"Counting as the Year Ends"

[lovie dovie]

As we bid goodbye to year 2011, have we stopped for awhile to count? This is not merely pertaining to bank account or assets that we gathered this year. It is counting the very thing that matters most...the things which are most probably not seen. Have we started counting the many things we are bless by God, count the times God never forsakes us, count the times God sends us opportunity, count the times God sends us people to bless us, count the times God turns our mourning into dancing, count the times when God comforted us when we have nothing but only Him?

2011 may not be the best year for us. Some  can say this could be the worst year they have been through in their life. Some have been probably laid off from a job, some had bad news about their health diagnosis, some have gone through divorces and separations.  But whatever one may have gone through, I can say that, through our valley experiences in our life, we learn a lot and we grow more. I can personally attest that, through the pain I went through, I have learned to know God more, deeper than anyone could share with me or tell me about the awesomeness of God. It is also through this valley in my life that I got to know Him intimately and personally, seeing God eye to eye in the midst of the storm; and it is in this year that I felt that I gained more spiritual muscles of faith.

Looking back and counting the tears that I have shed this 2011, I was able to understand the purpose for which this happened...so that in my weakness I can find strength in the Lord. The irritants in my life produce in me a pearl of great value of faith and intimacy with God. So with this I can say that I can rejoice in suffering!! Thanks be to God for this.

So let us welcome our year 2012 with gladness---that whatever we have been through in the past years, this made us to become a better person.The love God has for us will never fail us.There is always hope for us...for our economy...for the world to become a better place to live with... (Romans 5:5---"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.")
Wishing you that you will see yourself the way God sees and appreciates you. And love yourself the way God loves you. May you abound in everything, not lacking in anything.

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:" (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Numbers 6:24-26
"'"'The LORD bless you
         and keep you;
    the LORD make his face shine upon you
      and be gracious to you;
    the LORD turn his face toward you
       and give you peace.'"'"

Amen!!! to God be the Glory...

Happy New Year!!!