A Look Back at 2013

 

                                                    “Delight yourself also in the LORD,
                                                    and He shall give you the desires of
                                                             your heart”. Psalm 37:4

This is supposed to be the end-of-the-year post from me this time, and though we are already 18 days into the new year, I'm still going to write about 2013. I don't want to go into 2013 history and retell all the things that happened (or didn't happen as I had hoped); and this is because 2013 was probably one of the less rewarding years that I can remember. I became excited that 2014 was just around the bend and thought about all the great possibilities that it might offer. Because it's a fresh start to a new year! Also, you can check out my blog post here: Anna's Insights to find out what my big news update is for this year.

I would say that the brightest spot for me in 2013 was being able to purchase my reining horse, whom I enjoy very much. A lot of people need their “get-away-s”. Some go on vacation, some bury their heads in books, some go fishing, and some, like myself, go play with their animals. In 2013, I needed a lot of that “out” from all that was going on around me. It was indeed a challenging year that I would like very much to forget. As some—or perhaps most of you know—my Grandpa went to be with the Lord in October. We were all glad that he wasn't/isn't in pain any longer, but the occasion caused many negative repercussions in the family.

Perhaps, 2013 was less than desirable for you, too. But today is the day that the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24). God has granted us to see the start of yet another year. How we respond to the challenges is up to us, but be assured that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). God's not finished with you yet and 2014 is another chapter in your life. Circumstances, good and bad, are written in most of the chapters. How should we respond them? “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” Psalm 37:5. Commit this day to Him and let Him lead you by the hand. God was alive and well before time began (He was), He is still alive and well in today's, mixed up society (He is), and He will one day come back for His saints and purge this wicked world (He is to come)!

If we will only draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). When we commit our time and energy, our thoughts and our lives to Christ, He will never forsake us. For we are His children and God never forsakes His own (Psalm 94:14).

We only have this moment to make a difference, for we are not guaranteed the next moment, hour, nor day. We cannot belong to Satan and belong to God. Riding the fence or turning to God only in our desperate hour is not the right kind of relationship we should have with Him. If we only call out to God when we feel lost and hopeless, we cannot expect an answer! God is a jealous God and He wants our devotion on a moment to moment basis; not problem to problem. God shows us where we are wrong when we truly repent and admit that we are sinners. And when we partake of communion, we remember what Christ did when He shed His blood for us on the cross. Any man who eats and drinks, but does not belong to God, is only eating and drinking judgement on himself (1 Cor. 11:29). And God promises that if we come to Him, repent, and turn from our evil ways, He will wash those sins away (1 John 1:9).

If you have not yet committed yourself to the Lord, I urge you to talk with your parents, your pastor, or another family member. If you already have, my prayer is that you will walk closer than ever with Him this new year. If you want a resolution this year, don't just be convinced that it's important to trust God with every part of your life: be convicted. God's got great plans for you, friend! You have nothing to “fear, only trust and obey.”

“When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

“Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”

God bless,

Julianna

P.S. Just to let our friends who aren't on Google+ know, Kaleigh and I have made our 2014 video, so please be sure to check that out on our “About Us” page.