Hope Floats

The other day I was flipping through channels, and there was my favorite movie. Hope Floats. I have great memories connected with this movie, and it always makes me smile (and cry just a little). Bernice is my favorite character of all time, I think.

And I love the title. Hope is just a beautiful word, a beautiful concept, a beautiful promise.

Several times this month I have run across the idea of having a focus word for the year. A word that you study and meditate on, a word that you keep in the forefront.

I liked the idea, but I couldn't decide on a word. Until I saw Hope Floats again. And there it was.

Hope.

For this year, my word is hope.

For January, this is my scripture.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

Yes this I call to mind 
and there I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.'

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

                                                      Lamentations 3:19-26