We learned to pray - as the Bible teaches. And we started the year with 21 days of prayer and fasting. That was life changing for me - 6am prayer 5 days a week for 3 weeks? Yep. Didn't miss a one! And I wasn't tired!!! We learned to put first things first (always God and God always).
We learned that the order is important and time is our best asset.
I learned that a lot of my spiritual disciplines needed a boost! And once I was more obedient, blessings just outpoured, in no particular order:
- Celebrated my best friend, Scott's, 40th birthday in Glenwood Springs, CO.
- Emrie came for a long girl's weekend - her first flight and we had a blast together!
- Travis was baptized!!!!
- Completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University with Kari.
- Had a blast with Mary and her amazing sisters!
- My one word focus for the year, "Serve" came to life at Summit Church where I lead the First Impressions Team and help with the Prayer Team and Life Safety Team.
- Special birthday spent at Red Rocks with Michelle seeing Casting Crowns in concert!
- Went to a Yankees game in the city we live in!
- Saw the Bible Tour.
- Prayed with Franklin Graham at Colorado State Capitol.
- Got my selfie with Hank Patterson.
- Saw Pentatonix in concert.
- Went to Osborn's in Oregon for Emrie's baptism!!!
- Traveled like crazy, three times to see Matt & family.
- Saw countless movies.
- Enjoyed the ladies in my Life Group from church - great studies, eats, and fellowship!
- My calling into prison ministry came to fruition.
- Shared membership to the Denver Botanic Garden with my friend, Michelle...the photography class and all the perks!
- Watched Michael Phelps, the greatest olympian of all time, compete in the summer olympics in Rio.
- Went with mom to visit our old friends and neighbors, Jean and Jen. Laughed our faces off!
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" - James 1:2
And even the hard stuff is a blessing - somehow, somewhere, for someone.
- We lost our sweet dog, Bela, our first and last lab puppy.
- My cousin, Patrick, is battling cancer.
- The election.
- Broken relationships.
- Friends' losses.
And as I sat down to write out this journal entry, I realized how insignificant it all is. When we get to heaven and see our Lord face to face, it will be like the best year of our life times a million!! I wish I knew the words to describe it.
Yes, this has been the best year of my life. So far, and spiritually. Next year will be even better. I'm doing a Bible reading plan with my Life Group, I have tickets to see NKOTB with Lurisa, we're headed to Texas again to spend time with Matt and family. We're going to Inside Elevation, and I'm going to see Beth Moore live. Countless fun to look forward to.
But if I'm thinking eternally, this is all just a blink of an eye. And how can I share Him and all those blessings with others?
I'll start with you. I pray that you all know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. That you have confessed with your mouth and believe with your heart that He has risen from the dead so you are saved (I'm paraphrasing Romans 10:9). I hope you seek Him first and you have the peace that surpasses all understanding. If you need anything, or have any questions, please let me know. I may not know what your next step is, but I have great Pastors, amazing spiritual mentors and we'll figure it out together!
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 John 5:20 - We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
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