Just Believe

I was reading to today in Mark 5 about Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter was very ill. He asked Jesus to come to his house because he knew Jesus could heal her. Jesus was stopped on the way by the healing of the women who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. After he spoke with her, friends came and told Jairus to not bother Jesus any longer because his daughter had died. Jesus heard them and his response to Jairus was "Do not be afraid, just believe."

"Do not be afraid, just believe." Such powerful words that speak into my life. It's so easy to be afraid, to not understand when things don't go as we had planned. It's so easy in those times to question God and ask why. All we really need to do is trust and keep believing.

As I look back over the past year, I can see where I needed to hear those words over and over. When we got preapproved for a loan, put an offer in on a house and then our loan fell through ~ Do not be afraid, just believe. When Doug quit his nice comfy job before he had found a job here ~ Do not be afraid, just believe. When Doug ended up having to go to the hospital with a needle in his lung and we didn't have insurance ~ Do not be afraid, just believe.

You know, I could go on and on of the things that have happened. But, I have to say, as I look back, God has taken care of every situation. He not only took care of them, but he has worked in us through them. I can honestly say that I am thankful for every single "bad" thing that has happened to us this year. I feel like I'm sitting here a different person than I was a year ago. I owe that to God. He had to allow some things to happen to shake my faith to make it stronger. To open my eyes to some things I was allowing in my life that were tearing me down and not building me up. I can look back on this year and know "that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28. ALL THINGS! I truly believe that.

Now, I have to say, that is so much easier to sit here, look back, and know the power of those words. It's another thing entirely to live them in the moment. But I also know, that with God having come through every single time, how can I not believe them. Believe in Him. This is why I take time to blog these entries. So that the next time I'm in the middle of a Do not be afraid, just believe moment, I can come back and realize that it's not the first time I've been in this kind of situation. In fact, I'm sure it won't be the last. But if God got me through in the past. I know He'll get me through now. Not only will He get me through, but He'll use the situation to work in me to help be a little more like Him.

Do not be afraid, just believe. Truly, words to live by.

A New Year

New Year's and I have a love/hate relationship. I hate it because it's just a sign that another year has gone by. I'm a year older. My kids are a year older. Another calendar taken down and thrown away. (ok, those that know me totally know I mean recycle) Now, I'm not one of those people that cries at each birthday. I don't mind getting older and, I hope, wiser. I also love watching my kids grow up. I'm truly blessed with amazing kids and seeing the people that they are growing up to be is a blessing. But, it is an adjustment as they get older. Knowing my time to be with them every day is slowly coming to an end. It can also be hard knowing that another year has gone by where I didn't get some things done I've wanted to do. It's just another year...gone.

However, I also love New Year's. It's just this fresh start. The past year and everything I didn't do is wiped clean with a chance for me to start again. This year I've decided to set some resolutions. I'm going to record them here so I can keep myself accountable and look back on them from time to time.

1.) Never sit down to do my devotions without my journal.
I'm actually really excited about this one. In fact, I wrote more in my journal this morning than I ever have. It's so easy to sit down to read my bible so I can check it off my list. I don't ever want my devotions to be like that this year. I want to sit down, knowing that Jesus is sitting right with me and ready to love me, teach me, grow me. I want to be able to record what He has to say so I can look back and remember. I use this blog as a journal somewhat, but let's be honest, there's some things that are just between God and I and I want to be sure to record those this year.

2.) Live in Freedom this year
This is something that God's really been working on in me for awhile. This year, I'm going to succeed. God told me this morning that when I start focusing on all my faults and mistakes it's because I've taken my eyes off of Him. I'm going to strive to keep my eyes on Jesus this year and live my life through Him completely.

3.) Eat better and get in shape
To be honest, I think this has been a resolution of mine for as long as I can remember. However, this year, I think I'm finally ready to do it.

So, a new year, a fresh start. May it be a year full of Jesus in my life. May it be a year where He finds me an empty vessel that He can work through.