Heart Hope by Olga

Practice hospitality...that's what the morning sermon had been about. The pastor had encouraged all of us to invite others into our homes for food and fellowship. It's something I enjoy, but wasn't expecting to be able to do it in the unplanned way. My mentoring session was finished much earlier than expected freeing up some additional time, so I stopped in at Walgreens to check on a product, however I quickly discovered that they didn't have what I was looking for. Since I was already there I decided to see if there were any specials in the flyer and discovered that they had a bargain on cashews, less than half price. So I purchased a couple of bags and headed to my car. Once inside the car, I found that one of the bags had a small hole in it and was concerned that they might be stale due to the opening. I would return them and then be on my way, or so I thought. God had other plans. An older lady standing next to her car shouted to me that she had locke...

The little yellow envelope under the windshield wiper was ominous. Trying to do the right thing with the new parking process at Eagle Airport I looked for signage to explain the new system, but little was found. So I did the next best thing, asking a fellow traveler who readily explained where the free parking section was located. When I left my car I was confident that I had maneuvered the new process, but now returning to the car with the envelope positioned on the windshield I wasn’t so sure anymore. Opening the filled pouch, I was horrified to see that it was packed with daily tickets totaling almost $60 when I thought I was parking in the “free” section. I hate to waste money needlessly and felt betrayed by the system. There was a little card in the envelope that said if you felt you had received the billing in error to call the contact listed; so that’s what I did. After explaining my situation to the kind worker, she said she understood and would void the t...

It hasn't been that long since my friend Susan and I went to watch a baseball practice of my Grandson, Will. We had a good laugh, because he was doing anything but learning or enjoying the game. For a while he would look at the ground and play with the doodlebugs, then he would come over to where we were positioned wanting snacks, already knowing that we hadn't brought anything with us. And then he again left the field to go over to the water fountain. We turned to each other and said, "Looks like he won't be a baseball player." But two years later he has proven us wrong by receiving four game balls for outstanding skills and performance. He was also selected to be a part of the All Stars. What brought about the change? Research, practice, videos, encouragement, maturity, coaching and conversations have all been part of the transformation.  It became a desire and a passion to play the game. I see a couple of lessons in this. First don’t be too quick to ju...

It was a glorious summer morning—cool and crisp with not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a morning hike. So off to the Avon to Singletree Connector trail I strode. Praise and worship music was chosen for my walk with the Lord. Meet with Me, Majesty, and Lord Most High set the tone for the hike, but as I climbed higher and saw the wonder of my surroundings I became overcome with emotions. The beauty of the earth pointed to the goodness of God. Alone in a quiet spot, gazing across the valley toward Arrowhead, the song I Worship You Almighty God began playing. I stopped, closed my eyes, and raised my hands in praise of my Heavenly Father. In the stillness of the moment, I felt movement and opened my eyes to an oncoming pair of bikers. My first thought was, “I wonder what they think I was doing,” but I quickly dispelled the message in my mind and hoped that they knew that they had come upon holy ground for I was meeting with God in that moment. Psalm 96:9 Worship...

What’s wrong with people? Why are they so impatient? Why do they feel so entitled? Can’t they just enjoy being in the moment? What’s the hurry? My two flights were not connecting and the wonderful agent was helping me get my bag connected through to my final destination in our small Eagle Airport. When I walked up to the counter to check in, there was no one in sight, so the agent in the priority lane offered to assist, but after a few minutes of locating all of the information for my itinerary, a couple walked up and were distressed over having to wait to get their bags checked in. The man proceeded to make all kinds of comments about having to wait so long…maybe 3 minutes. What was in in such a hurry for? Was it so he could go and wait in the security line? Or perhaps it was to wait at the gate? Or maybe it was to wait on the plane for takeoff? I wondered how he was feeling after all of the delays and then to top it off, we were ready for takeoff when the pilot came ...

The computer was docked, the phone cut off, the credit card cut up, the proxy card and parking passes turned in and the name plate removed from the door. An employee was leaving to take a new job. It seemed to me how quickly we can be gone and replaced from our jobs and from life. Here today and gone tomorrow. None of us are guaranteed another day. How often have we heard about a sudden and unexpected death of a loved one, a friend or an acquaintance? Therefore we must make the most of every opportunity to love well, live well and speak kindly. People come and go in our lives whether as neighbors, friends, coworkers, church or some other arena. We must make the most of every opportunity. So, if  you need to forgive, forgive. If you need to commend, do so publicly. If you need to encourage, offer up those words to lift someone's spirits. If you need to give, give wholeheartedly. And if you need to change in some way, what are you waiting for?  We have...

I did absolutely nothing, however I was able to board an airplane without paying. And then another phenomenon occurred. I was asked if I wanted to sit in first class, again for no reason. The ticket and upgrade were free for me, but they did cost something for someone. My friend that is a flight attendant had to "pay" for them by working for the company. My salvation is a free gift to me also, but it did cost greatly. Jesus had to pay the price. And it was not just because He worked for it, but because He gave His life for it. Lord, help me not to take for granted the huge sacrifice that You paid for me. But help me to be grateful each and every day that You willingly paid it and chose me to be a part of your family, thank you. Ephesians 2:8-9    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.   www.hearthope.org