hope...

There are a ton of definitions for hope. I was going to include some philosophical explanation, but I'm not sure I have the words to do it justice.

I can say... hope keeps me going. I use hope primarily when thinking about the future... things I hope are fulfilled. There's a difference between hope and belief. I feel like belief is something I know to be true while hope is something I want to be true. I have a list of hopes but I'm not sure how God feels about my hopes... and because I have a belief in God, the way he feels about my hopes becomes a big deal.

I just watched Valentine's Day... the movie... with one of my favorite actresses Julia Roberts. Not everyone loved it, but it made me laugh and had happy endings so it kept my hope alive. I'm going to see Eat Pray Love tomorrow and I've heard mixed reviews, but I have to be loyal to Julia. I'm so loyal I purchased The Mexican... even if I can't sit through the whole thing.

Sometimes I hope I get to meet a celebrity... like Julia or Kelly Clarkson... but mostly I hope for more important things... like a husband and children... and a healthy, safe family and friends... and sometimes a job I could love without working excessive hours.

I try to hold on to Psalm 37:4... "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." That sounds like God could be like Santa... be good and he'll bring you everything on your list... My friend reminded me this week sometimes God changes the desires of our heart. Either way... I think the first step is to delight myself in Him... here's to hoping...

Meanwhile... you have to love a good mash-up cover by Kelly Clarkson...

"That I Would Be Good"/"Use Somebody" - Alanis Morissette/Kings of Leon

that I would be good even if I did nothing
that I would be good even if I got the thumbs down
that I would be good if I got and stayed sick
that I would be good even if I gained ten pounds

that I would be fine even if I went bankrupt
that I would be good if I lost my hair and my youth
that I would be great if I was no longer queen
that I would be grand if I was not all knowing

that I would be loved even when I numb myself
that I would be good even when I am overwhelmed
that I would be loved even when I was fuming
that I would be good even if I was clingy

you know that I could use somebody
you know that I could use somebody
you know that I could use somebody
you know that I could use somebody
I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see
you know that I could use somebody

that I would be good even if I lost sanity
that I would be good
whether with or without you