Keep Moving Forward

 Well, it is a new year 2025. It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that we are now a quarter into this century. WOW! And as always for me, the new year brings many positive thoughts about change. I am not a resolution maker but I certainly am a list maker. My lists, along with my thoughts for 2025 are many. Today, I would like to share one of those thoughts on my list with you.

Since the end of September, in my hometown and state we have experienced three weather related, uncommon events. We have had a hurricane, Helene, an ice event, and a snow event. Also, never far from my memory, concerning weather, was a major snow and ice event we experienced back in February of 2014. During that event we were out of power, water, ran out of wood for heat, food, and essentials during the first ten days. It was then that our power was restored and with power most of the issues fell back in line but it made a lasting impression.

When hurricane Helene hit our area on September 27 it caused major damage to us and multiple states. We had never experienced a major summer event. That is such a game changer to me. Our electricity was off for almost 2 weeks with temperatures in the upper 90's and high humidity. I think it was day 3 or 4 that we drove 80 miles away and purchased a generator to at least try to give us a little relief on multiple fronts.

Then when these two other events happened this month, a few days before the first storm hit, we pulled out the generator and started going over a winter storm plan. After, the first storm we had to go back to the drawing board and look closely at what needed to be rethought. We then tried to come up with a better plan for the storm that was due to hit around 2 weeks later. We have been through a summer hurricane, an ice storm, and a snow storm. And it is clear to me that we have to look hard at what we are doing and keep moving forward to manage these storms better for our safety and comfort.

Is that not similar to our spiritual life!? Is that not in a way how we should be attacking our growth and relationship with the Lord!? I have discovered that storms of life never stop. So often, it feels like after I seem to get a handle on one issue another jumps into my life. The storm we experienced 10 years ago we had no generator and life seemed to fall apart. It was miserable. We attempted to problem solve but we had no resources. We seemed to just run in circles with no direction, no clear path. Isn't that how it is when we try to handle life on our own and don't rely on God! Life throws something at us and we try to manage it all on our own. We might succeed in the end. We made it through those long, cold, miserable days but the paths didn't bear fruit. We just muddled through it.

Now, with some of the right tools, and there is a chance of another storm near the beginning of February, we can keep tweaking our plans and be safer and have more peace...bear fruit! I can clearly see this moving forward during this year. I have s yearning to make my lists, read the scripture, pray more, come to the feet of my Father earlier instead of later. I want to look back and remember the lessons he has taught me to go to new depths in my relationship with him.

There is a Jewish holiday called Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. During this holiday, the Jewish people build temporary huts called Sukkot to commemorate the 40 years their ancestors spent wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. The significance in this is to remember and focus on God's protection and provision over them during the time in the wilderness.  That, to me is a lesson! Just like looking back over these storms and learning what not to do and what can be done better, in my walk with the Lord I want to look back, remember what he has done for me, the lessons he has taught me. I feel the excitement, the awe, the anticipation of a new year. I feel excited to look back over all God's blessings and lessons, all the grace and mercy he has bestowed upon me. And I am eager to take each day in 2025 as a time to grow, to go deep, for my Father to use me for his Kingdom Assignments and to continue to give me the tools, the guidance to accomplish HIS WILL in his kingdom on earth!

I pray that this post moved you in some way, encouraged you, and will bless you on your walk with the Lord. May God's peace, grace and mercy shine on you in this new year 2025!

"Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me."Isaiah 46:8-9