Welcome 2015!

 

Honestly, I am very excited to see this New Year finally here. Not only will I be turning 17 years old (!) :), but there are so many other things to look forward to as well!

 I am thrilled to say that my walk with God has only grown closer as I grow older. I have never doubted that He is always by my side. Whenever I pray I feel that He merely hears and understands, but that He will answer my prayers according to what is best for me.

 My relationships with family are good, but definitely could be better. Especially with my younger siblings. I tend to think of them as “little kids” and forget that they are growing up too and need to start being treated like they’ll eventually be a teenager like me. :) I’m very close with my older sisters and pretty close with my oldest brother, and I’ve been working on improving my relationship with my younger brothers, Max and David. My younger but a whole lot taller brother, Maxwell, and my younger and still a little shorter brother, David, both love football and are always asking me to come outside and play with them. I’ve been trying to say “yes” more often than “no, I’m busy right now”.

 I’ve been very blessed with wonderful, Christian friends, mostly from our church, but this last year I made some online friends. These girls have really encouraged me and even helped me strengthen my relationship with God and my family by challenging me with questions about my faith and what the everyday life of a pastor’s daughter is like. They made me have to really think about why I believe what I believe and what I should do to apply what I believe to everyday life.

 Of course, there are many challenges that come with being a pastor’s daughter, but God has been faithful in leading me through all of them so far, and I trust and pray that He will continue to do so in the future. :)

 One of these challenges is not judging other people, (which, I am sorry to say I have a difficult time not doing). I found this verse helpful:

Romans 14:13

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or cause a fall in our brother’s way.

And another wonderful passage that encouraged me this last year:

Romans 15:4-6

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Also, I need to keep in mind that:

Romans 14:18

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

 God bless you all! Enjoy the year 2015!! :)