Faithful To Me

I began writing in 2007 to “be real.” Not the “keepin’ it real, dawg” of our current culture but in an effort to openly share where-the-rubber-meets-the-road faith. I opened my days to you. I shared my fears and openly celebrated our successes. And you were kind. What began, as an avenue to share my life as a believer, has also become a lifeline through my lonely days of our move to Georgia.

I have to say how grateful I am to you-- thank-you, friends, old and new who have come along beside me this year. I am amazed that you stop by and read my meager thoughts (and many are brave enough to say so!).

The New Year arrived "quietly" in our home this morning. As quietly as possible when a two-year-old is sleeping nearby and 2 older brothers are outside on the deck with sparklers, despite freezing temperatures and gusty winds. (Kentucky freezing temperatures that is, 45 degrees)

The boys were settled and we climbed into bed. David's eyes held mine and said, ‘It’s been a tough year, hasn’t it?" Already emotional from watching movies when the boys were newborns, I didn’t reflect on the difficulties of 2006 very long. He knew. I knew. And in the security of that knowledge, it was enough to lie side by side and be thankful that we had each other and had faced the storms together.

I’ll admit. I’m afraid to dream, to think that this year may hold new promise.

Today when I opened the Streams in the Desert 1, I found encouragement from the words of Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. "Today dear friends, we stand on the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes may come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our heavenly Father, ‘The Lord thy God careth for it. . . His eyes are upon it away to the ending of the year’"(Deut. 11:11-12).

"All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are the springs that shall never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the heavenly Father. If He be the source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, ‘the streams whereof make glad the city of God.’"

". . . The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah, it is so with us! It is the hill of difficulty that drives us to the throne of grace and brings down the shower of blessings . . . ."
"We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, blessed new year!"

The last several paragraphs were written in my first blog last January 1st. This New Year’s Eve the setting was different but the scene much the same as the boys showered the deck with sparklers at 12:05AM. Zach caught himself on fire but…other than that!

What a year! Changes—oh yes! Pain, that too. But looking back-- it was a good, blessed year filled with tender mercies.

Today, I stand on the edge of the unknown again but I am learning to trust my father who knows me but loves me in spite of myself...and He's been faithful to me.