New year and new beginnings
Well, another year has come and gone. Time flies by so very fast, but oh so much has happened this past year. As I look back I am amazed and how much can happen within a year’s time. Some things seem like they were centuries ago or something, yet other things I can’t believe it’s been a year since them because it seems like just yesterday. This year I have done so much growing spiritually. I am so amazed at the places that God has brought me through and the things that He has been teaching me. I don’t think I have really had a down moment this year. I have had lesson, after lesson. It’s been really tiring, but it’s been so great. And I have found that rest in Him is an awesome thing.
A big thing that sticks out for me this year is friendship, both the good and bad of it. There has been so much about friendship this year. Since last January I have grown so much closer to some people, learned what true friendship is, been betrayed by friends, lost some friends, thought I was going to loose someone really close to me, cried over friendships, cried because I have missed someone so much, seen old friends again, had a friend move far away, been so grateful for friends, sacrificed everything I could for friends, grown apart from some friends, laughed countless number of times with friends, had many inside jokes with friends…. Oh the list could go on. Yeah there have been some really hard times, but oh the good times or even the friends that have been there through the bad times was really awesome. Words cannot even describe it. I am so grateful for the friends I have in my life. They mean the world and more to me. I praise God for I know they are treasures from Him. I love my friend so very much and I would sacrifice pretty much anything for them.
I’m not about to explain every part of what I just described above because it would take too long and it some places be quite personal. But I am going to go on to another big thing about this year. Though I have learned many spiritual lessons this year there are two that I have come back over and over again. Either I am not getting the concept yet or they are so important that I have to keep getting deeper and deeper into them. Perhaps it is a bit of both. Whatever the reason, these lesson have come back periodically through the year and I have learned that though it seems like two lessons, they can really be combined into one lesson. I will explain how in a bit if you stick with me.
1) I have learned about sacrifice and being willing to give up anything and everything for God. To not hold back anything, but put it all the table. He gave up everything for us, so what are we willing to give up for him. He may take it, he may not, but that isn’t what matters. What matters is that you are willing to let Him take it.
2) I have also learned about seeking God and keeping my focus on Him. There have been some places were I have been totally and utterly confused and overwhelmed. But when my focus was on God and I continually searched for Him, I found Him and I found rest. Though I didn’t understand what was happening I knew He did. As long as my focus stayed on Him, I was good. I just needed to keep seeking His will and not let my mind wander. Now here is where they both come together.
12) (1 and 2 combined makes 12, in case you didn’t get that.) I have learned that if my focus is totally on God, things of this life don’t matter so much. When I am totally seeking Him, I am no longer seeking this world. And if I am no longer seeking this world, but only the will of my Father, sacrifice isn’t such a hard thing anymore. As a song that I love says
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
Jesus is what truly matters. When our eyes and focus is on Him, the world grows dim around us. If we truly want His will and what He wants in our life than we will be willing to give up whatever it is that He asks. If He wants us to sacrifice something, it is for a reason. He has something better planned. We may not see it, but we have to trust Him.
Now please don’t think I have this mastered. In fact, I am very far from that. But in a nutshell this is what I have spent the last year learning. There are some deep concepts that I am trying to grasp and just when I think I have it, I find myself loosing focus. I am constantly having to take myself back and refind my focus. It has been such an interesting as well as hard, but rewarding journey and I look forward to it continuing into the new year.
I must admit though the thought of another January and February does scare me a bit. Why? Because for the last two year my most difficult and trying times have been in those two months. Both times I found myself at wits end and had no strength of my own. At the same time though, it was so cool to see how when I was weak, God was strong. He did bring me through those times and as this post has been saying, I learned so much. So yeah, this new year is frightening and I wonder what will be in store. At the same time, however, I have many “standing stones” in my life. Whatever comes my way, I know God has all ready planned for it. It may surprise me, but it won’t surprise Him. So, I will take His hand and let Him walk me through another year.
Happy New Year everyone! And God bless!
A big thing that sticks out for me this year is friendship, both the good and bad of it. There has been so much about friendship this year. Since last January I have grown so much closer to some people, learned what true friendship is, been betrayed by friends, lost some friends, thought I was going to loose someone really close to me, cried over friendships, cried because I have missed someone so much, seen old friends again, had a friend move far away, been so grateful for friends, sacrificed everything I could for friends, grown apart from some friends, laughed countless number of times with friends, had many inside jokes with friends…. Oh the list could go on. Yeah there have been some really hard times, but oh the good times or even the friends that have been there through the bad times was really awesome. Words cannot even describe it. I am so grateful for the friends I have in my life. They mean the world and more to me. I praise God for I know they are treasures from Him. I love my friend so very much and I would sacrifice pretty much anything for them.
I’m not about to explain every part of what I just described above because it would take too long and it some places be quite personal. But I am going to go on to another big thing about this year. Though I have learned many spiritual lessons this year there are two that I have come back over and over again. Either I am not getting the concept yet or they are so important that I have to keep getting deeper and deeper into them. Perhaps it is a bit of both. Whatever the reason, these lesson have come back periodically through the year and I have learned that though it seems like two lessons, they can really be combined into one lesson. I will explain how in a bit if you stick with me.
1) I have learned about sacrifice and being willing to give up anything and everything for God. To not hold back anything, but put it all the table. He gave up everything for us, so what are we willing to give up for him. He may take it, he may not, but that isn’t what matters. What matters is that you are willing to let Him take it.
2) I have also learned about seeking God and keeping my focus on Him. There have been some places were I have been totally and utterly confused and overwhelmed. But when my focus was on God and I continually searched for Him, I found Him and I found rest. Though I didn’t understand what was happening I knew He did. As long as my focus stayed on Him, I was good. I just needed to keep seeking His will and not let my mind wander. Now here is where they both come together.
12) (1 and 2 combined makes 12, in case you didn’t get that.) I have learned that if my focus is totally on God, things of this life don’t matter so much. When I am totally seeking Him, I am no longer seeking this world. And if I am no longer seeking this world, but only the will of my Father, sacrifice isn’t such a hard thing anymore. As a song that I love says
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
Jesus is what truly matters. When our eyes and focus is on Him, the world grows dim around us. If we truly want His will and what He wants in our life than we will be willing to give up whatever it is that He asks. If He wants us to sacrifice something, it is for a reason. He has something better planned. We may not see it, but we have to trust Him.
Now please don’t think I have this mastered. In fact, I am very far from that. But in a nutshell this is what I have spent the last year learning. There are some deep concepts that I am trying to grasp and just when I think I have it, I find myself loosing focus. I am constantly having to take myself back and refind my focus. It has been such an interesting as well as hard, but rewarding journey and I look forward to it continuing into the new year.
I must admit though the thought of another January and February does scare me a bit. Why? Because for the last two year my most difficult and trying times have been in those two months. Both times I found myself at wits end and had no strength of my own. At the same time though, it was so cool to see how when I was weak, God was strong. He did bring me through those times and as this post has been saying, I learned so much. So yeah, this new year is frightening and I wonder what will be in store. At the same time, however, I have many “standing stones” in my life. Whatever comes my way, I know God has all ready planned for it. It may surprise me, but it won’t surprise Him. So, I will take His hand and let Him walk me through another year.
Happy New Year everyone! And God bless!