Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
 
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
 
When you think about it, isn't it amazing that God loves each one of us? He is in charge of really important things; yet, each one of us is important to him and is a recipient of his love and attention.  Can we do any less than hope in Jesus Christ no matter what?
 
I think of the communities of faith that persevered among African Americans during the dreadful oppression of slavery in the early days of our country. One of the few things slaves had to hang on to was their faith. The inhumanities and indignities that slaves endured are difficult to read about, and, perhaps, even more difficult to understand. Yet, in community after community enslaved people found ways to gather and share their faith in God's unwavering promises. Their faith gave them words for Spirituals based on the Bible stories they knew. These Spirituals gave our enslaved brothers and sisters in Christ ways to send messages of hope and faith to one another, and to carry them through the horrors they often lived. The power of these words have been heard around the world as Spirituals are sung in almost every tongue and land.
 
God has promised through his word to love each one of us and to keep his covenant of love to us. What a glorious promise on which to hope!
 
Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Thank you for your covenant of love for us throughout all generations and ages. Help us to remember all of your amazing promises to us. Help us to sing and rejoice always in your faithfulness to us. "When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me." Amen.
 
Florence Smallfield        
Ministries
Teaching Mission Party