We made a decision in December of last year to move back to Oklahoma to be near my aging parents who had been struggling with dementia and Alzheimer’s.  (You can read more about that in SANDWICHED IN.)  However, due to my parents’ rapid decline, we subsequently moved my parents to be near my brother in Denver.   We decided to keep our plans to return to Oklahoma and begin to build a new life.  The path continued to change along the way and it didn’t look quite like we had thought it would.  We have celebrated and trusted that God was still on the throne and that none of this was taking God by surprise.   It, however, was taking us a bit by surprise.  Mom passed way in June, and as my husband so appropriately put it on his blog, Just Flip the Dog, she was  escorted to heaven by a legion of angels.  I was in Georgia at the time, preparing for the move on June 16th. That story is for another day.

My birthday is about one month away and as I spoke to a dear friend  recently she said,” I bet you can’t wait until your birthday.  It has to be a good year considering how hard this one has been.”  I had to agree with her.  It has to be better.  Change and growth are never easy but that is just a part of life and as my Father say “Struggles make us stronger”.  God has been faithful to me and to my family and He has made stronger.   I have learned so much about myself, my family and my friends through this experience.  I have learned much about God’s faithfulness,  His compassion and His sovereignty.

When I am overwhelmed by the events of this last year and the loss of my mom, I think about one of her favorite songs, Put on the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness. Mom loved this CD intitled Revival in Belfast.

The song is based on the scripture Isaiah 61: 3. I read that scripture yesterday and was reminded as I read, that Isaiah 61 is called The Year of the Lord’s Favor. How appropriate for a woman who needs a new year and how appropriate for each of us. If you to need a new fresh start this is a must read!  I want to share a few of my favorite verses with you but I hope you will want to take a moment to read this great passage in its entirety.  I promise it will be a blessing to you as it was to me.

Isaiah 61:2-3 To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.     Verse 3: And provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.  The oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of splendor.  Verse 7 :   Instead of their shame, my people will receive a double portion. Verse 10: I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of Salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.

My prayer for you today, dear friend, is that God will give you what you need this week and this year will present the opportunity to fulfill the call that the Lord has on your life.  I pray he will give you the strength to serve those around you.  My experience has been that if we don’t have it to give, we can’t give it.  No matter if that is love or even just a kind word.    So I pray God will fill you up with an abundance of compassion, grace,  and mercy.   I pray you will truly experience the Year of the Lords Favor!