Happy New Year! I can't believe it is 2013, here we go! Last year at this time we didn't even have a court date and had no idea when we would get one. We are so thankful that Jonathan is home and that we can start this new year with all of our family together.
This year, along with the reading plan at She Reads Truth, I am also using this book, Everyday Prayers 365 days to a Gospel-centered Faith by Scotty Smith in my quiet times. Only three days in and I love it! And if you haven't heard of She Reads Truth...check it out. Women all over the country reading Truth together and praying for each other, it's awesome!
Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:14-15
In the gospel you lavish us with your love, liberate us by your grace, and launch us into your transforming story of redemption. What more could we possibly want or hope for, in life or in death?
Because the gospel is true, I don't respond to Joshua's bold charge with a list of New Year's resolutions-promises of what I'm going to do for you. Rather, I begin this year resolving to abandon myself to everything Jesus has done for us. Jesus is the promise keeper, not us. He's the one who has promised to make all things new, including me.
- Everyday Prayers
On New Year's Day I made this soup that I found on Jami Nato's blog. I am not a huge soup fan and I am definitely not big on tomato soup but this soup is DELICIOUS. It is also very healthy, so it is a win-win! The recipe says to use an immersion blender...I don't have one of those so our soup was more like tomato-vegetable soup than a true tomato soup but it was delicious! Also, do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to check out Jami's blog and read their story...the gospel lived out!
Ordinary isn't a destination at which you suddenly arrive. Ordinary is subtle. Sometimes ordinary is a product of intentional choices. But often ordinary occurs when a couple doesn't know what they don't know.
-Beyond Ordinary
As crazy as life can get, it is easy to hit the autopilot button in our marriage. God has such a bigger desire for our marriages. We have been reading the book Beyond Ordinary by Justin and Trisha Davis for the last couple of weeks and going through the questions at the end of each chapter. The Davis's have experienced first hand the result of settling for an ordinary marriage. Ordinary doesn't exactly sound like what God's plan for marriage is, does it? His plan is true intimacy and oneness, and ever since the Garden, there has been war against the oneness that God intended.
That is how spiritual warfare works. There is a battle for your marriage all day, every day. Most of the time we only notice it after we get stung. Marriage is physical and emotional, but more than anything else, marriage is spiritual. We have an enemy who seeks to steal our hearts, kill our hope, and destroy our marriages. Our struggle against this enemy is what we know as spiritual warfare.
-Beyond Ordinary
You can also check out Justin and Trisha's ministry blog here.
Need a calendar for 2013? TomKat studios has a cute free printable 2013 calendar here. She has a great website and lots of free printables.
I am thankful for another year and I pray that this year there is less of me and more of Him. Happy New Year!
Love
Tracy
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