Happy New Year

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a Happy New Year! I know we had a great time in Colorado with our kids and grandson, Beau. I always like to start the new year with a fast. Just sacrificing some things for ten days and quiet down my flesh part and raising my spiritual part. One thing that comes from this is such peace. I think the central part of the Bible is that Christ came to give us peace. The only way we can get peace is to stop trying to do everything on our own! Pray about everything with requests and then give thanks. So simple.

We do a song all the time in Bible Study called, “Count Your Many Blessings.” Do that this January. Just sit down one morning or lunch or whenever and try to list all the big, small, simple, and complex things you are blessed with. It takes a minute to start really listing if you are in a hard time in your life or you have lost a loved one or you are lonely or angry, but start with: I am able to write. I had a friend when I was little. I can see. I love the ocean… turn your positive volume up and try and remember what you laugh at. The time you went sledding. A dog you thought was so cute.

We have a video of Beau at my mom’s house this Christmas watching her toy train go around the base of the Christmas tree. His delight in watching it go around and then clapping is such a picture of joy and being blessed. It is not anything super meaningful or revolutionary but it is fun to watch a baby find amazement and wonder in something you did because you thought he would love it.

God has done so many things for us to find joy! He loves us! His Son loves us! His Holy Spirit loves us! Count them as your many blessings. Name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!!

May you find a deeper relationship this year with Christ and all He has provided for you because he delights in you. Our church is doing a series called “Ride the Wave.” The visual is: Standing on the shore, you can see the waves, but getting in the water on a surf board and riding the waves is a whole different experience of power. God has enormous power for you to experience. Jump in… list your blessings, read a few scriptures, and let them get from your head to your heart. Do something more than just your usual thing with God. He loves to have us lean on him, talk to him, and love on him in all our days. Not just the hard ones but the happy, easy days, too. God is powerful.

Love you, Teri

2 Peter 3: 18: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity, Amen.