Encouragement

If I'm being honest, today's title is meant just for me.  I need encouragement.  Let me just say that my day got high jacked pretty quickly first by an argument with my 20 year old son and then 32 text messages, 3 voicemails and 45 emails later I had the overwhelming feeling in the pit of my stomach that I wasn't going to live up to the expectation.

I'm a get 'er done type of person.  I don't like to let people down and I most certainly do not like to drop the ball.  Today, well, today was NOT my finest day.  Today was a reminder to me that I can not do all things in my strength but rather in God's. 

I just hate it when our days go beyond what we think we can control and yet, do we really ever have control?  I mean, look at our world today, there is NOTHING within our control.  We are all banned to our homes to try to keep everyone around us healthy and safe.  And some days, some days I just need some encouragement.  Don't you?

God designed us to need people around us that build us up when we need it.  People to walk alongside us when we can't walk alone.  People to do life with.  I'm not talking about the people we live with, I'm talking about those people who aren't related to you but would do absolutely anything for you.  Those people that a mere phone call or text and they spring into action whether that be prayer, an encouraging word or material things.


God tells us in Hebrews, "And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works".  We are supposed to be concerned for one another for the exact purpose of building one another up.  We should be surrounding ourselves with people in our lives that want the very best for us.

Today alone, in my most frustrating moments, I had at least six friends build me up and remind me of the purpose behind the chaos.  I think that is one of the most beautiful things in christian friendships, how we build each other up.  Our people we do life with are gifted to us by God.  As he tells us in Galatians 6:2 HCSB, "Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ".

How remarkable that God loves us enough to give us people to help carry our burdens.  And let's be honest, some burdens are bigger than others but we never have to carry them alone.  Friendship is important to me and I don't let just anybody into my inner soul.  But true friends always lift up and never tear down.  True friends cause us to refocus beyond ourselves and look at how Christ desires us to live.  True friends always speak truth into our lives. 

I've learned about Paul this year in my Bible Study and if you have never read any of the letters by Paul or any of his books of the Bible, I encourage you to get on that right now!  Paul is a true redemption story and he amazes me at how he always, always relied on God.  And his truths are so timely for us today.  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come our of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (vs.29 NIV)

So as I sit here and look back over my day, I can see glimpses of moments of encouragement through my people.  I can see the love in their words that while I had a not so great day, God still loves me.    I can see the moments they are reminding me that they too have walked a similar path and came out ok.  I can feel the "love you's" even though we can't see each other right now.

So I encourage you, if you don't have your people, find them!  Once we are all cleared to go back to church, jump feet first into a small group.  Get involved in a Bible Study.  Get you a tribe you can call your own.  And then do life with those people so that they can build you up when you need some encouragement.

"Encouragement is to a friendship what confetti is to a party."- Nicole Johnson

Go find your people and get to getting with your party.  And to my people that walked with me today, that built me up when I felt low and who loved me through my uglies, I just want to thank each of you.  You know who you are and I am blessed to have every one of you in my life.


Father, I know that regardless of how my day goes, I am blessed because I am Yours.  You have created us to have people in our lives that build us up and Lord, I pray that if people reading this today do not know friends like this that you would guide them to their people.  I thank you Lord for the friendships in my life and for the way that you have surrounded me with people who will love me through it all.  Let us always have words of love and encouragement for each other.  Amen

Discipline

None of us likes to be disciplined, in fact, many of us in our younger years probably rebuked discipline and did "our thing".   But even as adults, we should be living disciplined lives.  I'm not talking about someone putting us in "time-out" or being grounded, I'm talking about being disciplined through Jesus.

As children of God, every step we take should be with God.  How do we do that?  How can we be sure we are doing just that?  Well, let's just go down the list:

1.  Are you spending time in God's Word?
2.  Are you spending time in prayer with God?
3.  Are you behaving in a way that brings glory to your Father?
4.  Are the choices you are making choices that will show your good works in heaven?

If you can't answer YES to each of those questions, then maybe you need to re-evaluate how disciplined you really are.  Ouch, I know, my toes just got stepped on too but if we aren't honest with ourselves, how can we begin to walk in discipline?  And when life throws us curve balls, how can we come out the other side with obedience?

Charles Swindoll once said, "When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God.  In fact, it might mean you're right in the center of His will.  The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering and loss".  Trials and sufferings are part of our christian walk but each trial grows our faith and opens our eyes to obedience.  When we live disciplined lives, we are able to grow beyond our trials and see the joy.

When I first started strong on my walk of faith, I was introduced to Beth Moore and her Bible studies.  It was exactly what I needed at the moment.  They were not overwhelming but rather full of truths that allowed me to see what a life of faith was, what it meant and how to diligently work to achieve it.  Now mind you, it won't happen over night, it's a constant work in process but that's part of the beauty of the design of discipline God has created.  I remember Beth Moore saying in one of her
studies, "God has a present will for your life.  It is neither chaotic nor utterly exhausting.  In the midst of many good choices vying for your time, He will give you the discernment to recognize what is best".  God doesn't expect us to figure all this out on our own.  He walks alongside us every step of the way.  He guides us to where he wants us to be, where we can enjoy the very best with Him.

Discipline sounds like such an unfriendly word and yet, it's the life, we as Christians are called to live.  I challenge you to not look at discipline as a job or a chore but instead, embrace it as an opportunity to be in tune with your Father.  As Christians, we must live lives that represent our faith, our beliefs, our trust in God.  What we live out in front of others is more important than simply the words we use.  Discipline and obedience lead to spiritual growth and maturity. 

"But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:5-6 NKJV

It's not an easy path.  Just as we constantly discipline our children, God is disciplining us.  God is constantly refining us so that we may become more like Him.  Each day is a new opportunity to step up to the plate and get into the game.  Don't waste another moment just sitting on the sidelines but instead step out and trust God. 

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he that trusts in the Lord."  Proverbs 16:20 NIV

Heavenly Father, You love us more than we can love ourselves.  You desire for us to be in Your Word, in prayer with You and trusting You with our lives.  When you discipline us it is out of love and desiring the very best for us.  Father, I pray that we would be a society that is overwhelmed with joy and blessings through all things.  Let us follow Your will for our lives.  Let us see you in each of our days so that we may walk closer to You.  May we chose to follow Your commandants, Lord, and then have moments to share the joy of obedience with others.  Amen

Calm & Content

Raise your hand if you feel calm these days?  I sure don't and yet God has asked us to be calm and content through all things.  Not always so easy.  But God tells us in Luke 12:25-26, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?".

Worry and chaos is just like this virus we are all fighting, a plague, a pandemic, a sickness.  And we as humans let that plague win.  We spend our time obsessing about what coulda, shoulda, woulda been instead of resting calmly and trusting Jesus with every worry, every fear, every everything.

It is so hard to just give it to God.  It's a constant struggle.  I am the biggest failure when it comes to this.  I like to hand it all over to God and then pick it up again if I don't feel he is moving fast enough to fix it.  Or I pick it up again if I think I've found a better way to get from Point A to Point B.  And yet, if I would just be calm and content and let go to God, HE can and will handle it far better than I ever could have.

We have to just be content right here and right now to just let God lead through it all.  We are not to allow ourselves to be lead astray by tempting promises or our own strategic plans but we are to be like sheep and follow our Shepherd.

Jesus tells us in John 10:27-28 (NKJV), "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they

follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand".  Jesus is our Great Shepherd and he is aware and fully involved with all of His sheep.  We need to be content following the Shepherd and trusting Him to keep us safe.  Just as a shepherd in the field would do, Jesus does even more so for us, His children.

We can't find contentment in things or people or experiences.  They are fun but not life lasting.  The contentment that our world provides is not as fulfilling as the contentment that Jesus freely gives.  And we can't let our circumstances dictate our contentment and happiness.  We can't allow ourselves to stray away from our Shepherd-King who is there to protect us and guide us through each day.

Luci Swindoll made a perfect statement for just this post, she said, "The key to contentment is to consider.  Consider who you are and be satisfied with that.  Consider what you have and be satisfied with that.  Consider what God's doing and be satisfied with that".  I have this quote written and taped to the mirror on my vanity.  We need to look around our lives and just be content.  We need to look around our circumstances and be calm.  God can and will provide the calm in the storm, the peace in the unknown and the contentment to accept it all.

As we are living life very differently these days, I ask that you would take a moment to allow the Shepherd to guide you away from worry and fear that can alter your mood, affect your relationships and your health and instead walk with the Shepherd-King into contentment.  Allow Him who loves you to calm your world.  Trust Him who has good planned for you. 

We, as children of the king, were never designed to live independently from our Shepherd.  Jesus tells us that we live best when we follow Him.  In the wise words of Martin Luther, "Pray, and let God worry".

Father, we come to You today prepared to follow You our Shepherd.  We know that you do not desire for your children to worry.  You want us to live a life of calm and contentment through all things.  Lord, I ask that you bring your peace to anyone needing it today.  I ask that as a nation, we would follow you in sheep-like fashion knowing that You do not disappoint.  When we feel uncertainty mounting, please remind us that we need to Let Go and Let God.  Amen.

Be Still...

One of my most favorite verses in the Bible comes from Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..."  To me, this verse is telling me that if I am still, I will be able to sit and take in all that is God.  These days we live in a busy world.  A world full of noise and ten thousands things pulling for our attention.  Particularly in these days of this new normal with our families in our homes all day, we are pulled fifty thousand different directions but just think for a moment if you could just be still.  What would that look like to just be still.  Take that one step further, what would that look like to be still with God.

What if we became a world full of households that took time to be still?  Full of households that didn't allow the busyness to rob our joy but instead found joy in the quiet moments.  I know, I know, your people are all home right now but how much more peaceful would you feel if you could find those quiet moments?  How much more joy would you see in your day if you had a moment to just be still?

I challenge you today to be intentional with your moments.  Our days can get derailed so quickly, especially in these ever changing times.  I challenge you to prioritize your day and include moments of just being still and being with our Father in heaven.  Anne Graham Lotz once said, "I need the spiritual revival that comes from spending quiet time alone with Jesus in prayer and in thoughtful meditation on His Word".  How would making this time change your entire outlook on your day, on your situation, on our world's circumstances?

God had designed us to need him.  Every moment of our day, we should be needing Him.  There isn't a moment in our day where God isn't there.  There isn't a situation or circumstance in our lives that God isn't already aware of.  But we need to open our minds to the idea of just being still.  We need to quiet the world around us so that in those quiet moments of being still, we can feel and hear God. 

God is not limited by what our minds can fathom.  Time and space are not limited by God.  He is with those in the hospitals right now AND in your home with you.  He desires a relationship with you.  We need not fear for God is in all things and already in the future waiting for us.  He desires for us to live abundant lives and He desires a personal relationship with each of us. 

I love that God is so intimate with each of us.  He knows everything about each of us and when we cry out, He already knows what we need.  He already knows our hearts.  Just imagine if we could sit at His feet for even just a few moments and just be still with Him.  Imagine how you would feel after having those quiet moments.

I can remember many years ago, I was worried and spiraling off the rails about something and my Dad emailed me a verse.  Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own".  God doesn't expect us to jump past today and worry about the tomorrows, He wants us to sit and be still with Him so he can fill us with His peace as we go into the tomorrows.  He won't force us to sit and be still, we have to allow ourselves to slow down and do it.  And the beauty of sitting still and knowing God is there is comfort after the stillness.  There is peace overflowing.  There is contentment.  There is joy. 

"Life is not intended to be simply a round of work, no matter how interesting and important that work may be.  A moment's pause to watch the glory of a sunrise or a sunset is soul satisfying, while a bird's song will set the steps to music all day long." (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Find moments in your day to just be still.  Be intentional in your day to set aside moments to just sit with God.  It's in these moments that we are refreshed and fueled up with the Spirit.  And with our world in the situation we are experiencing, we need to feel refreshed and energized to handle the tasks laid out in front of us.

Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons.  You live in terms of what you see and touch.  I'm living on other terms.  I told you that you were missing God in all this.  You're at a dead end.  If you won't believe I am who I say I am, you're at the dead end of sins.  You're missing God in your lives."  John 8:23-24 MSG

Be still and know that I am God.  Be still if only for a mere few moments in the quiet of the morning before everyone wakes up.  Be still if only for a moment.  I promise you, those moments will begin to add up and before you know it, you will be prioritizing your day around moments to be still rather than moments of busyness. 

Lord, we praise You for the blessing that You are.  I pray that we would look for moments to be still and just sit with you throughout our day.  I pray that we would not allow the busyness to keep us from drinking in the peace and joy only You can provide to us in our days.  When we are anxious Lord, I ask that You would stir an urgency to just be still with You.  Amen.

And we are back to "A"

And so it begins.  Here we sit at the letter A.  Ready to start out on this journey and trusting God for each daily post.  And as I sit here in my house under a "safer at home" request from my state Governor, I can't help but focus on today is the day.

Today is the perfect day to start this challenge.  Today is the perfect day to share a little light.  Today is the perfect day to look to Jesus.  Today is the perfect day to start with the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty One, the Authority, the Author of our Everlasting Peace, the great I Am.  Today is the perfect day.

So as I start off this challenge, I want to spend some time sitting in the peace that the Almighty Father provides amongst the chaos and I want to share that peace with you.

Regardless of whether we are living in the old normal or this new normal, God is still with each of us.  God is still aware.  God was not surprised.  And God is still giving us a day full of opportunities to see Him, share Him and trust Him.

Each day we are given a fresh start, a clean slate.  Each day is a priceless gift that has been given to you by God.  And with each new day, He expects us to use it wisely for when it is over, it is gone.  As children of the King, we are to use each day to the fullest regardless of our circumstances.  We are to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction.  Instead of grumbling about our circumstances or situation, we should be looking and searching for hidden moments that God has placed within our day.

And these days, while we are all pretty much stuck in our homes with our people, there will be an abundance of opportunities for God to be seen and God to be shared.  God's love never changes, sun up to sun down, He remains constant and the same.  His promises are never changing and never failing.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us.  He has promised to pick us up when we are unable to stand.  He is with each of you within your homes right now.  All you need do is turn your heart to Him.

Only God can provide a peace through the chaos we are all living through.  Only God can keep the fear at bay.  Live a life of Faith OVER Fear.  We are all living in a"new normal" and have
been gifted time.  Time we didn't know we could have ever imagined we could have.  Time to be with our family.  Time to be in the Word.  Time to be in prayer.  Time.

I read a quote recently that I found profoundly fitting for the current situation we find our world in.  "When we reach the end of our strength, wisdom, and personal resources, we enter into the beginning of his glorious provisions." (Patsy Clairmont)

Amidst the craziness happening now in our world, we must turn back to God.  We must remind ourselves that God wasn't surprised.  God has remained constant and on his throne.  God was before this, He is in this and He will get us through this.  What an opportunity He has given us to truly live out our faith over fear.

Yes, I see the numbers and it's staggering.  It breaks my heart as I'm sure it breaks yours, But God.  Is it not amazing how God has stopped an entire world in an effort to turn our eyes upon the great "I Am"?  These days are important days.  These days are days to live your faith out in front of your family.  These days are hard But God gives strength to the weary and the fearful and his grace is overflowing.  Nothing can stop God.

I urge you, turn your hearts to God.  Turn your eyes upon the Author of Everlasting Peace.  God provides a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Only He can carry us through this storm and bring us through the other side.  Only He can comfort those hurting from the sting of loss.  Only He can give you, and all of us courage to face the trials we are enduring.  His hand is over our world, our nation.  Put your trust in Him who is gives us the strength to live courageously.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Authority over all nations, the Author of Everlasting Peace, the Great I AM.  Turn to Him today, don't wait another moment.  His hand is outstretched and waiting...

"For you, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.  You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment."  Psalm 66:10-12 NKJV

Father, I lift up our country and our world.  I ask Lord that you would bring us through this affliction to rich fulfillment.  I ask that you heal the hearts of those grieving. I beg of you Lord, please remove this virus, remove this disease and I pray that those that do not know you will see you among the chaos of our world.  Father you are our hope.  You are our provider of peace.  You calm the fears and the storms Lord.  I pray that those that do not know you would turn their hearts to you.  I pray that this be a defining moment for christians to show what a life of faith over fear looks like.  I praise You, Lord, for your constant protection, love and grace.  Thank you for the day you have given us, the opportunities for us to see you and the promise of great things yet to come.  Amen.

Challenge Accepted....Again

In 2018 I was introduced to a blogging challenge called the A to Z challenge.  The idea is you blog everyday through the alphabet in April (with the exception of Sundays).  And because I was challenged by the journey, I signed up again last year. 

This year I told myself, nope, not signing up.  I'm just too busy to devote time to this.  I even told Chris, I'm not signing up.  And yet, here I am on the last day of March and guess who is officially signed up?  Yep, that would be yours truly.

Funny, when we think we don't have time for something that God feels is important, He makes the time for us.  Here we all are, stuck in our homes with nothing but time.  It took some wrestling with God on what I would write about for the next 26 days through the alphabet.  But in the end, God won.  He always does, doesn't he?

So tomorrow, I start the journey again.  Tomorrow I will begin making time to intentionally sit with God and blog.  For the next 26 letters, I will let go of Jennifer and let God flow through me and into my blog for the world to see. 

Every year, it is a challenge and I seem to lose momentum as I continue through the month.  Would you please pray that I stay focused and trust God through this process.  Pray that I don't give up, that I persevere and that not my words but God's be shared with the world.

So until tomorrow....

Another year...another moment to reflect on the Goodness of God

Every year I am amazed at just how fast the days fly by and I always tend to spend a few days in December with an extra cup of coffee and my memories.  It looks like today is that day.  I'm still in my PJ's, animals are snoozing around my feet and that cup of coffee is sitting next to the computer.

As I sit here looking out the window, I can feel the year wash over me.  Every year is full of  moments.  Some that we are excited about and others we wish we could just forget.  But every moment is known to God.  There isn't a moment that has happened over this entire year that God did not already know was going to happen.  That's one of the true blessings in loving our Father in heaven, he never gets surprised.  We may, but never him.

This year started out rough.  If I could go back to January and sit in the kitchen with my Gramma again you better believe I would jump at that chance.  I miss her so much.  I wish I had taken the time to have created more moments with her when I was with her.  I wish I had spent a few more days with her in January when I went up to help her move.  But instead, I was on Jennifer's agenda and pushed through the days, as difficult as they were, and came home instead of staying put just a few days longer.  And then she took a turn and just never bounced back.  As irony as she was, she was so strong and a fighter but I knew, deep in the caverns of my heart, she was tired of fighting and was ready to feel better.  I get it.  And while I am overjoyed that she is home and whole and with my Grampa, I still miss her, and him, here on earth with me.  Things have happened this year that I wish with all my being that she could have been a part of.  But truthfully, she was.  Leave it to my Gramma to leave this world on the sweetest day, Valentines Day.  I would imagine she came into this world with a bang and she left it just the same.  My heart still aches remembering the very last message I gave her while she was in hospice.  All I wanted was to be there and tell her in person that I loved her so much.  That she had taught me so much.  That she truly was a special lady and I have been blessed to be her oldest and first grandchild.  But I was frozen in fear of saying that goodbye in person so it was on the phone.  And that final goodbye at the funeral home dropped me to my knees.  She is gone.  Her home is now full with a new family and new life.  And I'm here just missing the heck outta that lady.  But there are moments when I think about what she would say as my life has continued throughout the year and I am reminded that she would tell me to "put my big girl panties on as this too shall pass".  And it will.  This hurt will pass and heal and the memories will carry me through until I can hug them both again.

So then we flash forward to this past summer.  God knew when he joined me with Chris that we had something special together.  I can remember praying so hard for the right man.  And Chris walked into my life.  Now mind you, marriage isn't easy and ours is always a work in progress.  But together, we work.  We are a team and our family is just that, our family.  As most of you know, Matthew is from my first marriage.  What I consider a failed attempt but God used it for good.  Just as he always does and he tells us in Romans 8:28.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Whether good or bad, God works out all things for our good.  I'm living proof right here.  God took a broken relationship and turned it into something magical.  I never thought the day would come when Matthew would step out and ask Chris to adopt him but it happened this past Father's Day.  Matthew asked Chris to adopt him and it happened.  I have a blog post all about how God takes the ugly and makes it beautiful.  It's amazing to know that the man that I chose for my partner for life is the man my son desires as his father.  Matthew decided since he was an adult, it was time to make this decision and I am so proud of him. God put Chris and I together for just this celebration and it warms my heart to know that we are officially all Evoy's.  God is good  ya'll.  God is good.

And then we lost our Blaze. It was horrific.  Standing there watching out kitty suffer and knowing there was absolutely nothing we could do to help or to stop the pain.  We got Blaze when we lived in Virginia and she has been a part of our family for 11 years.  She made every move with us as a family.  She was my snuggle buddy when Chris was working or out of town.

She was a comforter when any of us were upset and she was our watch cat every night keeping us safe.  Bless her heart she was a good kitty.  I told Matthew that I imagine Blaze walking across that rainbow bridge and Red Dog and Bacardi sitting there thinking, oh crud, she's back.  Blaze took no shenanigans from anybody, including our dogs.  And when we brought Sierra home in 2016, she got her in line very quickly.  Blaze was a sweet girl and I miss her but God is good and faithful and knew that our home needed another kitty.  So after lots of tears and hurts, God pointed us to our new fur baby, Ember. 

She's named Ember for a few reasons.  One, she's more of a buff orange, not a bright orange like Blaze.  Two, she's not Blaze, she's not ever going to be Blaze so she is Ember, she's like Blaze only different.  And Ember has taken to our family.  She even has Chris loving on her.  She can handle her own with Sierra and man she is a snuggler which is exactly what our family needed after our loss.  There is nothing sweeter than the sweet purr of a fur baby lulling you to sleep.  God knew what we needed and brought us to Ember, our little Alabama girl.

And so that brings us to now.  Tides are changing and time keeps evolving.  I can't stop it.  Matthew is growing up and will be 20 soon.  Oh my how that blows my mind.  I can't possibly be the Mom to a 20 year old and  yet here I am, trying to navigate the waters.  I don't feel so much like I'm swimming elegantly through those waters, more like a dog paddle upstream with waves crashing on all sides.  But God has Matthew and I in his hand.  We can't be plucked, ever.  I'm learning to pray for Matthew as my adult son.  I'm learning to let go and let God fill him.  I'm learning to trust God with him and to not let Jennifer get in the way.  God works best when we allow him to do what he needs to do.  Sometimes that is tough love.  Sometimes that is heartache.  Sometimes that is living through the circumstances of a bad choice.  But as I've already said, God uses all things for the good of his children and for his glory.  And while I know Matthew has drifted away from the Lord right now, he will be called back.  He has Jesus in his heart and nothing can ever change that.  God knows where Matthew is.  God knows Matthew's fears.  God loves Matthew so much more than I ever could.  And so I have to trust God with him.  I have to pray for Matthew to be infused with the Holy Spirit so deeply that he opens his eyes to God.  And it will happen in God's time and in His ways.  And when that day comes, you will hear this Momma rejoicing in Jesus' Name!

Another year is almost gone.  Another year of ups and downs.  This roller coaster of life can be difficult.  I couldn't imagine living life without God at the center of it.  Without God at the helm of this crazy Jennifer ship, I wouldn't have been able to make it through the year.  I know my path isn't paved with rose petals but I am assured that God is the light upon the path.  God never said life would be full of roses, alas, there will be some thorns along the way.  But oh the sweetness when you can look back and see the glory of God in it all.  Oh the power when you can see God's handiwork.

May you see glimpses of God as you look back upon your year.  May you forever be reminded of how good he is to his children and just how much he loves each of us.  I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit this Christmas season and walk into 2020 full of anticipation on what God has yet to come for each of us.  Praises and Blessings to you and yours....