Ah, the New Year. New Things from Jesus!

I love how the Lord moves and shakes and messes with me. He is very good, very just, very amazing. And He often gives me a word for the year (or words). Last year it was:

1. Prayer
2. Patrick
3. Put Others First

I don't know how well I did on those three things. It's hard to gauge whether I prayed more effectively, or whether I loved my husband better, or consciously ALWAYS put others first. Because of my own narcissistic nature, that's a hard one for me. But I'd like to think the Lord did some refining of my heart last year. I am surely not perfect, but some strides were made.

This year God's words to me seems to be about provision/stress and obedience (saying yes) to His voice. Here are the Scriptures He's given me:

"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the work of Your hands" (Psalm 138:8).

In a particularly stressful moment when I worried about provision, He said: "I will unfold My plan. It's not up to you. It's not on your shoulders."

"The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic" (Psalm 29:4)

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left" (Isaiah 31:21).

"For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us--by me and Sylvanus and timothy--was not yes and no, but yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Hm hey are yes; therefore also through Him is our amen to the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1:19--20).

In response, I say: "Compelled by Your Spirit, I am going to say Yes to You."

There have been a few times already in the genesis of 2009 where I've heard the gentle nudging of the Spirit. I didn't really want to, but I chose to respond . . . once to apologize for something and once to let someone know I was praying for her. Both instances, I felt immediately happy that I obeyed and had the privilege of seeing God work. The encouragement was mutual.

And as for worrying about that goofy thing called money, it will be a faith battle for me. I work hard; that's a given. It won't be sloth that makes for low "paychecks." Just the battle of being a freelance writer and the sporadic nature of publishing--which makes me nutty, but it's a reality. So, if you would, please pray for me as I learn to trust God for provision? I can't make it all work, and I may need to find outside employment soon. I'm at that place where I am wondering whether this call to write means I stay home and write full time. Maybe it means something else. I don't know. God, what are You up to?