2017 Reflection / 2018 Ready Set Go

The year 2017 can kind of be summed up with the word REST.
 I started the year and ended the year with a trips to Uganda.  We had a family vacation/ family reunion to Marantha Bible Camp, in the summer for a week of family camp.  God just put me with all my favorites, doing all my favorite things, in the beginning, middle and end of the year. 

 

  We had time this year to rest and recover. We had some recovering to do, as the year before had been stressful and brought on some heartache, but God has been so faithful and given us rest and recovery in the kindest ways.  Rest is often about trusting in what God is doing.  On the 7th day, God rested, but the world stayed spinning and things still grew.  So even though it feels like a year of rest, we kept working, things kept moving along, but we had to trust God in what was going on in a whole new way. Last year felt like it started with
 Remember and Wait.
  Remember who God is and what He has done and wait on Him and His timing and His direction.

Upon reflecting on 2017  it made me think of when a runner has been injured, they need rest and recovery.    Rest and recovery looks a lot like time to heal and therapy to rebuild, so they can come back even stronger.  If the proper steps are not taken in the process you can come back timid and hesitant.  If you rest and recover with intention and focus and strengthen the injured places, you can come back with confidence and strength.

 This year has been like that for us in certain areas.  We have had to dig deep into prayer and God's Word to understand the injury and let it heal properly.

2018 has a feeling of  

Wonderment 

in Charlie's word for the year. 

I feel like it is a year to

 Be Aware and Respond.

Hebrews 12:1English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We are recovered and ready to run this race and all along the way being more AWARE and in awe and WONDER of all God is doing in us and around us all along the course of life. May we live this year in RESPONSE to all that He shows us and works in us.

Psalm 16:11English Standard Version (ESV)

11 

You make known to me the path of life;

    in your presence there is fullness of joy;

    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.