Happy New Year ~ 2024

For that which has come to pass, for all that is ahead, I give You glory and praise.

Attribution unknown

Good morning from the farm on this chilly, beautiful winter day! The first Tuesday of the new year, my last day of vacation and a quiet, unstructured day to enjoy a few moments of stillness before our busy work schedules pull us in so many different directions. 

Back in March of 2023, I started a new journal on my 54th birthday, writing, “For that which has come to pass, for all that is ahead, I give You glory and praise.“ What I can’t remember is where the quote originated. I received the journal from Paul Faris (@PaulaFaris) and @CarryMedia as part of a book launch team. (Which was such a fun thing to be a part of, by the way.) I think that maybe the quote came from her or maybe from her podcast. So Paula, if you said it, thank you! Anyway, I digress.  Back to the quote…the perfect words for the start of a new year! 2023 was difficult for our family, yet full of God’s rich blessings. Looking back, I can see His hand in the highs and lows and I am so thankful for my faith and God’s word to help navigate the ebb and flow of life! 

As 2024 begins, I wonder. What challenges will we face? What will be celebrated as a family, as husband and wife, personally? What will unfold at work? How will we steard the farm this year? How much time will I have in my garden? Will I get the piano I have been looking for? Will I finally make time to sew? So many wonderings. So many needs. As I type this, I am reminded of the my fervent prayers for some I hold most dear who are facing health concerns and battles with cancer. Yet God… 

Matthew 6:34 reminds us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. I love these words, which are a reminder to me to embrace each day to the fullest and not allow worry to creep in. The older I get, the more I realize just how precious each day really is. What a gift it is to wake up and have another opportunity to see the sunrise across the field. So, with that in mind, even though I am not big on resolutions, I do hope that I can be more intentional with my time, my words and my actions as this new year begins. Our culture and the world bombard us with so much noise. The things that our culture boasts as important are so often just hollow pursuits. I pray that in 2024, that others see Christ in me and that I consume less of the the things of the world and stay rooted in what matters most, which is God’s word and his perfect plan for each of us. 

May we treasure what was and give glory and praise for what is yet to come. Happy New Year!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6