Ending 2012 in Faith

Finishing up 2012 today with 

paperwork

filing

organizing

and reflecting about how I can improve and grow 

in

 2013

There's always a sense of starting fresh and doing a better job in the new year.

It's human nature to believe we will grow and improve

and become better with age and wisdom

If

 2013

brings personal challenges

(and you know it will)

I'd like to think I'm more prepared to handle them with a modicum of grace

less panic

less stress

less fear

more assurance

that in the end, all things will work out as they are meant to.

Sunday

in church service

my pastor spoke of the storm the disciples faced in their boat on the Sea of Galilee.

You know

the one that was raging

 while 

Jesus

was

 asleep

in the boat.

He spoke of storms that we're meant to ride out, 

because those trials test our faith

and bring us growth, endurance, maturity

and

greater faith

I've experienced

 many

 of the

 challenges 

life can throw at a person

and struggled through a fair number of trials

and

have come to believe 

that

God

is here

He's participating in it all

very close at hand

watching and guaging and coaching

and

hedging me about

and

providing and comforting

and

delivering

and

tenderly

discerning

what 

I

will

face

I'm thankful for the trials I have missed

due to His action of moving me out of the way.

Some folks have faced things much harder and more profound, 

and not because they deserve any tougher trials that I do.

I'm just

saying

I'm thankful

in

hindsight

for those 

He has allowed me to walk through

and

survive.

They grow us up

and

change us

and

sand off some 

rough edges

but

most importantly

they 

have taught me

that

nothing

is

uncontrolled

when we are relying on His grace and asking for 

His

guidance 

and 

direction.

My

 faith

 continues to grow

and

2013

will will be a year of growth