Luke 24:3-8 KJV
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,

As Thanksgiving Day approaches many are going to be wishing they did not spend extra on there Thanksgiving Day meal. In our area our power bills just went up with a new deposite for anyone behind, even if you got caught up or was late you will be experiencing a price increase, even if your bill was late only one month in twelve month period. That decrease you just experience because summer is over just went up again. People that are low income just lost there Christmas for there kids. What the hope if a person for 12 months can maintain no late bill for 12 months you get the deposite back. There was no warning either and winter fuel price just being add to low income budget despite availability of fuel assistance by state government just drove the bills upperwards despite heating with electricity or another fuel. What does it mean to people starving already that are behind ever this year once there bill just caused them to experience a belt tighting squeeze in the middle of winter. Those already reduced to beans will be standing in the cold in soup lines with or without proper winter attire. A pound of lunch meat might be the cheapest meal and might not be so tasty of a meal for how many serving? Cheaper to buy meat and boil it making gravey with shreds of meat with biscuits for a meal. Vegetables make a nice soup. Some children and elderly need more then broth because of health find themselves at heavens door as Bob Cratchit son did in the story of Scrooge(by Charles Dickens) with Christmas future Ghost.

The world of poverty gets more taxing. There a point a hope of a brighter with either the struggle either with death through starvation if saved or survival to see the hope if they can see the light and clear picture at the end of the storm they are going through.

Memory of hope in the storm should be the story title. The women had gone to the tomb with spices to clean the body and final preparation for the body of Jesus decay. The horror and shock of events they just seen of the beating, the crucifying and the dying of their Lord. I doubt it was their first experience of death because Lazarus had risen again less then a month ago. It was probably not the first beating seen in city street, but the first innocent man to be abused and killed before the public eye and Jesus' followers. Yet all these things were prophesied. Yet the shock was to much as they stood looking at the empty tomb. Same shock when one is knocked down and kepts being knocked down. Yet there before the women was the empty tomb and the moment of shock and dismay came with the joyest news Christ was risen by two angels. Angels said dont you remember what he told you in Galilee by Jesus. It all came flooding back to women he spoke of his own death and resurrection. If Lazarus could rise so could Jesus after all he was the Son of God. The women shaken went to tell the disciples Jesus was alive.

The hope was not in a filled tomb but in the resurrection that Christ's word were true. They did not have to see him but they believed. The light coming with the words of hope. Mary was the only one left at the grave weeping that need the reality of his presence and he provided it for her. Thomas was the only male that doubted, but Peter and John went to see the empty tomb. They wonder at the words of the woman until they seen him too.

Hope is not in the storm but in Christ promises. The hope being in Christ his holy word that he had the power to rise again. We find the same hope that he will return for the believers. We rest in hope that the storms in our life is not long. That the storm is only passing. Our hatdship in this world will be a fading memory but the word of God we as believers need to hold to even to in our dying breath as we struggle in storms knowing it not life or death for us but there hope beyond our earthly experience. That life beyond the grave is far greater still. The struggle worth the cross we must face daily tell we see Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father, keep ua in your hope knowing your word is true. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Thanksgiving Countdown Thankful list Week 3:
15. Time Of Dedication
16. God's law
17. Thankful for stain glass windows
18. Creation
19. Healing
20. Memories of hope spoken

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 13:3-4 KJV
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.