New Year '12

2012 is here.  Where do I start?  Part of me feels like time just flies by; but, I also realized that I have learned much from all that has happened.   I am just thankful that through the ups and downs of the past year, that He has been with me and has brought me through.

One of the reasons why 2012 just crept up on me even though I was somewhat "caught up" by Christmas was because of the condo.   I spent all of my vacation last week working on and painting the place, pretty much with singular focus for about 12 hours a day despite aching muscles.  However, it is actually rewarding to be able to see that the place now looks almost new again.   I was able to show it to a friend today; and I was reminded once again of the beauty of the place and reason I was drawn to buying this place previously.  There are still a few minor things left to do; but, I am grateful that God was able to help me finish the bulk of it.   I just pray now that He will show me what plans He has for the place next.

It really has been a full week.   From the time I last wrote, much has happened.

I worked on the AV Team Christmas Eve and also New Year's Eve and today.   I was talking to a couple of friends today on singleness, and this is one example of ways that I am able to serve as a single that might be more of a challenge otherwise.   One of the reasons that I often serve on the Holidays is because the other members of the team have family obligations with kids, in-laws, spouse schedules, etc.    As a single, I do have more flexibility, and as Paul said in Corinthians, "undistracted devotion to the Lord".  However, singleness is not without its struggles; and especially during the holidays, the loneliness can hit hard, like it did when I came home after serving for the Christmas Eve service and spent the evening by myself all alone.

When my Assistant Pastor did devotions today with the worship team, I was reminded once again of how our personal worship and relationship with God affects our ministry.    I could see how what he learned in personal time with God was used to share with us.  He talked about the passage about pouring new wine in old wineskins and applied that to needing to stretch ourselves and make changes in our lives in order for God to do something new this year.

Then, our Pastor during the message, preached on Philippians 3:7-14, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead; and counting all things as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ!   This was actually a preview into our next study in class in the Book of Philippians.   Just as I found during preparation, that our study in Acts would enhance the study of Philippians and give additional insights, the Pastor often referred to passages in Acts as he talked about the Philippians passage.  He encouraged us to let go of things we need to lay beneath the blood of Christ, and move ahead with new goals and resolutions.

For my area of focus this year on PRAYER, by just talking to my friend on the phone, I was reminded that 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to "Pray without ceasing" - to constantly be in an attitude of prayer and to always be ready to be in communication with God.   I do hope that I will be able to truly tap into the power of prayer at a greater level than I currently do.   I have already found that just being mindful of it has made a difference - during open prayer in the worship team devotional time, in class, and in our class get-together afterwards, I already experienced a difference in my prayers.  So, I really look forward to what more He will be teaching me this coming year in helping me to develop in this area.

Also, today, was the 5th anniversary of my class.   I am amazed at what God has done in growing the class from a handful of singles to a fairly large group of career adults both singles and couples.    God has shown me that when we set goals for Him, they often do get fulfilled - like having meaningful areas of service or wanting to get more involved with community service.   He truly is at work in my life, and I am grateful and encouraged to see it.

I actually also was encouraged in another unexpected way today.    One of the members of my class who had been sick the last few weeks was at church today.  He told me that of all the Christmas cards he received, the one I sent him was the most meaningful to him and he had set it in a special place and looked at it daily.  That affirmed how I felt that although cards take a lot of time to write, it can be special to the person receiving.