I just searched my old documents and read a devotional I wrote about the end of 2009. Really? Is that so far in the past? It seems like yesterday, and yet here we are again -- at the end of another year --- two years later. Wow, the old adage about time passing quickly has never felt more true than it feels today.
2011 has been quite a year, one like no other in my life. I started this year differently, choosing to give God the "first fruits" of my calendar year. I took time away from church "work" in January to focus just on God and my commitment to Him. I took time every day to sit in God's presence and seek His face. I took time to start my year by giving God my days and my heart, and in a million ways, I have been blessed. I couldn't possibly have known the dynamic storms that were ahead for our family in 2011, but God knew. He used January to prepare me for February - December; without that preparation time, this year would have felt like a disaster, but with God . . . with God . . . disasters feel like victories and valleys always have a way out. It was a year that should have felt hard, and yet, until I started to look back, I didn't even realize how hard it was. That's when I was reminded once again that God was with me every single step of the way.
During this year alone, our lives changed dramatically. Our precious son-in-law, weary of being laid off at work, made a decision to join the Army, and he leaves in just a few short weeks. Our hard-working son saw the economy drop its final wrecking ball on his business and end a dream. He closed the doors in exhaustion and relief. Both of these life-altering decisions were based on economic pressures, and Satan wants me to resent the world, but the truth is that my God is bigger than a failing economy, and somehow, He keeps providing for us, just as He will in 2012. Our oldest daughter had a second child after suffering miscarriages and not being sure she would ever have another baby. Addelyn was born in June, and God is so good. Our middle daughter faced kidney stones, but she is healthy today. She also lost her grandfather this year. Our youngest daughter's whole life has changed for the better. She has the family she always wanted but didn't think she would have, and we have gained another son. God is really good. Our youngest son continues to study at CCU, and he moves closer and closer to being a classroom teacher.
And these are just some of the changes we faced in the past calendar year. So what have I realized by looking back? God was always here, and true to His Word, He never left us or removed His mighty hand from our lives. The other thing I can see from this side of the valley is that God had a plan for every single step we took this year. Last January, when we were fighting some ugly demons, it was hard to see where this would lead, but today I have the joy of seeing some of the strands of God's tapestry woven together . . . I'm finally seeing a picture come into focus, not just loose strings but a masterpiece of God's goodness and grace. So as I enter 2012, there are a couple of messages I need to share with you.
God never leaves you, and no matter what you have faced or are facing in 2012, God is here. Emmanuel -- God with us.
God always has a plan that we can't see, at least not fully. And as surely as we try to know where He's headed, He takes us by surprise, and then we get to be amazed!
God desires to bless us all. We are His children and heirs to His kingdom, and He wants to bless us with His goodness and grace. We just need to seek Him, love Him, and in the words of scripture, "delight in Him," and He will give us the desires of our hearts. And actually, what I've realized is that He changes my heart to make my desires match His, and then the impossible begins to become possible.
Finally, give God the "first fruits" of your new year. Start the year by giving Him more of you. And watch what happens in 2012 . . . I'm sure it's going to be the year of the Lord's favor. Happy New Year!
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