A new year, another year gone and a time to reflect on what has transpired and on what we hope for, anticipate and desire to change. As I said last year at this time I am not much of a New Year ringer inner (yes I know that may not even be the grammatically correct word/phrase). It has been tough these past few New Years, real tough and as I mentioned last year, I am just so happy to have made it through the year, let alone focus on something to change.
So last year I choose the word 'Opportunity'. I prayed diligently for Opportunities, yes it was primarily a spiritual thing. Opportunities primarily for ministry, for our future, to bless people, for us to be healthy, spiritually, physically and mentally. I prayed for lots of different Opportunities and you know what God did not disappoint. Of course this can be said with a lot more ease and 'ahem' gratitude now that the year is over, than when I was in the midst of it. So cliche, so true isn't it. It is always easier to look back and see all the amazing things that God has done when you have went through it.....than when you are in the midst of it.
To recap 2013 in a few simple thoughts......I have learned so incredibly much, I am so incredibly sinful which makes me so utterly dependent on Jesus, ministry and the wickedness in this world is so, so draining and hard, God is still alive and full of miraculous opportunities if you let Him do His work (and not our own).
I have struggled, we have struggled, we have lived, loved, laughed, cried, lamented. It is good, it is so good. I am beyond blessed and I realize this a lot more during these really tough moments. So thank you Lord for a tough 2013, but a 2013 full of Opportunities beyond our wildest imaginations.
So here we are 2014 and I have to say that we had an amazing New Year. John had planned a Youth event out at a lovely families property in Gananoque (about 20 min. outside of Kingston). They have a beautiful house and property and so graciously opened their homes to us all. While not many 'youth' showed up, we had just the right people to ring the New Year in with. So much food, fun, fireworks and my favourite part of all was the devotional message and time of worship. It was beautiful!
If I am also completely honest here (oh confession time), I really did not feel like going. We didn't get much of a Christmas break, as I didn't take any time off and it just didn't feel like we had time to wind down, so I was not really wanting to go. However, God totally came through and we really do have a great church family here! My kids even made it until the countdown and had no melt downs. They were little angels, just sweet little angels who had so much fun!
Now for my hopes, wishes, dreams, prayers for 2014?? Well I came up with a new Phrase (I couldn't just keep it to a word for this one).
The last part of 2013 I completed a Bible Study called Respectfully Yours. I have to say that this was such an amazing 'opportunity' for me. Something I desperately needed for so many reasons. It was life changing for me personally, and it was marriage changing. It works, it really works. The subtitle is 'the secret to power and influence in your marriage'. Now what woman wouldn't be attracted to that?! Just a little description as to what it is:
We know love best motivates a woman.
But do we know what best motivates a man?
God has designed men and women differently...
Discover the secret that empowers a woman to influence the man in her
life. Ephesians 5:33 reveals a truth hidden in plain sight for nearly
2000 years, that a husband is to love and a wife is to respect.
All over the country, as women become acquainted with the Love and
Respect message they ask, "Can you help me better understand what
respect looks like? How do I actually do this?"
Sometimes when I get a bit 'disrespectful' my hubby will lovingly remind me to read that book again....that is how you know it works...when your hubby asks you to read that book again. :o)
I am getting to my 2014 phrase the long way....I know, I know bear with me please. The most influential session of this study was about half way through when we learned about the three R's: Recognize, Replace, Repeat. It really challenged us to think about what we 'think' about, especially when we are in conflict with our spouse. We were asked to take note of how we felt, what was happening inside our hearts and what thoughts were going through our heads. We really had to take every thought captive and hold it against the word of God to renew our minds. We had to Recognize the lie or negative thought, Replace it with scripture (God's Truth) to disprove the lie and then Repeat that scripture to renew our minds and to help with scripture memorization. It was one of those light bulb moments for me. Obviously I am giving you the 'coles' note version here, so get the book, do the study, and watch relationships flourish.
It was during this session that I had to work through a lot of 'stuff'. I also came to my phrase through this amazing exercise (see I am getting to it). A big lie I have struggled with and have had to really work through is how seemingly 'impossible' our situation is. There are a lot of things that need to change, desperately need to change and I get so overwhelmed just thinking about it. It causes me to get anxious, afraid, angry. I have been praying a lot about a particular opportunity and have been researching it for over a year now and nothing, not a thing has happened (did I mention that I am not that patient either....when I want something I want it now). I would normally push my will, but I have decided that I need to wait on God for this one, as it is huge and will affect every part of our lives. Not-going-to-push----trying-to-be-patient!. So during this exercise I realized the lie, the lie that always gets me so out of sorts: our situation is impossible, we are too far gone, nothing can be done, it's our fault.
Do you know what I Replaced it with?
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27
...all things are possible with God
and then there was this one
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20
So my phrase this year is to:
Expect the Impossible.
I am excited to see what God will do, how the seemingly impossible situations will be possible with God!! God bless you all in 2014!
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