I hope everyone enjoys themselves over the holiday.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
I know that many of you are really hurting right now. Many others are facing a lot of uncertainty about your futures.
We have all mostly come to expect that Christmas would be a wonderful day full of lots of happy faces and family, lots of presents, tons of food and generally no worries.
I can only really remember a handful of Christmas' that I could describe that way. MOST in my life have been unhappy days, with a little unexpected "count your blessings" thrown in.
This year for me, is a year of new beginnings. This Christmas I am looking forward to seeing both my boys, my folks and many extended relatives.
My husband and I are doing fantastic (thanks to God!), even better than we did LAST year, so truly this will be a happy Christmas for me.
I wanted to encourage any one that is NOT planning on having that kind of a day this year because they are either separated from spouses or children, physically sick, or depressed, or financially strapped and under other types of pressures.
This is ONLY a day. It too will pass. Try to remember that God is a God of first of all -restoration. A God of hope. A God of new beginnings and second and third and fourth chances -- mostly a God that is ABLE to do "exceedingly, abundantly beyond what WE could ask or think".
What I am saying is that I have faced some very dreary and hopeless feeling Christmas', not all that long ago and I am here to tell you that it was only a season.
Many of you are in your darkest hour but I want to tell you that it WILL pass. Things God has prepared for you will soon over shadow all the pain and sorrow you are now feeling. If you ONLY knew what God has for you, you would be able to soar through this time.
Let God comfort you. Even if you are all alone (HPK and dog) let God be your strength. It may seem hopeless right now, but the sun will peek through the clouds and spring will come again to your life! Don't give up and don't let the minor setbacks of life defeat you.
Get ready!! A year of blessing is coming. You are being prepared as such an hour as this.
It might seem that you are alone, but you are NEVER alone. God is there and has been along. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you. Never.
You can take that all the way to eternity!
Blessings all..... cya in the new year!!
PS We have to plan our New Year's BASH - - if you think the Christmas party was a "blast" wait till the NY's one!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />
DZZZ
<small>[ December 23, 2003, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: Diamonzzz ]</small>
