One Word for 2020

Happy New Year... Ready or not, 2020 is here!!  And with that comes the selection of a new One Word for the year...

Here was my One Word post for 2019...and the word was Abundance.  As I read back over what I wrote one year ago I realize that I didn't actually follow through with what I thought I would do in regards to learning more about abundant living in Christ...and yet, perhaps it was done for me...

One thing I have learned is that we can't make things happen to have a more abundant life...it is something that happens through life's daily routines, experiences, unexpected events, both good and not so good...God is the One Who is orchestrating our lives in accordance with His perfect plan. My schedule and time-table is not necessarily God's schedule or time-table. His plans are NOT my plans...but His plans are the perfect ones for my life, whether I see it or not at the time.

Remember this picture...the heart in the midst of the trees overlooking the pond when we first found this home?

And yet, I have experienced God's abundant love and presence in my heart and life throughout this past year in so many ways. Probably the biggest was in how He brought together all of the elements necessary for us to finally sell our home and make this huge move to our new home in such a special way.  This post that I wrote here, "A Dream Come True", probably sums it up the best.  It seems as though God went above and beyond our dreams to bring this all to pass, and I just can't thank Him enough.

This is the verse that always comes to my mind when I think of the abundant love of God:

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

I think of this as a kind of benediction, or blessing. Our Lord is able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think..." and not only is He able, but He does do this for His children whom He loves so much.

So, even if I don't feel like I lived up to my part of the bargain to learn more about "abundance in Christ"...God did HIS part...and He truly did do "exceedingly abundantly above all that" I could ever ask or think.  And I give Him praise and glory, Amen!!

 So now, that brings us to this year,  and the new One Word for 2020.  As of this moment, I am still thinking and praying about this. 

I read a book years ago entitled "The Joyful Journey", co-authored by four different women from the "Women of Faith" ministry,  Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Marilyn Meberg, and Luci Swindoll. Their theme verse was from Jeremiah 31:21, which says: "Set up signposts, make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went."    Their goal was "to see women live as fully as God intends for each of them....to bring light to the path and to be a source of encouragement and inspiration, always pointing the way back to God and the importance of our relationship with Him." (Foreword, page 7, The Joyful Journey)  

As I scan through many highlighted, underlined, circled verses in my Bible, I find that the word "joyful" pops out at me all the way through. So often the joyfulness comes after a season of testing and difficulties in life. God's Word teaches us to be joyful in the face of affliction and trials, and to rejoice because of His righteousness and justice. I want to walk this journey of life with a joyful heart, regardless of the  trials and sorrows of life.  

So, I believe my One Word for 2020 is going to be "Joyful", and I will  start the year with one of the very first Psalms I ever learned as a child, 

Psalm 100:1-5

"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves,

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates  with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; 

His mercy is everlasting,

and His truth endures to all generations."

So I am going to be watching for those "signposts and landmarks" of joy along life's pathway...opportunities to be joyful even in the face of adversity or difficulties.  No, I'm not looking for those things...they just have a way of happening without our seeking them out...so it is my desire to face each new challenge of life with a joyful heart,  knowing that the Lord, Who made me, is going to take care of all my needs regardless of what the world may say.   We are His sheep,  and we know that the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep.  So we can be joyful and trust Him no matter what.  

There you have it: JOYFUL!  Happy New Year!!! May all our hearts be joyful as we begin this brand new year and brand new decade. God is with us, so we need not be afraid to face whatever lies ahead!

Kingdom Blessings for God's Children

Some words of hope and encouragement for God's children.

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

1.  "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,

and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;

2.  It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,

Even with joy and singing.

The  glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the Lord,

The excellency of our God.

3.  Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

4.  Say to those who are fearful-hearted,

"Be strong, do not fear!

Behold, your God will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God;

He will come and save you."

5.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6.  Then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the dumb sing..."

10.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,

and come to Zion with singing,

with everlasting joy on their heads.

They shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

May your day be filled with joy and gladness...and may all sorrow and sighing flee away.

Amen.

Live Joyfully in the Midst of Struggles

This is what I read in Sarah Young's "Jesus Today" today.... #116

"I am calling you to live joyfully in the midst of your struggles.

You yearn for a freer, more independent way of life than you're currently experiencing.

You pray fervently--and then wait hopefully for the changes you desire.

When I don't answer your prayers according to your will, you sometimes get discouraged.

It's easy for you to feel as if you're doing something wrong--

as if you're missing out on what is best for you.  

When you think that way, you are forgetting a most important truth:

That I am Sovereign.

I am in control, and

I am taking care of you."

This past weekend was very stressful for us.  As most of you know, we take care of my 93 year old mother in law on the weekends, and she is getting progressively more fragile, dependent and extremely needy.  My time is consumed with caring for her needs, and by the end of the weekend I am pretty well exhausted.  I was so much so this past weekend that I am still feeling the effects on my body and in my spirit.  Those of you who have cared for elderly loved ones can relate.  Our whole family is affected by this in a negative way, and we know that some changes are going to have to be made soon.  But we are reluctant to take those steps, and I find myself praying that God will intervene for her and on our behalf...and be merciful for His children's sake. I know God understands my heart in this, and I don't believe He thinks badly of me for having these feelings.  But He wants me to trust Him to do what is best for all concerned.

This is part of the reason I believe I was directed to choose the word "REST" for my "One Word" for 2017.  Not only is it for a spiritual resting in Christ, but also for a physical rest...which actually coincides with the spiritual.  Because when our physical bodies need rest, our spirit usually needs rest as well.  

Today I was uplifted and blessed to be a part of our monthly gathering of our "Lovely Ladies of the Lord" group.   After we meet for a time of prayer, Bible study and sharing our concerns and joys, we usually continue our fellowship at a local restaurant for lunch...

I know the Lord planned this gathering for this week, because I truly needed this time of respite and joy in the midst of my struggles.  These ladies always give me a blessing just by their words of love and comfort and prayer. We are there for each other...and I am humbled by the true beautiful hearts of these dear women of the Lord.  We all learn so much just from sharing our burdens and cares...and laying them at the feet of Jesus. 

I have come away from this meeting today with my burdens lifted, knowing that, 

Yes, God IS sovereign, and yes, God IS in control, 

and most definitely God IS taking care of me!

And I can live joyfully in the midst of struggles!

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever!"

Psalm 118:1

Amen.