A new year brings with it the opportunity to reflect on the year past
and to anticipate the upcoming new year.
It brings both relief and eagerness, sadness and fear-based hesitation.

The journey through 2009 is one that God wants to take with you.
And, with Him by your side, you can embark on your travel with confidence,
knowing that He already sees all that is ahead.

His provisions for the journey have been thoughtfully packed.
Since He sees this next year as part of the panoramic whole,
and yet is also detail-oriented,
He has forgotten nothing that you will need.

Let's see...I'm praying you will find these things a part of your journey this year:
Adventure ~ roads you've not traveled before,
Beauty ~ nature has a way of recreating lovely pictures,
a growing Confidence ~ in God and His ways,
Discoveries of God's faithfulness ~ tailor-made for you situation
(though you may not always see how it is being delivered in the present),
Encouragement ~ during the inevitable times of discouragement and struggle,
Freedom from the chains of sin ~ there for the claiming,
Grace ~ provided for all that you encounter,
His Helping hand ~ within reach at all times,
Interruptions ~ that God can use to show you how to stay focused on His agenda,
Joy ~ a deep-seated awareness that the All-Sufficient One is by your side,
Knowledge ~ He teaches a receptive student in many ways,
Light ~ enough for each day's travel,
Manna ~ unique and unanticipated ways of His provision,
Nothing ~ that will catch Him off-guard,
Opportunities to influence those in your world ~ in positive or negative ways,
His Presence ~ 24/7,
Quality time ~ with the Master of the universe and those you love,
Rest for weariness ~ provided both daily and weekly, with sleep and Sabbath,
Strength ~ increased as you stay yoked with Jesus,
Truth ~ learned from the One who is Truth,
greater Understanding ~ of God, self and others,
a Variety of emotions to be experienced ~ they add dimension to life,
Walking companions ~ family, friends, and neighbors,
eXercise ~ for the body, mind, and spirit,
Your responsibilities ~ to keep you involved with others,
Zig-zags ~ the best route is not always the shortest one
so stay close to the One sees the goalpost and can provide direction!

Live fully throughout the new year!

Twila Charles Leichty
January 1, 2009

It is the beginning of another year of marriage for you.
In this new year, I pray that you will be
abiding in God's presence and attentive to His direction,
blessed in ways that you've not anticipated,
confident of and in His love,
discovering evidences of His faithfulness daily,
energized by time with Him,
forgiving of those who wrong you (purposely or unintentionally),
gracious in your dealings with those in your life space
(growing in the fruit of the Spirit),
having the heart of the One you serve,
immersing yourselves in His mission (at home and in the world),
joyful in attitude,
“keeping on” through the difficult
(knowing all that IS is not visible in the present),
learning daily more of what it means to be forgiven and set free,
making decisions that are God-honoring,
never thinking more or less of self than what God intended,
observant, seeing beneath the surface needs of others,
praying for those in positions of authority over you,
quickly apologizing when you wrong another,
responsibly and respectfully handling
that which God has given you to do,
seeking the best interest of each other and your relationship,
taking time for those things that are priority,
understanding and experiencing more of the character of God,
valuing those things that He values,
walking with Jesus in the here and now,
eXtending your roots further down and further out
(into His Word and in relationships with others),
yielding always to the will of your Heavenly Father,
zealous in all that concerns Him.

God has used, is using, and will use your marriage
to grow you more and more into His likeness,
a testimony of His ability to use all that is for our good and His glory,
an evidence of His faithfulness, and a provision of His love.

I pray that your anniversary is a day of looking back,
reflecting on the journey thus far,
and looking ahead, anticipating and dreaming of what God has for you
as you open the door to another year!
He is the All-Sufficient One, able to provide for your every need,
and
that is the kind of assurance that enables us to live confidently today.

Twila Jean Charles Leichty
December 31, 2008