For the next few Fridays of Advent I will be sharing what I have written over at Good Morning Girls. We start our first week of Advent with "hope".

Looking around it is easy to lose hope. We hear of natural disasters, devastating tragedies, horrid crimes, and cruel abuses. But this hopelessness is not just "out there," we have difficulties in our own lives.  Everything from the stress found in marriage and parenting, to financial burdens, to illnesses and death. We long for hope. It is one of the greatest needs of humanity.  We desperately want something to happen that will right all the wrongs, restore our joy, drive out darkness, and give us strength. Praise the Lord there is great news! Our Hope was born over 2,000 years ago on a starry night in a smelly stable filled with the sounds of animals.

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