Hope...

A couple of months ago, I received a package in the mail from Aunt JoAnne, one of my Mom's sisters.  In it was the word "Hope" pictured above. The box it came in told the story of a family effected by ALS, much like ours has been, and their determination to do whatever they could to find a cure.  Mike Wright has been fighting this disease since 2003, and his wife Becky, co founder of a company called "At Home America" began producing and selling the words "hope" to raise money for ALS research.  Aunt Jo must have bought quite a few, because when I was in Miami last week, I noticed one in the kitchens of my sister Jamie and my Uncle Dave! It gave me the idea to share it with you as well.  The cute, black letters have been sitting on my kitchen windowsill ever since I got them. They bring to mind so many scriptures...

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

Psalm 42:5 "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? HOPE in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."

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

1 Timothy 4:10 "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our HOPE set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe."

Titus 2:11-13 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, waiting for our blessed HOPE, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..."

Hebrews 10: 23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our HOPE without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

I could go on, but you get the idea!  Looking at the word "Hope" on my windowsill every day as I go about the mundane chores of cooking and cleaning for my family reminds me to pray for my Mom and for a cure for ALS. But it also reminds me of what my hope is to be found in.  My hope is in God and in Him alone. I think Mom would say the same!

So, don't you want your own little reminder of "Hope" to sit on your windowsill? Jamie has hers on her book case and Uncle Dave and Aunt Vivian have theirs sitting atop the molding over a doorway in their house, so you can put it wherever you like!
Go to http://www.helpamericafoundation.org/hope4mike/news/news_howtohelp.htm  to read about "Hope4Mike" and to make a $5 donation which will get you your own words of "Hope".  $5!! That's it! And 100% of the proceeds go to ALS research.  Buy a few like Aunt Jo did and give them as gifts!  And please let me know if you do it...I'd love to keep track of how much money is raised here!