~2011~

I pray 2011 has been a blessed year for y’all. Most of you have had the same kind of year I've had: a mixture of joy and pain along with good times and bad. However, I have to say, even with Mother being sick, this past month and now at the rehab center, it has been a good year.

I am blessed to spend my days with the people I love most in the world. I may get tired but having Mother with me and being her caregiver is my greatest privilege and I will do is at long as I am able. I am blessed to have a sweet man that supports me in this endeavor and helps me all that he can. It doesn’t hurt that he spoils me rotten too. ;)

One thing that I know that I know is that even in hard times, God is GOOD. I was reading this morning and as always I am really drawn to all of the scripture involving Joshua. I love how God tells Joshua repeatedly to not be afraid or discouraged. Oh, that gives this Steel Magnolia on the outside but terrified little girl on the inside, so much hope.

One or my favorite verses this past year has been Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)

I love how The Message version reads. "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

I love this passage in Exodus about Joshua. There is an account of the battle between Amalek and Israel. At Moses command, Joshua leads the nation of Israel in battle. And while the battle is being fought, Moses, Aaron and Hur go off to pray to God. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up” one on one side, one on the other” so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. Exodus 17: 8-16.

What a beautiful picture that paints of two friends helping the other by holding up his arms, while he is to weary to do so himself. Dear sweet friends both near and far, that is what, you have done for me this year and I just can’t thank you enough. Every time I have brought a prayer need, you have been so faithful to lift us up.

I wish I could repay each and every one of you but all I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. The only way I can repay you, is to commit to you that I will guard my promise to pray for each of you. I will only say, I will pray for you when I am really committed. I will only say it when I mean it and will do it and will do it again and again- the way you have meant it and done it and done it again and again for me and my family.

I pray for 2012 to be a blessed year for all of you. I don’t make resolutions but my deepest desire is for there to be more of Him and less of me!!!

I love you all,

Lyndy