A New Year

I know last year I wrote all of January 1 in "God Calling" but I find the words REALLY speaking to me at the start of this year, too. Here is some of it:

...The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come...
Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorrow and disappointment.
...Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointments in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.
Remember that you must not see as the world sees. I hold the year in My Hands- in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time...

I needed to be reminded that it is ALL in GOD's Hands. Today is a new day, bury yesterday.

I want to continue to put the GIFT of LOVE that GOD gave us at CHRISTMAS into Action. I was encouraged and reminded how I could and would do that this year in "God Calling" for January 2:

...Never let one day pass when you have not reached out an arm of Love to someone outside your home - a note, a letter, a visit, help in some way.

Be full of Joy. Joy saves. Joy cures. Joy in Me. In every ray of sunlight, every smile, every act of kindness, or love, every trifling service - joy.

Each day do something to lift another soul out of the sea of sin, or disease or doubt into which man has fallen...

The helping hand is needed that raises the helpless to courage, to struggle, to faith, to health...

...turn and help another with the burden that is pressing too heavily upon him or her.

How many burdens can you lighten this year? How many hearts can you cheer? How many souls can you help?...

And today's "God Calling" was titled 'The Way Will Open.' I found this interesting as I was offered a full-time teaching position in Special Education at Highline Elementary today. I wasn't looking to start teaching Special Ed. until the fall, next school year. I was planning on getting some experience by being a teacher's assistant the rest of this school year and getting a few classes completed before teaching again. However, GOD had other plans and truly opened the way.

Here is what "God Calling" read today:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength." Isaiah 40:31
You must be renewed, remade. Christ, Christ, Christ. Everything must rest on Me. Force is born of rest. Only Love is a conquering force. Be not afraid, I will help you.
Be a channel. My Spirit shall flow through and My Spirit shall, in flowing through, sweep away all the bitter past.
Take heart. God loves, God helps, God fights, God wins. You shall see. You shall know. The way will open. All My Love has ever planned, all My Love has ever thought, you shall see each day unfold. Only be taught. Just be a child. A child never questions plans. It accepts gladly.

Yes, I need not ever question the plan, but only gladly walk in it.

The past year with all its disappointments has been swept away. This year is the start of the next chapter in my life. May GOD be revealed and Glorified as each day of my so called adventurous life unfolds.

I have to add that I just finished reading "Living the Message" for today where Eugene Peterson wrote:

God is drawing people around me into the plot of salvation; every word, gesture, and action has a significant place in the story.

I believe this to be true in all of our stories. GOD does call and draw people into our lives that make up a significant part of the story. However, I disagree with Peterson when he continued to say that instead of assisting in the development of a character, he hurriedly categorized by taking shortcuts. He said he didn't see each person in his life as unique, a splendid never-to-be duplicated story of grace.

And that is where I don't agree. I DO see EVERY person in my life as unique. As a splendid character in my story that enhances the plot. Each one could NEVER be duplicated, for they are truly unique just as they are.

PRAISE JESUS for drawing each unique character into the plot of my story. No wonder it is never boring.