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To live is Christ and to die is gain. ~Philippians 1:21

 Hi friends! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season. Due to infections and other health problems I am behind on writing, and it is now almost February. I’ve written a little at a time and finally have it completed. Hopefully, I will be able to go back to my previous blogging schedule soon.

I’ve been in what I call a medical fog and it has been difficult to say the least. Even though it has been rough, God continues to sustain me. Thankfully, I was able to spend lots of quality time with family during the holidays. Due to my sickness, everyone came to our house so I could be a part of the festivities. Those times are the best, and I’m grateful for family and friends who took extra time to be with and encourage me. From decorating my room for Christmas, brunches in pajamas, singing my favorite Christmas Carols — I have been surrounded by loved ones continually which has kept me going on the hard days.

We are now well into January, and the days keep flying by. One of my new year hopes for this past year was for the Lord to provide healing and allow me to be out and about again. My other New Years hope from 2017 was to write more on my blog. While healing didn’t come in the way I expected, it is a miracle and part of God’s healing when I wake up each morning and able to live.another day.

In years past I have set goals for the year but for this one I am keeping it simple. Being chronically ill, and not knowing how things will be from one day to the next has allowed me to simplify life and declutter all of my plans. Therefore, my theme for thie year is to “just live.” Over the past couple years a lot of my earthly desires, hopes, dreams, friendships, etc have been stripped away but in turn the has provided His love, comfort, and strength. I understand what Corrie Ten Boom meant when she said,

”You don’t realize that God is all you need until God is all you have.”

Those are true words and they describe my current season of life perfectly. The stripping away proxess has been hard. It has not been easy losing life as I once knew it, but Jesus provides all I need to live well in the midst of my hard.

My utmost desire is to live well in the life God has left for me, and be completely obedient to Him in every circumstance. I have cried out to the Lord for Him to deliver me many times, but whether or not He answers me in the way I prefer, but even on the hardest days my goal should always be the same – to live with the peace and joy of Christ and praise Him in all things. The Lord is good and His goodness always prevails. In closing, here is one of my favorite Bible verses, and focusing on this truth helps me get through each day. Psalm 27:13-14 states,

“I would have despaired had I not seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

I look orward to seeing what God does in the year ahead, and  I am confident that no matter my situation, I am not without hope. Where there is life, there is hope, and that hope comes from Jesus. He will never fail me.

I pray my blog is a place for you to come and be encouraged in your walk with the Lord throughout the year. Thanks for your continued love, support and prayers.

I thank God for each of you (Philippians 1:3).