Hope Signs

“The field was full of robins today, Mom.  I think God knew, because we’re human we’d need all these little hope signs to get through each day... wouldn’t it be so dark without them?!

The conversation went on to consider Noah and the sign of hope God placed in the sky.  A string of colors after the rain, the imprint of His promise, the stamp of an unchanging God that neither shifts nor wavers in all His ways.  My girl noted that we too get to have the hopeful rainbow as our own, just as Noah did.  A generous God, not subject to partiality in His promises, but a seeker of humble hearts and willing hands.  A giver of beauty and goodness even in a broken world. 

We sit and chat for another 30 minutes before dinner prep. It’s sometimes heavy and sometimes silly, hardly reflecting the delicate teacups we sip from.  But whatever the discussion, the direction always moves toward God and His care for us.  Whatever the weight, the prow shifts to His word and His love.  

I asked myself a simple question recently; are you casting your eyes on the Shepherd or the sheep?  

Isn’t it true that we as believers tend to look at the sheep around us and forget to look to the One in charge of the flock?  We spend more time evaluating the actions of our fellow sheep-mates than the unfolding story written by the Shepherd Himself!  Have we forgotten that not one sheep stands in comparison to The Good Shepherd?  This is probably why sheep oftentimes will ignore the voice of the Shepherd to follow the flock, right over a cliff!

Listen to the voice of The Shepherd, bear fruit with repentance, sing of the good things He has done in your life, don’t dismiss the routine of the night sky and the rhythm of the seasons.  All are from God and from all comes hope!  Hopefulness is life-full-ness.   And I think life-full-ness should most certainly be a word one day!

Let the little signs of hope fill you and remind you of what’s true and good.  And thank God for every bud that dots the tips of the trees today and every shoot that pokes from the warming ground.  Give glory where glory is due and let hope signs fill your days!