Wow; what an up and down, crazy yet sane, roller coaster ride of a year 2021 has turned out to be. In all of the worldly troubles that did come our way (off-and-on;) we also found a ton of blessings.
Of course; all through the year God was showing me more and more of those glorious impossibles!
You know what I mean; where God inserts his glory into your impossible and makes miracles dance off the wall and bounce around everywhere in spite of any strange circumstances that life throws in your face.
It was just that kind of year!
A TEACHABLE YEAR
2021 turned out to be a very teachable year.
We found ourselves living in constant government turmoil and an ever-changing cultural climate.
At the same time we clearly heard God’s voice saying “Go here; don’t go there. Do this; don’t do that. Breathe in; breath out – experience the life that I have blessed you with! ”
And so we did.
Now; looking back I can’t even count all the blessings or name all of the glorious impossibles.
They did not show up just at Christmas time; but all through the year.
We were learning how to anticipate and keep living inside God’s glorious impossibles all year long.
STAYING FOCUSED ON GOD’S WAYS; NOT MANKIND
Maybe it was because of having to shelter-in-place a lot for yet another year; but we clearly got the message that it was time to pay more attention to the ways of God and less attention to the things of mankind.
Several things evolved around that focus:
- Taking deeper and more serious Sabbaths.
- Praying without ceasing.
- Resting in a Shemita blessing.
- Allowing God to heal us; both physically and spiritually.
- Letting go of things we cannot change.
- Holding on to what really matters.
- Looking forward to new adventures.
- Walking forward in faith instead of fear.
- Preparing to end life’s last seasons by fulfilling our purpose and destiny in Christ.
- Keeping love in the center of everything we do.
These are the things God taught us to dwell on in 2021; and these are the things we are standing in as we look forward to yet another beautiful year of being part of a marriage, a family, a Godly community of faith, and a lovely community of neighbors and friends.
These are the glorious impossibles that God has promised for us to see in 2022.
WALKING IN A DOUBLE PORTION OF BLESSINGS
A dear prophetic sister that I always listen to has proclaimed this coming year as the year of the double portion of blessings. This faithful servant of God loves and follows God’s calendar each year even closer than I do.
She has noted that the Gregorian year 2022 which corresponds with the Hebrew year of 5782 has numbers that correspond with meanings for grace, perfection, double portions and new beginnings. I have to agree! It is my personal opinion that numbers have spiritual significance with God.
She quotes the scriptures found in Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
What a wonderful fact to dwell upon and look forward to for the coming year!
Are you ready to walk in that double portion of blessings?
TAKING DEEPER AND MORE SERIOUS SABBATHS
If you know me at all; you know that I take the 7th Day Sabbath seriously. This year God has shown us so many new things about keeping Sabbath.
The main thing I’m hearing is that God’s Church cannot cease to worship together. There is no good reason for us not to come together in fellowship under God’s precious and heavenly protection.
If you have ceased meeting with others; it is time for that practice to stop. You risk more from spiritual death than from physical harm. Children need to be in the presence of other believers and corporate worship helps God’s people to issue in the Presence of God.
In 2022 we all MUST go back to public meetings for worship.
We MUST defend and reserve our rights to do so.
PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING
How can we do such a thing with so many rules from the authorities in place now?
We must proceed in love and with constant prayer.
Prayer is the weapon of spiritual battles.
Begin to fight on your knees.
I plan to be with each and every one of you in this huge battle this year. Time is of the essence. We do not live in eternity yet; there are deadlines and we must prepare ahead by never ceasing to pray.
Seek God’s will in all that you do during the coming year. Ask him to protect the next generation and to heal our land so that they may be able to thrive under His holy leadership.
RESTING IN SHEMITA BLESSINGS
One thing that began in 2021 was the Shemita, or the 7th year of Sabbaths. It is a time of release, of regaining lost freedom, of getting out of debt and moving ahead in God’s spiritual blessings.
Many people have learned how to prepare ahead so that they do not have to work during Shemita, so that they can experience uninterrupted times of spiritual walks and talks with God.
This year is for squeezing all of the time possible into your hours for time with God.
Make it happen.
Give it priority.
Jesus is going to return one day; and you will want to be caught doing the things that He has commanded. He has commanded that this be a year of rest for you and for your land.
Let it be so.
ALLOWING GOD TO HEAL; PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY
Here at the end of 2021 I can say I have experienced this taking place both individually and as a national phenomenon. I saw my granddaughter wrap herself in the warm present of this beautiful blanket at Christmas and I thought to myself – that is just what God is doing for us!
This year I have had to have lots of medical tests run for digestive problems I’ve experienced. I have more tests scheduled in the coming days and I cherish your prayers.
However; I’ve spent lots of time in prayer and I have experienced great relief from the annoying symptoms and pain over the last few weeks. I was able to eat Christmas Eve dinner without a bit of problem.
It is possible that God has used these uncomfortable symptoms to remind me of the importance of diet and weight control. The doctors have discovered a hernia pressing on my stomach and esophagus; but because I have diligently watched my diet and have lost about 40 pounds; the symptoms seem to be going away now.
I’m thanking God with all of my heart and asking that the next few tests show no major problems.
God is teaching me to be faithful with diet, exercise and rest. Those are things I’ve often neglected and now my eyes are opened to how important they are to maintaining the temple of my own body where God lives inside of me.
BECOMING AWARE OF A RENEWAL
Just as I’ve learned from my own physical and spiritual problems; I can see the growing pains happening within our nation as God teaches America to wake up and pay attention to her daily habits.
We MUST quit murdering babies by abortion. America must give up the sexual sins that plague our nation. The breaking of the commandments MUST stop.
All we have to do to conquer these things is to change the diet of what we are feeding our minds and souls. Our thoughts must change from immoral ones to pure and godly thoughts. Hearts must learn to love again. Love is the answer to everything. We must return to our first love and become again one nation under God.
If you haven’t researched the movement going on right now called “The Renewal” you need to become aware.
Plan to attend whatever services are near you and go to whatever locations you can manage. Pray, pray and pray more for the success of this movement. It could be the answer that we all have sought from God in prayer.
When it becomes time to write of the glorious impossibles of next year; I sincerely desire to say that The Renewal swept our land and changed our hearts and God granted His Bride total forgiveness and poured out blessings from Heaven upon a nation with changed hearts.
Let’s help God to make The Renewal yet another glorious impossible!
It is just a perfect time for glorious impossibles like this to happen within our walls, gates and hearts.
If we are depending upon mankind, it will not happen; but when mankind turns completely to God ANYTHING is possible.
LETTING GO OF THINGS THAT CANNOT CHANGE
When something cannot change; there is usually a good reason.
For instance; I watch my grandchildren like a woman who is mesmerized, trying to hold on to every moment; every instant, and I find myself constantly striving to record every precious breath they take. I never take them for granted or give up a chance to love them more.
Life is funny though; in that nothing gold can stay.
These beautiful-to-me children will grow up to be mature adults one day; and that is just as wonderful!
So part of this year has been learning to let them grow in God’s good grace.
My job isn’t to hold on to the memories I cherish so much; but to help them to mature by praying for their paths to be filled with God’s blessings and setting the example in my own days for them to follow the right paths in my last years of the blessings of life.
Instead of pondering in my heart whether or not they will remember when we did this together or that; I will now begin to concentrate on helping God to direct their paths to be straight and full of His Glory.
I choose for them to have more godly and growing experiences in their days that will help them to fulfill the destinies they were created to fulfill instead of constantly filling up their days with my own personal clutter.
It is totally freeing just to rest in the fact that I will always love them unconditionally; and they will always love me back and remember that I cared only for their well-being.
Also; in growing older there is that desire not to let go of the things you have been most successful at (like a professional career) and let God show you a new thing.
This year has been full of God teaching me to let go of past successes and to look forward to some new things that He wants me to do instead.
Life is full of learning how to let go and let God direct our steps. It is an on-going lesson, one that is ever full of surprises around every corner.
No need to worry – God’s got our futures!
With every process of letting something go there is that strength that comes from trusting.
Trusting without knowing is always better than holding on to what we already know. It leaves room for balance and newness and more life.
HOLDING ON TO WHAT REALLY MATTERS
As much as we have to let go of the things that are done, or out of our control and in God’s hands; there are also blessings that God has given us responsibility over and those things are different in nature.
We must continue to hold on to the things of true value; like love, family, home, worship, prayer, bible study and Thanksgiving. God’s Holy Days are certainly at the top of the things to hold on to for me. After over 30 years of keeping them with my family; I truly think they are the glue that God uses to bind us in love and hold us together no matter what.
What a blessing this past year to enjoy all of our family together at The Feast of Tabernacles, Thanksgiving and Christmas time. So many amazing celebrations together bring great joy to our days.
We also got the fun and adventure of another year of Gma and Pop camp with our grands. That week this year is now listed among my top glorious impossibles! How often do old folks like us get to watch rainbows bounce off the ceilings and see butterflies fly across rivers, or hear the sound of a child’s laughter echo through the day?
I see our children reflecting these things as another daughter makes marriage plans. God’s hand is surely guiding them in this most seriously considered life-long commitment. If I had hand-picked each of my son-in-laws; I could not have found any better. We are very happy about this latest one!
In my own marriage I see a 30 year milestone approaching. God has had His hand on every moment. There have been ups and downs and good-times and bad; but God has shown us both that commitment is important; and marriage between one man and one woman is His plan for mankind to flourish and thrive.
As I watch the rest of us mature and thrive and grow every day; my heart is full and overflowing; and this is a blessing I hold close.
Yes; it is important to hold on to those things that really matter.
They are God’s gifts.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW ADVENTURES
This has been a year in which we have learned more than ever to anticipate, plan and look forward to new adventures. Life is full of opportunities that turn into much more than that if we only accept the challenges of growing with them.
Jesus is the author of one of my favorite phrases: “I make all things new.”
Yes He does; and we must lean into that fact and keep moving forward right up until that moment that we step into eternity.
God gave us life so that it can be lived!
Accept the gift this year with a grateful heart.
WALKING IN FAITH; NOT FEAR
I think this last year was one in which many of us faced our biggest fears. Some lost jobs. Many lost loved ones. Others lost faith in humanity. Some found hope. Many are still wondering how to cope with a new kind of normal.
This new kind of normal for some seems to include fear.
Not for me.
My God is bigger than any pandemic, any government overreach and any human catastrophe.
I will keep holding on to the hand of Jesus. He will help me to walk above the tides of change and keep moving forward.
One day at a time; without fear.
Fear is Satan’s tool which he uses to rob and steal and kill.
I refuse to go there ever again.
I think a whole nation is learning that the new normal for us will be to walk in victory and leave behind the fear.
KNOWING THE SEASON AND FINDING YOUR DESTINY
This last season of life has taught us how important it is to realize who we are in Christ.
We are leaning into those more clarified definitions as we grow older. One of the blessings of old age is having the time to do what you were really created to do. For me; it is writing about the things that God inspires me to write.
I see a clear path set before me and the journey toward my own personal destiny is now well-established. I will continue The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog for as long as God will let me.
New books are in the works on Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Among the inspirational more serious work; I even have portions of a cook book, a home decorating book and a book full of short-stories.
There will be workbooks published with each of the COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY lessons compiled into books for small-group studies.
I will be slowly transitioning from working in an architectural firm to becoming a full-time writer. My future has visions of book launches, book signings and gatherings to discuss what God has allowed me to write down and share with the public.
If all goes in the right direction, with no hidden surprises; I even have visions of running a more-active small Christian publishing company. Until the present; I have only published my own writing. I desire to be helpful to other aspiring writers too. My heart would cherish the opportunity to establish such a company that is successful enough to leave behind as a blessing to my grandchildren one day.
Should I ever be so blessed in my last days with the fulfillment of these lofty dreams; I will never forget the things God taught me during this year of 2021.
I will let go of the things that do not matter and hold on to the things that do. My days will be full of balance and rich with Sabbath rests and prayer. In every moment there will be healing and anticipation of new adventures filling life to the brim with creativity; even in old age.
Until that last breath of life; I will be basking in God’s greatest blessing to mankind; love.
Emmanual – Christ with us.
This is love in the greatest package ever given to anyone at Christmastime.
As you go through this next year I wish you a-million-and-one glorious impossibles!
I wish you the love of Christ that lasts forever.
May you find Jesus and never let go of his hand.