Hope

painting #8 "hope" 3/4/14

Emily Dickinson calls it

 "that thing with feathers that perches in the soul."

And this little bird, he looks like hope to me.

I sent this painting off in the mail yesterday and on the back I wrote these two verses:

Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,"

&

Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

The first verse was mine to that person, the second was the verse that this person had said to me sometime back.

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In Emily's poem she goes on to say, "And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird - That kept so many warm -"

Some days it feels like that little hope bird in my soul has been abashed and yes that storm is sore.  It blows and it rages and it leaves me tattered and torn and wondering what progress am I making? Where is my good?  How can I ever get from here to complete?

Then hope starts singing, his voice no longer hushed by the winds that blow, and his voice is reminiscent of the person who will receive this painting and the tune he sings carries the words of that verse.....

"I am sure of this, I am SURE," 

and the tune gets louder, 

"YES!  He, He who began a good work in you," 

oh the sweetness of his song, 

"I am SURE that He will bring it to completion." 

and on he sings, 

"You will be complete and it will be good and He will bring you there."  

I can feel those wings flutter and stir within a warm and peaceful breeze of assurance, because of that verse that brings hope.  The hope that I am a work in progress and that until the end I will continue progressing. The hope that a good work is being worked in me, has been being worked all along, and it will continue to be worked until the day that Jesus comes.  The hope that the work is indeed good.

Can you hear hope friends, can you hear it singing, or do your storms drown out the song?  The hope song is for you as well, it is a much yours as it is mine.  When the winds start to die down listen, listen, listen for the melody, a good work is being worked in you.  You are loved.  You are deeply loved and it is His love that will bring us to completion. 

*If this little bird helps to bring you hope and reminds you that you are loved then you have my permission to download, print,  or share him via social media, because hope is for everyone.*



holley gerth