New Year 2023

Hard to believe that 365 days are now behind us, and we are boarding a journey for a new year to come. The older I get it seems the faster time flies.   It is always good to look in the rear-view mirror and recall and reflect on the many ways that God has blessed us and shown up in our darkest times as well as celebrated with us when our greatest joys have been revealed.  There were times this year that I expect things did not go as you or I had planned but God, as he has promised, has never left us and continues to be our shield and help in times of trouble. Life is to be lived well, loving God, serving others, and truly appreciating our days without complaint or grumbling.  And as this new year comes barreling in, lets approach his throne of grace  and be thankful for the year that has passed, and look to with hope to the new one that has come.  

Each year families will prayerfully accept challenges that has been handed down to them. This year will be no different.  Some are huge, and come in most unexpected waysz while others are a little more tolerable with a reasonable outcome is in sight.  We have had ours and you too will experience yours. When that happens  to us, our banner will read “God has got this”.  Because he DOES. … whatever it is.  Just as God has his hand on all things. There is  nothing, no nothing that God allows to come to us, before us, or upon is without his plan and his faithfulness and loving presence to guide us. 

God gives us wisdom to persevere, strength in times of weakness, courage when things seem unsettled and most of all hope in knowing that God walks with each of us step by step.  But too often we want to run the life marathon our own way without stopping and inviting God to come along. Who doesn’t love a sweet invitation.  And when you do ask, you must know it is a blessing to him.  There is something remarkably settling to know you have asked, and he has accepted to be your running partner.  And there is a calming spirit of peace that slowly begins to settle in your heart and mind. 

WE are called to live one day at a time, in the present, without measure or anxiousness about what is to come.  And if you consider about that “one” step… all of us have the potential to move forward without hesitation and without mental distractions thinking of the “what ifs”,  if our focus remains steadfast on God.  Our God is the God of power, plans, purpose, and perfection.  And whatever he sends to any of us, it is wrapped in all those things. 

Each new year brings challenges, for things never stay the same.  Only God remains unchanged; his unbounding love, his forgiveness, his purity, his grace, and his enduring oversight of those who know him, believe in him and love him. How truly blessed are we.   

As this new year brings about new adventures, may we rejoice and find little treasures along our way.  May Christ bring  His light and freshness to our path and let us look forward to the blessings that  he sprinkles along the way.   May we find time to be quiet, and not be controlled by calendars, phones, and our usual treadmill of often times many insignificant choices, and get to know God better.  

Pray often, love well, forgive those who have mistreated you, ask for forgiveness from  those you have mistreated. I know it is hard but lay out to God those mistakes you have made, he already knows them but when you declare them there is a true sense of cleaning the slate and  and gives all of us a new beginning each day.  Be patient when others are not on your same page, find some fun in the midst of routine, make each day count, be kind, and thoughtful and most of all ask God to lead you in whatever challenges he has set forth before you and trust really trust in his plans…. For we never know what God is up to behind the scenes and what he is doing to grow us up in our faith and in our closeness to him.  His glory will always shine through.  

Let this year be one of your greatest… for you are loved and adored by God and if you stand on that one foundation alone, you will find that he will keep you steady and your hearts will be guarded from the many distractions that the world offers.  

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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