Doing A New Thing

Lake Bled, Slovenia.
 One of my most favorite places I have visited this year.
Great image of reflection.

Reflecting on the past year, there have been plenty of moments that were exciting, devastating, wonderful and painful. Isn't that like most years? For me personally, I have so much to be thankful for. I traveled to places I never knew I would see in person, I struggled with my iron saturation and thyroid, I had 4 major surgeries (3 of them in 30 days), I started a new business, I have one son driving (which shockingly increased my already stretched financial situation so much more than I had expected). I have hugged friends and family who have lost husbands and children. I have seen God come through in miraculous ways financially for my family and so much more. So you see, so much to be thankful for.

Going into 2018 I am expecting major breakthroughs in my life personally and for my family as well. Two verses that the Lord has placed on my heart for this coming year. But before I share those, I do feel like I experienced Isaiah 43:1-3 "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God , the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" I think that sums up 2017.

For 2018, I find the Lord whispering to my heart some verses later in that same chapter of Isaiah. Verse 19: "See I am doing a new thing? Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, streams in the wasteland." This is the Engel's year of Breakthrough - breakthrough in our finances, breakthrough in our health, our home, our family dreams and desires and our faith! I'm so excited! So Breakthrough - that's the main word for me in 2018. The other is Restoration.

This is a bracelet I was given by a friend for Christmas.
It's called the Restoration Bracelet from Trades of Hope.

Deuteronomy 30:3 says "God, your God will restore everything you lost, He'll have compassion on you, He'll come back and pick up all the pieces from all the places where you were scattered." I do believe what the enemy has tried to steal or has stolen, we will get back double fold. Both relationships and finances specifically but not limited to just those two of course. So I start my year off with great expectation. Some may say, why would you have expectations...they may be dashed, you may be disappointed. NO, not true. I go back to faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen. You can't have faith without some expectation. (Expectation is defined as "a strong belief that something will happen...in the future.") Besides that, I'm expecting the Lord to work on my behalf. I'm just believing Him at His own word. He has NEVER EVER let me down! Sure, things didn't turn out exactly as I had thought - but I always know He has my best interest at heart. He loves me. I'm undeserving, but He loves me.

He loves you. You are undeserving, but He loves you. There is not one thing you could do to make Him love you more...or less. You do not have to work at being good or perfect. You don't have to check off some this of things that you do for Him to love you more. Just believe Him. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that "without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone that comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

So let's just seek Him this new year. I just want to be in the center of His will. No placed I would rather be!! Have a blessed New Year friends!