God is good. All the time.
Whether your year was difficult and full of trials…easy-going and full of simple wonderful-ness…or a likely mixture of both…I hope you are able to look back on 2008 and see all the many ways God has been good to you.
As I look back on 2008 for our family, here’s what I’m especially grateful for:
- We’ve reached a new season in our lives in which we are no longer in the diaper – baby – realm. We miss the baby stage quite a bit…but our four little-but-bigger boys are so, so sweet and this new season with them is such a joy. Thank you God for our four awesome sons.
- Along with this change of seasons…God has given us a “new ministry” in which we’ve been able to mentor and develop relationships with young married families with and without little ones. We are so excited about this and thankful that God can use us this way.
- We’ve prayed and dreamed and talked for hours about Matt’s career and God’s provision for our family. We feel as though we have found His answer for us through Matt’s new construction business (and a few other businesses we’re tinkering with like shaved ice and snow removal). It feels so good to have answers.
- This website has taken off and is SO much fun. I’m so grateful for this ministry/business/hobby/positive focus that has become HeavenlyHomeMakers.com.
- The blessing of this year which is perhaps the one that has impacted me the most is how God has patiently been working in my heart and has helped me to heal from some recent hurts. I’ve been able to forgive a couple of people that I’ve been working to forgive for the past year and a half. Holding on to hurt and anger is so, so painful and discouraging. God has helped me to let go and move beyond the anger. Finally. Reaching this point and knowing that my heart is going to be okay again is a refreshing relief. I know it’s still going to be a continual process…but reaching this point is such a joy. Blogging and becoming a part of this community with you has been a tremendous part of my healing. It has been wonderful to have something positive and new to focus on this year. Thank you for doing what you didn’t know you were doing for me…helping me to heal.
Thank you for letting me share with you.
All the time…God is good. His light is brighter than the darkest darkness. He is love and light…and I pray that in 2008 you have seen His love and light in all of your joys and sorrows.
Take some time to reflect on your year and and join us for this special edition of Gratituesday: How God Was Great in 2008. Or if you’d rather…simply write about a recent blessing. Link up with us here so that we can all read about God’s goodness on your blog. (Or leave a comment of thanks if you wish.)
God bless you all as we look toward a new year.
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What a truly remarkable year for you Laura. God was great!! I pray that 2009 is filled with faith, growth, patience, love and prosperity for your family.
Laura,
Forgiveness is so healing! I love Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” I repeat those words often.
Laura, today is mine and Steve’s 35th anniversary. My post is about how God lives and works through my husband. I would like to ask anyone who can to go and read it and MAKE A COMMENT of encouragement to him. I’m hoping to surprise him with the post and over 35 comments.
I’m so glad that your year was great! I know that God will continue to bless you through the next one!!
Oh, Laura,
I loved reading about your year! Isn’t God so faithful to allow us healing and forgiveness? :) (I am reminded of Corrie Ten Boom’s testimony, when she allowed God’s forgiveness to work through her.) Blessings on your new endeavors!
I’m announcing a miracle on my blog today. :)
Happy New Year!
Michele
Looks like it has been an awesome year for you & your family!! :)
My husband & I had a concession trailer about 12 years ago. We had a lot of fun with it!
Love your post Laura, esp about letting go of anger. I dealt with that years ago and it wrecked my life for many months. Can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2009.
Toni
Thank you so much, Laura, for hosting your gratituesday posts. They are very encouraging. God is so good and He’s always working, isn’t He! I apologize I didn’t link directly to my “gratituesday” post, I accidentally linked to my front page. This is my post http://4ugod.com/blog/?tag=grateful-2008 . This is the first time I’ve ever done this! (So much to learn!)
Praise God for how He worked in your lives this year. I’m dealing with depression issues that have showing through anger. God is good though!
It was very special, on this day before New Year’s Eve, for me to sit down and think about all the ways God has blessed me. This hasn’t particularly been a good year for me and yet I can see God’s beautiful handy work in it all. What an awesome God we serve!
You know, when we remember all the good/faithful/redeeming times, it really encourages us to have faith all the more when we feel that we’re in the dark. These times brighten our way, helping us find The Hand in the dark who will pull us into His light.
Blessings on you and yours this coming year, Laura!
WOW< you are such a great lady! I am still working on anger that is Decades old….
Here is to a great new year for your family! You deserve the best!
I’m so glad I found your blog. I posted my “How God was Great in 2008”. And boy was he ever good to me…
http://notabowinsight.blogspot.com
Laura:
What a great post. I too by God’s grace found the way to forgive a group of women who treated me badly. It took the whole year to get there but how good it feels to be done with it.
Roberta Anne