Hope Refined – A Place for Spiritual Encouragement
Welcome to a place where you can find spiritual encouragement in your daily walk!
Hope Refined – A Place for Spiritual Encouragement
This is a place where you can …
• remember who God is
• renew your peace and joy in the Savior
• figure out what’s between you and God so you can get closer to Him
• equip yourself with motivation and tools to share God’s love and truth with others
May you …
“taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)
“grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)
“know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19)
“let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16)
“[look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
“magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together” (Psalm 34:3)
Hi! I’m Christina Joy Hommes, a follower of Jesus Christ who loves to use words to encourage other Christians. I’m so glad you’ve come and pray that you will be refreshed, encouraged, and equipped while you’re here.
One of my favorite things to do is write beautiful, biblical resources that help Christians know God better and share His love with others. Some of the things I write include devotional poetry, Bible studies, devotionals, evangelistic tools like booklets and bookmarks, and books like Jesus Our Example.
I also take the pictures that accompany the posts on this site. I love to travel and enjoy nature photography – you might notice I especially like mountains! As I pick pictures for each post, I try to find something that reflects the message of the poem in some way.
I know that your email inbox can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you’d like to find a bright spot there, I send out an encouraging poem on Thursday or Friday each week. I’d love to have you join us!
May the Lord bless you richly and help you look for the little blessings He scatters throughout each day to remind you how well He knows you and how much He cares for you.
If you’re wondering about the name HOPE Refined …
HOPE stands for Helping One another Prepare for Eternity. This life is so short compared to eternity – it’s just a preparation time. Here we lay up treasures for eternity by getting to know God, serving Him in love, and trying to help others get to know Him and serve Him.
Refined refers to the way that the Lord wants to use everything in our lives – pleasant and difficult – to make us more like the Lord Jesus. Like a metal refiner, He is trying to get rid of what is useless and harmful so that we are pure and precious – prepared for the One we love.
Everything from HOPE Refined is designed to
1) encourage you in your daily walk with God
2) help you share God’s love and truth with others.
The resources at HOPE Refined are prayerfully created to help you keep this perspective in mind and live it in the practical moments of life …
-
- walking with God step by step
- looking for what He’s doing in your life
- remembering that each moment is from and for Him
- laying up treasures in heaven
- helping others know the Lord and live in light of eternity.
I hope you’ll find encouragement here and come back often to spend time with the Lord and get closer to Him.
May He get all the glory!
Favorite Poems
My Prayer for You
I lifted your name to the Father
And asked Him to bless you today,
I asked Him to guide and sustain you
Each step of your heavenward way.
I mentioned your needs to the Father
And asked Him to amply provide,
I asked Him to show you His goodness
That always stays close by your side.
I spoke of your work to the Father
And asked Him to richly reward,
I asked Him to prosper your service
That honors our Savior and Lord.
…
I’ll Carry It Today
Dear child, you know I love you,
I care about your tears,
I want to bear your burdens
And calm your doubts and fears.
This load that you’ve been wearing
Is far too big for you,
But I will gladly take it
If you’ll just trust me to.
I’m strong – it will not hurt me,
I’m wise – I’ll understand,
I’m kind – I want to help you,
I’m good – so trust my hand.
…
Come, See! The God of Heaven
Come, see! The God of heaven
Is walking on this earth;
The angels He created
Announce His humble birth.
Come, see! The God of heaven
Is healing blind and lame
And making friends of outcasts
Who call upon His Name.
Come, see! The God of heaven
Is dying on the tree –
The innocent found guilty
To pardon you and me.
…
The Things We Choose
The Scriptures we have treasured
When days are glad and bright
Become a kind of lifeline
When day has turned to night.
The hymns we love so dearly
When things are going fine
Become a kind of anchor
When hope is on the line.
The friendships we have nurtured
When life is at its best
Become a kind of safeguard
When troubles bring a test.
…
Where all My Hopes Are Built
Yes, I deserve to die,
My sin condemns my soul;
And by myself I can’t escape
Or shake its full control.
But Jesus died for me –
He took my sin and guilt,
He paid my debt upon the cross
Where all my hopes are built.
Now I am free indeed
For Christ has set me free!
He rose again and gave me life
For all eternity.
…
The One I Will Praise
God orders my steps with compassion,
His mercies are new every day;
He knows what will come and prepares me,
He teaches my heart what to pray.
His goodness is strong and unfailing,
His faithfulness flows from above,
His grace is more sure than the mountains,
He anchors my hope in His love.
There’s no one so kind and so patient,
His holiness shines like the sun;
He showers my path with His blessings
And meets all my needs one by one.
…
The Good from Pain
It’s not the pain itself
A Christian greets with joy,
But rather what it helps us gain
When in the Lord’s employ.
Like Jesus Christ we pray,
Lord, must this cup be mine?
But then we yield to One we trust:
Lord, not my will, but Thine.
For in the midst of pain
We find His loving care;
And patience has its perfect work
In sorrow borne through prayer.
…
Now I See Him
I knew God through the time I spent
In Scripture and in prayer,
I heard Him in the still small voice
That showed His tender care.
I saw Him in His mighty works
And little blessings too,
The things He sent to show His love
And prove His Word was true.
But now I see Him with my eyes
And truly hear His voice,
I know Him as He knew me then –
It makes my heart rejoice!
…
True Hope
True hope is found in Jesus Christ
And in His endless love,
It is the anchor of my soul
Secured by God above.
True hope is having peace with God
Since Jesus died for me,
It’s knowing He’s forgiven me
And made me new and free.
True hope is trusting Him each day
Because I know He’s near
To guide my footsteps and to bless
So I don’t need to fear.
…
