"Come close to God and He will come close to you." James 4:8
Well it is New Year's Eve. 2013 is coming to an end, and 2014 is wrapped in the promise of a new beginning. I blogged a total of 2 times in 2013 ... not because I didn't want to blog or had nothing to say, but because 2013 was an incredibly busy year that found me experiencing the expanse of the human existence. Many of you are aware my dad passed on to Glory in May. What you may not know is my husband and I welcomed our 4th and final child into this world in June. It was a roller coaster experience ... grieving the loss of one precious life while being overjoyed at the beginning of another. God taught me a lot through that experience. Mainly that passing out of this world mirrors passing into it. Both are truly a beautiful thing when we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
2013 was a reflective year not only due to my dad's passing but also as it marked 10 years of my daughter's diagnosis of Autism. One would think not much could be learned through reflection, but with God's help it was a positive thing. There is something about looking back over the years that highlights God's protection, guidance, faithfulness and ultimately His deep love like nothing else can. We tend to have our doubts as life's difficulties come our way, but as we look back we see one set of footprints in the sand and know that not only was He there, He was carrying us the whole time. Praise God!
Another development in 2013 was my mother's diagnosis of Dementia/Alzheimer's. This has been very difficult for my sisters and me. How sad it is to watch your mother regress back to a childlike state. The confusion she experiences causes much stress for all involved. I am incredibly grateful that I am not her main caregiver. My older sisters are graciously taking on that role as they know my plate is full. My prayers are continually with them as well as any of you who are dealing with this devastating disease.
Due to all these changes, there are several things God has taught me this year that I intend to blog on. However the main theme I have walked away from 2013 with is my need for His Spirit. As I find life pulling me in numerous directions, all of which are valid uses of my time and energy, I have never been so aware of my inability to perform all these tasks. God keeps bringing me back to Zachariah 4:6 "Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT says the Lord of Hosts." I am finding that while being Spirit filled is a wonderful thing, I am in need of being Spirit led and sustained. So what's the difference, you might ask. This is the way God explained it to me ....
Back in high school I was studying to retake the ACT. I had bombed the math portion the first time, and getting into college without having to take a remedial math course was on the line. My boyfriend (now hubby) Chuck had agreed to tutor me ... poor thing! Anyway after diligent study, we both took the test and then went out to lunch. While in the car he asked me "So how many times did you use the Pythagorean Theorem?" I looked at him dumbfounded and said "None! Should I have?" Needless to say it was a very smart thing I married my now accountant husband .... math is NOT my thing!
What's my point ... or rather God's point as He replayed this scene in my head? It's not enough to know the Pythagorean Theorem. You have to know when to use it, or it is completely useless to you! Please don't get me wrong, I'm not relegating the Holy Spirit to some perfunctory mathematical equation. However I wonder how many free gifts God has given us that we don't tap into because we don't know how to apply them to the situations in our life. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in. How horrible to find out that we had all the tools we needed in this lifetime and yet due to our ignorance we didn't.
So as I ring in the New Year this evening with my family I am grateful for all I have learned in 2013 ... even in those tearful moments. God was in ALL of it! As the promise of 2014 looms brightly, I resolve to draw closer to God and know the power available to me through the Holy Spirit. I have no other resolution than Matthew 6:33 "But seek first of all His Kingdom and righteousness, and then all these things will be added unto you." I know if I seek Him, He will be faithful to direct every area of my life. He has amazing plans for each of us as we stay open to His leading. I am excited to experience God and see Him in every detail of my life ... to the full, until it overflows because we serve an "above and beyond" kind of God! Happy New Year and God's richest blessings in 2014!
