MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Wow! Where did the time go? The last I wrote in my blog, I was wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Now here I am wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Ohhhh precious time ...how it slips from our hands so easily.

A lot has been going on over here in my life. Some things are good and some things are not so good. Thankfully, I serve the Lord, so no matter what, it will all work together for good. (Romans 8:28)

I have gone through some very dry times in my walk this past year. It has never been this intense. I can appreciate coming out of this desert much more now than ever before. I

am thankful to say that I am not the same person I was going into this long, dry, arid place. The Lord Jesus Christ deserves all the Glory, Honor, and Praise for the changes that have transpired in my life.

There is more of Him and less of me. I have come to know Him in a very secret place. It is a place without hype or pretense, some of what I was prior to this chastening of my soul and flesh. I have had to get to know Him without any "feelings" or "confirmations" that we can get so used to having in our walk. Faith is truly sight unseen. For me, this was excruciating to my flesh. I was so accustomed to an almost tangible presence of God around me. For one long year, that was lifted from me. The Lord doesn't want me to rely on feelings. I must rely on faith only.

I am in a new place. It is more serene. No, not that life is more serene. Quite the opposite. It is hectic, non-stop, filled with ups and downs. The place I am in, however, is peace that flows out of a river deep within my soul. I am able to stop the drama and look at my situation with a deep certainty that the Lord is with me. He always was and always will be.

As we celebrate the Birth of our Savior, let us rejoice in the One that loved us enough to give us the greatest gift that humanity could ever receive: salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

God bless you and your entire family.

Anna ;-)