A new year has arrived...

For some, the New Year came in with force and fury, in great celebratory style while others slept quietly thru the stroke of midnight, resting their way into 2008. For me and my husband, we were in the company of friends as the ball dropped in Times Square, in quiet celebration with sparkling beverages in hand. It is awesome for me looking at 2008 with much anticipation, knowing that God holds time in His hands despite our best human efforts so somehow shift that power to ourselves. We so often tend ot think we can do so much more than He can and not only do a better job but also one completely in a more timely matter. Why are always in such a hurry anyway?

At the dawn of creation, God utilized His awesome creativity in painting the canvas of earth. The splendors of this earth are truly amazing but pale in comparison to those of our true destination in an eternal Heaven. Six days were spent in divine, life-giving inspiration in forming Earth and its inhabitants. Does anyone recall the scripture of how one "day" is like a thousand to Him? With that in mind, I often wonder if the creative design encompassed 6 days as we know them in 24 hour segments or perhaps six thousand years. I cannot fathom the latter but think that is probably the case. God does things in ways we never would expect, taking more time to answer prayer than we think is necessary and all the while we are dreaming up ways to make things happen ourselves to somehow give God a little help.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day helping a couple select sheep for the new flock of Jacobs. Both of them were amazed so learn of time we spend in assembling unrelated bloodlines, creating a widely diversified flock for their new breeding adventure in sheep. I can recall the excitement of picking out sheep that I liked (normally from a visual standpoint -- geez, I am SO human here) only to learn they were all related or they just weren't for sale. This was the same situation for the newest Jacob shepherd's coming to our farm. To pick and choose, then have to choose again, trying to find a way to make a way for all of them "work" so that she could have the ones she wanted. It never seems to work out that way, does it?

I have a firm belief that either everything is spiritual or it isn't. Everything relates to God; everything exists because of Him. With our new shepherd friends, I see a parallel from the natural directly to the spiritual in many ways. Our unsurrendered lives tend to lean more at what we want rather than what God wants. We get excited about things we see and feel. Many times, when we compare these things with God's plans, we realize how shallow our desires really tend to be. We can fuss and refuse to comply with our Heavenly Father trying to make things "work" on our own to get our way in something but He knows the consequences of our actions long before we do. The problem is we don't really care about that, only looking to fill our own selfish attitudes and hoping God might bail us out ~ after all, He is always faithful to do that, right?

As I enter 2008, my prayer is that I compare ALL things to God's will and plan for my life, submitting to Him my every desire for His refining fire to fall. Lord, burn up what is "me" and set ablaze those things that are of You so that Your Holy Light will shine thru this vessel.

Our Father in Heaven, reveal who You are.

Set the world right; do what's best ~ as above, so below.

Keep us alive with three square meals.

Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others.

Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil.

You're in charge!

You can do anything you want!

You're ablaze in beauty!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Matthew 6:10-13

The Message Remix