When I take time to sow seeds of faith, hope, and joy…especially out of much affliction and anguish in my heart…what could I possibly hope to reap? What would grow?

 Love.

I don’t tend to make public displays of my love for my fellow human beings. I always figure if I’m writing daily about the love I have, it’ll simply shine through. Maybe it doesn’t always work out that way. But my intention is to show you how much I care about where you’ll spend eternity…because you WILL spend it somewhere.

If I hated you, I wouldn’t care where you ended up, how you got there, or how long it would last. I’d just chalk it up to fate, or destiny, or “it’s none of my business”. But your happiness, in a small way, is my business. At least your ultimate happiness is. Here’s why. There’s this thing called “the great commission” in the Bible. Christians are called to spread the good news of the resurrected Jesus to every part of the world. In other words, God wants us to tell others about Him. That way no one can ever say they didn’t know.

I’m not responsible for your happiness, and I’m not responsible for your reaction to what I say and write. But I AM responsible for sharing it. So…I do.

It grieves my heart to see the whole world striving against itself. Every person lives for a certain time. And every person dies. Why does one desire to rule all the others? Why can’t people learn from history. Every seemingly powerful pharaoh, king, emperor, dictator, or politician who ever lived saw his or her reign come to an end. Sometimes violently…sometimes quietly. But the end always came…and it always will…

…the end to this fleshly existence anyway. But that’s not all folks (sorry Porky Pig).

So, even though I may have trials, tribulations, and affliction of the heart and body…I’ll still write you the most encouraging words I can muster. And maybe out of much affliction in my heart and body I can show you how much I love you. Maybe you’ll wonder. Maybe you’ll ponder. Maybe you’ll be curious enough to ask what makes me hopeful in this hopeless, fitful world.

I hope so. And I’m here to give an answer for the hope that lies within me…with gentleness and respect.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”