I have just sat down after a day of family and friends frolicking in the pool, talking over dinner and just sharing. When the rooms in my house are quiet and I can hear myself think, I can’t help but go to those places where the questions never really have answers.I am preparing for New Year’s Eve, nothing special just time with my family but I know what I’ll be entering 2008 with at the striking of 12 midnight…will things change in 2008?  As I comtemplate the lives of those around me including mine, I do notice that things have changed. We’ve grown older, some wiser, others not so wise :-), others have added children to their tribe while one awaits news if her son will even live (her son is in the hospital in critical as I write). In some cases, we’ve lost jobs, started new ones, have a larger network of people who have become friends, crossed off some things from the “bucket list” (you know the list you write hoping you’ll get to before you “kick the bucket” ala the upcoming movie) and other such things.

As I write I know that my roles are changing in 2008 in some areas and you’ll know about them as soon as I am ready to write about them.  But I am talking about a different kind of change. I am talking about a change of life that includes a revolution of hope. “A revolution of hope is not just a matter of reading a book or hearing an inspiring sermon. True, a book or sermon or personal encounter may be a vehicle through which hope wins our hearts. But a revolution of hope makes radical demands of us. It requires us to learn new skills and habits and capacities: the skills of a new way of thinking, the capacities of a new way of living….it is a new way of life that changes everything.” (Brian McLaren, Everything Must Change - Jesus, Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN Copyright © 2007 by Brian D. McLaren. P. 283).  I want to learn the new skills, gain the capacity to live a new way. In some ways, I have this inner voice that tells me some things have to change within me first, then actions have to be taken to re-sort some of the priorities I have in my life and then maybe, there will be room for a revolution of HOPE.

Hope happens when someone sees something, decides that it is desirable, realizes that they may not get it, but believes that there is still a chance of getting it.  Charles Revson, founder of the famous Revlon cosmetics empire famously said that what he sold was ‘hope’. I can believe that since us women have hope that all the cosmetics we buy will keep us looking young! But all this to say, I have a hope for 2008 because the number eight denotes “resurrection”, “regeneration”; a new beginning or commencement. The eighth is the NEW FIRST. I believe God is going to do a few FIRSTS with me and my family in 2008; I believe that there will be a resurrection and new beginning for some things I thought were dead and a commencement of things I thought I had no future in. This is what my heart tells me. Bottomline, this is my hope but most importantly, my hope is in the Lord whom I trust.

The prophet Jeremiah knew the secret: “Blessed [happy] is the (wo) man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). God—the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who cares about your every problem—this God alone can build a secure future for you.  The person who has never trusted Jesus Christ may see life as hopeless.  Heck, even those of us who have walked with God many years sometimes see the world very dark, but the difference is that eventually, after the tears, after the gut wrenching cries, we STILL have hope.

In the final analysis, those who don’t trust in Jesus are right, for without Christ he has “no hope and [is] without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).But Jesus Christ offers what you and me what we could never purchase and no one can take from us….…love that is not based on your feelings or merits but on the never-ending mercies of God (Romans 5:8).…freedom to know and enjoy God because Jesus Christ has taken the punishment for your sins (1 Peter 3:18).…friendship that will never disappoint you because Jesus promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).…a reason for living because following Christ gives true meaning and purpose to life (John 14:6).…an unshakable future firmly based on Christ’s promise, “I will come again” (John 14:3).…an eternal home where the killjoys of earth—selfishness, hatred, death—will all be gone (Revelation 21:4).

As you enter this new year, you can depend on yourself and wish for the best (and as Dr. Phil would say, “how’s that working for ya?”), or you can put your hope in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Through faith in His Word you can be filled with hope that will never fail and life that will never end.I have a hope for 2008, that everything must change including me, but with my hope in Jesus, how can it not?

Happy New Year folks!!

I get very reflective during the period of my Birthday and yes, Thanksgiving and New Year’s. My husband asked me why I look sad. It seems to him that I am sad every time this time of year. However, I am not sad per se. Just thinking, reflecting…as he walked in on my writing this post, he caught me crying not in a hysterical way…just streaming slow tears…I don’t want to seem ungrateful because the end of 2007 has been incredible for me. I live in a house my nephew said is like “MTV cribs”; my debt load has been considerably wiped clean; I have a truly wonderful husband and my two sons although very different bring me unimaginable joy YET I still cry.I cry this Christmas because I reflect on the fact that:·        I don’t have my family near me·        My young son will never know me, call me Mommy or get married and have kids·        Nothing ever turns out the way you dream it would·        People continue to disappoint meHOWEVER, please get this, I am not sad. I am incredibly grateful to still be alive, to be sane after my youngest son’s 28 surgeries and near fatal trip to the hospital this past Mother’s day. For that I am thankful and he has blessed me and my family as we end 2007. So its ok to cry not in sadness but in reflection and in gratefulness. You can’t be grateful about what you’ve come through if you don’t reflect on the things you’ve been able to thrive above right? Can I get a witness?I leave you with this thought written by someone who never let him/herself be known, however the message is more important than the one who penned it. Think About This… If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep… you are richer than 75% of this world.If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.If you woke up this morning with good health you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week.If you have never experienced the danger of battle unfolding all around you, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation… you are ahead 500 million people in the world.If you can attend a church meeting without fear of persecution, harassment, arrest, torture, or death… you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married…you are very rare, even in the United States.If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all or the thousands who have no sight.Author Unknown

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who pass by this site. May 2008 be a good year for us all. May we fulfill purpose every waking day.

On the Move

It’s almost midnight here in South Florida. I’ve finally found the energy to write a quick post for the most part to let you know that yes I am still alive and well albeit exhausted. Moving is well not only a major stressor but its just flat out not fun! 

The good news: We love our new neighborhood. The first week we were in the new house our neighbors from “the Circle” (we live in a cul-de-sac now) had a representative couple knock on our door and officially welcome us!  They bought over cookies and a “Welcome to Your New Home” card. Although I was on a long distance business call, my hubby answered the door bell to find our welcoming team. I was very touched. Not only am I a sucker for gestures like that but I quite honestly did not expect it.

The not so good news: Our three car garage is PACKED with boxes that may never see the light of day again. Ok maybe some day but not anytime soon. This means that I would rather go out and BUY something than have to search through the boxes to find it. Yeah I just hate hassles.

On my writing:

I am overdue again with my article for PRISM. My editor is just one lovely, patient, spirit-filled lady! You rock K! I need inspiration yesterday.

On driving:

I always thought it was “interesting” to see little people driving big trucks. Well today I was one of those little people. I was driving my son’s Ford 2008 E 250! I had white knuckles all the way to his doctor but on my way back I was driving that baby like I owned the road. It was great to overcome a fear. Which brings me to my final thought…

Overcoming Fear is a Necessity for Destiny Achievement

It happens all too many times doesn’t it? You set a goal, a target you wish to reach. In order to hit this target, you have to step outside your comfort zone and do something that you’ve never done. What happens when you go to make the attempt?

Well, nine times out of ten it never gets done. As soon as you convince yourself to try, resistance shows up in the form of fear, which leads to doubt and in turn leads to giving up or never attempting to reach your goal. I almost did that today by thinking in my head I “should cancel my son’s appointment” all in an attempt not to have to drive that big truck.

Hey but if that’s your story, don’t be upset. The stats are in and they are true. Only 10 percent of the population keeps on keeping on. Only 10 percent fight the fear and reach their destination. The good news is if you’re not in the 10-percent club, you can get there. You can crush fear, resistance and march on to a successful life. Did you see the Biggest Loser on Tuesday night? That is proof that you can crush anything (with a little help)!!

 Whatever you fear today or have feared forever, my prayer is that you start to believe God and take the step you dare not take.