I always dread going into something new and unknown, like most people. But a new year which comes along every 365 days is not so dreaded. All of us are so excited to be stepping into a new year where you are starting off with a clean slate, have some resolutions you want to keep through the year and possibly lose or gain something 🙂 It is so exciting.
But when you look back at the year gone by, are you looking back with regret or with contentment? There is a beautiful song which talks about counting your blessings and naming them one by one. It didn’t hold any meaning for me when I sang it as a kid in the choir, but I realized that it held a really deeper significance when I was away from my family out here in the United States. Too often, I realize that I give more weight to the bad than the good in my life and I fail to give thanks or count my blessings at the end of the year. Â I want to move away from bad as soon as possible and always be in the good side. Unfortunately life doesn’t work that way, I’ll explain. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, God put us here on this earth for a reason and we are to praise Him everything.
I remember when I was saying my marriage vows with Jessica there was a line which stuck with me which said. ” in sickness and in health, for good or for worse.” If I’m allowed to ask a question, If we can praise God for the good, He has done in our life why can’t we praise Him for the bad as well? Wait a minute, you say I’m suggesting praising God for the bad too! Yes I am!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“
Ephesians 5:20 says
Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s take in these verses to heart and give thanks to the Lord for everything that He has done for us in the past year and let us not forget what He has done
Psalm 103:2
I will praise the Lord.
    I won’t forget anything he does for me.
As I look back into 2014, it has been amazing not just because everything was good. Far from it, it was because God was with us all through and we are so content. I’m so thankful for His love which is leading us everyday. As I look ahead to 2015, I’m excited about the arrival of our son, holding him in our arms, oh the list is endless! I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year and may this year be filled with so many blessings that when you count them you are reminded of His love for you on the cross so that you might have eternal life! God bless you all
-David
Life of Jessi and David 