**Theme for January:**
**HOPE FOR 2022**

Lately, everywhere I turn the word HOPE keeps popping up. I hear it preached in sermons and in conversations with family and friends-- Hope for the future, and specifically, hope for 2022. It’s something on the hearts and minds of a lot of people. The past two years have been tough on everybody; some people more than others. Life is different on this side of the pandemic than it was before; and we are continuing to evolve.

Hope has been on my heart too. Hope that this has been but a season in time. That a bright future waits just around the corner. Hope and belief that there is great peace and goodness to be found in the days ahead. Hope that COVID will become a distant memory and, as a society, we will recover and begin to heal. Hope that honor, love, respect, unity and dignity will fill the hearts of humankind, including those in positions of authority in the U.S and around the world. To quote a line from a Beatles song, “Some say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one.” I may be a dreamer, but FAITH keeps me going and fuels my Hope in a tomorrow full of opportunity and promise! God knows the plans He has for us. It’s a plan full of Hope and with a future that is bright and prosperous. ( Jeremiah 29:11)

Faith is foundational to HOPE. It’s what gives you the confidence to keep it moving no matter what the situation, or what might be happening in the world. Faith inspired Hope, ushers in joy and is part of our body armor against feelings of depression and loneliness. What a helpless feeling it must be to have no Hope. The emptiness inside must be overwhelming. Nobody has to live that way!

The spirit of God exists inside all of us. Those who practice nurturing that spirit are able to find unspeakable joy and peace. However, those who have yet to discover their Godly spirit live unaware of how much better life can be. In order to Live Your Best Life, you must search deeper and connect with that which lives within. It’s the voice that is kind and loving and always encourages you towards being your best. The voice that is reassuring and let’s you know everything is going to be okay, even when your heart is breaking. That gentle, small voice is the spirit of God. Welcome Him into every part of your life! In relationship with Him, you will find the kind of Peace and Hope that will fill you up and replace anything that might might be missing! -K-

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV-New International Version)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV- King James Version)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Guest Contributor - Tre Thomas

My friend Tre just released a new song titled, “There is Hope.” (Again, there’s that word Hope!) Like so many people, Tre has been through a lot lately. But despite everything he’s been through he wrote this song of hope and encouragement. Thanks, Tre for reminding us there is still HOPE!

In his own words…

The inspiration for “There Is Hope” came early in 2021 while still being quarantined at home due to the pandemic. This has been a great time for creatives like me to find new revelations and stimulation in our respective crafts and share it with our audiences. There is an old rumor that artists usually create their best and most rewarding work when they’re going through their greatest pain. After experiencing my own pain, I can say that I would have to agree with that statement.

A year ago, my mother passed from her battle with Cancer. Learning how to adjust without her physical presence has been both a challenge and a beautiful journey. Part of my grieving process has been to start writing music again. I really wanted to write a song that was vulnerable and transparent, while also being relatable and penetrating. I’m sensitive and aware enough to know that my pain isn’t isolated; there are other people who have experienced loss, or may be frustrated with their circumstances, or even just uncertain and confused about what’s next. I wanted to create music that spoke to those folks—and to me, too—encouraging us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s the message that this song carries: Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on life. Keep trying and keep believing. Because THERE IS HOPE! -Tré Thomas