Hope, No Greater Joy Endearing...Celebrating Hope on the first week of Advent

Is there anything better to celebrate than hope?!! So it begins...the celebration of the Believer's hope!The first two lines of this poem was written yesterday morning before church the next 2 stanzas this morning before hosting a tea-for-two-friends party, thenI worked at it again before a dentist appointment,finally finishing it while supper is cooking! ...and what is supper you ask?Hamburger Stew! This poem wasinspired by and Titus 2:11-1411 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Once we were aliens and strangers without hope and without GodBut we who once were so far off have been brought near by the bloodOf Christ Jesus. Raised to newness, we who were dead in our sinsUnaware until he saved us, of the hope where life begins Praise the precious name of Jesus. He, who died in our placeSo that He might show us the exceeding riches of God’s graceFor His grace that brings salvation has appeared to one and allBringing to mankind redemption from the curse after The Fall Gone, the veil of separation; He himself is our peaceThere is now no condemnation to all who trust and believeIn the Promise that releases us from judgement’s damning rodThrough the precious blood of Jesus, He gives us access to God Hope, what sacred consolation where the dread of death would reignWhere instead of peace and pardon a barrier would remainHope, no greater joy endearing the sweet nearing we applaudWhile we wait for the appearing of the glory of our God © Janet Martin