January Thoughts from 2012 for 2013

I always knew that keeping a journal was a good thing, and today I have been blessed by that spiritual discipline. God nudged me to look back through some of the meaningful thoughts from January 2012, and in doing that, I decided to write them down. I hope, as you read through these, they might inspire you as you move into 2013. The thoughts come from many preachers and places, but in reality they all come from God. Let Him move in your heart and life, and let these caveats of wisdom find a place in your thinking. Happy New Year! “Every mess I’ve made has been a space for grace.” Beth Moore, James study “God always goes ahead of us, even when it looks like nothing is going right. He has a purpose for us, and He can use everything --- even things intended for evil – to prosper us in His will.” Jean Burden “God used (and uses) some really messed up people to accomplish His will.” Jean Burden “Any stronghold of Satan can be destroyed by holding the blood of Jesus upon it --- I have this as a legal right.” Jean Burden “Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.” Charles Stanley “We can use our stories to change the world.” Barefoot Church “Do I love others the way God loves?” Scott Johnson at Union United Methodist “What do we need to repent so God can use us completely?” Joyce Meyer “God is still in the business of redeeming our sons and daughters! Now we have the blood of Jesus to provide a new protection---His blood is on the doors of our houses!” Jean “Leverage what you have to help others. These become future deposits in our eternal home.” Clay Nesmith at Barefoot Church “It takes more than words to show our love for God. It takes action --- born in the heart.” Jeff Dunn at Christ United Methodist “God, break my heart for what breaks yours.” Jean “Sometimes we wouldn’t get into trouble if we would be where we are supposed to be.” Joyce Meyer “Bear fruit so others will want the God of your life.” Joyce Meyer “Trusting in things and people and churches will leave you empty. We must trust in Christ.” Clay Nesmith at Barefoot Church May you place your trust in God in 2013. You will never be sorry!

Putting Things in Perspective

Favor2012. It's been a foundational thought for me all year. I started this past year expecting God's favor, and I surely have received it. But in the past few days, I found myself a little somber, focusing on some things that haven't been so great this year, especially lately. So in a moment of needing God with an audible voice, I called my friend, Pam, and this is what she said: "Go home and worship. By yourself. Just worship and praise Him." Then she asked an interesting question: "How long has it been since you played your piano just for you and Him? Not in a service, but just for Him?" My answer? Forever. I rarely do the thing I love just as an act of worship and thanksgiving to my Father. I let distractions and lack of time take me away from something in which I find great joy: music. I will change that in the coming days. And since my wise friend helped me to re-focus my thoughts, I have been pondering the creation of a list: could I go back through 2012 and remember every time I have found God's favor in my life, every month of the year? Maybe my journal will jog my memory, and maybe, in taking time to sit still before God -- no distractions -- He will call to mind the things for which I owe Him my praise. And so, before midnight on December 31, I will be working on my praise list. Nice to be thinking wonderful thoughts because as much as we might think we can multi-task, the brain cannot. If I am praising Him and remembering His favor, I simply cannot focus on the negative. It's not scientifically or spiritually possible. I will begin with this and the rest will come later: my whole family of children and grandchildren will be together this afternoon for the first time since August. That's enough favor to last me a very long time. Thank You, God.

Reflecting

It's the day after Christmas. People will be rushing from store to store, jockeying for sales so they can have more "stuff." Probably stuff they don't need. Am I tempted? Yes. Am I going? No. I have a house full of things that need to be sorted, discarded, and given away, so I definitely don't need more stuff. I just need some time to think. Anybody else there today? Christmas was quite different this year. One daughter and her family are in Texas, and we haven't had Christmas with the extended crowd yet. This is a first, and I guess it won't be the last. We had a new baby to celebrate, which is always a blessing, and I did some things differently this year. This is the first time in years that I haven't been directly involved in Christmas music, instead choosing to be a spectator and worshiper. I was a little sad, wishing I could sing somewhere for Christmas, and God provided at the last minute. Wow, He never fails, and His timing is always amazing. So now what? Now I'm pondering my life, where I am, what I'm planning for 2013, how I need to change my life since I'm getting ready to be married to a retired man. I have spent the last year of my life, visiting churches, loving worship, and asking God to guide me to where He wants me to be. That answer is elusive, and this morning I feel a little lonely, but here's what I know: when God is ready for me to know, I will know, and not a second before then. In the meantime, He has blessed me with wonderful Christian friends who really love God and live like it. He has answered prayers, and He is already planning for ways to answer some other petitions. He is faithful. I might be a little somber, but He is faithful, and my joy in Him is complete. So why am I sharing this? Because you might need to know this morning that God has always answered prayers, and He hasn't changed. He is still in the business of answering prayers for every one of us. We just need to ask. We need to cast our cares on Him and let Him shoulder the burdens. And when the answers seem slow in coming, know that He has a reason for the delay, and in His timing, there is no delay. He knows exactly what needs to happen, and He is putting pieces in place for you because He loves you dearly. Trust Him today. Let His joy fill you completely, and know that you have a heavenly Father who has plans to bless you in 2013. Give Him your heart and ask Him to open the storehouse of blessings. You will not be sorry you did.

I know many people are questioning so many things today in the aftermath of the shooting yesterday, but here's one thing I know: God didn't do this. God didn't ordain this. God allows us the power to choose, and yesterday someone chose evil. I also know that He is the Great Healer, and He will be with those families and that community every second of every day. He will watch over them and give them His strength when they have none. God is the not the problem; He is the solution. In this country we better figure out that having a serious relationship with the God of the universe is more important than anything else. We better get serious about reading scripture and understanding what He needs us to know. We better let Him be our Guide, our Comforter and our Savior. Without Him, we are lost, and even people who claim to be Christians are often not in a relationship with Him. He wants to hear from us every day, and He has things to tell us every day. It's not enough to show up for church. Get serious about loving God and sharing that love. Get serious about living on your knees to pray against evil. Get serious about making God the center of your life, not just something on the fringes. Too many people have pushed God to the side, and then we wonder why the world is a mess. I teach school, and every day I live out my faith before my children. They feel and know my unconditional love, they experience my forgiveness that comes readily, and they know my tough love. My prayer is that every day, they "see" Christ through my actions and behavior. This issue is not about gun control. It's about life control. We need to give control of our messed-up lives to God; He is the great Transformer of lives. WE need to pray for lost souls and be willing to witness to them. WE need to step out of our comfort zones and we need to stand up for Christ. It's time. And one last thing: Christmas is going to be different this year for the people in that community in Connecticut. Let it be different for you and your family, too. It's not your birthday. It's not your children's birthdays. Put the focus where it belongs: on Christ. Pray with your children, pray for the families who have suffered such loss, pray for God to be with us. He is faithful.