Reflections....

As of this writing, we are less than two years away from a new year. This has been a difficult year this year, but instead of focusing on that, I want to blog about how God has been good to me this year.

I've been able to watch my nephew Abel grow. It's been so much fun to see him learning about the world around him; to see his awareness steadily growing. God has blessed my family with him, and with another nephew on the way at the end of February. The sound of Abel's voice is a joy to hear, and I thank God for him.
I got to watch my older nephew Ashley and his wife Alicia respond to God's call for their lives. They moved to Wisconsin, where Ashley is interning at a church there. It is wonderful to see how obedient he is to God and to know that he and Alicia are thriving out there. While I miss them sorely, I know they are in God's will and the pain is eased.
I've been more aware than ever of God's presence with me all the time. As I sat by the bedside of my dying mother-in-law, I felt His presence there with us in that room, and I was able to be strong for my husband. The waiting for the inevitable was torturous but God delivered us through it. There I learned that "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me". I praise God for being there in the middle of grief, in the middle of being soooooo tired and worn out in spirit. It's not our spirit that has to be strong...when we allow ourselves to lean on God, we are strongest then because the strength is of God.
I've been digging deeper into His word, looking to really meditate on what the Scripture is saying. Learning to apply the Scripture to my life, and to meditate on it daily. I've noticed that hymns and songs about God tend to pop up in my mind more often when I really need it. I believe God speaks to me through music. The thought literally just occurred to me that God uses music to get my attention, so when I have a hymn in my head, that may very well be God talking to me, and I ought to listen up.
I'm blessed to have a family of believers. It is much easier to go into the world after I've spent time with them discussing things. The world corrupts, but I am reminded that the things of the world are only temporary, not permanent. I learn to turn my eyes to Jesus. I thank God for all of His blessings.