PERSECUTION

     Not sure I need to add anything to this image. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters needing strength to endure persecution. Keep them uppermost in our thoughts and prayers daily.

THE GIFT OF HOPE

     According to Merriam Webster, the definition of hope: to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.

     What did our God, our Father do to give all of us what should be life-altering, ground-shaking, head-turning, eye-popping hope?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

     Then he added another earth and heaven shaking event to put an exclamation mark on that hope - just as was foretold in Scripture.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all apostles, last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)

     Say it: I have hope and faith with that hope that it all happened just as Paul states. Also, have faith that the gift of hope God offers to us gives us confidence in Jesus' resurrection which remains paramount to our faith. Then go forth spreading the Good News and God's infinite love.