Jesus--Our HOPE in the New Year and Every Day of the Year

   Happy New Year! Trusting that each of you had a blessed Christmas and are looking forward with anticipation to what our Savior and Lord has for you in the year ahead. 

   I write this the day after celebrating Christmas with my family. So many thoughts raced through my mind as I talked with my Savior this morning reflecting over the Christmas season, the preparations, the gift giving and special times with family and friends. As my sons, their beautiful wives and my 4 precious grandchildren came to spend the day with me, I just felt overwhelmed by the goodness of Jesus, of His love for each of us and for the blessing of family. Honestly, it is still bittersweet as we gather to share gifts and share meals around the table without Ty (our husband, father and grandfather). And yet....the amazing thing is that with each passing year as we choose to trust and hope in our God and His promises He gives us not only strength to carry on but also joy and peace as we rest in Him. As I told my family yesterday...Yes, I wish that Ty were still here, but I still can be thankful and find joy in each day because I KNOW that God's plans are always the BEST and that He never makes a mistake. What comfort and HOPE we have knowing that this earth is not our true home, as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that someday we will all celebrate every moment with our Savior and with Ty forever and forever. There is no gift or treasure on this earth that comes close to comparing to that!!

  Yet, it is hard in this life to really believe that with all your heart if you haven't had to suffer and come to a place that you can hardly take another breath or another step on your own. In suffering, you are forced to examine what you say you believe. It's one thing to say: "Yes, I believe in Jesus. I trust Him and believe His promises." But it's another to live those promises when tragedy strikes and life no longer makes sense. It's at those times when those verses that you've known so well all your life become lifelines. As you cling to them they bring hope and strength that is beyond explanation. There have been so many verses/promises that I have clung to and continue to rely on every day. They are all available to each of us as we choose to run into the arms of our Savior by opening the Bible (His love letter to us). If you have been reading my blog, you know that the Bible is my greatest treasure. No other book is alive (Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of the Lord is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword...) and can change our hearts and give us hope like God's Word. Here are just a few of the many promises that have brought encouragement to my heart and I pray will encourage you in this new year:

   Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direst your paths.

   Matthew 11:28 Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

   Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

   Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus

   Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, "Never will I leave you or forsake you." So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

   Isaiah 40:31 Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles.

   I Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you many be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. Vs. 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

   I John 4:15,16 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God. God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

   Psalm 73:23,24 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

   Psalm 37:23 If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

   Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

   Psalm 25:4,5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

   Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.

   Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.

   Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

   It's really hard for me to stop sharing His words of hope. As the last verse states: He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. I can testify to that. He continues to amaze me more each day with His love and faithfulness. I am so very thankful for Him and for my dear family and multitude of friends this new year. I am blessed beyond measure with many material gifts but more importantly with a growing love and contentment in my Savior each day. I want to encourage each of you in this new year with this promise - that God will be faithful to you too, no matter what you are going through, as you choose to TRUST and BELIEVE His precious promises.

   We are all on a journey each day. Hopefully that journey is leading you closer and closer to Jesus. Choose to take that step out in faith more often this year--to get out of your comfort zone and obey when He asks you to do something that you can't do in your own strength. It's hard--I know...but every time I take that step my faith grows because my Lord never fails to show up and do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what I could imagine! This paragraph from the "Jesus Calling" devotional, spoken as if Jesus is talking, sums it up well: 

I care as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith. You may think that no one notices, but the One who is always beside you sees everything--and rejoices. Consistently trusting in Me is vital to flourishing in My Presence.

   As I finish up my year-long clothing fast this month, I will be sharing all the Lord has taught me through that in my next blog. Hopefully, I will also be sharing about my new grandson who is due on January 24!! So fun!

   The song I'm sharing is an older one by Phillips, Craig and Dean called "I Am A Friend of God." Praying that in this new year your friendship with our Heavenly Father will flourish as you seek to love Him more and know Him better each day. He truly is the best friend you will ever have!!!