What I Sense 2015 Needs To Be (And My Top Posts From 2014)
The end of the year is a little different for me because it is literally the end of a year of my life. My birthday was a few days ago and so even though some people hate resolution making my mind and body yearn for it.
I get a double dose of reflection as I contemplate my birthday and the New Year and it’s never a bad thing for me.
As years go over the last 8 or 9, 2014 was pretty good. If you have read my blog for any length of time, you might notice that I often write to encourage people through hard times and loss and that’s because I have been in valleys and valleys and valleys and valleys of hard times and loss. It’s what I know. But I also know the goodness of God in it.
No one told me that valleys could last for years on end. I wasn’t really prepared for it.
And yet I was.
My parents raised me to memorize Scripture every week and having that foundation in my heart of hearts has always been my sanity-saver and life-giver. I have come to know that the best preparation for life I can ever give my boys is to teach them to memorize Bible verses. Nothing else is more important to me.
All these years of unemployment, big moves across the state and back, loneliness, betrayal from friends, starting a business, trying to get my books published, medical diagnosis I can’t even bring myself to share publicly yet, miscarriages, and lots of conviction from the Holy Spirit to honor my promise to hunger and thirst for righteousness more than anything else has brought me through the ringer these past several years.
But I pray that if you met me you would NEVER KNOW IT.
I want to be quick to smile and radiate joy no matter what. I want to waft with the scent of the Fruit of the Spirit. Look like I’m standing on a rock that is higher than I. Have something left to pour out instead of running on empty. Make myself beautiful by the Word. God has been so good to me to teach me to persevere and to be more than a conqueror.
If I can do it, you can too!!! After all, it is Christ who strengthens us!
So these past couple years as I’m learning how to be a passionate Christ-follower with more radicalism, I have swung open the windows of my heart and let you in to take a look with the hope that some of what I’m learning would resonate with you too.
And you all showed up-even when I stopped blogging for MONTHS in a row after we lost our twins this year. In fact, more of you came. I’m so thankful for you-you have no idea how much your prayers have meant to me this year.
As part of my reflection over this year and my deep gratitude that God has always been good even in the hard times, I dug up my top 10 posts that I wrote in 2014. I hope they will continue to bless someone who needs to read them. Maybe you can share the one that meant the most to you.
I sense in my spirit that my daily prayer needs to continue to seek God and pursue HIM more than anything else in my life. I hear the Lord whispering in my heart that 2015 must be all about that continued hunger and thirst for righteousness. Will you do me the honor of praying that for me? Thank you, friends. I'm looking forward to seeing what God will do with us this year! To Him be the glory!
TOP 10 POSTS FROM 2014
#1 I Don't Expect My Kids To Obey With A "Happy Heart!"
#2 It's Not A Witching Hour, Christian Mom
#3 The One Person You Must Unfriend On Facebook
#4 I'm Waving The White Flag Of Motherhood Because It Feels Too Hard
#5 How To Find The Perfect Husband Even Though You Are Already Married
#6 Better In The Arms Of Jesus, My Miscarriage
#7 A Book List That Will Change Your Life
#8 7 Tips For Parents, My Pet Peeves At Public Parks
#9 The Day I Let 2 Kids Walk Away With An Abusive Mom
#10 When You Can't Give Your Kids Disneyland
YOUR TURN! What Spiritual change do you sense is needed for yourself in 2015?
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