Happy New Year.....Or Is It?

YES, IT IS !!!

2013 has come and gone! Along the way there have been good times and bad; nothing, though, can compare to the love that I've felt from God. I'm sure many of you can say the same.

Through every difficulty, He held me close, giving me exactly what I needed. Was it financial help? Was it Spiritual help? Was it an encouraging word from a friend? Was it a ray of sunshine on a seemingly cloudy day? Was it a touch from Him?.....Yes, it was all of those things....In His timing!!

Philippians 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

It IS and WILL BE a happy one, even if there are times of difficulties. God has walked before me, and you, to provide a way for us to make it through the hard times. He knows before we do what we will need and when--Trust Him and be happy where you are!! He loves You!!

 

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need , for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

God did not bring you or me to the end of 2013 for any of us to go out feeling sad or regretful. Sure, we've loved, we've lost, we've cried, but, also we've smiled, we've laughed, and we've learned, so that we can move into 2014 with the One we know loves us and will never leave us. So, let's leave everything back in 2013, taking only the valuable lessons, and move forward holding onto our confidence in God and reaching for what lies ahead.

 

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

So, grab hold of God's unwavering hand, along with me, and be all He wants you to be in 2014! Give God the glory for Who He is and Whose you are.....He chose you for a purpose.....2014 will be awesome - He isn't done with us yet! And He will make the way clear while making us new, for and in the new year!!

 

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

 

Here's to a Happy 2014 and A New You!!

 



 













God's Leading

Have you ever felt God leading you in a direction and not understood why? This has happened to me and I've talked to many people who have had the same experience.

Months ago, I knew God was leading me to do something and I did it, being obedient to Him. At the time, I really didn't understand the reason, but I knew God wanted me to follow through with what He had just placed upon my heart. With a little doubt, I obeyed but questioned Him for a thought, as to why He had led me in this way. After a little while, I was confident that I was acting in a way that God truly wanted, and became excited about the journey He had me on.

Isaiah 30: 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (NKJV)

It became apparent, after a few months, as to why God was leading me in a certain direction. It wasn't for the result I had anticipated, but He did reveal the reason to me. Often times God has us do something that doesn't produce the outcome we are looking for, but it will always be the outcome that will grow us and be for our good.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NKJV)

 

When it became obvious as to what God was doing - which was nothing like what I thought - I responded to His leading once again. Alot of times, God has to send us in one direction in order to show us the real direction He wants us to go. His reason for this is because more often than not we try to do things 'our way'. This can delay our progress, of course, but will always be for our good, further into the journey. We must learn to TRUST Him so that our progress will always be forward and that He will always get the glory!

 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV)

 

Yes, ALL things work together for good, whether it's something good or bad, when we follow Him. We can always look back and see God working - sometimes it's easier to see it back there than right here in front of us - so keep moving forward with Him (and for Him). He is with us each step of the way; we just have to trust Him and believe He is molding us into the person He wants us to be - not what we want to be.

 

 

He is the Potter - We are the clay.......