A Day of Thanks

I thank God for...

His love and grace, His presence in my life, the Bible, family, sunsets, my ears, clothes, water, revival, friends, clouds, beds, food, vehicles, my pastor, TeenPact, my eyes, shoes, trees, pianos, my voice, pens, vacuums, my fingers, rain, books, evangelists, pillows, hair, birds, internet, fifteen layer chocolate cake, paper, cameras, my legs, cell-phones, warm blankets, ear-buds, answered prayer, and much more...

Hope

"LIVES OF GREAT MEN ALL REMIND US WE CAN MAKE OUR LIVES SUBLIME, AND, DEPARTING, LEAVE BEHIND US FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME; FOOTPRINTS, THAT PERHAPS ANOTHER, SAILING O'ER LIFE'S SOLEMN MAIN, A FORLORN AND SHIPWRECKED BROTHER, SEEING, SHALL TAKE HEART AGAIN. LET US, THEN, BE UP AND DOING, WITH A HEART FOR ANY FATE; STILL ACHIEVING, STILL PURSUING, LEARN TO LABOR AND TO WAIT." -LONGFELLOW

I have read this many times before, but I never really got what it was saying. Then I read it today and something struck me.

As humans, we tend to fail. Not only this, but we tend to look at other's failures. Sometimes we lose hope. As a girl trying to lead a life with Christ, it is discouraging to see those men and women fail who were passionate for God at one time. This is what we hear and see. Many times people look at the failures and not the achievers. We think, "This is too difficult." or "No one could ever do this." But it's not hopeless. Look at Paul the apostle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."(1 Timothy 4:7)

Paul gives me hope. He left footprints on the sands of time and showed me that I can achieve. Not only do I have hope because of the lives of other great men, but, like Paul, my ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ. Jesus overcame the world and He gave us the power to overcome the world as well. Now we can live a life full of hope and, just maybe, pass it on to "a forlorn and shipwrecked brother" that is discouraged by the world.

Let us cling to the hope of Christ and leave footprints in the sands of time...