Welcome 2009!!!

Happy New Year!

May 2009 bring God's richest blessings to your family!

I don't know if I have ever started a new year with such uncertainty as I do 2009. Even before this uncertainty came upon my family, I was thinking about the new year and what I wanted to accomplish in it. I am not much on resolutions, because too many times I fall VERY short of them. However, I did want to see 2009 as a year which our family will never forget. Instead of clear cut resolutions, I have chosen scripture to guide our lives this year.
For my children, I want them to learn to live and grow by Luke 2:52.

"Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man."

I want them to grow in wisdom from their school studies and Bible studies. I want them to grow strong physically and healthy. I want them to grow in favor with God. I want them to learn about God but, more importantly, I want them to learn how they, at their young ages, can LIVE for God. I want them to grow in favor with man. I want them to take what they have learned about God and treat others the way God would want them to. This may sound like a tall order for a 6 and 5 year old, but bringing things down to their level and with God's help and guidance, I know Damon and I can do this. My children already teach me so much. I know I will continue to "treasure all these things in my heart" (Luke 2:51b) as I see them grow.
For Damon I want him to learn and lean upon the wise man's words in Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

I cannot even begin to imagine what is going on in Damon's head right now, but I know his attitude and determination have been amazing. He really is a wonderful Christian man - father and husband. I know God has BIG plans for this guy and I can't wait to see them unfold in 2009. I do know I want Damon to not get discouraged but to follow this verse, even in the hard times, until God's will is shown more clearly.

For me, I want to learn to live the latter verses I have been clinging to these past few weeks. I feel like I have worn Jeremiah 29:11 out but too many times we stop at verse 11. I want to continue to live verse 11 but also verses 12-13:

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you see Me with all your heart.

I want . . . I yearn . . . I desire . . . to become a woman of prayer this year. This is something that amazes me . . . calls to me . . . and overwhelms me. I want to find my niche when it comes to developing a prayer life. I have seen different things and heard of different things and this year I want to find what works best for me. I hope to share some of my discoveries with you and pray that you will share your ideas with me. I know I will not have it all down by this time next year, but I know I can do a better job and have a better relationship with my Father in heaven.

I cannot believe all the love and support I have gained from this blog that started out as a whim a little over a year ago. I know it has been a blessing in my life and I pray, in some small way, it has blessed you as well. Happy New Year and may God be glorified in all we do in 2009!