Better Than Wishing is Blessing

Happy New Year!

I always like to wish people a Happy New Year for at least the first two weeks of the year!  However, better than wishing is blessing.  So as my little motley crew consisting of my five-year old, eight-year old, and 13-year old nephews, 15-year old niece, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband gathered to ring in the new year, I chose a special Bible verse, and turned it into a blessing that I spoke over us right before midnight.  I am sharing it with all of you today hoping you will appropriate it for yourselves and those you love:

Job 42:16-17 “Job lived another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man who lived a long, full life.”

MAY WE AND THOSE WE LOVE SO DEARLY LIVE WITH HEALTH TO SEE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND LIVE LONG, FULL LIVES!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your Holy Word.  There are so many encouraging passages of scripture written for us, including these verses in Job.  If You took time to note that Job lived 140 years and was able to enjoy seeing four generations worth of family, then we pray the same for ourselves. Glory to Your life-giving name! AMEN.

The Most Important Call

Psalm 28:1 “To You, Lord, I call…”

Happy New Year!

If you’re like me then you have been busy texting and calling and wishing everyone a Happy New Year.  The most important call we make, however, is to our Lord.  No one can answer us like He can.  No one can bless us like He will.  No one can shower us with the peace, joy, hope, protection, faith, guidance, wisdom, and health that we will need in the upcoming year.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the rest of the 28^th Psalm says, “The Lord heard me praying…He is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart greatly rejoices; I thank Him and praise Him.”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You hear our prayers.  Thank you that You are our strength. Thank You that You are our shield.  You cover us from all the madness in this world, and we need it every single day.  Help us to trust you more and more.  Our hearts rejoice today and will rejoice every single day in the coming year. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Yes and No

New Year’s Eve is almost here  -  shocking  -  and I am already warming up the pipes to belt out “Auld Lang Syne.”  It's a song with Scottish origins which asks, “Is it right that old times be forgotten?” 

Yes and no...

The Bible provides two verses in response to the question.

Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “…hold onto that which is good.”

Take a moment to think about 2016. What was good, beautiful, and memorable about it? Whatever was good, hold onto it. Treasure it in your heart. Keep it nearby when you need a reason to smile. One of my highlights was getting a perfect stranger to sing a raucous song about his mother.  I have it recorded, and every time I hear it I crack up!

Now what about the difficult days this past year? FORGET THEM! Don’t dwell on them. Leave them filed away forever in a folder labeled, “DO NOT OPEN.”  I wanted to share some of my rough days, but they are out of reach.  

Happy New Year!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We choose to hold onto the good and forget the bad.  We choose to treasure the lovely and bury the ugly.  First and foremost, we cling to You for dear life.  Thank You that You will never let us go.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~