The year of the Lord

 Happy 2013 everyone! Another chapter in our lives closed, another one being written. This time of year is always a joyous and merry time of year. This is when things seem to be reflected on. The good, bad, and ugly are all put back in the light to see how it turned out. Looking back on last year for me has been… exhilarating. It has brought me confusion, joy, unknown’s, peace, pain, and most importantly love. I never knew what to expect since last year was starting it off in the Middle East but now that I look back, I know God’s hand was in it all. I met great people, saw and experienced great things, overcame obstacles, and found what I’m passionate about. Jesus became more of my focus.

As I see what is ahead of me in 2013, I have to keep reminding myself this one thing: Jesus is in control. I can already tell that this is going to be the “theme” (if there is even such a thing) of 2013. Since I returned to Indiana for the holidays, I have some to realize a few things:

 1.) I DO NOT like snow.

2.) I am a control freak.

3.) I need to give Jesus my life every day.

 4.) And lastly, God knows what He is doing.

What do all these things have in common? I suck without Jesus. I know that when I go back to Jax tomorrow (Jan. 2) that I am going to have to depend on Him even more than I did last year. I am starting in a place where I need to have all my strength come from the Lord. I will be mentoring girls for the next three months and leading an outreach to an unreached nation for two. I was involved with the last school but I never really knew the stress load that came with it all. I am putting all my trust and faith in the Lord, more than I have before. I have to tell myself constantly that Jesus knows what He is doing. I have to depend on Him and Him alone. I have no idea what I will be doing after this DTS but I do know Who does. I have options and as always, am praying through them. Whatever challenges and things I face this year, I am taking them to the Lord first. I have a feeling this year is going to be full of those times. I know He already knows, I just have to trust Him. The Bible says He already knows the plans He has for us, right? So why do I worry? Anyway, I want to leave you with a verse that I am declaring over this year.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
⁵ Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
⁶ And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 61