Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thoughts of a New Year

My dear bloggy friends,
I typed this out and it was supposed to automatically post on the First.
I guess I need a little more practice.


I enjoy sharing our stories and enjoy your comments
I feel "not so terribly alone" on our journey
knowing you are reading
and thinking of us.
maybe even saying a prayer or two.
2011 has held such grief, and pain for me.
Not the loss of a loved one in real-life
But the loss of a son-in-law
and the "happily ever afters" I held in my heart
for my daughter,
the future grandchildren.
To watch my darling daughter not only loose her house-
but the home she created.
For her to not get a teaching job
after all the struggles to complete her degree
while working and supporting a husband and his ailing family members the past four years.
No job and no real home to "go home to".
Her finances falling apart as a result - no job= no money.
Her wedding rings stolen.......

I could choose to focus on all of this......

But
2011 has held so many many beautiful moments.......
and I choose to focus on them instead my friend.
I am focusing on the "God-in-it-all".
We cannot change some things,
but we can change our perspective.
When things feel so out of control,
I can take control!
Focus.

Wont you please join me this new year in daily,
counting the gifts,
seeing the creator in the creation?
None of us knows what this next year will hold for us
or the ones we hold dear.
But God does,
none of the mess was a surprise to him.
Through our adoption of sweet Lil G I held onto so many verses.
I learned so much about faith.
not religion,
but faith......
I love this one in Jeremiah:
I'll show up an take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." Gods Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you" Gods Decree- "bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.


Then I love this in Romans 5:

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Its all grace isnt it.....

Under His wings,
Anna


2 comments:

  1. Perfect Words, Anna! Praying today that your sweet girl would feel His Presence and know His never-abandoning Love. Love your faithful heart, friend :)

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  2. Counting gifts, His gifts, with you! Perspective matters more than we often like to admit, and I know mine needs to be regularly adjusted. I loved this quote from Ann Voskamp's blog the other day: "Contentment isn’t a state of organization, a weight on the scale, a state of better: better kids, better marriage, better health, better house. Contentment is never a matter of circumstances; contentment is always a state of communion — a daily embracing of God. A thankfulness for all the gifts – and moments and life, just as He gives it. Trying harder may only bring harder trials and contentment, it won’t be be found in the resolutions, but in the revolutions – in the turning round to God."

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