Today is the last day of one of the most wonderful years of my life.
2008 has been so filled with blessings that I spent my entire prayer time this morning recording them in my journal and thanking God for another year of living in His love. My final entries in this particular journal also record my 2009 New Years Resolutions and some of my personal and spiritual goals for the coming year.
A sense of expectation and faith for what God has planned for the next year of this amazing journey called life fills my heart.
Instead of admitting the normal "New Years Resolutions" (you know the ones...loose weight,exercise more, drink fewer White Chocolate Mochas!!) I decided to go a different route and share 3 key messages that I received from the Lord over this past year.
My prayer is that one might encourage or challenge someone who is reading this post and maybe even be a quote that you treasure through the year as I have.
The first one is:
Apprehend that for which you were Apprehended (my very first "Sweet Tea" post April 8, 2008)
The second one is this:
We pass on what we have not cleaned up. (This one has to simmer)
The third one is:
No internal peace...No Eternal Value (September 2008 post)
The last one is a scripture that God used to call me into ministry many years ago.
This year, He placed neon lights on it in my Bible and I have meditated on it all year.
It will go into the New Year with me as a Word that God is working out in my life in a big way:
Jeremiah 1:4-11
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
My New Years Prayer for you, and for me, is to know God more personally, more deeply, more intimately and more passionately every single day of the year to come.
Imagine what would happen if we all were to find and follow His Sovereign Plan for our lives and not to miss a minute of His perfect will.
Wow!!
Now, to my promised GIVEAWAY that will last you A FULL YEAR!!!!!
Life: Beautiful Magazine! "Faith for the Journey"
I discovered this gorgeous magazine last year and devour every single page and picture each time it arrives. It is not only full to the brim with great writing, it is just like it says...beautiful. It has stunning photography and home decorating ideas. "In Every Issue" you will find Dr. James Dobson, Joyce Meyer, Dr Gary Smalley and Janet Parshall, to name a few!
Best of all it is loaded with God's Word presented in a beautiful way.
I know that you will love it as much as I do.
All you have to do is share with me/us a quote or a scripture that God has used in your life this past year in a special way. Or if you prefer, share a 2008 lesson Learned.
All you have to do to enter is click on "comments" below. If you do not have a blog, just sign on as anonymous but be sure to sign your name and email address at the bottom of your comment so I can contact you.
I have figured out the Random Integer thingy and will use it on Monday to declare a winner.
Happy new Year!
13 Comments:
Here is the scripture the Lord pressed upon my heart back in May of this year.
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" Hebrews 12:11
The Lord has been asking me for years to give up certain things for Him. This year I actually did them! Painful as it was, my life has been ever changing! He has shown me things that I never dreamed of and I have done things that I only dreamed of! He is truly amazing. I am in awe every day. Like you, I have a sense of expectation for this coming year.
God Bless and Happy New Year!
Jennifer
Oh my! Oh my! That magazine is right here on my desk!!! Love it! Last spring I went to visit a friend and she had it on the nightstand in the guest room waiting for me...
2008 was a yearthat was spent in some leadership roles in which I felt young and inexperienced...but the Lord quieted my heart many times with:
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
and know what?...He did.
Blessings!
Teresa
Here is a quote that the Lord used to convict me in a powerful way.
"The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves and not to twist them to fit our own image; otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves that we see in them".
I've been trying to change people for as long as I can remember. I've decided to put down the magnifying glass that I've been looking at everyone through. I've made the decision to let God do the changing. It's a great place to be as I enter this new year.
Happy New Year and may God richly bless you in 2009!
Happy New Year to you, Pat. :)
There are many Scriptures and lessons from which to choose, but I thought I would share the latest one.
The latest lesson I have been learning - and which has become my "New Year's Resolution" for this upcoming year - is to give something to someone every day, not just on special occasions. It could be anything from financial resources to time, gifts or anything that might bless the person.
God has allowed me to "get a head start" this week already through a note, a gift card, wedding presents, baby presents, food, goodies, time, etc., and He has given me lots of ideas for the days ahead! :) This is not to bring any glory to me, but to the Lord who is the Giver of all things.
On July 31,2008 The Lord gave me this promise...With skillful hands he led them. Psalm 78:72
About two years ago,God placed me in leadership to the abortion recovery program at our local CPC. I never consider myself a leader and began doubting my decision of taking on this ministry.
On July 31,I had meet with the women's director,discussing my doubts and fears,that maybe I wasn't the right person,after all. But she assured me that wasn't true and I was right where God wanted me.
After arriving home that day,I rememebered I hadn't read my devotion.
Here is just a bit of what the devotion said...When you are unsure which course to take,totally submit your judgment to that of the Spirit of God,asking Him to shut every door except the right one.(Streams in the Desert,L.B Cowman).
Then God spoke to my heart saying "Trust me,lean on Me and I will guide you."
As of to date,our ministry 'Beyond the Choice" is made up of 6 women,who are volunteering to help others.
We've had the honor of seeing 15 women set free from the burden of their abortion through this ministry and two of those women have accepted the gift of salvation.
God has been there every step of the way and has opened doors that only He could open!I know this is right were He wants me and He will be the one leading in 2009.
Our God is truly AMAZING!!!
When we are walking with God, hell has an assignment against us. (Zola Levitt Ministries)
When I know that I know that I am obeying God, trusing and walking with Him, then hell will come roaring but...but....I have The One who has defeated him living on the inside of me.
Love,
Yolanda
Oh, defininately Jeremiah 29:11-13. Everytime life gets ugly (and it does), I look at those verses, and truly remember that He DOES have a plan for my life!
One of my favorite verses this past year was 2 Timothy 1:12...
I know Whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard all that I have entrusted to Him for this day.
As many times as He's asked me to step out and trust, whether it was to just be obedient to do a thing or letting go of my children, I've turned to this verse.
I KNOW Him and HE IS ABLE!
Hugs dear one,
Melinda
I so want to comment on your blog. I will use this as my test page. lyl, Paula
Can I use the open id?
ok I think I might be able to join blog world! Write something new so I can comment! love you, Paula
Happy New Year Pat!
Love your year end wrap up.
The message God kept sending me this year was Blessings for Obedience:
Deuteronomy 28:1-3
"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country."
At the beginning of the year I would have said I didn't consider myself rebellious, but as the year proceeded God revealed how all my hesitations and fears hold me back from just trusting Him and doing the the thang.
So that is where I am as I turn this corner into 2009 and it's looking good.
Pat, I have tagged you on a little something on my blog...if you would check it out and consider playing along.
hugs,
tammy
This is the scripture God has given me now to learn.
Hosea 2:19-20 "I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord."
I blogged about what this verse meant to me!
Love you friend,
Kasey Ewing
Post a Comment
Home