Seasons & Cycles

For many of us we are all too happy to kiss 2024 goodbye. Personally, I can't wait to ring in the new year. My 2024 began with a very sick husband in the hospital, that lasted for months. During that time my dear mother got diagnosed with “incurable” cancer and then I learned my granddaughter to be was diagnosed with a very rare form of childhood cancer. All of this happened around the same time. Looking back a lot of it is a blur. You do what you have to do to get through and with God's mercy, grace and strength you reach the other side. Never forget or take for granted where God has brought you from or what God has brought you through. It is so easy to forget sometimes.

Things aren't perfect now, we are still dealing with struggles and issues as many of you are, but my God, look what he has brought us through. As they say, we aren't where we want to be but praise God we aren't where we used to be. My husband almost died in the hospital more than once as he suffered through the effects of a long undiagnosed bone infection and the wrath of it as it spread throughout his body. He had two different spinal surgeries, biopsies, many scares and eventually rehab. Now he is walking and is healthy, my mother is in remission and beautiful Adeline is still in the battle but is strong and courageous. She cried with tears of love and joy when she was first introduced to her baby brother, little man Cohen James, my new grand baby, just a couple weeks ago!

In the midst of your trials and tribulations, look for the hand of God working in your life and the lives of your families and loved ones, and you will see it. You will see in the midst of it all, the blessing and tender mercies of our Heavenly Father. It is in these times that we seek His face like never before as we are brought to our knees in prayer!

Sometimes things don't turn out how we had hoped, but we know God is master of bringing beauty from ashes, hope from despair, and joy for mourning. We know we can trust Him in and through it all. God doesn't waste a thing. In the trials we learn, we grow, and we become stronger.  We learn to lean on the everlasting arm of the father and to exercise our faith, among other life lessons. You will get through to the other side. God never leaves you or forsakes you, even when He seems silent at times. Remember the story of Job… so many good life lessons there.

We don't know what is around the bend, but in Christ we can endure and even thrive in the midst of the most dire situations. Remember who your Rock is! Stand on Him and you will not be shaken, you will not be moved by whatever life brings.  In Christ we have a hope and an assurance that the world doesn't have and can't even understand.

In 2025 let us draw nearer to the Father and let Him take us places we can't even imagine as we walk closely with Him. All our hope is in Jesus. Let us treasure Him and abide in Him, and remember we have the victory in Christ. We always have something to celebrate in Him. Celebrate that tonight… victory in Jesus. We have all of eternity with God almighty, where there will be no more tears or sorrow or pain, but peace and glory we can't even comprehend. Everything will be made right. It will be as it is supposed to be. God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and give you peace, His peace, not as the world gives, but only as He can give. 

Let this be our prayer in the new year… we will thrive in 2025, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in whom all blessings flow! Amen!!