night divine...

Oh...

HOLY...
Night!

The...
Stars...

Brightly shining.

It is the night...
Of our Dear...

SAVIORS BIRTH...

Thank you, Father...
For giving us your Son.

And leaving your Spirit until...
Your work on earth is done.

Oh...
Night Divine!

Merry Christmas Eve!
Much love,

The Hopefuls.

sabbath...

Sabbath...

A day for offering...

Gifts from the heart...

Stopping in the midst of the season...

To articulate...

Our gratitude...

For all our blessings.

A day set aside...

To show up...

With our...

Tithes...

Offerings...

Songs...

Minds...

Hearts...

Affection...

All our best...

For The One worthy of it ALL.

May your Sabbath be still and full of awe.

May you offer The Sacrificial Lamb...

Your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Blessings,

The Hopefuls

special...

It's special being loved...

Counted worthy...

To receive extravagant gifts.

It's special to be...

Entrusted with jewels...

That in all honesty...
We are too small to properly steward...

But the one who draws us...
Is a Lavishing One...
Joyfully giving His heirs...
FULL access to His riches.

Today...
My heart is overcome...

By The God we serve.
He is so very good.
Withholding nothing...
He delights in giving His best away...
So that our stories...
Might be adorned...
With inexplainable riches.

Oh...

It is so special...

For this growing heart...

To be loved by The King.

So thankful.

piled in...

This season...
When the wind blows fierce...
And beauty flies...
Decorating the earth with purity...

The cold...

Requires new uniforms... 

Coupled with new forms of gathering.

"Baby it's cold outside..."

A hard song for this playful heart to hear...

It can be difficult watching season's gifts from the inside...

Waiting.

But Joy always returns...

Filling our insides with warmth...

Especially when we're all piled in together.

Praying you're warm and cozy today...

Surrounded by the beauty of the season...

Piled in with those you love right at your side.

best tool...

Lately...

I am seeing...

The best tool...

To keep...

Myself from becoming unglued...

The best tool for...

Stopping my heart...
From developing...

 A...

"Grinch-like" spirit...

Is to shift my focus...
From the daily darkness...
Back...
Onto The light...
That came...
Not just to illuminate the world...

But my very countenance.

So that in the midst...
Of beholding that which attempts to steal joy...
His light can shine through.

Thankful for The God that pursues us in all forms...
Always using the best tool...

His Radical love.

extra...

On tired...
Cloudy days of the heart...
It's healthy to remember...
Those with larger aches.

Today...
I am extra thankful...
For shared playfulness...

Daughter-friends...

Tucked in close...

Embracing arms all around...

And ALL my silly monkeys...
Feasting around our table tonight.

Extra...
Extra...
Thankful...
And praying for those needing EXTRA presence this Advent Season.

more light...

In a world...
FULL of tough equations...

Loving teachers are strategically placed...
In our stories...
So that we might better learn...
How to make sense...
Of all the fragmented pieces..

Bringing our focus...
Back to The Trinity glow...

The Light that makes ALL divided pieces...
Whole!

As our eyes stay fixed...
On the 3 in 1...

We are better able...
To help ignite the dark spaces...
With His perfect light.

Asking for MORE LIGHT this Advent Season...
Especially for those struggling...
With brokenness.