Have you ever been hurt by someone? Not necessarily physically, but emotionally. Was the pain so great that you thought you’d never be able to forgive that person?

I’ve been there, more times than I care to admit. I let it consume me, almost defeat me.

Being on the other side of that now, I can look back and see there were times when I used a lot of energy trying to fix things on my own.

I wanted revenge. I wanted the other person to suffer because of my suffering.

This went on for years until one day I realized that the other person wasn’t my enemy.

I’m not dismissing what they did, but I’m acknowledging that Satan was using them to hurt me.

Today I regularly pray for those people. And the devil hates it.

The best defense against the evil in this world is knowing who the ultimate victor is. Jesus!

Don’t try to overcome evil with your own strategies. It never works. Trust me. I’ve tried.

It’s when you give it over to Jesus, tell Him your pain and trust that He will carry you through to the other side, is when you win.

Instead of trying to get revenge, let God be the avenger.

Instead of payback, try pray back. Pray for your enemies.

Romans 12:19 - “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.”

In 2017, my church was preparing to go to Peru on a mission trip.

I wondered if I could ever go on a mission trip. After all, I thought the people that sign up for these trips must be missionaries or some type of Bible teachers.

I don’t remember who asked me to join them, but once the idea got planted in me, I couldn’t let it go.

I went home, and in the stillness of the morning, I asked God if this was for me. Could I possibly do something like this?

A few month’s later, I signed up. I knew I had no skills or experience. I knew that God had always taken care of me in the past, so I had no reason to doubt that this situation would be any different.

Throughout the Bible, there are examples of this same scenario. People stepping out in faith, as difficult and scary as it may seem.

The bottom line is this. No matter what God plans for you and me, no matter where our journeys lead us, He will always provide us with the tools and skills needed.

I went on that mission trip, so scared and unqualified (in my mind) and something great happened.

God used me to touch the people of Peru. I found myself telling complete strangers my story, and how God changed my life.

God doesn’t call the equipped. God provides for the ordinary, willing person.

Joshua 1:9 - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Today’s world may seem unsettled and unpredictable, at best. The pandemic that has touched us all, appears to linger yet another day, another month, another year.

So, what do we do now? What can we do that will get us through this time?

Pray. Start with prayer each day. Even if you don’t know God personally, or have a relationship with Him. God hears your prayers, but you have to do your part.

God is closer to you than your next breath. He’s waiting on your move.

I admit, it is hard to understand some days. How do we talk to a God we barely know? You may know of God, but do you really know Him?

It says in Proverbs 18:14, “The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”

Did you know that God knows what you need, even before you ask for it?

God sees you right where you are. Try starting tomorrow with prayer. Tell God your desires, your problems and your dreams.

Whether you’re asking for guidance or giving thanks, God knows the desires of your heart long before you even think to ask.

Get to know God; start with prayer.

Hebrews 2:18 - “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those being tempted.”

Have you ever been hungry? I mean real hungry. Like you hadn’t ate real food in a few days?

Not many of us, if any, can answer that question with a yes. But yet, my heart breaks for the poor and those that are hungry today.

Did you know that Jesus Himself came from Heaven and became a human so that He could suffer the same things we go through. And through that suffering, He made a way out. A better life. A more fulfilling life.

Yes, Jesus was even tempted by the devil. So, there’s nothing that we’ve gone through physically or mentally that Jesus hasn’t gone through.

He knows your pain today.

Friends, I gave my life to Jesus over 40 years ago. He took me, this broken young girl and made her whole again.

There are millions of people around the world that are hungry, broken, desperate and angry.

Give it all to Jesus today. He can make you whole again.

God has brought me to this new day, this new year. I have a purpose. I may not know what tomorrow brings, but I do know this. I am loved by God, and His plans for me are good.

I am excited to be used by God; to be placed in positions and places where He can bless me, so that I can bless others.

I pray that not one day is wasted on menial tasks, or urgent to-do lists. I’m open and ready to see what 2021 has to offer.

God is love. God is merciful. God is forgiving. God is forever. My God never fails. I hope that He is your God also.

I’m praying for everyone to listen to God’s call on their life. Be open for what He has in store for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Have you ever just looked at your Christmas tree? All the different ornaments are unique. If you’re like me, they all have meaning. I have some I made when I was a little girl. Some from my mom’s tree. And adding to it yearly, I have many my grandkids have made.

Our lives are so full of reminders of the past. Some can be painful, but many come with hope and joy.

Jesus died over 2000 years ago, so that we could live. The cross is our reminder of the suffering and pain Jesus went through, but also the hope and joy to come to those who believe in this miracle.

Take inventory of the ornaments from your past.

Hold onto those precious memories, but make room for new ones to come.

Christmas comes but once a year, but Christ is here, forever, for those who accept Him.

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Some people strive for perfection. In their job, relationships. They think if they just do this or work harder in that area, it will be perfect.

The problem is not the efforts you put into something or someone, it’s the intention or purpose of the efforts.

The reality is, outside of God’s grace, we all fall short. Without God in your life, every relationship, every job, it’s a struggle to maintain, to be the best.

I’m not saying not to work on those relationships, or fulfill that life long dream/career. I am confident in saying that with God at your side and directing your steps, there will be nothing to stop you from reaching your goals in this life. God is right here. He’s waiting on you to accept Him into your life, your busy world.

None of us will reach perfection this side of eternity.

There is only one who is perfect. Jesus. He came to this world to die for you and me, so that one day, when God has had ‘enough,’ we (those who have accepted Jesus as their savior) can leave the world behind and be made perfect in eternity with Jesus.

Stop chasing the wind, and seek the One who created the heavens and earth. The only Perfect one, Christ!

1 John 4:12 - “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

My granddaughter told me something that reminded me that God is still at work in my life.

There have been times in my early years when I’ve felt alone, abandoned and even neglected. My first memory of these feelings was when my dad died suddenly, when I was only ten years old.

I didn’t understand it. I went to Sunday School. I learned about God. But, what I learned and what was happening just didn’t add up. My world had suddenly collapsed without reason.

Looking back I can see how God was working in my heart, even then. He saw me broken. He tried to reach me, but I walked away.

It took a few years after that terrible tragedy, but God never gave up on me.

Losing a loved one is a wound that leaves a deep scar in our lives. It’s hard to understand how a loving God could let that happen.

But, I have comfort today in knowing that God’s not finished what He started in me many decades ago.

After surrendering my life to Jesus at the age of sixteen, I’ve seldom wondered why things have turned out the way they have.

There’s a purpose in my life. A hope that never dies and a faith in my God Who is still at work in me today.

It’s been several years now that I’ve been praying for someone special, and the evidence is clear that God’s still working on their heart.

My God is faithful and never gives up on us. Stay faithful friends. He’s still at work in your life and mine.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”