1. a feeling and expectation or desire for a certain thing to happen

2. a person or thing that may help or save someone

3. grounds for believing that something good may happen

archaic - feeling of trust.

What is hope?

I really can't give you a definition.

But I can tell you what it isn't...

- fear

- anxiety

- distrust

- anger

- bitterness

I have recently understood that this hope thing comes every day... you can't just have it once and have it forever.

I have to continually accept that I need God. That I don't have hope without Him.

I learned that hope isn't about me just fixing things, it's much deeper than that.

A dear friend asked me what hope was. I couldn't answer. I couldn't explain the joy from it. Just like I can't explain what it is about sitting under the blue sky on a sunny summer day that makes me not be able to stop smiling.

It is peace... which when I think about that - I can't explain either.

what I am asking my friend to do is to seek hope. Even though I don't know how to express in words what hope is, I do know where I find it. In the cross. In the fact that it's not about me and all about the glory of God. I find hope in the fact that I don't have to 'fix' things on my own - for the simple reason: I CAN'T. and neither can you.... remember that.

It's Christ through us... and we need Him so badly - each day, each minute, each second.

Smile List...

So I made a new friend, Jennifer. And I noticed she was already following me ... and I read her blog.. and saw the name of my blog as one of her 10... She wanted me to write 10 things that make me happy, so here is my list.

1. Sunny days with blue skies, chacos and free time
2. My Mamaw's creations from crocheting.
3. A beach and a good book.
4. Play a song that I have written on the guitar
5. Playing tennis with friends and being a little competitive
6. Accomplishing a goal
7. Learning Spanish
8. Seeing old friends
9. Sipping on a raspberry mocha while reading the Bible.
10. Thinking about hope and grace

Now I have chosen 10 other blogs to do the same thing! ( I will just put names instead of blog names...)

1. Erin Bloss

2. Samantha Crowe

3. Kelsey Barber

4. Cameran Smith

5. Marcus Bagwell

6. Abby Smithhart

7. Sarah Sprinkle

8. Sarah Mack

9. Emily Harrod

10. Mitch Henson

On My Mind

• Last night - when there were many things to do - 10 girls met to pray for campus and the semester. It was a beautiful thing. I am so thankful to have friends who desire to do this.

• I am taking a Spanish class this semester. It is the second level. I am already being challenged. I can't wait to learn the language!

• I am continuing to write some songs. It helps me to release whatever emotions are building up.

• A trip to Kenya may be happening this summer with a friend.

• My dream of starting a coffee shop has become even more of something I want to pursue.

• A friend and I are planning a show at Christ Fellowship for February 27th. That date is getting extremely close...

• It's cooler to say that you are passionate about the church and service than it is to say you are passionate about the Gospel.

That's about it.