Hope-Finding True Hope In An Upside Down World

Definition of hope:

• 1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.  
• 2. a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.  
• 3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.  
• 4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.  
• 5. something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

• Desperation

In your current situation, its hard to think that true hope exists. The economy, family, death and life in general can make you feel like there is no hope, there is no escape. I can't tell you how many times I've told God,
"Your in control! I give you the 'pen' to my life." But then I take it back faster than I gave it to Him.
Sometimes things happen that we can't explain. Life can become unbearable, when the rent is due and you have 50 cents to your name, when you come home with no one to meet you there. When your broken, that is when God can get closer to you than ever before. When times are good, and your not struggling with anything, do you tend to pray more? Or do you pray more when your in trouble? I pray more when I'm struggling. If we don't go through the fire, we can't come back out better for it.

• The hope

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a control freak (I'm working on it) being such, its hard to give someone else control. But you know what? When life becomes overwhelming, and it feels like the walls have caved in around me, suffocating my breathe, there is Someone standing there. Hes strong and eagerly waiting to take me by the hand, and carry me in His arms. Sometimes we're so weak, we can barely lift our hands to Him, but He leans down further, and picks us up. Jesus is the answer! Don't turn to other things to fill the emptiness and the void, turn your face to Heaven! God is the only answer.

Do me a favor, (yeah, your gonna hate for this, but I'm a "Bible thumper") PRAY! When everything in your world has fallen apart, PRAY! When life has suffocated you, and you feel your about to take your last breathe, PRAY!

• Bible Verses To Help You Out

Sometimes it helps to have a verse or two to run through your mind when times get hard. Here are a few that jumped out at me:
 
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

 "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31



“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

"But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more."  Psalm 71:14

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

The pitfalls of "Christian" romances

I'm sure if you read "christian" romances, your probably wanting to delete my blog from your list. Sorry! I refuse to shy away from topics that need to be discussed. I hope you will read this article with an open mind, and not graze over this article as another "rambling" of Natasha's. You may have a different view on this subject, but this is mine. (It is MY blog after all!: ) Go start your own!
I don't read "Christian" romances! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jane Austen! But her romances are quite different from those that have been released in the modern day. Jane Austen has a sweetness to her romances. BUT! Yes I went there! But, you can't-and shouldn't- be dwelling on romances. They twist your mind and give you an unrealistic picture of love. Have you thought about the fact that the majority of romances are written by women, (unmarried I might add!) They have the ability to twist the guy characters into whomever they wish them to be, this turning them into girls! God mad us different for a reason! What fun would it be if we were all the same? Thought the same? Did things the same?
Pretty dull if you ask me!
Back on the subject of  Jane Austen, if you've ever read her biography, you can easily see the damage romances novels did in her life. She was always waiting for the "perfect man" and the "perfect romance" it never came. Thats right! America's most beloved romance novelist was never married. She was still waiting for "perfect" love to come her way. Instead of looking to romance novels to fulfill you, look to Jesus! Even do a study on true love from a biblical perspective. Live your life for Jesus! Next time you think about picking up a romance novel, think twice. I hope my post will run through your mind, causing you to walk the straight and narrow. Be wise about what you put into your mind! I'm not gonna just leave you hanging either! I'll post some well written, clean books for you to put on your "to read" list. Please feel free to comment, I'd love to help you find some clean books to read! Trust me, I read ALOT! : )P
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"There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it [on Goodreads]." — Bertrand Russell
Join me on Good reads! I have almost 200 books you should consider reading!