Today is the last day of 2020! It has been full of surprises with many ups and downs!Through each season, God has been working on the inside and everywhere all at once! Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” we stand firm on the rock (cornerstone) “Jesus” We will not be moved or shaken even if our everyday lifestyles and routines have been changed! Through each season, relationships are being refined, challenged, developed and strengthened within our families and in the body of Christ (the Church)! Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
We have an opportunity to fix our eyes on Jesus!! He is the Author and perfector of our faith! In all circumstances we can choose to seek God and His righteousness, as new ways of living slowly creep into our lives! This is why it is so important to be awake and alert and sober minded! Because the enemy looks for someone to devour! When we stick together by not forsaking the gathering or meeting together, we are encouraged to keep going on and not giving up on doing good! We pray for each other and even carry each other’s burdens! Galatians 6:7-10 NIV “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
I’m so thankful for so many things this year as we struggled to move, tear down and build! God has brought our family, as an army, to help us on our journey! I got hurt and struggled to walk! I continued my new job and even there, God brought a sister in Christ to work with me for a short while! There are unseen battles being fought all around us and two are better than one because they help each other in everything we do! Later, my son was hired to work with me! God moves in mighty ways! His ways are higher than ours as we continue at work to bring Him glory!
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses encouraging and supporting us through difficult things! It is only through our sisters and brothers in Christ that we could do everything that needed to be done in time with my new job and adjusting to a new schedule! Our Church family literally carried our burdens to the dump and more! My sister-in-law and brother-in-law carried on working in the land, because we learned you can’t build and tear down at the same time! We couldn’t do any of this on our own! We tried to tear down, move and build, God’s grace gave us more time so we could finish! As we prayed not knowing how to get everything done, our church family came in one and two at a time! With God’s mighty hand he moved junk to the dump and tore down our home within two hours! Each step has been one spiritual lesson after another! It’s only through relationships, that we can stand on a strong foundation built on solid rock! Jesus is our foundation where we all stand together! As our relationships are strengthening through our struggles and circumstances, God is building us up together preparing us for something much bigger than we can imagine!! 1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
We need these relationships with each other as we continue to keep the Kingdom Mindset and spur each other on! As we live out what we have learned and heard as each part of the bible comes alive within us through the Holy Spirit, we will see things differently! As we are led by the Spirit of God, it will not make sense to the flesh who rages war against the Spirit! However, When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and trust His ways and His timing, you will experience peace and joy and experience the blessings in the valley! I’m so thankful for the harvest with my children in the garden, food, healing oils “young living” from my sister’s in Christ and more! In the valley, we encourage each other as we experience persecution and even be attacked in ways that could take you to your knees! We bring God glory in every part of our lives no matter where God has you! We continue to be thankful in all circumstances as we praise Him in the storm! There is peace in the storm because Jesus already won!
The peace God gives to everyone transcends all human understanding and it can’t be taken from us! His Peace is like a heated blanket inside you during deep winter as you rest at Jesus feet! God prepared in advance a place of refuge and rest for us! God led our family to still water and green pasture to rest and restore us as we prepare to take the steps to our new home! We are so thankful for all God’s love, Mercy and Grace! The most precious gift of this year has been loving relationships God has given us! This is more valuable to us than anything else the world has! Our children are the future and experiencing how we are supposed to be for each other!
We are the light, Called to share Jesus with others by how we love, how we treat each other, how we react, how we forgive, and how we focus on the good in each other! Focusing on God’s goodness brings Him glory and we radiate light brighter when we are together unified in Jesus! When we do this we are being His hands and feet reaching everyone in all four corners of the world who need to know, Jesus loves them! I’m thankful for the blessings in 2020 and look forward to 2021! Ephesians 2:21 NIV “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.”
Hebrews 10:22-25 NIV
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
1 Peter 5:6-11 NIV
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 NIV
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NIV
For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Amen! Grace and peace to you all!