Our Hope Endures

Since all of my friends have fancy blog backgrounds and cute headers, I was feeling left out. I have been thinking about what I could do to change it up and wanted a title a little more original than "The Woolleys." As I have been thinking about it, the phrase "Our hope endures" just kept coming to my mind.

Over the past few years there have been several songs that have gotten a lot of play time on my ipod. I have included some those songs in a playlist (on the right side of the screen). "I will not be moved" by Natalie Grant has been somewhat of a theme song for me. It is the ringtone on my phone and I hear it multiple times each day. And every single time, I am inspired and reminded of my source of strength that is found in Christ.

"I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved"

No matter what I may face during the course of the day, no matter how badly I screw up or how badly others hurt me- my feet will stand firm. I cannot make it on my own, on the "sinking sand" of disappointments that this world will provide me with. But, with Him as my solid foundation, I can face anything.

The Ginny Owens song is a beautifully written lyric and the cry of my heart.

"I'm clinging to the promise 

You're not through with me yet, 

so if all of these trials bring me closer to you 

Then I will walk through the fire 

If You want me to"

The Sidewalk prophets song is my "Holland song." I still cannot listen to the words without crying.

"Three in the morning, 

And I'm still awake, 

So I picked up a pen and a page, 

And I started writing, 

Just what I'd say, 

If we were face to face, 

I'd tell you just what you mean to me, 

I'd tell you these simple truths, 

Be strong in the LORD and, 

Never give up hope, 

You're going to do great things, 

I already know, 

God's got His hand on you so, 

Don't live life in fear, 

Forgive and forget, 

But don't forget why you're here, 

Take your time and pray, 

These are the words I would say"

There has been more than one night that I am up at 3 in the morning, writing letters to my son. I tell him all about me and how much I love him, but mostly I tell him what my prayers are for his life and for the man that I am praying for him to become. And I tell him of what I have learned about Christ and who I now know Him to be. I take great comfort in the fact that someday he might get the chance to read those letters. If he never wants to be a part of my life, I pray that he will at least have the chance to know my heart and to know how loved he is.

And on a tough day, when I am feeling sorry for myself, I will listen to another Natalie song that I love...
"Our hope endures."

"You would think only so much can go wrong 

Calamity only strikes once 

And you assume that this one has suffered her share 

Life will be kinder from here 

Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years 

Sometimes the sky rains night after night 

When will it clear 

But our hope endures the worst of conditions 

It's more than our optimism 

Let the earth quake 

Our hope is unchanged"

On days when I question what God is doing or if things will ever get easier for me, I listen to the words and am encouraged. When people question how I can still serve the God that I do after all that I have walked through, I think of the lyrics to this song. No matter what trials I have faced in this life, He has been faithful. He has blessed me with more than I could ever ask for. And no matter what I have yet to face, my hope is in Christ. Nothing that I can do on my own will get me through- it has been and will only be by the grace and mercy of Christ.

So as you continue to read this blog, know that this is not the story of the Woolleys or any brilliant plans that we have. This is a story of God's faithfulness to provide for our every need. In the good and the bad, our hope endures.

"Let the earth quake, our hope is unchanged!"