Hope is a Mystery

Continuing with the Colossians saga, it is remarkable to read how Paul addressed them as saints, faithful, loving towards one another, growing faith, bearing fruit, displaying love in the Spirit in contrast to the formerly alienated, hostile, evil deeds kind of people. Something changed deep down in them as it did in me.

It reminds me of the movie "Shakespeare in Love", in which amazingly a midst the chaos of the story, things work out, and when asked how a particular situation resolved itself  Philip Henslowe  (actor Geoffrey Rush) would respond -I don't know, it is a mystery.

Likewise, the transaction between us and Christ continues to be mysterious -things happen somewhere in the soul that no human eye can see, a drastic change inside clearly evident in the outside.

New by Gigi C.H.

His life for ours,  His forgiveness for our trash, His Spirit for our emptiness, His power for our weaknesses, His love for our hate, His companionship for our loneliness. 

And the promise of a home in heaven...sweet

I guess we could call this hope.

The Colossians Hope

I have been studying the letter Paul wrote to my brothers and sisters that once lived in Colossae, a town at the feet of Mount Cadmus and the River Meander, of what is now Turkey. 

Close to Ephesus and the Roman Highway, middle eastern people, dealing with textiles, coming and going in everyday life, involved in the religious practices of the time, they said to have worshiped angels among other gods or lack thereof.

Paul described them as alienated, hostile and engaged in evil deeds, it another words, living their own lives, angry and doing bad things...

Well, it happened that Epaphras a man from the Colossian community heard the gospel somewhere else -probably from the Apostle Paul  and ran with the news taking advantage of the road and the Colossians in hearing the word of truth -according to Paul, were captured by the hope they could look forward to in heaven.

Here the Greek word for hope is elpis,  the fulfillment of all the promises presented in the gospel.

So the Colossians hoped... 

They cherished a desire with anticipation and expected with confidence 

Years ago, I myself a victim of despair, knelt defeated on my bedroom floor. That night I became the recipient of Christ hope, a hope that has withstood the test of time, life's hardships  and uncertainties.

Then and now, east and west, different cultures and endless options in dealing with despair. A time in which hope is cheap and comes in all colors and sizes. Yet among the clutter there is only one hope capable to fully mend, restore and sustain the core of a human being.

I believed in this hope as the Colossians did,  and may many find it among all the lesser hopes of this world and keep it to the end where only one will prove to be true and all promises fulfilled.

Since May

It has been a while since I made a record of my steps...maybe last May or so.  Thankful for faith steel toes; they were so much needed since. 
The last section of my past  life trail had been marked by broken terrain, deep falls, slips, ups and downs and very tiring.  At times going down can be as treacherous; you can let go into an abysmal fall...
At the end, not one drop of tear changed the route or the outcome and all the results were etched in my soul. 
So far I've reached a plateau for a little respite, a time to reflect.
Looking at my tire feet, bleeding hands and aching heart I am left with a deeper faith, amazing peace, greater love, -the paradigms of life in the reverse with Christ, by losing, you gain; when last you are first, by dying you live and abundantly.


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Rest Awhile...