"Anticipation"

There’s great anticipation,

When that future sensation,

Is coming and you know it is.

You feel a great longing,

With your hope belonging,

And looking ahead to all this.

As children it started,

And we weren’t half-hearted,

When they said old Santa would come.

We counted the days,

And dreamed of the ways,

He’d fill our tummy, tum, tum.

Now that we’re grown,

And trouble we’ve known,

Our hope for a future grows thin.

That’s ‘cause there is less,

Time to access,

The dreams we once held way back when.

But I’m here to say,

There’s good on the way,

If we will just trust in the Lord.

The Author of dreams,

And every good thing,

Has promised them there in His word.

And when hope is gone,

And so is your song,

And all that you planned bottoms out.

Jesus comes through,

He knows what to do,

And He can restore all your shout.

Get happy, get loud,

And keep your heart bowed,

And you’ll see your hope is renewed.

There’s a future you see,

For people who’ll be,

Strong with the Spirit endued.

And finally, the end,

Of time, death, and sin,

When Jesus appears in the sky.

He’ll ride a white horse,

Bring the angelic force,

All there in the sweet by and by.

Look forward, look up,

Let Him fill your cup,

The Savior is coming again.

He is our hope,

And helps us to cope,

Always on the throne He will reign.
”For Christ must reign until He humbles all His enemies beneath His feet.” (1 Cor. 15:25, NLT)

My pastor recently said: “The devil may be on the loose but Jesus is still on the throne.” Jesus is Lord, and because He is, there is reason to anticipate a great future. That’s because He is our future. Times are hard and trials are real. Many feel desperate and hopeless. But that all can change. Fear, anxiety, discouragement and depression can be conquered. And the victory begins when we turn with all our hearts to the Lord. Jesus promised an easy yoke and a light burden. He brings us peace and relief. He tenderly helps us rekindle our dreams and strengthens our weakness so that we can rise above what holds us back. It’s all about the Spirit working in us, and giving us the “down payment” of what is coming when Jesus returns. That’s the ultimate, eternal dream-come-true, and happily ever after. And it’s coming, for sure.

Lord, rekindle our hope, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.