2016: a Year in Review

2016 has been a hard year for many.

Even our nation as a whole has seemed to "suffer" on so many fronts. In fact, thinking back has been more disheartening for me than productive.

Then, I poured my morning cuppa, opened the last page of my devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest and read  Oswald Chamber's answer. (paraphrase is mine)

Anxiety can easily arise from remembering all the yesterdays but as the year ends, one must once again turn with fervor to all that God has in store for her in the future. I need not let my present enjoyment of God's grace be hampered by the memory of my yesterdays with all its blunders and regrets. (sins)

"...But God is the God of our (my) yesterdays..."
"God's hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience."

Prayer: May God allow my past memories to be an impetus for future spiritual growth as I recall how "insecure"  all of life is, apart from Him. May I not bemoan lost opportunities---remembering "but God," in His love and mercy gave me life in Christ. May I not hastily enter 2017 impulsively or thoughtlessly but may God allow me to let go of my broken, irreversible past.

As  Chambers clearly states it, "Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible future with Him. "

Reviewing 2016 gave me much to ponder.....prior to my "resolve" for 2017.

So, after my review,.....what's my resolve?
Maybe the best resolution is NO resolution---at least no resolution apart from Him.

JOURNEYS

Words to count on during life's hardest journeys. His words!

God Never leaves us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

...for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;  (Hebrews 13:5-6) 

God Goes before us.

The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, (Deuteronomy 1:30)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God is our rear guard.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, (Deuteronomy 31:8)

....for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:8)

....and the household of faith wears BooBoo's T-shirt and prayerfully walks alongside her. (Galatians 6:10)

"Safe-TEA"

for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12, NIV)

How grateful I am today for the Most High God who is my Almighty Lord, my refuge, and my fortress, in whom I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2) How grateful I am, also, to those who earn our honor and gratitude by serving in our military. May we fly our flags today in honor of our US troops (both active and veterans) who throughout the years have willingly gone forth to "protect" our country from war and terrorists.
Even the dedication and sacrifice of their families is to be honored. Last weeks' visit from hubby's friend and "Wounded Warrior" gave us both an "up close and personal" view of such a sacrifice. Joseph---wounded multiple times while serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Such events impact the entire family--wife and daughters included. What a blessing to see them coping as a team with a clear focus on the Lord as they asked His direction for their future.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23: 4) Joseph practiced that verse on the field while Christen lived it at home with their girls. A warrior and a wife---both heroes!

A celebration of our freedom should always be a day to honor our heroes, who are responsible for that liberty. We can freely sip our cuppa safe-TEA because of their willingness to give up the ease of their lives for the betterment of ours. A big salute to them all!

SHATTERED and GATHERED

9/30/11 Life can happen in "shattering" ways. Blots on our life's pages.
Interruptions abounding. Often we are caught unaware.

Revelation 1:17 speaks of the Lord as the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. I like the way the prophet wrote of that concept in Isaiah 52:12. For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. As our Alpha, he goes before us----our paths and stage are set by Him as we follow Him. As our Omega He is there in eternity. Amy Carmichael's devotional book, Edges of His Ways, opened my eyes to this glorious truth. Rotherham phrased it thus, "For your Van-guard is the Lord." "He who begins, finishes." (Edges, 9/29) God's there first and He's there as our rear guard. He is first and last and every where in between.

So what's the glorious truth? For me, it was not just the guidance we receive from the One who goes ahead, nor the protection we receive from the One who defends and brings up the rear. It was the job description of the rear guard that had me gratefully seeing Him as Gatherer. The rear guard follows after "to gather us up if we flag and are weary." (Edges 9/30) He gathers up----that's my favorite thought. My rearguard gathers up my mistakes, my bumbling intentions, all the detritus that I have left on my life's path and He takes care of them. He is first and He is last, and we are gathered up in-between, as in great arms of eternal lovingkindness. (Edges, 9/29) So, as we travel on into another month we need not fear: Eternal love is our Vanguard, the glory of Eternal Love is our Rearguard. (Edges, 9/30) His everlasting arms will gather us up.