Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. \u00a0 \u00a0 Romans 12:2<\/p>\n
A verse for the new year, don\u2019t you think? As I look back on 2013, I see God\u2019s hand in all of it. I cannot imagine a day without Him, really, and I don’t want to. This year has been challenging for sure, yet my faith has grown by leaps and bounds. There have been times of scarce resources yet God has provided loaves and fishes. My children have not gone hungry and there has always been a roof over our heads. The Lord is so<\/strong> <\/em>good.<\/p>\n Kyle started a new job this time last year. He has been on the road for most of 2013 and had a lot of time with His Creator. I have had the privilege of watching God grow and mold him into the husband and father that He intended him to be. The marriage that almost ended has been completely\u00a0renewed\u00a0 and restored to an even more magical and Spirit-filled marriage, and love for each other is greater than ever. We found a church home and a group of wonderful godly people who love us for us and accept us just the way we are, but love us too much to let us stay content. How amazing when God puts people in your path that actually speak truth to you and help you grow spiritually.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve watched my children grow spiritually through some pretty hard things. But, isn\u2019t that how God works? It\u2019s through the tests and trials that our faith grows and we realize that with God we can do anything. They have seen God do the impossible, too. As much as I would love for their lives to be easy, without hardships and heartaches, their character and faith and relationship with Him grows out of the dark murky soil. I wouldn\u2019t change anything. God is good and all He gives is good. We cannot see the big picture so we don\u2019t see how all these pieces fit together. But God does—and He puts the tapestry of our lives together. I love that I can look back with a smile knowing that He WAS \u00a0in control; I love that I can step into next year knowing that He IS in control. What would I do differently? Nothing!<\/p>\n So what are my hopes for the new year? For starters, I don\u2019t want to take one step that He does not ordain. And what is the best way to hear what He says about our future? We go to His Word. His promises always come true and His word is more valuable than any amount of money.<\/p>\n Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, ‘Forgetting the past,’ \u00a0‘pressing on toward the goal,’ \u00a0‘for the prize,’ \u00a0amazing words! And the prize is the the call on your life—an anointing on your life from your Father.<\/p>\n Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. You are a new creation, the old has passed! 2013 has passed, there is nothing that can be done about it now. If wrong has been done, then we repent, ask forgiveness and move forward, right? And that is all that is required. We are forgiven. Grace is ours for free! And there\u2019s more…<\/p>\n Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. This is actually our family life verse. He does<\/em> make a way in the desert—He always<\/em> has and He always<\/em> will.<\/strong> When there seems to be no way, He makes a way. He is<\/strong><\/em> the way. John 14:6 says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”<\/p>\n Friends, if you don\u2019t know Jesus and you don\u2019t know the way to the Father, please read these Scriptures and pray them back to Him. All you have to do is ask Him to come in to your heart and live forever. Then read His Word and begin the most important and amazing walk of your life.<\/p>\n
\nbut I press on to make it my own,
\nbecause Christ Jesus has made me His own.
\nBrothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
\nBut one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind
\nand straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
\nthe goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
\nPhilippians 3, verses 12-14<\/p>\n
\nThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
\n2 Corinthians 5:17<\/p>\n
\nBehold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
\nI will make a way in the wilderness and (spring) rivers in the desert.
\nIsaiah 43:18-19<\/p>\n