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Our Hope in the New Year, by Lori Dunham

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As we begin a new year, we've asked a few Crossing folks to share what God is doing in their lives.  This post is from Lori Dunham.  Lori is a wife and mom of three fantastic kids.  Her husband is in the military.  They have lived all over the world.  You can read more from Lori at standingwiththemilitaryfamily.com .

Our Christmas tree sits slumped at the curb. Branches broken, needles huddled in piles beneath. Rain soaked. A mere shadow of the grand branches and fresh pine scent that so beautifully filled our home throughout the past month. Used up and thrown out.

And I wonder how many of us feel used up and washed out at the start of this New Year? The race of 2014 has just begun, and already we are wasting away at the sidelines. So many good intentions and new beginnings. And yet, some of us fall in to the New Year with nothing really new at all.

After all, my sweet friend who was going through chemo at the end of 2013, continues to pump that poison in to her body at the start of the New Year.

That neighbor’s husband has not yet come home, and the widow down the street is still alone.

And that one sin still tastes good, and draws us down that path we really don’t want to go down.

What hope does the New Year bring?

Let me assure you. There is a Hope that follows us in to the dark alleys of our mind, and down the roads we should not be traveling. It is a Hope that relentlessly pursues us. It is a Hope found under the wings of Almighty God and in the arms of Jesus Christ.

If we are to make one change this New Year, let it be to seek out a deeper relationship with the One who holds this Hope out to us with open, pierced hands.

For with each passing year, some things do stay the same…people continue to disappoint us, our bodies fail us, and our plans get derailed. But if we turn to the One who holds all things in His hands, He is able to mend that which is broken, heal that which is sick, and make desire for Him our daily drug. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lam 3:22-24

And because you asked……How do we make this turn toward the One true Hope?

  • Pray... talk to the Lord out loud, in private, in the car, with your children, on the treadmill….pray….for no relationship can really grow without attention poured upon it.
  • Read... the Word of God. Even Jesus Christ Himself used the Scriptures as a weapon against Satan when He was being tempted in the Desert. (Matthew 4: 1-11) If you aren’t memorizing and reading Scripture, what IS your weapon in battle? “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding than memorizing Scripture…no other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends.” Chuck Swindoll.
  • Connect... to a Church body. Take a chance and step in to that Worship Service and make eye contact with the person sitting next to you. Join a small group or bible study and make this the year “made for relationship”!!! With Him and others!!!!