Today is the last day of 2014 and what a year it has been. I have seen God's faithfulness in every way possible - through triumph and tragedy, loss of loved ones, adding to my extended family through adoption (I am now the oldest of 8 - my parents are incredible people), it just goes on and on. My Whole30 experience in August taught me much and reading scripture the last few months has taught me even more. Here's an update of where I am at the end of 2014:
In Exodus, God tells Moses to set aside 3 times a year for feasting and remembering His faithfulness. As I read this, I was amazed at how it lined up with life even today. I do not profess to be a bible scholar, and I hope I'm not reaching here, but I believe God showed me something important that I will not soon forget.
One time of feasting was at Passover ( for us I would think that would be Easter). The second time was at Harvest time (Thanksgiving to you and me) and then the third was at the end of their calendar year (Christmas/New Years). All of these times were about remembering what God has done, sharing it with future generations through stories and testimonies, and yes...feasting. The foods for these times (from what I can tell) had significance and/or were seasonal. I've said it before....God never intended for food to be the enemy. He meant it for nutrition and also for celebration. We are the ones who have made food the enemy. And not even just the enemy, but also our idol. Literally, the human race has a "love/hate" relationship with food! No wonder we're so out of balance! I love that the Lord keeps reminding me of this truth over and over again in different ways. He is such a patient God!
So I've been pondering and asking God to help me see what it looks like to have a proper relationship with food the way He ordained it to be. For me, this meant enjoying the holidays with my family, remembering loved ones who had passed in 2014, sharing stories and seasonal foods while sitting around a table full of some of the most precious people in the world to me. There were many moments of thanksgiving for what God has done in our family. There were tears and laughter. There were prayers and words of encouragement. There was love.
Feasting is over for awhile, so time to get back to "normal" -if there is such a thing at my house- and look toward the next year. I read a quote by Ann Voskamp this morning (y'all know how I love her) that went something like this..."Random acts of greatness pale in comparison to habitual acts of faithfulness. It's not what you do every now and then, but what you do everyday that changes everything." Ann Voskamp
I don't typically do New Year's Resolutions. I find that for me it is useless to "resolve" to do anything I might think up on my own. However as I was typing this, I remembered the words to a hymn we used to sing when I was a little girl and I looked it up. It made my heart beat a little faster as I read the lyrics and I think if I were going to make a resolution, it would go something like this (except maybe in today's vernacular though).
I am Resolved (by Palmer Hartsough, 1896)
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
Refrain
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
Refrain
I am resolved to follow the Savior, (This is my favorite part!)
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
Refrain
I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Refrain
I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
Refrain
