Well, my friends! I decided to pause blogging for a brief moment but life has continued on. 🙌🏻😅 Thanksgiving was thoroughly enjoyed, the sparkly month of December was filled to the brim with festivities, and here we are… 2025! 🎊 We have rung in a new year and, with eager expectation, we are all wondering what the Lord God may have in store for the days ahead. 🙏🏼 As I opened my bible this morning on the second day of 2025, my eyes fell on Hebrews 6:18-20. The command to LAY HOLD of the hope set before us jumped off the page and penetrated my heart! It reads:
“That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:18-20
I will honestly say 2024 was the most challenging year of my life. But I can also say it was the richest and fullest! Through the deepest sorrows and most painful trials, I came to more fully understand the sustaining power of my merciful Savior. I stand here today echoing the Psalmist as he proclaimed, “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”(Ps 54:5).♥️ And, with a quiet confidence in our Lord(Proverbs 3:25-26), I can say I the trying of my faith in 2024 has proved(once again) the faithfulness of my God. He is my Helper! 🙏🏼 So here I am. I am looking into a new year with no idea what it may hold, but the words swirling through my mind are “This HOPE we have”! This hope we have is Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the ONE who “has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows… And by His stripes we are healed.”(Isaiah 53). If we have this hope, we can have confidence that 2025 will be a year of goodness and mercy(Ps 23:6)! We can have confidence that we will be satisfied with good things(Ps 145:16, Ps 84:11). We can have confidence that The Lord God will accomplish His good purpose in us(Phil 2:13) in 2025 and beyond. I am reminded of Psalm 71, which says, “YOU are my hope, O Lord God”. This HOPE we have is both SURE and STEADFAST! It is a living Hope(1 Peter 1:3). It is the anchor for our soul even in the most tempestuous storms of life! Let’s eagerly lay hold of the HOPE set before us as we face the new year unafraid. Come what may, I pray that “the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!! 🙋🏼♀️
“Look not mournfully into the past, it comes not back again. Wisely improve the present, it is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear and with a manly heart.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
QUESTION:
What is one of your top highlights/blessings from 2024?
What verse(s) would you say were your theme verses for 2024?
How about random photos from the past few months? Once again, I will let the photos speak for themselves. The past few months have been abundantly blessed by The Lord and I am thankful!
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:6-9
My dear friend and sister in the Lord, thank you for sharing your heart, verses, and bits and pieces of your life throughout the past year. It was so fun to look at your photos!
I don’t have even one photo to share because I’m not a camera-minded person, but I will share something that I wrote to a young friend: Even uprooted, sunflowers turn to the light. And God’s children, though we may be uprooted from comfort, friends, family, joys of life, and health, we still turn to the Light in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Perhaps at times we strain in darkness, but He is always there, even behind the storm clouds. Because without an occasional storm, all life would die. It is the rain that causes growth!
The Lord bless you and your family in the coming year!
Thank you so much for that beautiful reminder, Sheri!!! Such a blessing to me.♥️♥️♥️
Happy New Year Rachel!
I love all the scriptures you shared … so encouraging. 🤗 Amen, God is the only true hope we have!
A few of my highlights from 2024 were getting to visit with our grandparents (twice! 😊), going on a family vacation, and attending a wedding for the first time!
A verse that has been very meaningful to me recently is Psalm 107:8-9 …
“Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
I enjoyed seeing all the photos! Looks like a bunch of special memories …
Hope you and your family have a wonderful 2025! 🌹
I’m so thankful it was encouraging to you!!! 😊♥️ Praise the Lord!!
Oh!! Weddings are fun to attend. 😍 So glad you got to do that this past year!!!
Psalm 107 is a favorite for me. The entire psalm is packed full of goodness!! 💫🥰
So blessed by your comment. THANK YOU!!
Hi Rachel!
Those are all lovely photos, I especially love the animal ones! Goats are always so funny, and the little pony is so cute!
I love the verses, and the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quote is so good!
Some of my top highlights from 2024 were visiting cousins both on my mom’s side and dad’s side this year, as well as a family trip to see the solar eclipse!
This has been my favorite verse for the year:
Isaiah 40:11
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
I pray you and your family have a wonderful new year!
Happy New Year to you, Anna!! 💫🥰 I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. And the verses and quote!! Your favorite verse of the year is one I love too. Shows the tender care of our Lord!! ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for making my day with your comment!!!😍
Thank you for sharing those verses about the hope we have in Christ! It was a much needed reminder today. My top blessing from 2024 was completing a whole year of living with my grandparents and caring for them. Even though it has had its challenges, it has been such a sweet phase of life that I will always remember, and I know I will wish someday that I had it back. ❤️ My theme verse(s) for 2024 was definitely Lamentations 3:19-24: “Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”
Enjoyed seeing your random life photos! 😊
“this I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope…” 🥰 Such a beautiful portion of Scripture!! Aw, way to go completing that full year. You are an inspiration and blessing! I know that is not easy but I also know it is rewarding and a hug blessing to care grandparents. May the Lord richly bless you for this! 🙏🏼
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Amanda! ♥️