Farewell 2012...

-

This has been an eventful year to say the least. I started off the year with whooping cough. We got hardwood floors and repainted our entire house.We had a wonderful family vacation in Williamsburg, VA. Dylan turned 4 years old and started homeschool with me. Bryan and I celebrated our 8th year of marriage. Bryan's job changed unexpectedly. I spent 4 days in the hospital and had my gallbladder removed. I turned the big 3-0 and Bryan threw me a amazing surprise party! We watched our littlest boy turn into a toddler. I spent 3 weeks on bedrest due to a horrific spinal headache. We attended several funerals. We traveled to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Christmas together as a family and added 2 little furry critters to our home (guinea pigs, Tippy and Chester.) 

Because of all those "big" things that occurred this year, I have seen God at work in amazing ways! God's provision has been wonderful, His comfort has been constant, and His presence has been obvious! I have to admit, a lot of the things we endured and witnessed others endure, have caused a lot fear and worry. There are many reasons to be fearful as we start another year but John 14:27 says, ""Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." After mediating on this verse I know, regardless of what is occurring all around us, God is in complete control, Jesus is continuously offering His peace, and we have nothing to worry about. 

Some of the events of this year haven't been fun but I wouldn't change a thing because I know God has us right where He wants us. So, I say farewell to 2012 and because of the peace Jesus offers, I welcome 2013 with open arms. I can't wait to see what God has in store for my family. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Please take the time to leave an encouraging message

Popular posts from this blog

Please don't give me a wedgie!

-
Image
 Would you believe me if I told you that life with 3 boys is wild??  You probably would, huh? I'm telling you, just an average Wednesday night in the Shaw household is full of all sorts of craziness! I did hear a first tonight though!  Bryan was wrestling with the boys and suddenly Dylan starts yelling "Please don't give me a wedgie!" Now by those words, you would assume that he didn't want a wedgie but the way he was shaking his booty in front of Bryan and laughing, proved that he really did want a wedgie! HA! Then, of course, Evan and Tyson started saying, "Please don't give me a wedgie!" (One in English, one in toddler language) So we had three little boys running around shaking their tail ends and begging for wedgies.  There. Is. Never. A. Dull. Moment. As you can see from this picture above, they got their wedgies! They thought it was hysterical! And I just had to show you the picture below, just to give you an id
Read more

Beauty from Ashes

-
Image
I have heard the term "beauty from ashes" a thousand times in the past week. It wasn't the first time I 've heard the term but I've always just brushed it off. Since I've heard it so much lately, I decided to pay it some attention.  So here we go... The Bible says in Isaiah that God will give us beauty instead of ashes. In Biblical times it was the custom for people in great times of mourning and difficulty to lay down in ashes. Just imagine this...you’ve got a big problem in your life so you just lay down in a pile of dirty ashes. There is absolutely nothing beautiful about this scenario. So where does the beauty come from? Can ashes really be turned into something beautiful?   Scripture says that God is able to take the situation that burdens you or causes you pain and turn it into beauty. He can pick you up out of the ash pile of life and make something beautiful out of you. The Hebrew word for ashes is epher and the Hebrew word for beauty is pheer. Just m
Read more

Psalm 84: 11-12

-
Image
For the  Lord   God is a sun   and shield;      the  Lord  bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold      from those whose walk is blameless.  Lord  Almighty, blessed  is  the one who trusts in you Psalm 84: 11-12 I've been pondering Psalm 84:11-12 for a couple of weeks now. It has become one of my favorite verses. After really digging into this verse on my own and in Bible study this morning, I feel like God speaks volumes through these 38 simple words.  God is a sun and a shield. Like the sun, God provides for us, nourishes us, and is always present. The sun provides hope with each new day, just as God gives hope in even the worst situation. Like a shield, God protects us and gives us security. We can hide behind Him and feel safe. But, a shield does no good just laying near by. It only protects when picked up and used appropriately. The same is true with God. If we don't acknowledge Him, if we don't get to know Him, if we don'
Read more