Friday, July 10, 2015

Hope: Five Minute Friday

Another week, another chance to write on a one-word prompt for only five minutes. We set timers, type quickly, and let it flow without criticism. Then, we link-up our posts so we can read others' posts and they read ours and we have a community that grows from one word each week.
Five Minute Friday.

Go!


As soon as I saw the word "Hope", I heard a song in my head. (Last week's post on "favorite" told you that music is my favorite thing of all, so this should be no surprise.)


Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!


Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain




This was always my "reset". Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. God gives me just enough strength for today. And tomorrow? Not guaranteed. Some people are going home before Jesus comes back.

You see, we are in an ever-changing world, and sometimes we just want something we can cling to that steadies us. That something is the Rock of our Salvation. God. His Son, Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit that indwells us and brings revelation through His Word, the Bible.

All we need, God has provided. Pardon for sin and a peace that endures. His own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

If this is the recipe for contentment, I'm going to be taking three servings a day (with some snacks beside)! We have hope that in the midst of the darkness, that there is a light. Sometimes we can't see the light because God is using US to be that light, and we're the only one. It's lonely. But if He puts us there, it's because He will be glorified.
It's all about God getting glory and His Name being exalted and when we're really living in that place? We have that peace and hope that He's got the whole world in His hands.

~Tammy


17 comments:

  1. Tammy, God does indeed have the world in his hands. That hymn is one of my absolute favorites. I love music too (even though I can't carry a tune at all). Loved this post!! I'm parked in the #9 spot this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara,
      so glad to see you! I tried to tag about three different prompts that all tied in as I was typing. This was such a fun one this week. And truly? I have been so encouraged reading the posts of everyone else!
      Love you, sister!
      ~Tammy

      Delete
  2. Of course! Why didn't I think of that?! Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, I've always, ALWAYS loved that phrase. My daughter solos this song with her ministry group, Heartsong as they travel all over the country to different camps this summer. It has always been one of my favorites.
    You have the recipe for hope well laid out here, lady!
    Christ, the Word, and the indwelling Holy Spirit are our hope.
    Thanks for stopping by today, as you can tell, I went for the lighter side of things, but I surely appreciate this message today!
    {hugs}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ruthie,
      I'm so glad you love this hymn as well. Thank you for your compliments on my recipe. We both know it's not mine but I'm glad to share it. Ha ha, FMF Party is spiritual Pinterest, yes?
      I loved your lighter side of things. I can be way too serious and needed a joyful post!
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  3. What a great reminder that God IS faithful to us! It's so easy to forget sometimes when we're overwhelmed with life, but He never forgets about us and is always there to love and protect us if we will just ask!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I also enjoyed reading your post. And how glad I am that He is faithful. There are so many things we once found hope in that are crumbling now. :)
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  4. I am a FMF neighbour. What a great post. :) Loved that emphasis on strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annette,
      thank you. Oh and how we need His strength and His hope! :) Can't wait to visit you as well.
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
    2. Well I found you and realized I'd already visited! :) It was still fun to read your post again. It's so sad when people get tripped up by perfection or legalism. I've been victim to it myself, but God is breaking chains. Thank you again for sharing your heart!
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  5. blessings be upon you sweet encourager.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Denise. :)
      Praying for strength for you and Eddie!
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  6. "Sometimes we can't see the light because God is using US to be that light"...

    selah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Tondra.
      :) So good to hear from you again!! I really enjoyed your poem, too.
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  7. I'm visiting from Five Minute Friday! So much hope connected to that song, and so much joy fulfilled. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean,
      thank you! :) My middle name is Jean, so I'm immediately fond of anyone who shares that name.
      I also really enjoyed your post. Thank you for visiting!!
      Love,
      Tammy

      Delete
  8. What a lovely post - and a wonderful song!

    If it's OK, I will offer my 'reset'; under the present situation, it helps stiffen my backbone for what must be faced in the next hour, the next day - I still have a job to do, and don't want to shirk from it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2j7R1NL-s

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew,
      of course it's okay. Hans Zimmer is a very talented composer. His music moves me, and I'm sure you as well.
      I appreciate, though I cannot comprehend, the sacrifices our soldiers have made and continue to make. I had contemplated ROTC to pay for college and my father talked me out of it. "I'll sell the house before I let my daughter join the army." (So I went to my second choice with a full-tuition scholarship.) Two years later, our nation was attacked in September. I would have been an army officer in 2003 or 2004. Right in the middle of it.
      God spared me the horrors of what would have been a deployment for sure.
      I salute you and cheer you on in your job that must be done, you faithful one.
      And, as a soldier in the Lord's army, I pray for you for strength to carry on the good fight.
      ~Tammy

      Delete