​So, here we are, a few days after Christmas 2016. This has been a nice day to reflect on the fun we shared with family and friends. Today I feel extremely blessed. I am grateful for the breath in my lungs, the roof over my head and for God’s love expressed with the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. The bags of crumpled gift wrap await the burn barrel.  The crazy speed of preparation has all but stalled. Daily life is resuming normalcy.
I commonly start the plan for the New Year about now. The plans of healthier eating, exercise and simplification of existence enter my mind. Well, you know what they say about the road paved with good intentions? So what will it take this year to bring to fruition all the desires of my heart?
I sure don’t have the answer. But the fact that I find myself standing in front of an insurmountable peak once again prompts me to make a better plan this year. I need to have follow through and perseverance. I need a concrete plan; one that is challenging but not overwhelming.
So, baby steps it is. Here are a few changes I plan to implement. Maybe you can use some of them on your New Year journey, too! (I have attached a PDF for you at the bottom of this post!)


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1) Start every morning with prayer and time reading the Bible. It is the most important thing I will do any day of the week. God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
2) Journal every day. Every. Single. Day. For accountability and just to have a record for future reference. What am I grateful for? What am I struggling with? Hey, if I can update a post on Facebook, I can record my thoughts and activities in a journal. No one really cares about my status anyway. Why not use it to improve myself?
3) Declutter my mind. Beginning the day with prayer and asking God to guide me and give me the wisdom to prioritize my list of things to do, stopping midday to assess my progress, praying for endurance to complete said tasks, then ending the day with prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. Before bed, look at my list, check off completed ones and add tomorrow’s desired tasks. Sleep and Repeat!
4) Declutter my home. Using the 3 pile process, take a room or area of a room each day and sort…Keep it, Donate it, Pitch it….And move the donate and pitch items ASAP. Don’t overthink, just imagine a clean, clutter free space and rejoice!
5) Start a list of people I miss. I often think of an old friend or family member that I simply never take the time to hang out with. As soon as they cross my mind, I will pray for them and then every week, reach out to one of them via telephone or a short visit. Can’t wait to start this!
6) Remember my younger self. Remember her dreams and goals? They are still attainable! Take deliberate steps to realize as many as I can! I ain’t getting’ any younger, after all!!
7) Read every day. Pick something inspirational; something that will reignite fire in my soul, bring back the sparkle in my eye and jump start the spring in my step.
8) Rest. Take time to relax and get lots of sleep. A renewed mind and spirit are necessary to climb my mountain and reach my full potential.
9) Choose to be grateful. See the silver lining in everything. After all, the master gardener planted me right where I am in just the perfect conditions to draw me closer to himself.  He knows what He is doing and His plan is perfect. I am growing!
10) Be humble, remembering daily where I came from and extending the same grace to others that Christ gave to me.
11) Tell people my story; the one about the girl on the path to destruction whom God plucked from the jaws of death. She was lost, but now she’s found. She was blind, but now she sees. She was dead and now she lives. She gained eternal security by surrender, and peace by faith in Jesus Christ. Her story can be yours.

 Celebrate life! Celebrate YOU! Happy New Year!

Print the "steps"  PDF below to jumpstart your New Year! God Bless you!
 

I wrote a short devotional on Isaiah 9:6 about 12 years ago. The verse spoke to me more clearly than ever that year, as I was kind of lost and unsure of my future. Not much has changed in that department, but the view of God I received that year changed my outlook, and has kept me persevering for Him. It has become one of my favoriete verses...

Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


From the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, until present day, it is quite obvious that humankind needs help. We are a lost people. We are dead in our trespasses. (Ephesians 2:1) None of us is righteous. (Psalm 53:3)

In a few days we will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you agree that the date is accurate or if you even celebrate it does not change the fact that it happened. It is history. So many prophecies in the Old Testament predicted the coming of a Savior. For hundreds of years, God’s people waited, sometimes impatiently and sometimes peacefully but always hopefully. Deep in each of our souls is the longing to be saved, to be loved, to be forgiven. God made us that way. He enabled salvation by sending Jesus ,who is God in the flesh. He came to be the perfect sacrifice, the perfect lamb to appease the wrath of Holy God. Our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. We are redeemed and grafted in to the family of God. Praise Him!

But God also knew we would need daily help. His job description, if you will, in Isaiah 9:6 is quite lofty. But we can count on him to be these things and so much more
.
First, He is Mighty Counselor. Who doesn’t need advice and guidance from time to time? Ok, well minute by minute in some cases! We can count on God’s word and the words of Jesus Christ to light our paths; to help us make the right choices. He is there to counsel us in the ways we should go.

Next, He is Mighty God. Mighty as defined by Webster-having or showing great strength or power, possessing the power, authority, or resources wielded.
He is all powerful, all sufficient, and all-knowing. He is a super hero, and He is on our side!

He is our Everlasting Father. Everlasting. Not temporary. Not just in this life. Not just when He feels like it. Eternally He is our Abba father-our dad.

Lastly, He is Prince of Peace. Our daily stuff is anything but peaceful. Nations and families are divided, Conflict, both internal and external, permeates our lives. But God promises true peace.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

We are never alone. We are never without answers. We are never powerless. We have a father who loves us and cares enough for us to show us the way, to never leave our side, to fight for us and to give us peace.

So just as the Israelites waited in joyful hope for Messiah, we celebrate this hope and anticipate his return. Philippians 2:9-11 says “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This all gives me hope for today and hope for eternity. So, this year, when you see all the signs and ornaments containing the word “Believe”, take pause and think…does this mean in Santa, the magic of Christmas, hope in mankind. Or is it for you, like it is for me? Belief in a triune God who created me, saved me, sustains me, promises me a prosperous future and guarantees eternal life. Choose to believe this,and the joy and hope that you feel this time of year doesn’t end. It only grows greater and deeper over time. May you and your families know the love of God this Christmas and make Jesus Lord of your lives. John 3:16 declares the greatest gift in history was given to us!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Receive it! Believe it! Rest in it!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

​ I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago. Not because I’m a scrooge, but because I was overwhelmed by all of the “stuff” at Christmas time and wanted to simplify. So I did. I made a big girl decision, and I liked it. I still enjoy receiving cards, and I even enjoy the letters that accompany them that summarize the year’s events and milestones on lovely Christmas stationary. In a busy world, it is an ideal way to keep in touch with people. So today I will attempt to mimic the year in review greeting. It won’t be sugar coated or remotely traditional, because well, I’m not. Never have been and doubt I ever will be. And for once in my life, I am ok with that. I know God is too. He made me this way…..
I am profoundly sad. It is one week before Christmas and I cried for an hour while I wrapped gifts. Death and despair were a big part of 2016. I realize that this year has really been the year where I lost faith in people. I have been disappointed and disillusioned. I’ve been duped and dumbfounded by people and institutions. I lost someone I loved to drugs and lost hope in something I trusted as secure. I was upset when people didn’t react the way I did, or didn’t follow the same rules I had to follow. Conflict commenced, anger arose and fears came to fruition. Hope was dimmed, pain was deep and lives were changed forever. But, I survived, by the grace of God. Once I allowed myself to get angry, I began the healing process. I am still a little mad. I am still blue. But I am slowly moving past it all. Throughout these processes, I have learned a thing or two…This is what I’ve come up with…
People suck. Plain and simple. But I’m a people, so I guess I suck too. And by suck, I mean, we are all sinners. We are all big fat messes. We don’t love well, we are impatient with each other and we are completely self-centered.; myself included. I have lost faith in people, and you know what? It’s about time!! My sadness and disappointment come from me putting people on pedestals that they should have never been on, having unrealistic expectations of them and assuming they are something they are not. Shame on me. My faith should have never been in them in the first place!
So, next year, I will still love you, but I don’t care what you think about me. I don’t care if you agree with me. I don’t even care if you accept me. I no longer need the validation I so tirelessly sought and thought I (almost) achieved. I no longer have expectations of anyone or anything. I’m good. God is all I need. He will provide the people and places I need in my life that will bring him the glory and that will best develop my God given gifts. So losing my faith in people turns out to be a good thing. I will be moving that faith to trust in God, where it should have been all along. So, I feel hopeful again.
Lest you think my entire year was gloom and doom, there were some, well lots, of really awesome moments, too! I am so proud of my adult kids as well as my littles, who are actually “middles” now. There has been hope in recovery and much success for my son and the joy of new life and a new career trajectory for my daughter! I will become a grandmother in the spring! Yay! My 7th graders are loving school and their activities, and my 3rd grader is finally able to play basketball! He is beyond excited. I am blessed beyond words to be part of a loving family. My mom and siblings are all nearby. I love my big crazy family! And my tried and true friends, well, they are still tried and true. I do have a solid support system that God has put in place. He has my back.
 I owe some of you an apology. I am truly sorry that I hurt you by my unrealistic expectations of you and my subsequent reactions. I was wrong. I am learning to walk away, consider your situations and pray for you, instead of reacting negatively.  I wish I had a few do overs, but I am covered by grace, thanks to my wonderful Savior. My prayer for this year is to extend as much grace to others as I receive from my Father. (And that is A LOT!)
I pray to remember daily that I am enough. And to remind you that you are enough, every chance I get. We will walk this broken road together as imperfect people with the knowledge that God is the only one who can make us perfect, through faith in Jesus Christ.  I will have a merry Christmas knowing that. And I long for heaven where every tear will be wiped away and every day will be as amazing as Christmas morning is to my kids.
May you gain the peace of Jesus Christ in your hearts this Christmas and put your faith in Him, not in people. It’s the only sure thing in a messed up world.
I promise a lighter message will be forthcoming. I needed to purge! Much love and blessings. :)