On this day last year, little did I know how much change I was going to undergo in 2021.  My friend Lisa had declared that this was going to be a year of faith and fire for me, but I had no idea what she meant until after I descended the mountain tops of Montana in mid April.

God has a sense of humor, of this I am sure.  I had been walking through a spiritual mountain top experience for the last four years.  These weren’t easy years mind you, but they were a time of God restoring what the worm had eaten, a season of abundant grace and thanksgiving.  

In April of 2021 as I climbed Mount Brown in crampons followed by snowshoes, I had no idea that God was allowing my physical eyes to experience the heights and depths that I had been walking on spiritually because I was about to descend the mountain.  And it was going to take everything I had learned and experienced to let go of the mountain top and live once again in the valley below.

My call to valley living came the very next day on our airplane ride home.  While my husband and I were joyously reliving the highlights of our long awaited honeymoon and 25th Anniversary trip, we were confronted with an unforgiving part of my past.  And boy, was this person unhappy to see me.  In fact, the plane was delayed by their displeasure.  My only prayer as I chose to continue walking in the freedom Christ purchased for me instead of allowing this person’s tantrum to make me believe that nothing had changed was this, God would you please work this out for my good and for your ultimate glory.

My past trying to lie to me about who I was, was only the beginning of the changes coming my way.  When I returned to work I was notified that I would be transferring to a new department.  I went from a position that functioned like clockwork to complete and utter chaos.  I have had to dig deep and keep my spiritual eyes glued to the eyes of Jesus Christ in order to get through each and every day.  I relearned to consistently cling to the peace that passes all understanding no matter what was coming my way.  I had a refresher course in choosing to pursue gratitude and trust in God’s ultimate plan no matter how hopeless it looked from my vantage point.  

On the home front we grew by one college aged adult and have begun a journey of learning to live together as a family unit with someone less (our service member) and someone new.  This has been quite an experience, one where I am daily learning my limits and how to walk in grace toward myself and others.  

As summer began to wane, I thought I had all of my ducks in a row and could pursue my writing passion once again, but God changed my course as He so often does.  He took the life experiences He had allowed me to walk through, the ones I shared in my book Learning to Love the Woman in the Mirror and used them in a way I didn’t see coming.  I found myself leading teen girls through a Bible study on Identity this fall and winter.  I also started seminary, pursuing a certificate in Biblical Counseling which I jut finished the week before Christmas.  

I don’t know where God is going to lead me tomorrow, if I will pursue a Biblical Counseling degree or pick back up my writing, but of one thing I am sure, like Paul I will press on toward the prize for which Christ has called me.  Choosing to lay everything else aside in order to pursue God’s plan for me.  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13b-14 (NLT). For I know that nothing in this life compares with the purpose I have found in God’s great love for me.  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow— not even the power of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below— indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

May your 2022 be a year filled to overflowing with the love and grace of God and may you find purpose in following His plan for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”