Perseverance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ~ Hebrews 12:1

Do you ever wonder about how you can go through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the day or even the week?  We've had one of those weeks.... 

A week ago today we were in a wreck that totalled our van.  All are without injury, and blessed to have been so protected.  We went to Galveston for the weekend, and would like to have stayed longer.  Spent Monday trying to work and get insurance details ironed out.  Picked up my rental, which is way bigger than my little 4'11" body was meant to drive!!

But while I ride that coaster, I realize that the underlying peace I've found never fails.  We started up at Life Group again on Tuesday after a long break over the holidays.  It was amazing to be with everyone that night.  We'd missed our dear friends, and we met new ones.  While we were there, the Holy Spirit ministered to one of my new friends through me.  It was a great experience to have the right words in the right time for her, and to know that it wasn't really me.  I've not experienced that often, so it was a great feeling leaving there knowing I had helped in some way. 

Last night I went with my new friend to a women's bible study.  It was only the 2nd meeting, and I was so blessed by the entire event.  I saw an old friend, and hoped he would see the new me.  I met new friends, and was able to share some things about my past with them and bring it in to the light.  I love that, you know.  Bringing it in to the light takes the power of shame and darkness away from it.  Jesus is awesome that way.

So of course today was not so great.  At least, it had more challenges than the previous two days.  But as I came around towards the end of the day I realized something.  Or possibly I just made a choice.  I can take each of these things one at a time.  There is no reason to become overwhelmed by life, or the little and not so little things in life.  I am not in control of any of it anyway, so why spin my wheels over and over trying to stay in control? 

I have to laugh at myself when I think of these things.  In my past life, control was all I knew.  My life consisted of winning and losing everything based on what I could or could not control.  My family, job, money, entertainment...  I had such a need to control everything!  Eventually, though, it became obvious that the more I tried to control, the more out of control my life became. 

So today I trust.  I trust my Father to handle all the things, large and small.  I look to Him for guidance, and to clean up when I mess up.  But overall, I persevere.  I move forward, one step at a time.  The peace I've found is just not worth losing... 

We realized while in Galveston that for so many years we went there to dream about moving away and starting over.  Planning and searching for something that was just out of our reach.  We know now that what we longed for, we have found and it is so much bigger and better than anything we imagined!

Tomorrow is Friday, and we have our grandbabies for the weekend.  We have church and a family get together Saturday and then serving at church on Sunday...  we persevere, we run the race at a steady pace and we hope to throw off all the things that hinder us in the mean time. 

Living the Blessed Life,

~ Jessica
 

New Year Resolutions

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

Do you ever ask yourself why we "make" New Year Resolutions?  Most of us do it, and they are usually things we want to change about ourselves for the new year.  Maybe we are going to workout more, or eat less, or spend more time with our families.  Or maybe it's to make more money or spend less money, get on a budget...  It's as if the calendar year changing gives us all a fresh start. 

But - as is our nature I guess, we also tend to break our resolutions before the end of January.  We get motivated, start that direction and then life gets in our way.  We too easily fall back in to our old habits.  Not everyone is this way, of course, but I'll step out and say that a large majority of those who make the resolutions never see them to the end of the year.  Personally, I have countless failed resolutions over the years. 

So for me, I am not making any resolutions this year.  I have a lot of hope and excitement about the coming year.  But that is based only on my anticipation of what Father is going to do with and for us this year.   I have hope that I will be a healthier person, but that's my hope no matter what day of the year it is.  We were really good at running and working out for a while and let up over the fall.  We've recently renewed our gym membership and are going to start working out again.  This was something we did not because of the new year, but because we both have gained weight and want to stay healthy for our grandchildren. 

I try to renew my commitment to living a faithful life true to my Father on a daily basis.  I look for the Holy Spirit to guide me each day, as a new day with new hopes and dreams.  "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24  (Or as we like to say, "I will CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad in it!")  This is not something that has any bearing on a calendar day.  It has to do with my commitment to my Father.

I hope that whatever resolutions you choose this year, that you are blessed abundantly and that you use this time not to dwell on the past year but to anticipate what is coming in the future - the streams in the wastelands.

Living the Blessed Life,

~ Jessica