A Prayer for a New Year

Instead of making resolutions which I can never keep, I am asking God to do some things in my life this year:

Directionless or Directed?

God doesn’t seem to be leading me anywhere right now. It has been almost two years since I left my church staff position. At that time the only direction I had was to write a book based on my curriculum designed to grow women’s influence. I spoke at women’s conferences and retreats—opportunities which God clearly provided by his sovereign hand. I am now completing the final edits on the book to self-publish it. But what is next? No doors have opened; no voice has spoken; and no sign has appeared in the skies. I don’t like being in limbo and am getting impatient with this waiting. Have you ever felt that God left you without a compass?

How do we navigate such times? What path do we take without clear direction? How do we maintain faith when God seems to have forgotten that we are available? How is God guiding when he seems so silent?

I Don't Always Get It

My dog Libby had surgery three days ago for a torn ACL. (Yes, dogs tear them just like we do!) She spent twenty-seven hours in a strange place handled by unknown people. She awoke in pain, unable to put weight on her left rear leg without additional hurt, wearing a cone on her head. It is impossible to explain to her why we sent her alone into such misery and pain. Our actions will allow her to use her leg without discomfort, but she only knows temporary agony. Even when she begins to feel better, we must restrict her from running or jumping before her leg is totally healed. She won’t get that either!

Frequently God’s people endure painful situations because God must hurt us in order to help us. Although scripture gives general explanations,

Surprised by God & Eggnog Latte

I look forward to the season all year long—the time of the eggnog latte! I don’t particularly like eggnog alone but paired with coffee it makes a delicious combination. This morning I woke up and found one left by my husband for me to enjoy. A great surprise treat!

There are days when God brings great surprises into my life as well, things never requested or anticipated. When such blessings come out of the blue, I am overcome by His goodness and delighted by His overwhelming love. However, there are times when the positives come through trials as God combines them to achieve His purposes and His best for me. In those cases, I don’t always identify the good immediately; that often takes the perspective of time. However, sometimes I can sense the direction of God’s sovereign redeeming hand when the hardship first breaks into my life.

Recently, I have faced some difficult circumstances, as we all do.