Happy New Year!

Another year has passed. We are now entering 2020. That sounds surreal to me. Can you remember as a young child thinking of 2020. It seemed impossible to reach. And here it is.
How do you approach a new year?  Do you have regrets because you failed to accomplish everything you desired?  Do you make a list of “unrealistic “ resolutions that you already know you will not complete?  Or do you go into this new year feeling grateful for all you did accomplish and the blessings you received throughout the year?
I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions.  I’d rather set goals, but work on those goals one by one, or little by little.  I feel much more encouraged when I’ve accomplished a goal and can check that off my list. I do not attack a list all at once, feeling so  overwhelmed that I soon throw the list away.
What kind of goals do you have?  We all have different ones because of our stage of life. My goals are not the same as our son’s. His certainly are not the same as mine. And that is a good thing.
The Lord places on each of our hearts a vision or goal. And He has plans for each one of us individually.
There is an important aspect for us all however. Seek the Lord with all of your heart. Ask Him what He desires of you this year. Read His Word. His Word contains everything we need to know, all of the tools we need to grow in Him.
What ever you have on your list, or what resolutions you make, we must have the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to guide us through life.
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭AMP‬‬
Our Lord Jesus has a plan for your life in 2020. But we must stay on track. Do not waver off the path He has paved for us.
Be encouraged my friends.  God loves you so much that He has put together a perfect plan for you.
He will guide you all of the way. Just remember to talk with Him.  Ask Him to help you.  We just need to take one step at a time. No need to accomplish our list in one day.
Happy New Year!

It's Christmas Time!

It's Christmas time again.  It seems the year flies by when we are adults. Do you remember when you were a child? It seemed like it took forever for Christmas to come. Then it flew by.
But as adults, we wonder where the time went. We get caught up in our daily schedules, work, school, and the things that take up our day. The weeks and months go by so quickly. Are we ever prepared?
As little children we are always ready and excited because we receive gifts from loved ones. As adults, we often fret because we aren't prepared as much as we thought we were.
This is what Christmas looks like when we take the focus off of Who we are celebrating.
Christmas is Jesus' birthday. If it weren't for Him, the meaning of Christmas would be totally commercial. As it is, many are trying to make it that way. But as a Christian, a Christ follower, it is so important to keep Christmas about Him. He brings the joy to Christmas. He brings the joy into our lives. The excitement is all because Jesus was born. Jesus came to save us. He was born for us.
Think about when we celebrate someone else's birthday, we are so excited to celebrate their life and bless them with a gift. It brings joy to our hearts to give to someone.
That is the joy Christmas brings to most of us. We love to bless others with gifts. The joy of seeing a child open a gift is amazing. And I am sure it brings joy to Jesus also.
We must remember, however, why we are celebrating. Christmas is empty without Jesus. There would not be Christmas if Jesus had not been born.
When we are celebrating on Christmas Day, it is joyous, exciting, and full of love. Being with family, having a special meal together, and sharing the love of Christmas, this is Christmas.
We must keep Jesus at the center of our celebration. We must teach our children why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born for us, Jesus is love, Jesus is our Savior. This is Christmas!
What does your Christmas look like? Do you fret because you over spent your budget? Is it just another day on the calendar that is busy and hectic? Are you frustrated, exhausted, and ready for Christmas to be over? If yes to these questions then you do not have the true joy of Christmas in your hearts.
What does your Christmas look like? Are you alone, without a family to celebrate with? Are you alone because you choose to be alone? If yes, then remember what Christmas is, Jesus' birthday. He came to this earth for you. He loves you more than any gift, or any job, or any bottle of booze, or any disease. Jesus has His arms opened wide, waiting to receive you. He will wrap you in His arms and hold you tight. Whatever you are facing, you will never be alone when you have let Jesus into your life.
So faithful readers, I pray that as you celebrate Christmas, you feel the love He has for you. I pray you feel the warmth of His arms around you. I pray you can hear His heart beating a song to comfort you. There is so much more to unwrap at Christmas time. That is the love of Jesus that warms you and welcomes you with open arms.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday Jesus!