You’re Not Alone

I’ve waited until the last day of the year to write this message. As I mull over the last year, I’m reminded of how my life has changed even in a course of a year. I’ve grown wiser (not that I use that wisdom consistently), I’m more content with what I have and I appreciate things more like nature and my family. I try to notice things, listen more and managed money better. Have I succeeded in making these habits or daily rituals? NO! I still struggle with these things daily. I mess up, make mistakes, procrastinate, fail, and fall off the wagon! I carry these things into a new year each year wanting to be perfect at them. Wanting to improve them and change them into good daily habits! But I don’t and I can’t do it alone.

I need help! Thank goodness, I’m a Jesus-follower! I need him to help me daily, hourly, minute by minute! I can’t do life without him! He makes my life look easy peasy. But you don’t see me at my lowest. You don’t see me struggle with paying my bills or listening to my children. You don’t see me struggling to understand why my students aren’t learning or why I get so nervous when I get observed to make sure I’m a great teacher. You don’t see me struggle trying to be a good single mom, carrying the load of two parents on my shoulders. You don’t see me struggle to understand why my books aren’t selling and what I need to do about that. You don’t see me struggle to make videos so you will know who I am. You don’t see the weight of my burdens because I hide them inside for only God to see. I don’t allow you to see. I don’t want you to think I’m human, a person, and a wounded, broken soul struggling to make a life. But I am.

Is this you? Do you struggle to change? Do you hide your life from society so that they only see the good you, not the broken, run down, wounded you? YOU’RE NOT ALONE! I am YOU! But if you don’t have God in your life, we are not the same. God gives me peace about the things I cannot change. He gives me peace about the things I can and helps me overcome them. God carries my burdens for me so I don’t have to. He fills me with His joy and that is what you see. I struggle to write this because there are so many things I want to tell you, but it’s not coming out the way I want it to. That is God as well. He gives me thoughts and things to tell you and I write them down. These are not my words but His. He loves you so much and wants you to know Him. He will give you the peace you are looking for, searching for. He will help you with you resolutions and He will give you new ones (the ones He wants you to have). Instead of having our own new year’s resolutions, ask God what He wants for your life? You will be surprised at what He thinks you should do or change.

In Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The God of the entire universe who created you specifically on purpose for a purpose and with a purpose, plans to prosper you, not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Now that’s LOVE!   If you give him your heart, no matter what condition you’re in or where you come from, He will save you from yourself and all your resolutions! He will create in you a new heart and give you a new life, a new beginning! When you fall, He will be there. When you falter, He will be there. When you succeed, He will be there. Talk to him; let him know what’s going on. He already knows, he just wants you to talk to him, just like in any relationship. He will pick you up, dust you off, stand you up and walk with you. He will never leave you. I have left him, but He has never left me! When I’ve come back, He was always waiting on me. That’s LOVE!

In this New Year, I do have resolutions. I call them the ABC&G. I resolve to be active physically and in writing/authoring. I resolve to be Bold in writing/authoring. I resolve to be Consistent in being healthier, money and writing/authoring. But most importantly, I resolve to Have God in my life helping me resolve these things and the things He wants to resolve in me. You are not alone. As He was with those in the Bible and throughout history, He is with you!

Joshua 1:5, 7-9 NIV – No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The Book of the Law is the Bible. If God was with all of these people long ago, He will be with you like He is with me. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Resolve to God and He will bring you lasting relationships with people who will encourage you, love you, inspire you, take care of you and be honest with you. And, you always have me! I will be here for you, praying, encouraging, inspiring and loving!

Happy prosperous and successful New Year!