Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012- a year of surprises

Every year, I start out casting vision and hoping certain things will happen.  I write them down.  I ask God what His plan is for the year, and I watch and see what unfolds.  It's funny, my ideas tend to turn out wrong...but when I look at what God presses on my heart each year, He never fails to bring that word to be true.  2012 was woven through this verse-
 "Sing, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord. 
 “Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
    your descendants will dispossess nations
    and settle in their desolate cities.
 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
    and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth."

Being a singer, I honed in on that word "sing", and hoped God would bring more opportunities for me to sing.  In a way, He did...but not the way I thought.  I did lead a full song in worship for the first time, and our choir sings every week now.   But that was not the focus.  Instead I should've paid more attention to "stretch".

Little did I know the plans God had for me this year.  Today I was praying and thanking Him for what He brought into my life this year, things I didn't even think to ask for, and I began to tear up.  I wasn't expecting to find myself promoted at the end of 2012.  And I certainly hadn't thought I'd be leading a women's cell group again.  It just goes to show that God opens doors that we think either aren't there OR that are closed.  Both of these things are stretching me.  My life is full to the brim in many ways, but I have found that my tents have stretched...so that I am able to handle it.  At least with God's help.

I've asked God what He has in store for 2013.  So far, I've gotten this phrase "going to the promised land".  I am hopeful for what that means.  I have my own hopes...hopes of meeting my husband, hopes of really getting my finances in order (I am making good strides!), hopes of finally learning what it means to make my health a priority and meet some of those goals tied to it.  Hopes of salvation.  Hopes of singing more and learning to use my voice in a greater way to bless God.  No matter what I hope for, I know when I get to the end of 2013, I will see His word fulfilled.  He hasn't failed me yet.

I don't know how well I will keep up this blog in 2013...I hope to do it more justice in the coming year.  I think I felt like so much was going on inside that I couldn't accurately express it on the outside.  I sometimes felt like I had nothing to say.  As this will likely be the last post of 2012, I hope you all have a wonderful new year celebration...one full of hope and promise.  Thanks for reading, some of you have been quite faithful.  Happy new year!