I don't know about you, but Christmas just didn't seem like Christmas this year. Sure, there were still presents and family times, but the heart of Christmas was missing for me this year. I am not sure why- whether it was because it was so busy, or because we are away from home, or because we didn't get to go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, or because dad was in hospital or because the 'joy' of retail zaps us of family time- but I know that I am not alone in feeling this way.
2011 was a year where the world- or certainly our part of the world- changed forever. The devistation of the January floods is still evident in our landscape and certainly still in people's lives. There is a certain fear that comes upon us now when it rains- it is an awareness of our frailty that we haven't had before.
Apart from that 2011 has been a year of trememdous blessing and triumph. We have seen and experienced God's grace and miracles first hand in our lives. The purchase of our house saw us stepping out in obedience to God's prompting and we are so very pleased that we did. Our bills are always paid and our food supply is always running over.
Our kids are thriving and growing and learning. Kaleb particularly has a real sense of who God is in His life. He has grown soooo much and is most definetly ready for grade 2. Joel is a boy that lives life to his own beat. He is very easy going and lives in Kaleb's shadow when K is around. Bethany, she is just the final piece to the puzzle and the most beautiful and sweet little thing.
Jas's work is continuing to both challenge and bless him. He definetly feels like his time in Dalby is not up- despite pressure from his boss and HR to feel otherwise.
For me, 2011 was the year that 'the joy of the Lord was my strength'. It had it's ups and downs and very downs. But through it all God has been oh so very faithful and good to us. I can honestly say that I am not the same person that I was 12 months ago. I have lost some weight, I have gained health and happiness, I am in a better relationship with the Lord, our marriage is strong and good and I am growing into the mother God has called me to be. I have a better sense of God's purpose and calling on my life and I am 'just doing the next thing' in getting to that place.
All things considered though, it still felt like we got to the end of the year on an out-of-control train that just flew past Christmas and into 2012 with no time to stop, no looking backwards, and no time to take hold of the future.
I felt this year, like never before, the inner struggle at Christmas time. Watching the carols on TV, watching the world sing about our Saviour but knowing that many of them don't know the reality of a relationship with Him. Also knowing that the whole reason for Christmas- the birth of our Saviour- was to save us- to make a way to the cross. The whole reason that Jesus was born in a manger was so that he would die on the cross, to restore our relationship with God. There is a certain amount of irony in it all.
We still live in a broken, fallen, decaying world- a world that seems to have taken an almighty shift in the wrong direction in 2011. A world that so desperately needs the love and grace of our Lord. But a world that is so centered on self and so opposed it would seem to the very person that everyone sings praises to at Christmas.
So what does this all mean for 2012? We are a year closer to the coming of our King. Our world is a year closer to the end. It means that there has never been a more important time to share the love and grace of our Lord. And there has never been a more important time to get into His Word- know what the bible says- be aware of the prophecy's of the end time- and then trust in the Lord with all you have.
Phil 2:13 says "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him". This is an amazing reassurance for 2012. God has it all under control, and his power is working in us that we would obey him and do what pleases Him. This is my hearts cry for 2012. That I would obey Him, in all I do, and that His power would be working in me that I would do what is pleasing to Him. If I can get to the end of 2012 and have achieved that, then it will have been another great year.
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