Remembrance Weekend
Remembrance Weekend
Christmas can be a season of joy and celebration, but for many, it’s also a time that highlights absence - sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and friends who are no longer here. The grief we carry can feel overwhelming, yet the Lord gently reminds us that hope is always within reach.
I was moved to share the story of David from the Old Testament, a man after God’s own heart, who experienced profound loss. In 2 Samuel 12:15-25, we read about David’s child dying despite his prayers and fasting. In his grief, David demonstrates something powerful: even when our faith feels stretched and our love is tested, hope remains.
I was moved to share the story of David from the Old Testament, a man after God’s own heart, who experienced profound loss. In 2 Samuel 12:15-25, we read about David’s child dying despite his prayers and fasting. In his grief, David demonstrates something powerful: even when our faith feels stretched and our love is tested, hope remains.
Hope in the Midst of Loss
David’s story reminds us that faith often starts a journey, but hope carries us through when life feels unbearable. After the death of his child, David rose, washed, ate, and worshiped the Lord. Hope gave birth to a new beginning—Solomon. Sometimes, it’s not faith or love that renews us... it’s hope.
As 1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us:
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
While faith and love are vital, hope is the anchor in the middle of life’s storms. Hope connects us to the future, giving stability to our soul, emotions, and decisions, even when the past is painful.
Anchored in Hope
Hope is like the anchor of a boat: it stabilizes us in the waves and keeps us steady. Hebrews 6:19 says:
“Hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”
Hope is forward-looking, it stretches our minds toward the expectation of God’s promises. When grief and loss threaten to overwhelm, hope allows us to move forward, to live fully, and to trust that God is working even in the shadows.
The Light of Christmas
Jesus was born into darkness, and that darkness underscores why He is the light of the world (John 8:12). In our grief, we sometimes focus on what we’ve lost or what has gone wrong. Christmas reminds us to focus on the Light that cannot be extinguished, the hope that comes through Christ.
Just like David, we can face our pain, rise, and engage with life, anchoring ourselves in hope. Grief doesn’t disappear, but our capacity to carry it grows when hope is present. The world may shake around us, but hope in Christ keeps us steady.
Hope That Transcends Death
For those who have lost loved ones, hope gives the promise of reunion. The Bible assures us that our loved ones who trusted in Jesus are safe in His presence. Romans 15:4 reminds us:
“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”
Hope allows us to look beyond the graveyard of our past and into a future where the best is yet to come. It’s a reminder that even when someone we love cannot come to us, one day we will go to them.
Living With Hope
Hope is not a passive feeling; it’s an active anchor for our lives. It shapes our thoughts, guides our emotions, and informs our decisions. When hope is lost, despair fills the gaps. When hope is present, even in the midst of mourning, life carries meaning.
This Christmas, let hope guide you. Light a candle, remember your loved ones, and let that light remind you that hope is alive. Let it be a spark in the darkness—a reminder that Jesus came to bring life and hope to a weary world.
David’s story reminds us that faith often starts a journey, but hope carries us through when life feels unbearable. After the death of his child, David rose, washed, ate, and worshiped the Lord. Hope gave birth to a new beginning—Solomon. Sometimes, it’s not faith or love that renews us... it’s hope.
As 1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us:
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
While faith and love are vital, hope is the anchor in the middle of life’s storms. Hope connects us to the future, giving stability to our soul, emotions, and decisions, even when the past is painful.
Anchored in Hope
Hope is like the anchor of a boat: it stabilizes us in the waves and keeps us steady. Hebrews 6:19 says:
“Hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”
Hope is forward-looking, it stretches our minds toward the expectation of God’s promises. When grief and loss threaten to overwhelm, hope allows us to move forward, to live fully, and to trust that God is working even in the shadows.
The Light of Christmas
Jesus was born into darkness, and that darkness underscores why He is the light of the world (John 8:12). In our grief, we sometimes focus on what we’ve lost or what has gone wrong. Christmas reminds us to focus on the Light that cannot be extinguished, the hope that comes through Christ.
Just like David, we can face our pain, rise, and engage with life, anchoring ourselves in hope. Grief doesn’t disappear, but our capacity to carry it grows when hope is present. The world may shake around us, but hope in Christ keeps us steady.
Hope That Transcends Death
For those who have lost loved ones, hope gives the promise of reunion. The Bible assures us that our loved ones who trusted in Jesus are safe in His presence. Romans 15:4 reminds us:
“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”
Hope allows us to look beyond the graveyard of our past and into a future where the best is yet to come. It’s a reminder that even when someone we love cannot come to us, one day we will go to them.
Living With Hope
Hope is not a passive feeling; it’s an active anchor for our lives. It shapes our thoughts, guides our emotions, and informs our decisions. When hope is lost, despair fills the gaps. When hope is present, even in the midst of mourning, life carries meaning.
This Christmas, let hope guide you. Light a candle, remember your loved ones, and let that light remind you that hope is alive. Let it be a spark in the darkness—a reminder that Jesus came to bring life and hope to a weary world.
Our Mission
We are called to share this hope with others. Just as we honor those who have gone before us, we also step out to reach the lost, inviting them to experience the life-changing hope of Jesus. Your small acts, an invite, a conversation, a gesture of care, can be the light that guides someone toward Him.
We are called to share this hope with others. Just as we honor those who have gone before us, we also step out to reach the lost, inviting them to experience the life-changing hope of Jesus. Your small acts, an invite, a conversation, a gesture of care, can be the light that guides someone toward Him.
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