The Proof of Desire is in the Pursuit

A New Season

I've just come back from my Christmas vacation. The one where I saved all my paid time off from the year and take almost three weeks to travel to Texas and be with my family. I love every minute of being with them and it is hard to come back every single time. Every hug goodbye is followed with a few tears and a promise to see each other again - and not take all year to do so.

I was given a special time this holiday season with my family. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. We had snow (a blizzard, in fact), baking, cooking, eating, playing games, watching movies, eating, shopping, presents, and more eating. Christmas day, of course, was a special time to treasure. Now that I am older I want to focus on the time I get to spend with my family members. 

Still, there are presents. My family loves to give! Those few moments when paper is being torn and left all over the floor are moments of fun and laughter. We love to give gifts in our family - especially those with precious meaning. In my opinion, my brother took home the prize for best gift given. He gave me a necklace that represents my hope for this year: a new season of life.

I received a sliver necklace with a round pendant and each of the four seasons represented inside it: spring, summer, fall, and winter. His gift came with a hand-written note that left me in tears. He was thoughtful with every word. He is someone who knows me very well: inside and out. He knows my character, struggles, gifts and abilities. He is someone who knows how to push and motivate me. He has known from our many discussions that this is a year for positive change in my life, and he wanted to show me his love and support. 

It seemed to be a theme I kept seeing throughout my vacation: a new season of life. I know that as I get a year older and experience life I have to face questions - some difficult and some simple. Still, my prayer and hope is that I not only embrace these questions, but pursue them with Christ as my foundation. With every part of me ready to head into a new season of life I want to be prayed-up with God's Word, filled-up with the Holy Spirit, and fed-up with the devil's tactics. 

This year comes with a promise to myself - a promise to refocus and take steps. I don't have to know the answer right away, but trust that He will speak to me and guide me as I take them. My dad had a saying I grew up hearing: the proof of desire is in the pursuit. I'm not sure if he made it up or if he heard it somewhere, but I did know that it made me think about what I'm passionate about. And whatever it is that I am passionate about - what am I going to do with it? Do I love it enough to pursue it? Do I want it enough to make change? 

Over this year my challenge to myself is to face the tough questions, the issues in life I've feared, and pursue it with all my heart. Why? Because I'm passionate about Jesus, and He wants me to use the gifts and talents He has given me to reach people and encourage them. That is what I am passionate about - pleasing the Father. I can't do this without first dealing with my problems. Of course I can't wait to perfect those things before I start to use them. I would be waiting forever. It is just beginning that is most important right now. And I'm ready. 

Nothing is too hard for Him. No problem is too big or too rough for Him to help you. You have gifts and talents He has given you. His desire is to see us use them for His glory. So I'll leave you with this:

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Let's begin,

Amy