Many years ago, as we were looking for pan dot build a house near our first church, we came across a raccoon that was caught in a leg trap.  The raccoon stared at us with no fear or comprehension only resignation that this was the end.  That raccoon was without hope.  I saw the same look in the eyes of an 18 year old who was in the middle of a year long hospitalization for depression a few years later.  He did not speak to me, only stared, with eyes without hope.  He was wrong… there was hope and it took the help of a caring community and the realization that God and others , loved him to open his yes to the hopefulness that comes in trusting God.  It seems we humans can live without the feeling of love, or peace and belonging.  Our lives are better with all of those but we do  not live at all without hope.  Jesus’ coming gives us hope in all situations for He promised to always be with us and through the Holy Spirit to remind us of the Love of the Father who made us all.  Those in Christ are filled with hope.  Fill up today with Jesus, with hope.  Read Psalm 147:11 and Romans 5:1-5 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Pastor Ed