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Grateful, Thankful and Hopeful: Close One Chapter and Open Another


December 31, 2012.  The eve before another new year is a great time to close the chapter on the old book and open the first chapter in the new book.

Closing the chapter.

This morning as I sit warm and toasty in my cozy chair beside by New Year's Tree before a very busy 24 hours begins...I'm grateful.

I'm grateful to have this opportunity for closure.  To stand back and take a look at 2012 in all of its greatness, victory and failures and put it into perspective.  From God's point of view my year was a very brief moment in light of eternity.

I Praise God for giving me the opportunity to live and to grow.  

To have time with my family.  To grow another year older with my husband.  To watch my boys become men.  I am so thankful for God's provision and His protection.  I'm humbled by his grace and mercy in my life.  

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!  Truly.  He knows us and pursues us with His Spirit and love.  He provides salvation and restoration.  Healing and hope.  He lifts us up with a peace that is truly above all understanding and a joy that strengthens.

I confess my pride, stubbornness, sloth, gluttony and apathy.  I'm getting as fat and lazy as my dog...physically and spiritually.   Fear has loomed large at times.  Taking risk seems to be more scary and my spirit not as feisty.    I've withheld love and I've held grudges and taken offense that was not mine to take.  

And Yet...God forgives, loves and holds me.  He has given me another new beginning.  Another day of new mercies.  

I've made amazing memories in 2012 and believe that I have taken some great risk and jumped off some cliffs and created moments in the lives of others.

I've sat on bleachers (or rather paced beside them) for hundreds of hours for wrestling and football.   
I've shared joy, victory, defeat and worry on the phone with my boys.
I've spent the last month with my family in a way that we have not for several years.
I had the privilege of saying good-bye to my Mother (in-law) and celebrating her influence in our lives.
I've started and completed some great things.
I've watched Monday night football with my husband.
I've prayed.
I've read and learned.
I've connected and I've disconnected.

Now it is time.

Open A New Chapter.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor. 5:17  

Stealing from my husband's sermon...

This year I will:

Give It Everything I Have.  (Col. 3:23-24 Eph 6:6-8)

Show my Love All The More!  (1 Thess. 3:12-13)

Not Let Fear Hinder God's Work in Me Or Let it Lead to Regrets  (Mark 4:35-41)

Vigorously Pursue My Hopes and Dreams (Acts 16:6-8)

It is The Time to LIVE WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE!


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