Greetings!

As I opened my computer, and before I began to type, I prayed… “Lord, may this New Year be one in which a smile comes to your face, a twinkle to your eyes and a swelling warmth within your heart, whenever you look at me.”

I am not making any New Year resolutions; I have not done so in years. I am, however, asking God to enable me in very being, Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment, to draw upon the strength and courage that He provides, to live in the way He invited me to, many years – almost ten – ago, a version of which, in the last two months of 2023, He brought with renewed fervour, to my consciousness.

I will, therefore, Worship instead of Worry; I will exercise Faith and not Fear…the power of any adversary, real or imagined!

2023 has been a year of wrestling…with personal and vocational decisions. At every stage, even when I was not sure of how things would turn out, God demonstrated, at times in one fell swoop, and at others incrementally, just how precious I am to Him.

It is always easy for me to tell or remind someone of their beloved status, in God’s eyes; it is an entirely different matter to speak that truth to myself, let alone live within the parameters of its reality. Doubting my abilities, being fearful of the possibility of failure and hence questioning the authenticity of dreams and hopes, birthed deeply within me, have been constant companions as I have engaged the journey, which is my life. Oh, I am quite adept most times, at masking these failings, but now, as I approach a busy intersection of the journey, one in which the choice to move forward will require trusting God, more than any navigational skills I may have; cf. Proverbs 3:5 – 6, I know that embracing Worship over Worry and Faith over Fear, is not merely a choice, it is rather, resolving to trust the One whose leading, whose love and as such, whose protection, I can…I must count upon, going forward.

One of the great blessings of my life, has been the women I lovingly, thankfully, refer to as Sister-Friends. Recently, in sharing with one of them my dream, the decision[s] staring me in the face, and then the dilemma of my fear, in embracing them, she directed me to a story in Old Testament scripture. It is the story in Joshua chapter 3, of the crossing of the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant. Do yourself the favour of reading it, so that along with my interpretation, you may embrace that which is revealed to you, in relation to your own becoming.

The image that my Sister-Friend raised up for me, centres around verses fifteen and sixteen. When you read the chapter and those verses in particular, you will appreciate the visceral impact of her words when she said to me: “Gee, put your feet into the water, and watch God work.” You will understand, also, why I have chosen the quote, in the title of this blog, as the guiding principle of my life for this New Year.

I am well aware of not being the only one, within the circle of my family, friends, and blog-supporters, who will have difficult choices and decisions to make. The fact is, much will be required of us, in bringing to birth, long held dreams that we have placed on a back burner, the fire of which is waiting to be lit. I am aware, too, that like me [even now], numerous fears are hovering, threateningly close, and our proneness to wandering along worry-lane, can be felt, almost like a second skin. But we shall not give in!

Another Sister-Friend, now Resting in Peace, always sang a particular song, alluded to earlier, when she had decisions to make that threatened to overwhelm her. It has become a favorite of mine, which I sometimes offer as a prayer, affirming the presence and power of Emmanuel and hence, why I will not allow Fear to usurp the place of Faith, in my life. I commend the song to you; it may be found at the following YouTube link. https://youtu.be/Ya_DL-z9hAU

So, dear one, as you embark on the journey that is 2024, it gives me joy to wish for you good health, with wellness of body, mind, and spirit. May the grace and favour of God abide with you, in all the ways that will make your heart sing, as in His strength you place Worship over Worry and Faith over Fear.

Blessed love,

Grace+