As we continue our discussion on hope, we wanted to share this video snip-it of our testimony. We shared this as part of our Let's Get Real Conference at Northbrook Baptist Church in Cullman, Alabama this past February.

This week is the Advent week of hope. Jesus coming to the world and dying for our sin was our only hope for abundant, eternal life. Jesus returning to gather His Bride is now the hope we have. And our hope is not a wish, but a confident expectancy that God will do what He says He will do...in His time....in His way.....for our benefit and good.

This week of the Advent season where we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ our Savior and anticipate His return, we celebrate the week with hope. So many people are living hopeless lives. Yet it is because they are defining hope by the world's terms and not by God's definition of hope. Here's a clip about the true definition of hope.

This week, I finished wrapping all of our presents. Now, I don't know about you, but I have so much fun wrapping presents! I really enjoy it! Don't you? Hot chocolate, Christmas music, the sights and smells of Christmas, and wrapping presents for loved ones....I love it!

Now, don't get me wrong. There are some presents that I HAVE to buy, but the majority are ones that I WANT to buy and I can hardly wait until the recipient opens it! As a matter of fact, our son, Cole, made his chosen purchase for his girlfriend and gave it to her that very night! He couldn't stand to wait for her to have the gift he picked out especially for her!

Think about being in the giver position: you get to enjoy picking out just the perfect gift for that special someone. You think about what they like, their favorite colors, etc. and then seek out just the right thing that you think they will like. Then, when you finally get to give it to them, you wait with baited breath to see their reaction. Then, you say, "I got this just for you!". How special that person must feel to know that you cared and loved them so much that you would sacrifice time, energy, and money to give them something straight from your heart to theirs.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave......"

When was the last time you took a minute to watch the sun set or rise? The majestic trees reaching up into the heavens in splendor. Breathtaking, huh? Or what about watching the birds play in a puddle of water or the chipmunks and squirrels chasing each other? Or sneaking into your child's rooms while they sleep and look at the peaceful beauty found in each one of them? Or watching your husband take a nap on the couch and his snoring making you laugh.

Can you just picture for just a minute the Father thinking ahead about you and me and creating this beautiful world we live in for us to enjoy? Can you imagine the joy it brings Him when we acknowledge His gift and are grateful? Do you think the joy that you experience giving your gifts is the same joy that our Father experiences when we recognize the gifts that he has so freely given us? He did all of this just for us!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave......"

Can you just picture for just a minute the Father watching His Son, born to the virgin Mary, knowing the pain He would face to save you from your sin? And yet for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross for you and for me. Scripture says that it pleased the Lord that Jesus be smitten for you and for me. Why? Because He was offering you and me a gift made just for us. The ONLY gift.....the PERFECT gift,  that would give us life.... real, abundant, fulfilling life.....

God has been waiting for you to take His freely given gift. He gave it especially for you. How special you must feel to know that He cared and loved you so much that He would sacrifice His One and Only Son to give you something straight from His heart to yours.

So, as you open this gift this Christmas with joy, whether through remembering your salvation through Christ, or your acceptance of Him for the very first time, may you hear the still small voice of  your Father, Savior, and Lord say, "I did this just for you."


Jena