It is 2016! How is your new year going so far? Just a few days in… I pray it is going
good! This year I found a year ending
and a new year beginning to be a little depressing. Not really sure why… has anyone else felt
that way? I love every moment God gave
me in 2015, and I am looking with anticipation to each day He presents before
me in 2016. 2015 was a big year for us…
lots of good stuff happening… our first summer with the B&B officially opened,
my 50th birthday, Luke & my 25th wedding anniversary,
my baby sister got married! Those memories & milestones are so precious to
me! It was a year of celebration! So what happened to sour the way of thinking
about 2015??? Although the past year was not all “cherries and rose petals” but
each step I took, I had to keep trusting God, & He brought me through.
The last few years there has been an important word or two
that has been significant in my life for that year. Most of the time it took me
awhile to catch on that it was a word that was purposely given to me. So this
year I decided to pray about a word to live by in 2016… God has stirred up the
word, “FAITH,” in me! I know as a follower of Christ that should be a no
brainer, right? But it is about going deeper in my faith… God has really been
stirring things up in me… stirring is not always the most comfortable feeling,
would you agree? There are so many
uncertainties in my life right now, but the one thing that is for certain is my
FAITH & God’s faithfulness!
Do you have dreams that you let go long ago? Has circumstances taken you off course? Is there a huge “wall” in front of you
leaving you feeling defeated? Have you
received a promise from God that has fallen by the wayside in your mind? Maybe this very moment is the time to pray
and ask God if He would stir up that thing in you again. FYI…Do NOT do it unless you are ready for the
stirring to begin! It could be going back to school for your degree… getting
married… starting a family… going into business… ??? You know what that thing is for you.
Stirring is a time that will test (grow) your faith… BIG
time! When you are making a cake you put
all the ingredients in and then you must stir it to make all those individual
items turn into a cake. I am sure if an
egg had feelings it would not be thrilled when it is being whisked into the
batter, but stirring is the way to get the end product. I feel it is kind of the same when God starts
stirring. You may not be thrilled
either! I have said things like, “God,
my life is good… I am comfortable right where I am.” Or, “Is my faith really
strong enough?” Or, “I am afraid.” What God has shown me through this is that He
brings these times into our lives to push us to rely on Him more… His strength,
His mercy, His grace.
It says in James 1:2-4 “Consider
it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Stirring… pure joy??? Umm, that may not be your first thought on
that, but know that each step you do
take in faith brings more joy. You will
never persevere if you never take the first step!
I challenge you to keep moving forward, but glance back and
see all that God has brought you through.
Remembering where you were to where He has brought you is always a faith
builder. Stand up to His stirring in
you. Trust that if He has stirred up something
in you He will give you exactly what you need to complete it. Choose to live in His truth and promises.
Father God, Forgive our unbelief. I pray that whatever you are stirring up in
each one of us would produce the faith we need to let You be BIG in our
lives. I pray the desire of each heart
is what You have placed there. Let the thoughts,
dreams, and visions be what You, Heavenly Father, want for us. Shield us from the darts of the enemy… take
fear far from us. Grow our faith as we
accomplish what You have set before us.
Praising You for who You are… what You have done and are going to
do. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Rejoicing in Truth!
Carin
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