Sunday, December 29, 2019

Turning Pages -- A New Chapter

Many of us are eagerly counting down the remainder of 2019 and hoping for better things in 2020.  There have been many losses, much stress, and sorrow and sickness in the lives of our families and friends.  Perhaps you too have been touched by tragedy, illness, or financial strain this past year.  I know I have.  But if we look hard enough we can find reasons to give thanks, can't we?

My husband lost his mom in June.  Although it was a sad time for our family, it was one of great joy for Janet.  She finally got her wish -- to leave a world she had grown weary of and join her Lord and loved ones in heaven, where she can see and hear and laugh again.

After five years of renting a modular home in what I call "the swamp," we moved into a darling brick home just off Main Street in the heart of Gloucester County. What a blessing and answer to prayer it is to have a home of our own, just in time for the holidays!  Now we truly feel we have settled in Virginia.  I don't see us moving back to Tennessee since we have grown to love it here, but that is ultimately God's decision.

After months of contemplation I decided to pull the old content from my devotional blog and to start fresh in 2020 with a "this and that" kind of blog since life has become sort of random.  The 2010 decade was one of learning and growing and gave me the opportunity to share many of the lessons I learned in the three devotional books I wrote, two of which are no longer in print.  (If interested, Click HERE for more information.)  People have asked me if I plan to write another book; it is my feeling that the season of my writing for publication has passed.  For now, I am content and busy with a job in full-time ministry and teaching a Sunday school class for young adults, and that's more than enough for me!

So here we are -- at the end of a year that passed much too quickly, and at the beginning of a year that I hope will be good for all those I love, and better for those who had such a difficult year in 2019.

Rather than make a New Year's resolution that I probably won't keep anyway, I plan to focus on one word this year and trust God to have His way in my life.  Truthfully, life is more of an adventure that way -- never a dull moment with Him in charge.  My word for 2020?  RESOLVE.

Rejoice in the Lord always. – Phil. 4:4; 1 Thes. 5:16
Exercise faith. – Heb. 11:6; Matt. 17:20
Serve the Lord and others gladly. – Ps. 100:2; Gal. 5:13
Obey God’s Word. – Deut. 29:9; Deut. 11:1; Deut. 30:16
Love others as God loves you. – John 13:34
Victory is yours – claim it!  -- 1 Cor. 15:57
Expect good things from God. – Jas. 1:17; Matt. 7:11

Happy New Year!








Copyright © 2019- 2020 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved. www.deedeewike.com

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