That Time Of The Year

Praise the Lord! I missed all of you out in "Blog Land". I took a few days off to enjoy my mini-vacation and family. I hope that you enjoyed your holiday, spent some QT with your loved ones and got at least a little bit of rest and relaxation in all of the festivities. I don't know about you all but I need a vacation to recuperate from the vacation.

For many of us, the holiday season is a time to enjoy family and friends. For some of us, the only time of the year that we are able to see some of our loved ones is during the holiday season. But what happens when your holiday and family time doesn't go as smoothly as planned? What happens when you come to the realization that you don't have the "ideal" family? How do you keep "the peace" and your peace of mind if everyone doesn't get along as well as they should? What if you find yourself left holding the bag trying to be the peacemaker? Here's one more question for you: how do you handle such scenarios with the smile that everyone expects you to have?

Unfortunately, it is during the holiday season that we hear more stories about people falling into depressions, abusing substances, over eating and feeling an over all sense of emptiness. People experience these same problems all throughout the year but they seem to be magnified during the time of year when families are supposed to come together. It is during these times of the year that the lonely tend to feel lonelier. This saddens me because I can recall a time when the holiday season spelled out DRAMA for me. All thanks and praise be to God that I had peace this holiday season but my heart cannot help but to go out to so many others that experienced losses, sadness, and loneliness during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. So today, I've decided to dedicate this post to anyone that had a tough time this holiday season whether it be financially, spiritually or emotionally. Know that I am praying for. I love you and Jesus loves you more.

Some wise person once said that we don't get to choose our families. This is true. We don't get to chose who we are genetically related to but we do get to chose who we are spiritually connected with. You see, if you are missing your relatives, don't have many relatives or maybe not getting along so well with your relatives, remember that you are not alone. You have another family - a new family. Once you say yes to Jesus, you become the son or daughter of God. The bible says that we are grafted into the family of God. So regardless of what our DNA says - God says that you are His child. You future is not predicated by your past. If a man, woman, boy or girl be in Christ he or she is a NEW creature and ALL old things are passed away. You can change if you want. You can break the cycle. We do not have to accept generational curses. The buck stops here in Jesus' name!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Ephesians 1:3-6)

Lord, I thank and praise you for the many ways you have made for us. I thank you for getting us through yet another holiday season. Right now I ask that you touch the lonely, wounded, broken hearted and heavy laden. Comfort them in the name of Jesus. You called all the heavy laden and burdened to come to You because you promised that you would give them rest. I ask that you help us to all rest in you. We thank you for this new family you have provided for us. You said that when our father and mother forsake us that YOU would take us up. I ask that you mend every broken heart right now in the name of Jesus. Lord I ask that you have your way in our families and our lives. Send your peace to the north, south, east and west. I thank you in advance for healing, peace and prosperity in the name of Jesus. Give the weeping strength right now to hold out just a little while longer because you promised that Joy is coming in the morning. I bless you, thank you and praise You for I know that you are able to do above and beyond all I can ask for or think of.