Reflections and the New Year

Happy New Year to all of you! As I reflect on this past year and all that the good Lord and I have done together, my heart is simply filled to overflowing with love and gratitude for His great faithfulness. The Lord and I had such a sweet time together this morning and I want to share a little of it with you.

I Samuel 7:12 says, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." The devotion book Streams in the Desert continues:

"Whether through poverty, wealth, sickness, or health, whether at home or abroad, or on land, sea, or air, and whether in honor, dishonor, difficulties, joy, trials, triumph, prayer, or temptation--"Thus far has the Lord helped!""

It goes on to say: "Someone who comes to a certain point and writes the words "thus far" realizes he has not come to the end of the road and that he still has some distance to travel. There are still more trials, joys, temptations, battles, defeats, victories, prayers, answers, toils, and strength yet to come. So dear believer, "be strong and take heart" (Psalm 27:14) and with thanksgiving and confidence lift your voice in praise for:

The Lord who "thus far" has helped you

Will help you all your journey through."

This my song through endless ages,

Jesus led me all the way."

Taken from: L.B. Cowman Streams in the Desert 366 Daily Devotional Readings

I have to admit, I have a few anxieties about the new year. It's my last semester of school...where will the Lord lead me after this season? Where will He guide our feet to walk this year? What new opportunities does He have for us? What will He ask me to leave at His feet? This will be a new year filled with His new mercies and His amazing grace and faithfulness. I will choose to trust in His faithfulness...as He leads me all the way.

It's fun to look back at some of the joys and tears over the last year. He has been there through it all:

1. Driver's Education-be still my heart! Rachel is a wonderful driver. She is counting the days until her birthday in March.

2. Leaving a ministry that we deeply loved and trying to find God's place for us.

3. The delight of having a garden this year. The whole family enjoyed it.

4. The little stinker that visited our garage.

5. Hannah starting junior high-how can this be?

6. Mother of the year moments-ugh!

7. My crazy semester but God's goodness. Incredibly, I finished all 5 upper level English classes with my 4.0 GPA still in tact. He is so faithful!

8. This awesome salvation experiment that I was blessed to share with my children's ministry students and my oldest nephew.

9. Menu Plan Mondays, Tackle it Tuesdays, Word Filled Wednesdays, Thankful Thursdays, Photo Fridays and Friday Funnies...this blog has become such a blessing. Thank you for sharing in this journey with me!

May God bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you in this New Year!

Joyfully,

Kristi