Today is the last day of 2011! I can't believe it is finally here! It has been an extremely long year for my family with many changes and challenges along the way but we made it with our love and family in tact. Only by the grace of God.

I have learned a lot this past year about myself, my family (immediate & extended), my relationship with God, and just people in general.

My Relationship with God:

I wasn't as strong as I originally thought I was in where God was taking me. I'll be honest I doubted at times that God really had it all under control. While I was praying to God, I wasn't conversing with Him, I wasn't being honest with God about where I was and what I really needed from Him. Luckily, God knew what he was doing and He has shown me that he ultimately knows just what I need and what my heart truly desires. After going to Women Of Faith and hearing some amazing women speak I realized I wasn't really listening for what God has for me. I began a prayer journal that has helped me greatly in really connecting with God again.  

I have promised to stay close to God and really work on my relationship with Him in order to know what He fully has in store for me.

Myself:

I don't trust easily and this includes trusting myself. I really don't know who "Jody" really is. If you ask me I can tell you that I am a wife, mother, and friend but beyond that I struggle with who I am. I allow myself to be defined by the previous three titles.  

I have promised myself I will find out who the "True Jody" really is and to begin to trust in myself and my choices.

My Family:

While they will always be my family, some relationships just are not healthy and need to be re-evaluated. That includes making some very tough decisions and lots of prayer. Not everyone truly has your best interest in mind when they make decisions, they are done selfishly when God is not involved. Every choice has a ripple effect. 

I have promised to pray more for my family and where they are with God.

People In General:

While there are some people I have encountered this past year who have been supportive, forgiving, and non-judgmental the majority have been the complete opposite. I have encountered people who would rather listen to what others have said about us and the falsehoods that were being spread than to come to me and find out the truth. It's hard to deal with people like this who are all around you and are nice to your face but the minute your turn your back and are gone they are spreading gossip. Not everyone has your back but that's ok because God will take care of it.

I have promised to be more forgiving of these people and pray for them. I don't want to become one of them.

 Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV)

² Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 

Looking forward to 2012 coming is exciting for me. I am ready to find out what God has in store for me and my family. To follow Him where He is calling my family and what ministry options He has waiting on the horizon. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

¹⁸ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. ¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 

My prayer for all of you is that you will hear God's calling on your life in 2012. That you will find happiness in Jesus Christ. Listen to what God has to say and follow the path laid out for you.

Trust

Trust. Seems like an easy thing to do, right?  It's easy to tell others to do but not always easy to do ourselves. 

Trusting is not something that comes easy for me.  Maybe because of the amount of hurt I have experienced or having to fix problems in my life on my own for so long or because I was never really shown how to trust. I remember seeing how to doubt and to look for ulterior motives.  I was shown how to look for the worst in those around me. 

Since meeting my husband 4 years ago I have been able to begin to over come my fear of trusting people.  He has been able to show me that it's ok to allow people in and to allow them to help.  Not everyone expects something in return.  There are still very few people I allow into my circle of trust: my husband and about five other people. Not many people at all. Even the closest of friends will let you down but God will always be there.

Joshua 23:8   8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.

I have found One who will never let me down!  This past year has been very trying for my husband and I. A lot of challenges and changes have gone on in our lives. It has been very scary and at times has almost broken us but in all of this I have a new found trust in Jesus Christ and the power He has in our lives.  It would have been so easy to crumble and break, to give way to Satan and just throw in the towel.  But through staying in the word and talking daily with God I have been able to hold fast to God.  I know that everything that has happened will all be for His glory.  My husband and I have grown much stronger together this past year and it is all thanks to trusting and standing firm in God.  

I know that there are great and wonderful adventures ahead for us and our ministry. God fought for me when I came to him, He continues to fight for me even today.

Exodus 14:13-14 

13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."