Goodbye and Hello!
Christformed is morphing into Hearts of Hope
If you know anything about me, you know that I am continually “tweaking” things to make them better. I am a bit of a perfectionist and think, “Just one more change can really improve this.” Over the last several months, I have been thinking and praying about how to improve the Christformed blog.
The Need For Hope
The word that kept coming to mind as I pondered the future of this blog was “hope.” As I have reflected on my conversations with both Christ followers and those who do not profess Him, social media posts, and current news articles, I have come to the conclusion that there is a tremendous need for hope in our world today. I also realized that most of the poems and prayers in my Monday Missives had that focus.
So, Christformed is morphing into a new newsletter called “Hearts of Hope.”
What To Expect With Hearts of Hope
The underlying scriptural foundation for the newsletter is Romans 15:13.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
— Romans 15:13 NLT
Remember that the original word in the Bible translated as “hope” is not wishful thinking, like “I hope we get some rain.” It is a strong assurance, through faith, that God is in control and that “in the end, everything will be alright.” But also realizing that it is not the end yet.
As the Apostle Paul said:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
(2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV)
Here is what you will find most weeks in the Hearts of Hope posts that come in your email inbox each week.
Monday Missives: Each Monday, there will be a Poem, A Prayer, and A Passage of Scripture with a specific focus.
Friday Articles: On most Fridays, there will be an article of about 1,000 - 1,200 words, or a three to five-minute read. Your time is valuable, so I try to keep my articles short and to the point.
My prayer is that what I write will indeed help you “overflow with confident hope” as you continue to live in our fallen world.
Moving Ahead
Change is always disruptive in one form or another. You may decide to unsubscribe from this newsletter. If you do, I won’t be offended. If you decide to “hang on with me” and continue to be a part of this ministry, I would ask you to pray for me.
First, pray that I would be consistent in posting each week.
Second, pray that I would be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit to write words that are encouraging and full of hope.
And, if you feel led, you can “buy me a cup of coffee” using the button below. I have made a commitment never to charge for my online writing, but a “cup of coffee” sure does encourage me.
Thank you so much for your faithful support. I am encouraged by you!
I leave you with the first stanza of an old but powerful hymn.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand