Looking Ahead to the New Year



The past year was a difficult one with many afflictions and challenges. Last January, God gave me a word to hold me through it all...trust! Psalm 116 says "He heard my cry for help; I called on His Name and He rescued me because He's full of compassion." Thank you, dear friends for your awesome friendship and prayers. You have been there in fun times and when the tears fell, too. You've reminded me to trust God.

Several weeks ago, the Lord spoke a word of direction for me in 2011. That word is love. On to more growth for me this coming year! As a follower of Jesus, my love walk was challenged when I met an unbeliever who has reason to hate those who have abused, abandoned and hurt her. Yet she never speaks ugly about them.

Joyce Meyer says: "You need to see that if you practice God's 'love walk,' you not only grow yourself, but you enable others to grow. The devil can't do you much harm if you truly walk in loving relationship with others."

9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, a that person is still living in darkness. 10Anyone who loves another brother or sisterb is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. 1 John 2: 9-11



The new year has begun. I have my assignment! It's hard to love sometimes; but the reward is eternal.

Comments

  1. Happy New Year! May all of God's greatest Blessing be yours this coming year. Hugs, Marty

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  2. Thank you my friend for this New Year post. I love you, my sister in Christ.
    Savannah is getting big.
    Blessings,
    Bren

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  3. Amen sister! Happy New Year to you too, and love is hard to show sometimes. ((hugs))

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  4. How blessed am I that you receive your very own words from the Lord; words that are such personal marching orders! I love that you accept them with such powerful surrender.

    Indeed, 2011 WILL be a good year for love.

    Blessings & hugs,
    Kathleen

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  5. Happy New Year, love you very much.

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  6. Happy New Year to you and yours. I like your new direction.

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  7. Photos are beautiful...your message is powerful and I pray for you to walk in it and for me too dear friend. We can all use a challenge in our love walk. Amen!

    You have blessed me greatly in 2010 dear friend and I am excited about all the ways GOD will speak to all of us in 2011 for His glory. Love you. Praying for you and your family. Happy New Year!

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  8. Nice shots sister Mary! And your words are beautiful reminder of what we must all do. We are all given different talents but we all have the same command. And that is...to love Him first and then, love others. By His grace, may we grow in that area this year. I will keep this beautiful reminder because I have been praying to grow more and more in His likeness. Happy New Year and I am blessed to have met you. Thank you for your prayers also. Love you sister.

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  9. Loving those who hate us - only possible through the power of God's love.

    Good luck with your assignment, Mary - I'll be working on my "love" this year, too!

    Hope you had a lovely first day of the year!

    GOD BLESS!

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  10. Happy New Year my friend...
    so happy to know you..
    more Lord in this new year too!

    Deborah xoxoxoxo

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  11. Yes, I'm thinking the same thing. I heard someone's resolution for the year that was, "Love better." and that really resonated with me.

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  12. If we could look into the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each person’s life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostilities.

    This quote you posted on your Dec 11 entry over at Lisa's blog caught my heart by surprise.

    And I must tell you that after reading your post, I went back to my room and asked God to soften my heart to help me forgive someone who had hurt me so much - by showing me the true condition of her heart.

    And because of reading that post, and asking God to help me, by Christmas, I was able to take the first step toward peace.

    And on New Year's Day, this person sent me a message on my phone asking for my forgiveness.

    It was something I did not expect to happen... but it did. And today I tell you the story because I know you deserve to know.

    Have a 2011 ahead of you that is flowing with love from your heart...as you walk each day to fulfill the special assignment God has for you this year.

    The photo of your grandchild with the dog looking out the window, and the one of you holding her are both so beautiful.


    Love
    Lidj

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  13. Dear Mary,
    I pray you have a 'love' filled year. A wonderful post! God bless you... :)

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  14. Hi Saleslady371 -

    Happy New Year!

    I love that first photo - so precious!

    Thank you for sharing and for being sincere in your sentiments.
    Your sincerety is so appreciated.

    Yes, indeed, our Lord is fully with you and He is indeed a promise keeper. He IS a man of His word - for sure.

    Remember that you are greatly beloved by the best - the Host with the Most...

    May our Father manifest for you in ways that will bring tears of joy to your eyes as you abide in His favor, and how He deals bountifully with you!

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  15. AMEN, sweet friend! What a beautiful example of love HE has given you in susanna! She is adorable!

    Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
    andrea

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  16. Adorable pictures. Happy New Year to you and yours. Blessings.

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  17. oops, i think i lost my original comment to you. lets try this again ;)
    i love this post. i come from a big family and sometimes i feel like i have to be around people who aren't as kind or loving as they can be and i want to get angry and close off my heart. but i know that is not the best way to be for the sake of my family and all of our kids. i just keep trying to feed everyone with kindness.
    may 2011 bring us all more love :o)

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  18. Hi Saleslady371 -

    Love is a weapon against Satan because he hates it when we love people. It ticks him off big time.

    GOD will help you to conquer because you are well able to overcome! (Numbers 13:30 - KJV)

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