This past year was marvelous and ugly all mixed.
I learned a lot in the darkness, and grew a lot in the light, and gained bravery and brazenness in what was hard yet beautiful.
I have expectations for this next go-around. Scary, considering the fact that so many of our ideals and longings and thoughts don’t come to pass in the way or manner we imagine. Nevertheless I’m cupping my hand over my brows again as I pear out onto another 12 months and see significant, happy things unfolding. Amen. Let it be.
A few fortnights ago I was praying about some difficult health concerns I’ve been having. It was a tricky year for my body. And as I prayed that God would “reset” my soul’s dwelling, I felt like He said that “reset” was my word for the year. I wasn’t looking for a word but I’ll take it, because how neat it is when we find something we need before we ever realize it’s been missing. It was confirmed a few days later in a sweet, undeniable way and nothing sends me into expectations like hearing from Him like that.
What I’m realizing though, is that the reset will require me to rise. It’s not going to be a button push, or a tab click, or an ingested prescription. It’s going to be a step by step trek, words followed by actions, endurance and persistence and leaning in to a Lord who is always present.
There will be crossings to discern, courses to master, routes to choose, yeses to utter, paths to patter down.
But this reset will also involve a lot of resisting and refusing. I will have appetites to curb, desires to defy, bents to push against.
Because positive change is just as much a no as it is a yes.
Dropping and grabbing.
Starving and feeding.
Offering and receiving.
Staying and going.
A long line of yes to this and no to that will make up the holy odyssey that is 2018.
And I’m making a mistake if I don’t understand that the quest will be long in length.
C.S. Lewis, in a letter to his friend Arthur Greeves said…
“I don’t believe that good work is ever done in a hurry.”
And I must remember it.
What is it that you feel like you are to hone in on this year? Any words? Charges? Changes? Releases? You share and I’ll pray, how’s that?
Before he lead us all into the promises of God yesterday at church, my husband prayed that we would…
“…be about Your business, God.”
And that sounded right and set well with the spirit inside of me and so we seek to do it. Whatever your resolutions or plans or desires, may it be a blessing to the Kingdom of God this year.
My hope is to be here writing once a week. The rumor is that blogs are on the back burner and that podcasts are all the rage, but I intend to stay a tiny step behind the times to weave words here with you. And I’d like to include a few book clubs and studies and videos too. And who knows, maybe I’ll get wild and crazy and try an ebook or a podcast. We shall see.
I love you all. Live in the light and know that good things are coming. Happy, happy new year friends.
“Be about your business God”. Love this. And please continue to write — I much prefer that to podcasts.
Very motivating and inspiring Kate. I so enjoy reading these!