It’s December already! Can you believe it? Soon we’ll be singing carols, going on vacation or traveling home for the holidays, giving and receiving gifts… and then that special moment will come when we gather in central locations with loved ones or with total strangers to count down… 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! And we’ll scream, shout, laugh, cry, hug, kiss, slap high-fives, pop champagne, eat chocolate cake and just be merry. I can’t wait!
2017 has been quite a year, hasn’t it? During the thanksgiving service today, we were asked to write down all the reasons we could recall for being grateful to God. I had mine scattered all over my journal so I decided to write them all out on one page. By the time we had to stop, I was on number nineteen and I wasn’t done. So I’ve got some work left to do.
There’s so much to be grateful for. January to December is a long time and you’re still here. You made it this far. I pray that God will see you through to 2018. Have you written your list yet?
I’ll share a few of my testimonies:
A friend who got married years ago finally had a baby this year
Another friend who really wanted to get married finally did so this year
Micah’s reading has really improved. His siblings were best pupil overall and best maths pupil in the past session
Diseases healed
Sins forgiven
Preservation of life and general wellbeing – family and friends
Projects completed
Speaking & singing engagements
My Whole Life & No Other God single releases
If I had more time, I would have added:
Safe travels
Safety on the job and at home
Love and peace in my home
Streams of income
Fresh food in Eket
A sound mind
What are you grateful for?
I encourage you to write your own list today. It’ll be worth your while.
Shout! It’s a new month. You made it and so you have every reason to rejoice and be glad. You may think it’s not a big deal but it is. You may even think there’s no reason to rejoice because you may have been through some tough times in the recent past but you have something right there to rejoice about – Your troubles didn’t drown you. Somehow, you made it through, you rode the waves rather than get swept under it. That tells me something. You’re tough! Or haven’t you heard? Tough times never last, but tough people do.
Now just in case you feel like your storm is not over, or you’re just coming into a difficult time, take heart. Do not fear. Be strong and courageous. Know that you were created to overcome. You have it in you, and you will outlast this storm. Bear this in mind, you will never face more than you are able to handle so if you have a mountain before you, it means you can move that mountain, get around it, get through it, or go over it. But it will not stop you!
I am particularly grateful because tomorrow is my birthday. Nine days ago, while crossing a road between two shops, a biker got distracted by events at an outdoor event, left his lane and ran into my husband and me, sweeping me off my feet. My husband took most of the impact but he’s fine – just minor bruises at the back of his left leg. I’m fine too – just minor muscle aches around the areas that were impacted by the bike. I am still amazed that we came away intact and that I’ll spend my day tomorrow doing things I enjoy rather than lying on my back with maybe a leg suspended because of broken bones. God delivered us and I am grateful for life and health.
You need to find your reason to rejoice and keep that joy on replay. You will need that joyful atmosphere in your life in this new season to draw from the wells of salvation, from the storehouse of goodness, from the bank of things that are relevant for life and general well being.
Find your reason!
I wonder why I needed a reminder this time. It didn’t quite register that we’re almost at the end of the first half of the year and it’s time for a Mid Year Check. Well, I’m extending the reminder to you. Your Mid Year Check is due!
Here are some things to check out:
The wonderful things that have happened thus far – consider them and be grateful
The mishaps you’ve experienced – be grateful again because you made it this far in spite of them. You could throw in some thoughts on what you could do differently next time to prevent such occurrences, that is, if these are issues you can control
Your goals – see how far you’ve come, celebrate your successes & restrategize to finish well in other areas
Your routine – have you used your time well? Are there adjustments you can make in your schedule to bring about improved efficiency
Family – do not forget this. Are you giving them the right priority and attention?
Your Health – have you done your annual check yet? Don’t push this off. Better safe than sorry.
I’m off to do my MYC. Hope you do the same sometime this week. I wish you a fruitful session.
Picture credit: www.actioncoach.com
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