I love this time of year because I feel that it's such a great time to reflect on all that God has done in the previous year and look forward to seeing his faithfulness displayed in our lives in the coming year. Looking back, I can't help but want to praise God for all that he has done this past year! We've gone through so many changes over the past 12 months, but we've continued to be encouraged because we see God at work all around us! Here are a few of the things from this past year that I'm thankful for...
- For new friends that we've found here in Saint Louis. Before moving, one of the things that Stephen and I identified as crucial for us is being able to build deep and authentic relationships with others. We realized before moving that we are responsible for seeking out these meaningful relationships, and so we've been trying to be very purposeful in that. I think that because we were truly looking for it, and allowing others to really be in our lives, we were able to make some of these relationships. And I can definitely see how this has been a huge part in us being able to transition to our new lives in Saint Louis well!
- Our community group. We started leading a Bible study in our home this fall that has been so incredible for us. This definitely goes right along with the meaningful relationships that I just mentioned. There is something so refreshing about being open with others about what you're going through. To have a community where you are able to be vulnerable, and they can speak truth into your life is priceless. We are so thankful for these people!
-For our church! We are so blessed to be serving in a church that is seeking to make a difference in this city and beyond. I am thankful for the leadership of the Journey as they do the hard work of leading their people to follow Christ's example of laying down our lives for the spiritual and physical benefit of others. This church is excellent at challenging us to examine our choices and our motives and choose to live out what we say we believe. I am so thankful for this church!
- For our new home. We are so thankful to finally be settled in a home! Over the past year and a half we moved three times! From Houston to Austin, then Austin to Saint Louis, and then finally from our temporary housing here to our new home. This house has already been such a blessing for us, particularly the girls. They love their rooms and especially the backyard! :) As much as our family enjoys this home, though, we always want our doors to be open so that we might use this house to benefit others. We are so thankful to be in a home again!
- For our little boys that we are adopting. It was about a year ago that Stephen and I had decided to adopt from Ethiopia. Looking back, it has been such an adventure! People had warned us about how much hard work it would take, and boy they weren't kidding! But we've had such a peace about it throughout this whole process because we have seen God guiding us and providing for us each step of the way. It has been one of those things where we would come to the end of each deadline, and we'd have to pray and ask God to provide. He has been so faithful! We still have a ways to go, but we are so encouraged because we know without a doubt that God will see this through to completion. He is so good!
This coming year is going to continue to be full of changes and adjustments. We can't look into the future and see what it's going to look like, but we move forward with confidence and joy, knowing that God works all things together for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose. We hold loosely to our own plans, and ask that whatever this next year may look like, we just want God to use us to make a difference in this broken and hurting world. I really feel like the amount that we are willing to sacrifice is directly related with the amount of impact we will make. I think about people like Katie Davis. At the age of 19 she left behind her comfortable life and moved to Uganda. Now, at the age of 23, she has adopted 14 children, and helps feed over 1,000 people a day. She is such an amazing example that God can use us in significant ways if we allow him to! I attached a link to one of her blogs below that I thought was amazing.
As we begin this new year I'm reminded of a particular verse. This continues to be encouragement for me to persevere. This life is so short, and I want to make it count.
1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment