Making everything new!!

Happy New Year!!!

For some of you this is a welcome sign.  A new year means new beginnings and new adventures.  For some of you, it's another dreaded night of being alone and just a reminder of being a widow.  Either way you feel, the new year is inevitable  The new year is just hours away now.  2017 is almost here!!

Do you make resolutions?  I normally don't but I do set goals for myself from year to year.  Some I haven't achieved but that's okay.  I'm working on a big one from the start of 2016 and that's okay that I haven't completed this project.  As long as it gets done and it's God's will to happen, I know it will happen in God's time.  So I am practicing patience and trusting God by putting it in His court.  I know He has me either way so I'm not fretting or worrying about my project. 

If you make resolutions and goals but didn't see them through, give yourself a break and use the new year as a fresh start.  Be patient and kind to yourself is all you can do and give yourself permission.  Maybe that can be your new resolution or goal for 2017; giving yourself permission to just be!! 

See the new year as a new beginning.  When December 31, 2011 rolled around, I felt like I was leaving Kirk behind.  At least while it was 2011 I felt like he was still there, he had lived almost exactly half of that year so when I was looking at 2012 in the face, I had a sad feeling of reality.  Kirk wasn't in 2012, he didn't get to see that New Year's Eve and I was saddened by that.  Now that we are on the verge of the 6th NYE without him, it's gotten a little easier to celebrate tonight.  Now I view each new January 1st as a new beginning.  A new year of what can be; hope of a better year and new adventures. 

In Revelation 21:4-5 we are told, "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things have passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

This hope carries over year to year.  That is one thing you can take away from tonight.  Each new year we can carry that hope with us.  We can trust that God is with us right here right now; year to year, day to day, minute to minute, second to second.  He never leaves us; His love is unfailing. 

Psalm 6:4 NIV "Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love."

Psalm 13:5 NIV "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."

Psalm 33:22 NIV "May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

Psalm 119:76 NIV "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant."

As you can see, there are many verses that tell us about God's unfailing love for us.  If you make any kind of resolution, maybe make one to read the Psalms.  They are filled with so many verses of hope, love, comfort, pain, troubles, and solutions.  Reading the Bible and studying and absorbing God's word can only help you heal and grow with God.  You can never go wrong reading and mediating on His word.  The Bible is God's love letter to His children; we are meant to read, believe, and trust what He tells and promises us. 

My prayer for you this New Year's Eve is that you find comfort and healing through reading the Bible, going to church, finding a small group at church, or finding a couple of other widows to fellowship with and share in each other's journeys. 

Lord, please heal and bless each person that is reading my blog.  Lord I pray that they find comfort and healing through you.  You are the only way to find true happiness and healing and I pray that everyone understands this truth and they seek comfort through you.  Thank you Lord for another year and I pray that each one of us will have a blessed and safe 2017.  Thank you for seeing us through and blessing us with so much.  In Your precious name I pray Amen.

Happy 2017!!!  Remember you are never alone and we are all in this together. Live, laugh, love, celebrate, and hope!!!   I love each and every one of you!!!

Prayer Warriors Needed!!

MERRY CHRSTMAS!!!

I can't believe it's just a few short days away. This year has flown by.  It's hard to believe that on Christmas Day Kirk will have been gone for 5 and a half years.  It doesn't seem real.  This will be our sixth Christmas without him.  Some nights I let my mind drift when I'm in bed and imagine how he is celebrating in heaven.  Can you imagine the party that Christmas Day brings in heaven?  One day we will get to celebrate with our loved ones once again!!  It will be a great celebration!!

As I am writing this, it is the Monday before Christmas.  I am asking for prayers for me and Emily for Tuesday the 20th at around 3.  We have a meeting with our county's foundation board about an idea we have to help others like us.  The idea came to me last Christmas when I was thinking about the sweet widows I had met over the year and their families.  I really want to do something that will help new widows or widowers with children that still live at home.  I came up with an idea of having small bags made up with a couple of books that deal with grieving and are from Christian authors.  I also want these bags to include references that I have found that has helped me in my journey and also little trinkets for the children involved.  I have thought about this idea for a year now and I'm hoping I can get help with this through our local foundation.  Emily is excited to be a part of this idea and wants to help these families just as much as I do.  I am excited and nervous but if it's of God's will then I know my idea will turn into reality.  If someone had came to me with this bag when Kirk had passed suddenly, I would have cherished the information.  I just want us to be available to help others who are just starting their journey and to let them know they are not alone!!!

Christmas is a time to show others that we love them and to let them know we are there for them.  Knowing someone is sitting in the wings ready to lend a shoulder to cry on, lend their hearts to pray with you, share their precious time to listen to your pain is a precious gift.  This gift cannot be bought with money.  I would rather that someone spend time with me to laugh, cry, pray, and just share and make memories.  Memories sure cannot be bought but yet they are a treasure. 

God gave us the ultimate gift when He sent His one and only Son to be born in a humble manger and 33 years later die on a cross for all of mankind.  Luke 2:8-12 tells us, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger." 

Because of this precious baby, I am able to be forgiven.  Because of this precious baby, I can find rest, comfort, and healing.  Because He was born and died for me, I can live and praise Him. 

I'm not sure why Kirk was taken away from us at such a young age.  I'm not sure if I'll ever know the reason why I am a widow and Emily lost her dad at such a young age.  But I do know that Jesus is with me every step of  the way.  I know He is right there leading me and encouraging me to fight one more day.  I know He is instructing me to forgive, love, care, and show compassion to others.  Because of Christmas Day, I can give my heart and love to others that are in desperate need. 

So this Christmas and every Christmas that I am fortunate enough to spend here on Earth, I will let Christ lead me to do His will.  I will put trust in my most precious Christmas gift and let His light shine through me so that others will find comfort through my actions and words.

So this Tuesday if you could just say a short prayer for us and that we are following His will for our lives, we will greatly appreciate your love and support!!

We want to wish each and every one of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Beautiful New Year!!!  May this coming year be the best one yet for all of you.  We love you all!!

Lord thank you for coming to Earth as a baby born into humble beginnings and being the most precious gift to all mankind.  I pray Lord that Your will be done through me and Emily and  I know that if it is Your will, we will be able to help others that will be starting their journey.  Lord I pray for all of my sweet widow sisters and widower brothers that are trying their best every day Lord.  Its a long and hard path Lord, but with you by our side; our journey is not made alone.  Thank you Lord for Your love and compassion and for giving up Your Heavenly home to come and rescue all of us!!!  It's in Your Precious Name I pray!!  Amen!!