The Light Of Hope

Beloved friends,

Hope is a small word, yet it carries a holy weight. It is soft on the tongue but mighty in the soul. As we enter the first Sunday of Advent, we remember that hope does not require a roaring flame to be real. Sometimes all it needs is a single spark.

Even the faintest candlelight can be seen in the deepest darkness. One gentle flame, steady and unwavering, can push back a whole night of shadows. Our light, the light we look to and carry, is not fragile at all. It is the Name above all names: Jesus the Messiah, the Light who stepped into our world so darkness would never have the final word.

As long as there is even one ember glowing, darkness cannot prevail.

This is the heartbeat of Advent: the promise that God is drawing near, the assurance that light is already rising, and the reminder that hope, once given by God, cannot be extinguished.

At Roses of Hope, we carry this truth into the quiet and difficult places where families feel unseen or overwhelmed. We believe that hope can bloom even in the coldest seasons, like a rose opening beneath winter skies, because Christ Himself is our warmth and our light. We walk with others not only to offer help, but to help them recognize the ember still glowing within their story, fanned by the love of God.

As we light the first candle of Advent, may its flame speak to our spirits. May it remind us that Jesus enters our darkness with gentle brilliance, and that His light reaches further than fear, deeper than sorrow, and stronger than despair.

And as that flame glows before us, may we become bearers of hope, carrying Christ’s light with tenderness, compassion, and courage, until every shadow begins to fade.

With grace and an expectant heart,

Steven

Thankful As I Am

 Verse 1

I’ve been knocked down, beat up, lost a few fights,

Spent too many prayers on long, lonely nights.

But somehow I’m still standin’, still tryin’ to do right,

And I thank God every sunrise

For another shot at life.

Verse 2

Mama’s cookin’ slow, kids runnin’ through the doorway,

Family gatherin’ close like they always do on this day.

And I look around the room, and the weight fades away—

Yeah, this is what matters,

And what I nearly let slip away.

Pre-Chorus

Every mile, every trial,

Every tear I tried to hide…

Led me right back home tonight.

Chorus

I’m thankful as I am, for the grace that pulled me through it,

For the second chances given when I didn’t think I’d do it.

For the storms that made me stronger,

And the faith that made me stand—

Yeah, I ain’t who I was,

But I’m better by His hand.

And I’ll praise Him every heartbeat,

Every moment that I get—

Yeah, I’m thankful as I am,

And I ain’t done bein’ thankful yet.

Verse 3

Had to face my demons, had to lose a little pride,

Had to let the past go to keep the future alive.

Now the man in the mirror’s got nothin’ left to hide,

And I’m grateful for redemption

That no money could ever buy.

Pre-Chorus

If I’ve learned one thing out here,

It’s what you love is worth the fight…

And you hold on with all your might.

Chorus

I’m thankful as I am, for the grace that pulled me through it,

For the second chances given when I didn’t think I’d do it.

For the storms that made me stronger,

And the faith that made me stand—

Yeah, I ain’t who I was,

But I’m better by His hand.

And I’ll praise Him every heartbeat,

Every moment that I get—

Yeah, I’m thankful as I am,

And I ain’t done bein’ thankful yet.

Bridge

Every burden, every breakdown,

Every time I nearly gave out—

He was whisperin’, “Son, you ain’t through.”

And the good Lord knows I needed

Every valley I walked into…

Just to find my way back to You.

Yeah, to find my way back to You.

Final Chorus

I’m thankful as I am, for the grace that kept me steady,

For a heart that’s finally open and a soul that’s standin’ ready.

For the love that never leaves me,

And the mercy I won’t forget—

Yeah, I’m thankful as I am,

And I ain’t done bein’ thankful yet.

With every breath I’m given,

I’ll keep callin’ this life blessed—

Yeah, I’m thankful as I am,

On this day and every next.

Dear friends,
I’ve been thinking about how Jesus often placed compassion and faith above rigid rules, and how that lesson still matters—maybe even more—in the world we’re living in today.

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath or defended people whom the law condemned, He wasn’t trying to tear society apart. He wasn’t making a political statement. He was reminding us that rules are supposed to serve people—not crush them. His actions showed that laws have limits, but love does not.

Fast-forward two thousand years, and we’re living in a country—America—built on laws, policies, procedures, and systems. These things matter. They keep order, protect rights, and help millions of people live together. But no government, no matter how well-designed, can make the right call in every situation. Sometimes systems move too slowly. Sometimes they don’t see the individual caught in the middle. And sometimes a law may be technically correct while still failing to care for the human beings it affects.

That’s where we come in, and where Jesus’ example becomes so important.
In today’s world, we see people struggling with healthcare, immigration, homelessness, mental health, addiction, and countless other challenges. We see debates where the rules, procedures, and talking points take center stage—while the actual people behind those issues get pushed to the background. And regardless of where someone stands politically, almost everyone can agree that our systems don’t always know how to handle compassion.

But Jesus did.

He showed us that when compassion and rules collide, compassion should guide our hearts, even if the system isn’t built that way. We can respect the law while still recognizing its limits. We can participate in our government—vote, advocate, speak up—while still understanding that no law replaces the call to love our neighbor.

Choosing faith over rigid rule doesn’t mean ignoring laws or rejecting the government. It means remembering that laws are human-made tools, and tools need wisdom behind them. It means that in our everyday lives—how we treat immigrants, the poor, the sick, the outcast, the overlooked—we don’t wait for the government to tell us how to care. We do what Jesus did: put people first.

Faith reminds us that mercy is not a loophole. Compassion is not a weakness. Choosing love when the system falls short isn’t rebellion—it’s discipleship.

So as we navigate today’s world, let us be citizens who respect the law, but followers of Christ who never let the law become more important than the people the law was made to protect. Let us hold our government accountable with grace and courage, and let our lives reflect the same priority Jesus lived by: people over procedure, mercy over measurement, love over legalism.
May we meet our moment with hearts that see like He saw.

With peace and hope,

Steve

NOLA '25

 Heavenly Father,

In this time of sorrow and pain, we come before You seeking Your presence, comfort, and guidance. We lift up to You the lives affected by the recent tragedy and ask for Your healing touch on all those grieving, injured, and traumatized. Wrap them in Your love and grant them strength to face the days ahead.

Lord, we pray for an end to the senseless violence and murder in our fallen world. Transform hearts filled with anger and hatred into hearts of compassion and peace. Heal the divisions that fuel such acts and guide us toward unity and understanding.

Bless the leaders, lawmakers, emergency management, and community members working tirelessly to restore safety and justice. Grant them wisdom, courage, and the resources to address the root causes of violence. Help us all be instruments of Your peace, speaking words of love and acting with kindness in our daily lives. 

Father, we ask for Your light to shine in the darkness, bringing hope where there is despair and healing where there is pain. Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds as we work together to build a world of faith, hope, love, safety, and harmony. 

In the mighty name of Your son, 'Isho. Amen 

Joy in the Trials

James 1:2-4

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”

Life is full of challenges. From unexpected hardships to moments of uncertainty, we often ask, “Why is this happening to me?” It’s in these moments that James invites us to a radical perspective: to consider it pure joy when we face trials. At first glance, this seems a little counterintuitive - how can we find joy in the face of pain or struggle? But James is not telling us to deny our difficulties or pretend they don’t hurt. Instead, he’s teaching us to see trials as opportunities for growth, transformation, and a deeper relationship with God.
I want to encourage you with three truths we can learn from these verses. These truths will help us face life’s challenges with hope and perseverance.


1. Trials Have Purpose:

James tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Trials are not meaningless; they are tools in the hands of a loving God who is shaping us into the people He created us to be. Think about gold being refined. It is placed in fire-not to destroy it, but to purify it and make it shine brighter. Or take the rare diamond that is formed when carbon atoms bond together under intense heat and pressure deep within the earth: around 125 miles under the surface, temps average 2912 degrees; under these conditions, carbon atoms from the mantle crystallize and it can take up to 3 billion years for the diamond to form. In the same way, trials refine our character, strip away what is unnecessary, and bring us closer to God’s purpose for our lives.

Let me remind you: God does not waste your pain. Every tear, every struggle, and every setback is being used for a greater purpose. Romans 8:28 assures us that “in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.” Trust that The Lord is doing something incredible, even when you can’t see it yet.

2. Trials Strengthen Perseverance:

Perseverance is the ability to endure, to keep going, and to stay faithful even when the road is difficult. It’s a spiritual muscle that grows stronger and more flexible each time we face challenges with faith. Consider an athlete training for the big game. They don’t grow stronger by staying comfortable; they grow by pushing through discomfort, by running those extra miles and lifting one more rep when their body is tired. In the same way, our spiritual endurance grows when we trust God in the middle of our trials.

James is reminding us that perseverance is not the end of the goal - it’s the pathway to something greater. The ability to endure will carry us through future challenges and draw us closer to Him. The more we persevere, the more we discover that The Lord’s strength is sufficient for every situation.

3. Trials Lead to Spiritual Maturity:

James writes, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking for anything.” God’s ultimate desire for us is not just happiness, but holiness. He wants us to grow into the fullness of who He created us to be. Sometimes we pray for God to remove the trial, to remove the sickness, the pain, the heartache, the situation, but instead, He uses the trial to remove something in us - fear, doubt, pride, or impatience. He is shaping us into the image of Christ, and that kind of transformation takes time and trust.

When we let perseverance finish its work, we become people of unshakable faith. We become people who can face any storm because we know the One who walked on water, we know that our foundation is in Christ. This is what it means to be “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” It doesn’t mean we are perfect, but it means we are growing, flourishing, and striving to become more like Jesus of Nazareth.

Finding Joy in the Trials:

So, how do we find joy in the trials? We look beyond the present pain to the eternal purpose. We trust that God is working all things for good and for His glory. We remember that trials are temporary, but their results are eternal. The difficulty you face today is not the end of your story. We focus on God’s faithfulness. He has brought you through trials before, and He will do it again. Joy doesn’t come from denying your pain, but rather from knowing that God is with you in the pain. It comes from trusting that He is doing something beautiful even when you don’t understand it yet.

Conclusion:

My friends, if you’re facing a trial today, take heart. God is using this season to strengthen you, to grow you and to draw you closer to Him. The testing of your faith will produce perseverance, and that perseverance will lead to maturity and completeness. A lot of times our prayers that we think are going unanswered, were in fact answered, just in a different way than we had imagined.

At the time of Christ’s birth, the Jews were expecting a great king to free them from the Romans. They envisioned a strong man who would ride into Judea with a mighty army and an even mightier sword - instead, their savior was a little baby, born in a humble peasant home, to a small peasant family. He never carried a sword, and his “army” consisted of a dozen other peasant farmers and fishermen. He rode in on the back of a donkey; not a majestic stallion. But his death and resurrection freed not just the Jews in Judea, but the entire world.

As you walk through the challenges of life, hold on to the promise James wrote about. Choose joy - not because the trial is easy, but because you know it is leading you somewhere beautiful. Trust the process, and trust the One who holds you in His hands. Have confidence that God is not finished with us yet. The trials we face today are the stepping stones to the person we are becoming in Christ.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the trials and tribulations that refine us, for the perseverance that strengthens us, and for the maturity You are bringing in our lives. Help us to face challenges with faith and joy, knowing You are with us every step of the way. May we trust in Your purpose and lean on Your strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts for those affected by Hurricane Helene and the floods in Valencia. We ask for Your peace to cover the grieving, Your strength for those rebuilding, and Your wisdom for those guiding the recovery efforts.

Help us as Your servants to be channels of Your grace and compassion. May we bring Your light into this darkness and remind others that You are steadfast and sovereign. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trust In God (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) | Elevation Worship