HAPPY NEW YEAR!For me it was all about change. Alot of things have changed for me in the past year...
~ I got a year older and turned 45.
~ I celebrated 27 years of marriage to my godly husband.
~ I had a son get married.
~ I had two sons move away... far away. (one to Baltimore, MD and one is overseas in South Korea)
~ I had a daughter go from a little girl to a teenager.
~ I had to learn to slow down because of sickness.
Recently, I was reading different writings on blogs and on the Internet. There has been one thing that has stood out for me as I have read what is being written about the year 2008..."Glad the year is over!"
Many of us may feel like that.
2008 has not been a good year for many of us. We have seen sickness, death, financial hardship, loss of jobs, and many, many trials. We are glad to say goodbye to such a dreadful year.
I can join those that say that 2008 has been a difficult year.
- I have had some heartache this year.
- I have had sickness this year.
- I have had financial difficulties this year.
SAY WHAT?
Yes, you heard me right...
T H A N K F U L !!
Without the difficulties, I would not be the person I am today.
The testings of 2008 has...
Increased my faith in God.
It caused me to pursue His will and not mine.
It allowed me to lean upon Him and not on my own understanding.
It gave me a better understanding of His Word as I studied more.
It gave me a hope from within.
It caused me to count my blessings...one by one.
It allowed me to grow a little closer with Thee.
As we close out yet another year, I am reminded that our days are very limited here on this earth. The time is running out quickly. It is not long before God will be returning for His children.
Now is the time to be ready.
Now is the time to know the Truth.
Now is the time to find balance.
When Satan finds people out of balance, he has an entrance point to destroy lives. There are people who get out of balance in everything: from not sleeping to sleeping too much; from not cleaning their house to over cleaning so much that people feel uncomfortable.
Find balance in the year 2009.
Balance will keep your days in the new year from going wrong. Satan doesn't care too much if you are doing too much or too little, all he cares about is keeping you unbalanced!
HEBREWS 2:1 "Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past (them) and slip away."
Prayerfully consider what area of your life needs balancing. Ask God to help you to remain balanced in all that you do in this new year!
HAPPY (balanced) NEW YEAR!
IRIS is our host of THANKFUL THURSDAY.
Please click HERE to find other grateful hearts!
Wonderful post! I am glad you learned things as well as I did. God is good!!! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I love how you can thank God in the midst of trials and grow stronger because of them. I'm the same way, thanks to the help of God and the apostle Paul. I have so enjoyed getting to know you and pray 2009 brings an abundance of blessings to your home. Happy Thankful Thursday and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYes, this has definitely been a year of learning many things. However, I too am thankful for them all.. even the difficult ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for continuing to pray for my sister and her family. I can't even begin to tell you how much it has meant to her. You are a dear blessing and I am so glad that I found your blog this year!
Happy New Year!
Great post, Laurie!
ReplyDeleteI was that person last year...I couldn't wait for 2007 to end...well, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004..all the way back to 2000. But, like you, I had to go through those hard times, trying times, trials, test, sometimes misery and suffering to get to where I am today. As painful as those years were and as confused as we were because we had continued to be faithful to God in our daily lives, in our family and in our finances...the attacks kept coming. If it weren't for those times...my faith would not be where it is today, I wouldn't have the testimonies that I have nor would I have the joy that is in my heart today (God restored joy!). Without each and every one of those difficult attacks of the enemy...they molded me and stretched me...through HIS REFINING FIRE...I HAD to go. The enemy set out to destroy me personally, my marriage, our family, our finances and to destory my faith...OH, BUT GOD!!! What the enemy intended to harm me...God intended for good. You know the kinda, sorta like God saying..."in your face, satan!...they are MY children and I have them under my wings...your battle is with me not them...bring it on, satan because I have already defeated you!" Well, that was what I heard God say :-)
I can honestly say...I hate to see 2008 end...it has been such good this year. I had prayed for years...God, just give us a break...even, if it is just for a little while. He did...an entire year. I can't thank Him enough or praise Him loud enough.
I love you, Laurie! Happy New Year, my dear friend.
Amen, beautifully said my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea to celebrate your blogiversary! My email is srmiller1988 at AOL dot com.
ReplyDeleteI loved your wise and insightful post! Yes, there are many who are glad to see 2008 leave us. (I told dh the downside of that is that BO is closer to taking office!)
I could tell you stories that would curl your hair as to why our church is especially glad to move on to 2009. The church, as well as our whole city, is in a "winter" season (otherwise knows as hard trials), not just the annual winter season with snow and cold. Thankfully, in spite of the difficult times many are facing, the church (though very large), is very close-knit and seeking God, keeping their passion for God alive in the midst of the many trials. I can't wait to see what God has for us at the end of this "season."
Praying you have a blessed and joyous New Year!
Thanks for posting such an insightful post. Though I know all of what you are saying, it did my heart good to read it again for the gentle reminder.
Laurie,
ReplyDeleteI love your thankful heart and how you choose to be thankful and let God grow you. It is such an encouragement to me!
I have loved being your bloggy friend in 2008 and hope to glean more and grow closer to you in 2009!
Blessings to you!
I agree with what you wrote about balance. We can get so out of wack at times. Despite your many challenges this past year, I loved reading about how you're so thankful. Thank you for sharing your insights with us too. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLaurie,
ReplyDeleteThat was a blessing to read!
I agree - the trials are such a blessing! Each and everyone allows us to have our faith stretched and grown. I praise Him for the storms in my life. I praise Him for all that He has done in such a short amount of time in our family coming to Him.
It is hard to believe all that He has done and yet to do in my life. WOW!
I am so thankful to have met you this year!
God bless,
Jill
I am so glad 2008 was so good to you and hope 2009 brings you many blessings.
ReplyDeleteHow so very true and while it's tough to be thankful through our difficulties, it is eased a bit knowing that nothing is a surprise to the God we serve. What a tremendous comfort that is!! May your 2009 be full of His blessings.
ReplyDeleteYou have a sweet heart to be so thankful. We should thank HIM for EVERYTHING that happens to us. Thanks for a great reminder. Your post are always inspiring to me. Happy New Year~
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