Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.
Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message)


New Year- when you hear that, what do you think of? Do you think of starting over? Maybe you think of resolutions to make or resolutions you’ve broken in the past. What defines a New Year to you?

As I look over my shoulder to the year that’s now behind me, I feel so very blessed. There were some valley’s and a twists and turns here and there, but WOW- what a blessing to have had 2010 as one more year to be an Ambassador for Him.

I could give you a list of things as long as my leg of resolutions for this New Year, but I’m only going to tell you the first one. It’s to continue to draw closer and be more effective for Him and The Kingdom. All other things will fall into place if I focus on that. I just ask to be filled with His Spirit- so full that I overflow and people can’t help to see Him in me. How awesome would that be? To have the ability to see people as He sees them. To be full of love, full of compassion, full of wisdom.

I have to tell you this little story about going to get coffee at work one morning and there was none made, so I began to make a fresh pot and a woman walked in and looked as if she was mad at the world. I moved over away from the sink because that’s obviously what she came in for. And she just glanced at me for a quick second and had the most discontented look on her face. My immediate thought was “WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM LADY???”. And as the coffee started to flow, this overcoming sense of guilt flooded my heart and I knew His Spirit was saying to me, “Julie, it’s not “WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM LADY???” “, it’s “what is your problem lady and what can I do to help you”. How quick I was to “assume” her discontentment was with me… I don’t even know her. And you know what? I don’t have to know her because God does. I felt so ashamed of myself as she walked away because I had just missed an opportunity at reaching out to someone that might have really needed Him at that second in her life. I prayed for her as I walked away- I just asked God to help her deal with whatever it was that was tearing at her heart, and I asked for forgiveness for being so self-serving and shallow.

I have a dear friend that has a very unique practice. When she goes to a restaurant to eat, when the waiter/waitress comes to take her order she says to them “I’m going to say a prayer before I eat. Is there anything that you’d like me to pray for- for you?” She says told me EVERY time- EVERY TIME- they have at least one thing to add to her prayer. How cool is that? It’s such a small gesture that could make an eternal impact!

I want to thank you for this past year. For being willing to hear what He has to say through me. For allowing me to be honest and transparent at times and for loving me anyway. I could say “it doesn’t get any better than this” but the truth is- IT DOES. It really does!!

Father, what an awesome year this has been. I don’t know each heart or each situation but I do know as long as we can call ourselves Your children, that alone is a blessing beyond description. Thank you for each new day you give to us. Thank you for this New Year and for everything You’re going to do through us! To God be the glory and all the praise! In Jesus Name- AMEN

Julie