Fulfilling God's Dream in 2013!

2013 IS HERE!!!  I must say that as each day presents new challenges!  It is so easy to fall into the temptation of going, going, and going, and never pausing to reflect on what brought us to this point in our lives.  Resisting the "rat race" of life long enough to be refreshed and renewed in His presence...is a discipline of time and focus.  However, as I woke up this morning in the quietness of the house, I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to simply pull away and reflect on all God has done over the past year- personally and over the past year with my husband and the church that God graced my husband and I to be instrumental part of.
 
Yes, it is already another new year to accomplish many new goals, update and expand our personal mission statements, and even meet new people.  Another year of seasons, anniversaries and birthdays await us.  I am sure that there will be greater memories, successes, and even some failures along the way in 2013.  But before I look forward, I purpose in my heart to learn from 2012.  For God has seen us through many 1^st time experiences and even the some of the same but greater; yet, for me, 2013 is the year to fulfill His Dream!

Take a look:

    January held a ‘first’ for me initiating a Girl Scouts Troop that more than tripled in size since a year ago in January exposing girls to positive mentoring opportunities such as the Daddy Daughter Dance, World Thinking Day, Overnight Camp with Horseback Riding, Letter-boxing, Canoeing and fire building skills, while earning numerous merit and fun patches.

    February was a month that provided for (14) close couples in our church Become who co-labor with us to attend a Marriage Getaway to grow healthier marriages through our partnership with Family Life,.

    April was a month of successful 3^rd and 4^th time accomplishments –hosting a Community wide Easter celebration that touched many people in the community and in the fall hosting a Harvest Festival that fed and provided fun centers for yet even more – each reaching approximately 200 people in the community.

    In June, our 4th Annual Summer Leadership Enrichment Program continued to reach youth over an intense 2 week period to build them in Christ-like character, while sharpening them in disciplines of Math, Reading, Sciences and Technology.

    In July, a charter troop was birthed for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts that enlisted the likes of about 20 young boys and teens that participated in community service events such as a back-pack drive to needy families in the community, along with marching in a local parade, a Braves Game, and an adventurous outing to White Water.

    In August, yet another ‘first’, a joint effort with other churches in the area that produced a Back-to-School Event that served over 350 children and families.

    In October and November, were great outreach months that served many homeless families in partnership with Must Ministries of which we fed over several hundred meals and clothed countless others in the community.

   Also in November another ‘first’ for me along with several other women who serve and lead alongside me so faithfully in Girl Scouts, was hosting a community-wide Mother/Daughter Tea that reached over 80 ladies and girls from grandmothers to daughters while also collecting canned good donations for the homeless.

   

    My husband having the opportunity to sow back into a partner church, Westridge Church in Dallas, Georgia where he spoke on the power of discipleship at a church-planting school where he previously graduated. I had fun helping him prepare as we both reflected on the bumps, lessons, joys, and hard knocks experienced while church planting and being able to be on the giving end of helping other church-planters. It also was eye-opening to reflect on the sacrifice of raising up other believers to be fully committed in serving the vision of a ministries that God has birthed through them.

    And just this week, December 31^st, I was fortunate enough with about 30-40 other families to pray in the New Year-  praying ‘there’ before we go ‘there’!

    Yes, December even held another ‘first’ - a 5-part Christmas Play where 30 plus kids participated, and even inspired other youth and adults to also get baptized.  All in all, God is and has been GOOD! And is deserving of ALL the praise beyond any personal stake....

Just personally speaking, I am amazed at how God has provoked me to return to a love of writing even blogging to have another ‘stage’ on which God’s personal truths can be shared. 

Another personal testimony is how I recently overcame surgery after two years of prayerfully consideration, to recovering and healing in record time - often feeling like I didn’t miss a beat in the ministry. God is truly GOOD!

I would go amiss if I did not mention how I am witnessing each of my children, grow, and blossom not just into manhood or womanhood, but become young men and women of God.  Each are learning what it means to see, hear, and understand how God is answering their prayers at another level, whether through something as simple as seeing God meet them in their academics; or realizing that God is just as concerned about their physical well being providing them provision to participate in extracurricular activities such as soccer, basketball or tennis.

In all these things, I am so grateful. I purpose in my heart that 2013 will be even greater. This year I will take more time to be a reflection of God’s purposes, and to be a reflection of his compassion to others as He has extended toward me. 

Yes, I desire that I represent the fulfillment of His dream in 2013.  It is critical that I do this. It is critical that you do this. It is critical that we BECOME! In so many ways, God has been, and will always be faithful to see us through His will when we obey His Word in the following areas. One, we must move beyond wanting to be seen. John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Two, we must stay close and clean. Psalms 34:18 states, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”  

Three, we must always on His word lean!  Proverbs 3:3-6, states, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

So my question to you is: What has He (God) done for you or better yet through you this past year? Whether you recognize it or not, just the fact that YOU ARE STILL HERE is a major testimony in the wake of so many others who are not fortunate to welcome in the New Year. Let’s count our blessings on today. Let’s name them one by one, and through this move forward on what Jesus has done!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) states, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."   

Philippians 3:14-15 (KJV) also states, “ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

 
(P)raising, pressing, pursuing, praying (U)ntil (S)omething, (H)appens!

PUSH toward the purposes and destiny God has for you no matter what you may feel. PUSH in faith for He is yet faithful!

Fulfilling God’s Dream in 2013!