Happy New Year!

So this is it, everyone... the end of another year. And if there's one thing the Lord has worked overtime to teach me this year, it's to be completely dependent on Him. Not on me, not on others, not on circumstances... just Him. It's been a long, slow, sometimes painful process, and I'm certainly still learning. But it's been a journey worth taking.

A lot of us make New Year's resolutions - about anything from losing weight and quitting smoking to setting career goals - but I'm going in a different direction. If I could encourage you to do one thing this year, it would be to go before the Lord and just learn.

Learn about who He is and what He's done for us; what He wants to do for us every second of every day if we'd only back off and let Him. Learn about His words and His promises... and believe in them wholeheartedly.

It's a resolution you'll never regret.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Merry Christmas!

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests'" (Luke 2:10-14).

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:30-33).

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, an man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:1-3).

"...By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:11-12).

Wishing all of you a Christmas and New Year blessed by the power of His presence and the miracle of His unfailing love.