Happy 2017!!!

Happy New Year!!! 2017 is upon us. It’s such a blessing to see another day, yet alone the start of a brand new year! I’m excited about the journey & blessings on the way for 2017. God already has His plans mapped out for us; we just have to step into them!

I look back on 2016 & realize that it wasn’t a “bad” year, but a year of transition & growth for me. It’s a year that brought about change for me & my life’s journey. A part of me sees it as the stepping stone of what’s to come, but at the same time, another part of me sees it as the year that began to show me myself. It’s been some journey; however, both challenging & rewarding on the personal level. I know that 2016 was just the beginning of what God will continue in 2017!!

The foundations of 2016 have taught me that God is developing my faith & trust in Him, my ongoing personal growth, the ability to see myself & things through His eyes, & a stronger relationship with Him. I’ve found that these all come together due to a relationship with Him, based upon faith & trust. I’m not referring to the “drive-thru” relationship where we can quickly say a prayer & roll on through the day, but the relationship where depth is there—time & investment are made to get to know Him, talk with Him, listen to Him, & know that He’s our source for everything! There are so many blessings in our lives that only He can give & I don’t want to look back leaving any blessing or stone unturned. God wants great things for me & for you!

Every year I choose Anchor Verses to guide me throughout the year; they are verses that I focus on, pray about, & have as reminders to help me along the way. I believe these are God’s way of giving me that “gentle nudge” when my focus & thoughts can drift elsewhere. For 2017, these are the Anchor Verses that God has put on my heart to carry with me, walk in, & to further develop me as an individual, but more importantly, my relationship with Him:

“Pray without ceasing” -I Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” –Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
“5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

This year will be a great one & there’s so much in store. Let your light shine as we begin this journey today—let nothing or no one dim this light. God has already stepped out ahead of us, now it’s up to us to follow, grab His hand, & say, “Hello 2017! Here we come!”