Happy New Year! Fun-n-Grace-n-Rooted for 2014…
What’s your favorite memory from 2013? We have been blessed with several, but one particular evening brings a boatload of laughter for us.
My way-more-patient-than-I-deserve-husband recently had a thirty-fifth high school reunion. For you Louisvillians, John went to Ballard High School. For me, growing up in Lexington, and going to Henry Clay High School in the ’70’s (!!!), we were “taught” to rival Ballard akin to how The University of Kentucky rivals the University of Louisville. (GO CATS—couldn’t resist…)
Anywho, because John goes to events with me I know he doesn’t really want to attend, I figured I’d best be a good sport and go to this reunion where I’d know basically no one. To my surprise, I knew a couple of people and greeted them like long lost friends.
To my astonishment and high level of amusement, I realized that every single person I met and talked with had trouble hearing. Granted the room had lousy acoustics, but this “problem” became comical. We fifty-somethings were going to need to add “hearing aids” to our Christmas lists!!! Guessing no one was brave enough to do so.
The most recent Costco catalog arrived yesterday and I said to John, “Oh, looky! They have hearing aids on sale!!!” File thirteen it went…
Moving right along….another fun memory from 2013 includes reading some mountain-moving books. Books that made an impact on me, and, I pray will on you as well. I plan on sharing some tidbits of these with you over the next few weeks. We’ll have fun in 2014, soaking in some incredible grace, while learning how to be more grounded, or my new favorite word from our walk today, “rooted” in our faith.
Here’s a preview of coming attractions we’ll discuss:
The Power of a Whisper—Hearing God—Having the Guts to Respondby Bill Hybels
One Light Still Shines—My Life Beyond The Amish Schoolhouse Shootingby Marie Monville with Cindy Lambert
To Heaven and Back—A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels and Life Againby Mary C. Neal, M.D.
Balcony Peopleby Joyce Landorf Heatherley
Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents—Hope for Your Prodigal—Help for Youby Robert J. Morgan
In addition to talking about books, we’ll have some interviews of friends and authors who are well-rooted in their faith. We’ll also talk about interesting road trips and travels, sprinkling in some chocolate treats from time to time. One always needs incentives to keep one going, doesn’t one???!!!
Finally, for a new thought for the New Year, let’s hear from Billy Graham and Craig Groeschel. In a daily flip calendar by Billy Graham, Unto the Hills, he tells us, “How many times in your life have you wished you could start all over again with a clean slate, with a new life? Resolve to allow God to wipe your slate clean by confessing your sins and letting Him give you a brand new start.”
Billy adds a beautiful verse from Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Craig Groeschel puts it in layman’s terms: “For many, it is difficult to accept that the past has passed. Sometimes, it’s so hard to just leave it there, where it belongs.”
Oh, we’d best repeat that: “The past has passed.” We must “leave it there, where it belongs.”
So, let’s vow to start out this year anew. Don’t worry about resolutions. (I’m busted already and it’s January the second.) Let’s do strive to grow our faith, to develop strong roots together. We’ll have fun-n-grace, and will be rooted like redwoods.
My dear friend Liz Curtis Higgs will be blogging about “50 Favorite Proverbs” this year. (Click here to go to her blog as she’ll be asking you to send in your favorite proverb.) I’d like to cast my vote early and show you one of several verses we’ll be marinating in re: rooted. Look at Proverbs 12:3 from The Message: “You can’t find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.”
‘Til next time!