Sunday Dinner: A Hope and a Future

Some of my best writing is done on napkins. These little notes tucked into my daughters' lunchboxes are my way to give them a mid-day hug in the school lunchroom. School starts tomorrow and I've just finished inscribing pep-talks on paper products.

I'll never forget the first day of school last year. Olivia was starting 7th grade and I wasn't sure if she had outgrown the whole note from mommy on a napkin thing. She was about to grab her lunchbox off the kitchen counter as we were heading out the door. I hadn't yet zipped it up and out of the corner of my eye I saw her open her lunchbox, flip part of the napkin over, and take a quick peek to see if I had written on it. I saw the corners of her mouth turn up into a smile showing me that she still appreciated the paper poetry. My heart rejoiced as I realized she'd never outgrow needing words of encouragement.

Do you ever feel like sometimes God writes on your napkin and when you least expect it, you find it in your lunchbox? There have been many times that I've felt that a scripture was written just for me.

This week's Sunday dinner scripture is a verse that is very special to me (I'll share that story later). I wrote this verse on my girls' napkins tonight along with some other words to start the school year.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

This scripture brings such peace--just hearing that He has plans to give us a hope and a future. I look at my children and claim this verse for their lives. As a parent, I want so badly to make the plans and know the plans for my children's lives. But, praise God, that He makes the plans and, oh, His plans are so much better than anything I could have dreamed up.

This week's dessert of song is a sweet one called "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets. It's the perfect back-to-school song. I just might need to jot some of these lyrics on a napkin.

This week, may you get a glimpse of God's plan for you to have a hope and a future!

More Than Lots,
Kathie

Sunday Dinner: Romans 12:12, 15:13/"Our Hope Endures"

Some weeks my "Sunday dinner" becomes a midnight snack. And other weeks, it becomes leftovers reheated the next morning. Due to technical difficulties, this is one of those weeks.
But I don't want to start a week without posting a "dinner" of scripture to meditate on and a "dessert" of song to share.

There are many wonderful scriptures about hope. In fact 1 Corinthians 13 lists hope right up there with faith and love. They are a beautiful trio, although love will always get top billing. Two scriptures about hope that I love are:

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

One of the greatest gifts God can give us is the hope that can only be found in Him. During my darkest valleys, I clung to the hope and faith that my story wouldn't end in the valley of death, but in the goodness and mercy that followed. Even now, we are facing a situation that looks hopeless, yet we don't feel despair. For we know that whatever the outcome, our hope is in a Father who can work all things for good.

I remember when we first met Daniel in his orphanage. That first trip he wouldn't smile for the camera. By my last day, he finally cracked a little smile. Over the next two and a half years of visiting, his smile grew to one that started at one ear and ended at the other. Full showing of teeth and gums. What transformed his smile was hope.

The song for this week is Natalie Grant's "Our Hope Endures." It's a song about hope that is rooted in a Father that carries us through the darkest valleys and worst storms. This week, may you have hope that can only be found in Him.

More Than Lots,

Kathie