As I prepared to write this final post for 2017, I kept processing the events of the past 12 months.
The year started with Peacefully Imperfect celebrating a second birthday, followed by a variety of new experiences, new friendships and a new book. It was an exciting time for sure.
All of this sounds pretty awesome and you may be thinking there were no slip ups along the way. But I can assure you there was nothing easy about this year. It was a time of learning and growing. It was a year filled with possibilities.
God was with me when I forged new paths. He was with me when I took risks. And, He helped me to put fear aside and move forward with some things I wanted to try. My heart was full because Scripture tells us that, ‘ALL things are possible with God.’ Matthew 19:26 NIV
He allowed me to debut a beautiful ‘Fresh Start’ series with 12 precious friends of faith who helped to make it impacting and successful. I attended several online training sessions and learned a new computer software program to create printables, graphics, and resources to share with this ministry. There were a lot of hours invested in the learning process, but the return in the long run has been worth it.
I was privileged to attend She Speaks 2017 in North Carolina, sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries. I was blessed to attend sessions from the best of the best: Karen Ehman, Liz Curtis Higgs, Whitney Capps, Jennifer Dukes Lee and Suzie Eller to name a few. There’s a lot of Jesus power wrapped up in those ladies and I am blessed by their love of Christ and their faith and trust in Him.
There were other significant moments and challenges along the way, each with a special place in my heart. Yes, you read that correctly. Even the challenges deeply affected me. A couple of those situations I prayed fervently about and asked God if now was the time. I waited for Him to answer. I listened. And nothing.
One of those opportunities I attempted to move forward with, only to have a firm door closed on the matter. There was His answer, in His timing. I was disappointed and could not understand the stumbling block standing in my way. But, as only God can do when He is ready…He revealed a couple of months later what He wanted for me in this season.
It was the final five months of 2017 that I realized and truly understood the season and the path He had put before me. You see, I spent the remainder of the year re-writing, editing, proofreading, publishing and promoting a new book, ‘A Thankful Heart: 30 Days to the Grateful Life,’ available on Amazon.
I never would have dreamed that a project I wrote three years ago would re-surface and take hold of my life the way this book did. Even when I struggled with re-writing, or things disappearing from the computer screen, or when an original document would no longer open or save, I was determined that Satan would not win this battle. I was determined that with God’s help we would see this book to the end.
The original ‘Thankful Heart’ Challenge was written to commemorate the Thanksgiving season. But over time it grew to be so much more than just a season, and instead evolved into a lifelong commitment to God to cultivate in all of us a heart of gratitude. It is a never-ending journey because gratitude is the story we never stop writing.
God’s word tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
As I close out 2017 I am forever grateful and humbled to spread God’s word far and wide to further His Kingdom and His desire for reaching people. The events and rewards of the year were made possible because of God, my family, and the numerous support of friends and extended family. There’s so much gratefulness and thankfulness rolling around in my heart and mind because I am privileged to spread the gospel and love of Christ.
I am looking at 2018 filled with hope for what the future holds. Thank you for taking this walk with me and for your unwavering support.
Happy New Year!
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