Waning and Waxing

I’m not sure if it was the waning moon or my waxing blood sugar that caused my insanity on the 31st of December.  All my regular partners in crime were busy elsewhere so a quiet evening at home seemed logical.  New Year’s isn't too high on my list of celebrations so I wasn’t distressed at the thought.  I purchased some treats and the children chose a movie.  We were ready for our own little party.  

New Year’s is a unique holiday.  An event denoting the passage of time, containing an ending and a beginning wrapped in a 60 second countdown.  The changeover presents the hope of a new season regardless of whether circumstances warrant.  It was while pondering such profound and philosophical thoughts that I suddenly decided ripping apart the children’s rooms and cleaning the pantry was a good idea.  Getting things organized to get back to school was my thinking I expect.  

I’m not a smart person.

The girls set to work on their closets and I started the demolition on my kitchen.  Within a short amount of time, my kitchen floor disappeared and I was faced with meaningful, life changing questions like: 

Do I throw out these sesame seeds that have been in my pantry since my daughter was 2?  
What is the half-life of canned frosting?  
Can dried beans actually go stale?
Do I have a poverty spirit because I keep extra ketchup packets?
What exactly would Jesus do with all the twist ties I’ve been saving…. 

I wiped shelves, shuffled cans and stacked noodles for a long while.  Glancing up, I realized that although my pantry was getting cleaner, the kitchen looked awful, there were bags and boxes everywhere.  The counters had joined the floor in a game of hide and seek and I wasn’t clear exactly where all the stuff was going to go.  My enthusiasm for my project was diminishing yet the messes I had created were still before me.  In fact, there were several child disasters I had sanctioned in the adjoining rooms.  What was I thinking?  

Ever felt that way my friend?  Been in a mess or a muddle and unclear how things were going to turn out?  Many people face the New Year with a layer of uncertainty just below the celebration.  There are circumstances before them they would rather avoid and situations they cannot solve.  Where then, is the hope for the New Year?

While praying with a friend recently, I started to recount some of the issues she has walked through in the past 22 years.  It was a fairly amazing list.  Again and again, she faced situations that seemed impossible yet solutions appeared and the problems faded.  What about you dear heart?  If I asked you to make a list of problems you have overcome in the past ten years, what would you write?  Are you still standing?

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears

    and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:17-19

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24

At the beginning of this New Year, may I encourage you to get a bit bossy with your fear and uncertainty?  Consider where you have been, the challenges you have faced and the victories you have won.  Feel free to get hyper spiritual or mildly prophetic.  Take off your shoes, plant your feet and declare, “God has seen me though this far, He will get me home.”  (Don’t get ultra-weird and scare your neighbors please, we don’t need that kind of help.)  Our God has seen the rise and fall of years, ages and eons my friend.  This year holds nothing that will surprise Him or catch Him off guard.  You are safe in his care and His eye is upon you.

May you be blessed through the joys and sorrows of this coming year.

I’m praying for you,
xoxKaren