Guest Blog : HOPE on Presence Filled Fridays

I am so excited to introduce a friend of mine to all of you today. Amy D. Ward is a special, talented, godly woman with the skills of Martha Stewart and the heart of Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet.  I love her and I know you will, too. She has an awesome story of God's presence in her life. Show her some love by commenting! And I will see you back here on Monday.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NASB95)

What a privilege to meet you here at Kelli's blog today.  I am delighted she asked me to share with you on a Presence filled Friday.

I am a breast cancer survivor.  I have lived in God’s hope-filled Presence!

Throughout my journey with cancer in 2010, God allowed me to be in situations where I could have been hopeless.  But, through reminders of His constant Presence with me every step of the way, I would find evidence to continue to hold onto hope:  the word "HOPE" on a wall, a plaque, a shirt; or the numerous verses on HOPE I would mark in the Bible I took along to all my appointments, infusions, surgeries, and radiation. 

By the way, there are numerous Scriptures with this word in them.  Click here (http://net.bible.org/#!search/hope) to go to the NET Bible and see how many references there are.  

What a gift hope is!  I would find a word of HOPE wherever He led me.

A kind word from a nurse - hope.

A text message of Scripture, prayer, or encouragement - hope.

Forgetting for 5 minutes about the cancer - hope.

A card or call from a friend - hope.

The file I kept and labeled "After Breast Cancer" - hope.

The presence of my husband and our sons on chemo days - hope.

The presence of returning hair after chemo had done its work - hope.

I found new ways to appreciate simple things and that would bring on hope for a cancer-free tomorrow.

I like what Lawrence O. Richards says in his Encyclopedia of Bible Words regarding hope,  “…hope focuses attention on God and fills us with eager expectation.  No one who learns to hope in a biblical way will ever be overcome by disappointment but will be filled with patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm.”

I have said it numerous times and I write it here for you today:  

I would not trade having had cancer for not having had it because of the blessings that God poured out and continues to pour out.

Hope is just one of those blessings that the Presence of God offered me to unwrap.

Encouragement:

God has given the believer a life of hope through the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ, His Son.  Go back to the NET BIble link (http://net.bible.org/#!search/hope), to the references on hope found in the book of Hebrews.  Look at the exhortations there for the believer regarding hope.  Our eternal hope is in Christ.  Soli Deo Gloria (to God be the glory)!

Opportunity for Response:

Please share with me in a comment what spurs you on in your life to hold onto hope.  Thank you!

You can find Amy sharing God's hope at her blog, Digging Deep at www.amydward.com. Or on twitter at AmyDicksonWard or  Facebook at Amy D. Ward - Digging Deep. 

Amy Dickson Ward along with her husband Rob of 25 years is learning what being a near empty-nester is all about.  A graduate of Auburn University, she put her Vocational Home Economics Education skills to work at home after a brief stint teaching school.  Her minor in journalism has come in handy as she began a blog in 2008.  She enjoys teaching others in Bible studies in Columbus, GA, and occasionally has opportunities to speak at retreats.  Her passion is encouraging women to be in the Word and she delights in teaching them how to study the Bible.  Amy and Rob’s oldest son, Robert is newly married to Sigourney.  David, a student at Auburn University, is their youngest son.