One Month Ago

Image via WikipediaThe date was December 21, 2010. It sticks in my mind for a number of reasons. Minor reason first, I love numbers, and dates with the same numbers in the same order are fabulous; and dates with reciprocals are even more cool, so 12/21/2010 is a beautiful day. But the real reason that I recall the day is that 37 years earlier on this date, I gave my heart to Christ.

I have never been one to have big celebrations on my birthday; and have quite frankly been known to completely disappear if a party was thrown in my honor. I do not like a fuss to be made of me, while at the same time, I am known for throwing the biggest parties for those around me. In the past, I have quietly recognized the day of my spiritual birth; but as with my physical birth, I have not made a big deal about it. This year, Abba Father decided that we would celebrate. The celebrations started early in the morning. As I started my quiet time that morning, I was reading in II Peter 3:9. The version caught my attention in a way it never had. "For the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness, but He is faithful." At that moment, it was almost as if I could hear His voice telling me that before this time next year, He would fulfill all of His promises to me.

At first, I just kept going on to the next thought. But He stopped me, assuring me that it was His voice and His promise. He began to bring to mind promises that He had made throughout my lifetime, individually committing to fulfilling each of them over the next year. It seemed a bit surreal, but as I have learned to recognize His voice more and more over the past few months, I knew that it was indeed His desire.

But I also know that I am as much of a Thomas as a Peter. While there are times that I will jump out of the boat, there are more times that I tend to doubt and want to see proof. Yes, my faith has grown, but it is still weak.

My precious Abba chose to start reminding me that His Word does not return void. As He reminded me of promise after promise, I told Him that it was not possible to fulfill the dreams that He revealed. He gently reminded me that He was the God of the impossible. I chuckled a little and thought that it really was not possible, but it would be fun watching Him try. Looking back, I am certainly grateful that He knows me and loves me, because it definitely was not my best response. He reiterated again that He was going to fulfill all of the promises that He had made. When I started to question Him again, I could just hear Him laugh and tell me "Girl, sit back and watch me work!"

He brought to my mind the promise in the spring of 1998 that He would bring my sons from the west and my daughters from the east. This is a promise that Greg and I have somewhat joked about for many years. Especially after we had three boys while we were living in the west. When we moved to the East Coast, we thought that perhaps this was what He had in mind. But once again, His plans were much greater. He began to reveal to me that He would indeed bring my daughters from the east, the Far East, and specifically China; the one country that I said I would never adopt from, especially a daughter, because the wait was too long. (I will be sharing more about this experience on our family blog at Odyssey of a Lifetime. Please stop over there and take a look at the blessings that God is opening up.)

Then He reminded me of our desire for financial independence. He reminded me of His command to "Owe no man any thing." It is a reminder that He has given both of us almost daily for many months now, and He has begun to open the doors to provide all that we need financially so that we have no consumer debt, including guiding us to resources to learn how to properly manage our finances and make wise decisions about what we have been entrusted with.

Each day, for an entire month straight, He reminded me of yet another promise and began to show me how He was opening the doors to provide it.

I am so excited to go into this Year of Promise. It has been so long in coming, but as I watch each day unfold and see more of His blessings pour out, I find myself becoming overwhelmed by His goodness and love, by His faithfulness and mercy. I am humbled to see that He loves me enough to speak to me daily, and honor me with promises of fulfillment and peace. Finally I cried out to Him that it was too much, I could not handle any more blessings. And then my sweet Jesus reminded me of His promise that "I will pour out my blessings upon you so great that you will not be able to handle it." Joy poured over my soul as I felt His promise fulfilled, and then He went on to remind me of more promises.