You know, I think it is time for a new start. A time to say, you know I may not have done it right but I sure am not going to let that stop me from being my best me. I am going to fight the good fight of faith, I am going to let God, and I am going to choose moment by moment, day by day to become more like the Lord, more like the one who paints the sky blue, who made the emerald of the oceans, who called the mountains to rise, who calms the seas, dries my tears, and made my baby boy’s beautiful hazel green eyes, long toes, and frizzy tendrils we call hair. The Lord is God and he, the one who will not share his glory with another, wants to help you make this year the best yet.
So, why this resolution? Why resolve to say, this will be the best year yet? Because friend, the choice is all ours and we need to take this bull by the horns and own it. So, the next time the AC breaks in the dead of the heat, the sink leaks, the children keep screaming while your attempting to call a friends or simply concentrate, or the phone decides that it has had enough for the moment resolves to dive into the toilet, resolve to choose a different reaction, resolve to say…
“THANK YOU LORD FOR MY LIFE! THANK YOU FOR SHELTER, THANK YOU FOR TOILET PAPER IN THE BATHROOM, FOR WATER, AIR, THE DIRT THAT MADE IT’S WAY ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR.
NOW LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO THROUGH ALL THIS? WHO NEEDS MY PRAYERS, WHO NEEDS GRACE AND MERCY, WHOSE FEET CAN I WASH, WHAT CHILD CAN I GIVE A GUMBALL TO, SMILE AT. HOW CAN I HELP YOU FURTHER YOUR GLORY IN ALL THIS? HOW CAN I FURTHER YOUR KINGDOM THROUGH THIS MOST EFFECTIVELY IN THE MIDST OF MY TRIALS, DISCOMFORTS, MY ISSUES TODAY?”
Angelina, how can I possibly do that? Do you know how hard that is? Do you know what it takes to do that? I just can’t. Oh friend, yes you can. When your lying on the couch sick as ever and the kids want you to play, when your daughter wants you to hold her but you cannot even muster the strength, friend I have been there. I have seen God in those moments make and mold me and oh he still is. I have a confession to make though, this week this has been me. Did I pass the test each time, no way! BUT I sure did keep pressing. I sure did pray, sing, shout, let him know where I was, and boy have I cried.
He is still good. Those issues with the leaky sink, no AC, etc etc etc they are still there BUT Here is what has happened while we have endured and chose to seek first the kingdom since arriving Saturday…
- a young girl got her gumball
- a Pastor was fed
- electrician man was fed a few times, prayed for and received healing, he cried for the loss of his marriage in my husband’s arms
- a city was prayed over several times
- several people smiled in a town where saying hello to a stranger is seen as odd
- the gospel was shared with at least 3 people
- cable installation guys were fed and sent off with cold water (oh and the gospel got slipped in too ;))
I resolve, even if I am all by myself, to start fresh and choose daily to follow God’s lead, to say “use me Lord” excepting the warfare to accompany it (because it will accompany it). So here I go…
In the words of JJ Heller…
There is no use living in regret.
Let’s fight a good fight,
train our eyes to find the light
and make this year the best one yet!
Starting right here…Happy New Year!