The interesting thing about the New Year is that we look
forward in anticipation for what will come. However, this morning I find myself
reflecting on the year past. The reality that 2014 is over seems like the
ending to a movie that will have no sequel. 2014 is over, it will never be
again. But before I move in to 2015 I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect
on 2014. My theme word for 2014 was “revelation”. I kept a daily journal and
sought each week to discover something new.
Here is a not so brief recap of the things I learned, or
often – relearned. We began the year in a new home that we were renting. An amazing
opportunity and a place that felt like “home” the first time I entered it. My
theme for this home came from Genesis 32:2, “This is God’s camp (manahaim).”
Week :
1: “God’s greatest blessings
are family.” And it was such a
blessing to have my children and their children in our new home. Mom and dad
also came down and spent time with us. Our daughter announced she was pregnant
and in that moment our family grew by one. J
2: “I hate being fat,
BUT, not enough to actually do something about it.” Hmmm, this was a hard
reality but true. My mood may have been influenced by the emptiness of the
house after everyone left. Or, it could just be true. The battle of the bulge
is one I’ve struggled with my entire adult life. I have won a few of the
smaller battles over the years and lost weight, but never the war (keeping it
off).
3: “I need to be in
God’s word more!” As I’m reading through the Bible I find I have more
strength, more patience, more love, more wisdom, more peace, etc. It is such an
easy step to take. Yet, it is one that doesn't always stay on the front burner.
4: “God wants to
rewrite my life story.” Will I let Him?
5: “How much I love
my dad.” It is so funny to have this revelation because one would expect it
to be obvious. I do feel very close to my mom and probably think more about her
and frankly, we just have more in common. Yet, dad is very special as well
(when he isn't driving me crazy, hee hee).
6: “God blesses
obedience.” Another obvious one. Yet this was a difficult week and I had to
confront someone. I wanted to blast the person for the way I had been treated
but felt God wanted me to only show love. I honored God and He blessed the
results. I stand in awe.
7: “I’m pathetic when
I’m really sick. Such a baby.” Enough said.
8: “The battle of
self is constant.” Denying myself this week of a pass time I love so I can
devote more time to study and reading. WOW, it is hard and I fail more than I’d
like.
9, 10, 11, and 12: “I’m
not doing what I’m supposed to be doing.” This may confuse some, but God
and I know what it means.
13: “No matter how
long I live, it will never be long enough.”
14: “Jesus Christ
built a team to complete the work He began.” He could have just done it
Himself. He had the power to do it all. Yet, He chose to use flawed, imperfect
people to finish the work. He knew they’d make mistakes and not do it the right
way. Yet, the Christian message did not die when Christ died on the cross.
Interesting. Perhaps I need to get better at involving others in the work God
has called me to.
15: “God uses ALL
things to work together for His good.” Again, not new, just reminded of
this in a powerful way this week.
16: I know I had one this week but for some reason I didn't
write it down.
17: Reminded of God’s
faithfulness this week.
18: “Need to desire
to be healthy MORE than I desire to over eat or have ice cream.” Seems like
a repeat from week 2. Hmmmm
19: “My mind IS
the battlefield.” Reading a book by Joyce Meyers. Hitting a little close to
home.
20: “True revelation
always demands a response.”
21: Got to see friends from Kansas and their family this
week while they were close by on vacation. Food for the soul. Most likely two
of the best people we have ever had the privilege of knowing. Love them and their
family unconditionally. Thank you Lord!
22: “Trapped L”.
That’s all I wrote. A bit hard to remember back half a year but it most likely
ties into weeks 9-12. God and I know what this is about.
23: Two this week, “God
tears down walls!” and “Each day
holds an adventure, my job is to find it – no matter my circumstances.”
24: “I don’t pray for
my husband enough.” Wow, this one was a hard slap in the face. He is always
on my mind and in my heart but I realized it would be better to think of him
less and pray for him more. Not bad advice, thank you God.
25: May have been a busy week or I simply allowed myself to
be distracted with other things, nothing written this week.
26 and 27: “Need to
remember that ALL the fruit of the Spirit is available to me.” It is a
complete package. When God said He gave it to us, He gave it all to us, not
just part of it. “Love, Joy, Peace,
Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. In
Christ Jesus I possess all these things!”
28: “Occasionally I
know my Bible better than the person preaching.” (Thank you Gary Pauley) This
never happened years ago. I hope this means I am growing spiritually.
29: “Jesus is always
in the boat with me. Even a sleeping Jesus is better than no Jesus.” And, “Fear is: Forgetting Everything’s
All Right. Let go and let God.” When I take my eyes off
eternity, things of this earth cause me to be afraid. But, in the light of God’s
eternal plans, my minor fears mean nothing.
30: “Looking into the
face of my new born granddaughter makes me feel close to heaven.”
31: “I am more
irrational about bugs than I ever knew. YIKES! Might be a phobia worth seeing a
therapist for.” In my defense, bugs are bigger in Singapore.
32: “A lot of things
go on in one short week.” I wrote so much in my journal this week about all
I did and saw that after reading it, I was amazed at how much I did. And that
was just the stuff I wrote about.
33: “Feel like I’m
not where I’m supposed to be in life.” This one AGAIN! God must be trying
to get my attention.
34: “Jesus loves me
despite my ‘Israelite’ tendencies.” And “I love my daughter beyond words." (always knew this, just had to write
it)
35: “God desires (not
just wants) our thankfulness.”
36: “Just reminded
again this week how awesome God is!”
37: “In calm, or
stormy, or uncertain waters…Jesus is in the boat with me. He is ALWAYS in the
boat.” Another repeat theme.
38: “LIVE FOR TODAY.”
Always knew this, just getting the opportunity to put it in practice this week.
39: “Moses tried to
get out of God’s request. God didn't let go.” Gives me hope for me.
40: “I’m not in my
lane. L”
Hmmm, again!
41: “God’s arm is not
too short!” This is important for me to remember. When things seem
impossible, with God, they just aren't.
42: LOVE MY FAMILY! Love my siblings! Love
my mom and dad!
43: John 1:9 “The
true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
44: Four this week! Found out we had to move. The house
that felt like God’s camp was not going to remain my home.
1. “No matter where my feet are, the stars are
always the same.”
2. “God’s camp is typically not in one place
very long.”
3. “Perhaps God gave me this house so I would
better understand how others feel about their homes.”
4. “During this week of prayer and fasting, I
felt more in tune with God than any other week this year.”
45: “Trust and obey.
There is NO better way to happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
46: “I’m lost. On my
own, I’m just lost.” So thankful to have God, my husband, my kids, my
parents, my siblings, my friends, and others in my life. I’m just no good on my
own.
47: “Mission work always involves sacrifice.” World
missions, home missions AND personal missions.
48: “God truly is the
God of details.” Amazed at how much I saw that this week and in wonder at
how much I may have missed.
49: “I love my job. Thank
you God.” Started new job this week. Moved to Ocala area. Temporarily
staying with parents, or “visiting” for an extended unknown period. Perhaps
this is my lane. Perhaps this is what I’m supposed to be doing. Perhaps the 11
months leading up to this, the stirring in my soul, was all preparation for
this change. Who knows? God does. J
50: “I miss my
mother-in-law more than I even knew.” Saw a woman at church who reminded me
of her. My heart stopped beating and I couldn't even breathe. Holding back tears
was impossible.
51 and 52: Didn't write much this week and didn't write
anything in the margin of my journal regarding my theme word of “revelation”.
But on December 29th I had an incredible ride into work on a very
foggy morning. It was worthy of its own blog entry titled Fog. Look it up if you are interested.
So, 2014 has been quite a year! As it came to an end I began
praying about a theme word for 2015. Then it struck me, the word for next year
is LOVE. Wonder what God will teach me in the next twelve months.
