New Year New Beginning: Let's Go

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

It’s been a little more than a minute (ok more like 61320 minutes, give or take a few) since my last post. Between then and now, I have written several pieces, but I just couldn’t finish them. Truth be told, last year was a difficult one for me and my family. 2018 was one of the hardest, yet abundantly blessed times we, as a family, have ever walked through. And over the course of this year I will share it with you, because it’s not just my story. It’s God’s story.

Recently, a friend asked me, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” My response was quick--- I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I don’t keep them. I asked if he had any, and he replied, “To do more of God’s work.” His answer stayed with me. “To do more of God’s work.” Another way to phrase it is fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for my life. Obviously, the journey is different for everyone. For some, it’s being on the mission field--- whether that’s praying over and feeding homeless men and women on a Saturday. Or it could be going with your church to remove debris from your neighbor’s house after a natural disaster. It can mean going with a nervous friend to a follow up doctor’s appointment—standing beside and praying with her. To some, it means contributing financially, and yet to others it’s serving on Sundays at church by greeting people with love as they walk through the doors. All these ways are impacting the kingdom of God.

A couple of days went by, and I felt a tug on my heart. I knew what I wanted to do. It’s not a resolution, but something I started and haven’t fully seen through----my blog. Graceandgirlfriends.com is MY “to do more of God’s work.” When I started Grace and Girlfriends, the entire purpose was to share the goodness of God, to encourage, and inspire. Jesus has been way too good to me in my life for me to keep it to myself! And I shouldn’t keep it to myself, because again, it’s not just my story, it’s God’s story! I’ve seen the faithfulness of God! When I share my story of faith, and you share yours, it draws us closer to Him—and each other.

Picture this. A room full of 300 or so people holding candles in their hands, but none lit. No light, just darkness. They’re standing with an instrument that can give off light. But that candle isn’t fulfilling its purpose because it hasn’t caught a flame to light it up. Here comes one person, with a lighter and lights his candle. Then turns to his right and lights another. And that person lights another, and then 2,3, and 4 more people turn and light each other’s candles. Before you know it, the entire room that was once dark is now shining with the bright lights of candles—fulfilling its purpose, because no candle loses its light while lighting another candle. That’s us—YOU and ME—sharing our faith and the encounters we have with the true and living God. Our faith stories lighting up this world. With that said, I’d like to challenge you. 2019. New Year. New beginning. What does “to do more of God’s work” mean to you? What is He calling you to do? It’s not hard. We’ve just got to start. This hurting world needs more of Jesus and we, who are the light of the world, can’t be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16.