A Wise Woman’s Guide to Life & Love

You may recognize the following words penned by Thomas O. Chisholm as the third verse of an old hymn. And they are just as true for us today as they were when William M. Runyan set them to music in 1923. That is, no matter how 2016 has turned out for us, we still have bright hope for 2017!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

On the 7th Day of Christmas, my True Love gave me: Hope.

Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in The Lord. (Psalm 31:24)

But the eyes of The Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. (Psalm 33:18)

We wait in hope for The Lord;
He is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

Hope in The Lord and keep His way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land. (Psalm 37:34a)

I wait for The Lord, my whole being waits,
and in His Word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5)

But as for me, I watch in hope for The Lord,
I wait for God My Savior; My God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

but those who hope in The Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:31)

In the Beginning, The Lord set out to make man and woman in His Image. It’s a process He is completely devoted to. He doesn’t give up. Never ever. He is Faithful. And He wants us to be just like Him.

… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

On the 6th Day of Christmas,
my True Love gave to me: Faithfulness.

Faithfulness is remaining steadfast in Allegiance and Affection.
Loyal. Constant. Devoted.

If you’ve ever been betrayed by a spouse or a friend, God’s gift of Faithfulness can be hard to receive. I know because I’ve been there myself. We tend to become self-protective. Distrustful of others and of ourselves. Sometimes, even of God.

Sometimes we try to fix the other person. Mental health professionals call that “codependency.” But I don’t believe that’s how He wants us to respond either.

So maybe we’d do well to ask Him what that/those betrayal(s) mean(s) for our relationship with Him. And how He wants us to handle the situation(s).

… as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17b)

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. (Lamentations 3:22-23)