Blog-tember day 7 // story behind my blog name

Today I am joining Blog-tember again to answer today's prompt:

Monday, Sept. 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

Beautiful Hope Blog was born out of a desire to experience and reflect on the hope that comes from Jesus. Originally, I started blogging in 2011 as Beautiful Feet of Hope, which was inspired by Isaiah 52:7 (and cross-referenced in Romans 10:5)   . . .

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion:
 “Your God reigns.”

As a Christian that has been redeemed by Jesus -- given hope when I was hopeless, peace when there was restlessness, good news when I only saw bad news of shame and guilt -- I desire to have beautiful feet that walk in the valleys as well as the mountains "publishing" the good news found in Jesus. I desire to show the beauty of hope throughout my everyday, be it while I am typing a blog post in the wee hours of the night, talking with a friend who is experiencing fear and anxiety, or teaching sunday school kiddos about the gospel. I want to spread hope. I want to show that there is a hope that is true and worthy. A hope that is more beautiful than can be explained with mere words. And, I believe that hope is found in Jesus. 

"I pray that more would be burdened to have beautiful feet  . . . 

Go, go, go. Run with those beautiful feet"

Around the time I started thinking about blogging, I  came across a song by LeCrae named "Beautiful Feet". To this day, I cannot listen to that song without tearing up. Above are a few lines in the song that gripped my heart as the Holy Spirit impressed that we are called to walk where others would rather avoid; for our feet to step towards the hopeless and forgotten, showing them that they are loved, cherished, and forgiven by the God who came down to earth to give us abundant hope and redemption through Him. 

The idea of "Beautiful Feet" is not about perfectly manicured toes or a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo heels. Instead, our willingness and obedience to walk towards where God is calling us, bringing the Gospel message (and the peace, hope, joy, and salvation that springs out of the Gospel) gives us beautiful feet. 

I chose to shorten the blog name from Beautiful Feet of Hope to Beautiful Hope for the logistical reason that some people were confused by the "feet" part . At times, I miss the original name since it reminds me of the original reason for starting the blog, but I do feel Beautiful Hope still encapsulates the original meaning and my desire is that it brings curiosity to the reader as to know more about how hope can be truly beautiful.