We are on the down slope of a new year.

Pure white snow turns to slush.

Rain creates mud, but

 "Hope looks up."

Selection from 2012...

Hope.  It's the best thought for the new year.  After we hoped, waited, anticipated, longed for Christmas presents, they are unwrapped and are no longer new.  The sparkle is gone.  The princess Barbies lie naked alongside the old Barbies; the batteries are used up on the new electronics; and the sweater is getting fuzz balls.  Yet, hope lasts longer than Advent.  Hope does not live in things which cannot satisfy.  

"As an anchor thrown to the bottom of the sea holds the ship fast amid storms and tempests; so the Christian's hope penetrates the waves of this troublesome world, and reaches the eternal shore, holding fast his soul amid the waves of sin."

"Hope takes fast hold of heaven itself."

(T. Brooks)  

"Faith is the perceiving, hope the anticipating...

Faith, hath respect to the truth of the word; hope, to its fulfilment.

Faith lays hold of that end of the promise which is nearest to us, 

even in the divine book; hope, of that end of the promise which is 

fastened to the mercy-seat within the veil...

Faith is founded on what is in the Bible;

hope on what is in heaven."
(C. Stanford.)

"Hope is an active grace: it is called a lively hope...

Hope of a crop makes the husbandmen sow his seed;

hope of a victory makes the soldier fight;

and a true hope of glory makes a Christian 

vigorously pursue glory."

(T. Watson)

"I hope in Thee, O Lord..."

Psalm 38:15

"How wise, as well as how pleasant, it is to hope...the hopeful are the wisest as well as the happiest of this mortal congregation.  In the cheerful, faithful spirit of who can hope has the promise of this life as well as that which is to come."  

"But now abide faith, hope, and love..."

I Corinthians 13:13

Limitations.  I don't run after kids as often as I used to.  I don't run much at all.  Perhaps I can still out run a two year old: that's my limit.  This new year I am realizing my limitations.  Just as I tire more quickly, I can't seem to run the universe as easily as I used to be able to do.  Usually when I pray, I have it all figured out and just let God know the plan.  This year I don't.  He's got a great big surprise as to what He's able to do beyond what we can even ask, think or imagine.  "Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity."  I would add, replace fear of the unknown with hope, because of what C.S. Lewis said, "The best is yet to come."