peace
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy He has given us new birth
into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3
God’s Whispers of Love
Are your hearts sometimes sinking in the mire of despair?
Are you feeling forsaken by God?
God whispered this to my heart and He is whispering it to all of us!
(Is Life’s Journey Too Great For You?)
My precious child,
I’m still the same God today.
I was there for Elijah
And I am here for you.
Arise and eat, My child.
The journey is too great for you.
Eat the manna of My love
Drink My life-giving water
Relax in the arms of My grace,
My power and My will.
And you will find rest
For mind, body, and soul.
I hold you, My child,
In the arms of My everlasting love,
No lies can snatch you away from Me.
You are safe with Me.
Marvelously made and enough.
Ssshhh…
Be still, My child, be still.
Be encouraged
You don’t have to journey alone.
Rest in My Truth,
And I will refresh your weary soul.
Nature Retreat
” I love to think of nature
as an unlimited broadcasting station,
through which God speaks to us
every hour, if we will only tune in.”
~ George Washington Carver ~
I was looking through Shutterfly at some old photos and found ones from our 2013 trip to the Black Hills. Such beautiful views bring back memorable quiet moments of awe. It’s a comfort to know that the same God who has such power to create such beauty will also take care of us. 🙂
Freed to Fly 
Your April Hope blog filled my heart with joy today, Trudy. God’s greatness and love for us reveals new wonders to us every day, if we have eyes to see!
Blessings, my friend!
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Oh, I’m so glad your heart is filled with joy, Martha. Yes, God’s greatness and love for us reveals new wonders to us every day! May our eyes and hearts open wide to see them! Blessings to you, too, my friend!
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Thank you Trudy! Your posts are always a breath of fresh air to my soul! I needed to hear these words!!
Xo
Susie
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We so need those breaths of fresh air, don’t we, Susie? Your poems and art work breathe fresh air to my soul, too! XO back to you! May our hearts continually be refreshed and strengthened with God’s love and grace to us!
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Oh Trudy, your shared prayer whisper is touching my heart so deeply today. I was diagnosed with Shingles last week, and on top of my other pain, it’s so easy to get discouraged! But He has found such precious ways, each day since then, to renew HIS hope inside of me. Thank you for being one of those ways today. Blessings, love, and gentle hugs dear sister. 🤗
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Oh Bettie, I’m so sorry you’re afflicted with shingles. I know that can be extremely painful. I can understand how easy it is to get discouraged. In my human thoughts as a friend, I ask God, “Why, Lord? Doesn’t she have enough pain to deal with in her life?” But when I think of our faithful God, I know you are still in His everlasting arms of love and grace. I’m so grateful He is renewing HIS hope inside of you each day. Blessings, love, and gentle hugs to you, too, my friend! May we cling to His immovable Truth and rest in His precious love!
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Oh, Betty! I am so sorry to hear about the shingles diagnosis. I pray that by now (May 7th) you are on the mend, that the medications doctors can provide these days have already worked God- enhanced wonders!
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I always love your encouraging words and your beautiful photos, Trudy. This really speaks to me:
“Be still, My child, be still.
Be encouraged
You don’t have to journey alone.
Rest in My Truth,
And I will refresh your weary soul.”
Thank you and blessings to you, sweet friend!
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I’m so grateful God spoke to you, too, through this prayer whisper, Lisa. I was looking at past posts and came across it from two years ago and God spoke it again to my heart. Resting in HIS Truth is so important, isn’t it? That negative self-talk can be so strong sometimes. Blessings to you, too, my friend! May God give us grace to grasp HIS Truth and His Presence with us!
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Oh Trudy, the truth God whispered to you is so precious. And your photos of the Black Hills are absolutely breath-taking! Thank you for reminding us of the hope that is alive within us because of Jesus. Love and hugs to you, my friend.
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I’m so glad you were encouraged, Lois. We so need God’s truth to ground us, don’t we? May we rest in knowing that He that is within us is infinitely greater than anything around us! Love and hugs to you, too, my friend!
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Thank you for reminding me of the beautiful hope that is only from and of God. Too much going on some days makes me forget! Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos of the Black Hills area. I have not been there since I was a girl.
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It’s so easy to forget, isn’t it, Linda? I need to remind myself of it, too. The Black Hills truly are beautiful reminders of God’s beauty and power. May we rest in in God’s unconditional love and endless patience!
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Awww, Trudy, beautiful post. Your photos caused me to breathe deep of the beauty you saw while in the Black Hills. I’m so glad you shared. Now, I want to visit there! 🙂 Thank you for the reminder that God is always with us, holding us, protecting us, loving us. Such timeless truths to ponder. Sending you love and hugs, my friend.
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I know I can say the same for your photos, Jeanne. You live in beautiful Colorado and I enjoy your photos so much. “God is always with us, holding us, protecting us, loving us.” Yes, timeless truths to remember! May God give us grace to cling to them every moment of this journey on earth! Sending love and hugs back to you, my friend!
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Trudy, what a beautifully serene post! Yes, I too find so many who are grasping for hope in our chaotic, upside-down world. Surely Jesus is coming soon, as we see the signs all around us! The closer we get to His coming, the more people are going to need us and turn to us for the hope that lies within us, an anchor to our souls. May the Lord richly bless you today, my friend.
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Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly! I long more and more for His coming, Cheryl. Thank you for your important reminder – “The closer we get to His coming, the more people are going to need us and turn to us for the hope that lies within us, an anchor to our souls.” So true. May the Lord richly bless you, too, my friend. And may He be an Anchor of Hope for us and for so many who are needing Him!
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This is truly refreshing! Thanks for sharing.
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It warms my heart that you found this refreshing, Adelheid. 🙂 May God’s refreshing love fill our hearts and give us strength for the journey!
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Amen!
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Thank you for your beautiful, uplifting words, Trudy, drawing attention to the hope that God gives (Jeremiah 29:11)–an overwhelming gift, yet graciously provided out of his love for us. Hallelujah!
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Yes, “the hope that God gives!” Thank you, Nancy. May we open our hearts wide to receive His priceless gift of hope and love!
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Thank you Nancy for your dear comfort & prayers! Yes, I am finally feeling some relief, slowly but surely! Thank God for His grace all along the way!
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I’m so glad you’re feeling some relief, Bettie. Yes, thank God for His grace!
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I love the George quote you shared! Nature is an “unlimited broadcast station.” That makes perfect sense, too, as we can’t put limits on what God can do. And your pictures are lovely! I haven’t been out to take photos lately as I’ve been busy with work, and a school course, and just life things. I sure miss it though, and can wonder if I have been distracted, instead of following God’s direction. But I am encouraged and inspired by your photos, and the scriptures you have shared. Thank you!
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I love how you point out the “unlimited,” Lynn. That we can’t put limits on what God can do. That’s such a comforting truth. Thank you. I do miss your hope-breathing photos and posts, but we can only do what we can, right? One step at a time. I’m certain you are making a difference right where you are. May we cling to God’s truth and allow Him to lead us wherever we are planted!
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Thank you for the way you always remind us of hope, Trudy! This is such a lovely, encouraging post. I loved reading the “God’s whispers of love” section and the photos of the Black Hills are amazing!
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I’m so glad you found hope and encouragement here, Lesley. God’s grace and provision in this difficult journey of life is so amazing, isn’t it? May we open our hearts wide to receive the manna of His love and His life-giving water!
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Beautiful post, Trudy! Hope is my one word for this year, and I love reading about it. There is so much in scripture showing us that our hope is sure, because of Christ. Love and blessings to you! xo
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Hope is such a great one word, Gayl. Yes, there is much in Scripture showing us our hope is sure, because of Christ. So comforting, isn’t it? Love and blessings to you, too! May we always set our hope on Jesus and His unconditional love and infinite grace!
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HOPE is such a beautiful word … therein lies our peace, our anticipation, our God.
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AMEN! Yes, Linda. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19) May we cling fast to the hope there is in Jesus, a hope that can never be taken away no matter what is happening in our lives and in the world!
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