HAPPY NEW YEAR! A friend of mine once said that "its hard to balance hanging onto the past when it's time to look forward" she said"its like driving, you need to glance in your rearview mirror but keep your focus forward, you cant drive looking at what's behind you." Sometimes I am so easily distracted by where we are or where we have been, that I fail to see the promise, and the excitement in where we are going...if we don't let go, and look forward we may miss some of the joy coming our way.
My prayer for 2013, is for health, safety, and happiness for everyone and through this I pray my heart is so transformed to focus on the gratitude I have for these blessings that our Hero gets all the glory. I have a few verses for myself and our little ones to keep in our hearts this year. Keeping in mind that I fail everyday, we are going to try to memorize these verses and keep them with us this year and always...
#1. I Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually."
This is just such a reminder that I need to focus on what is to come, not every little detail of this world...and to be mindful that I can do nothing aside from Him or without His strength.
#2. Matthew 25:40 "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." I want our hearts to lead our actions in such a way that this verse is how we do life.
#3. Mark 12:29-31 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." We are practicing this one and trying to memorize it, if we are able to do this, our actions should fall into place. I wish our hearts were able to do this everyday with ease, but we fall short...so this one is going to take a lot of prayer and time!
#4. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I think I wrestle with this one the most at our house. I finally have a glimpse of being excited about things to come versus holding on to the past and looking forward with apprehension. I'm not saying I always understand this, but I do know that the stress I feel and the worries I have are not from Him, so this one especially important to me.
And finally, our year in review!
We started new schools and started our last year at our old school. We made new friends, and loved on old friends. Daddy had a very exciting year at work, and momma, well I moved into my car and finally got a handle on this crazy schedule. We went to the beach and to the mountains. We grew and we learned a lot. We stayed out of the hospital and home on the holidays. We loved our sweet family and we are more grateful than ever for our blessings...
And finally, our year in review!
