To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

~Ecclesiastes 3: 1-7, 11~

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This past year has been a year of conflict, a year of great loss, a year of struggle and difficulty. Its beginning was marked with unexpected conflict in several different areas. It was a year of deployment marked with new territory not only for our Soldier deployed, but our Soldier left home and baby boy. More times than I can recount I threw my hands up in surrender. Surrender is good when it’s surrender to Him. Each time of hardship, of questioning, His grace showed up without fail. It cannot fail. He cannot fail.

We are blessed. Of course there’s been good times and even in the midst of the storms of life we can find much to be thankful for. But the reality is that this year has been tough. Just as one conflict subsided it seemed another one arose. And then there was loss. A high school classmate and dear friend buried her firstborn when a car wreck claimed not only his life but the lives of two of his friends as well. I was taken back by the enormous line of people, young people, so many people at his wake. I saw God’s grace show up at his funeral. A Word spoken in due season. And rain. Sweet tangible rain, symbolic of His Presence raining down on us. Lord, cover. Please continue to cover. I watched my sister-in-law at the bedside of her dying father. As he slipped from this life to the next, I saw the grace of God cover her so amazingly. This has been a year of struggle and attacks from the enemy for her. I’ve watched her draw a line in the sand and move forward in Him. Love covers! Lord, cover again. I witnessed a community of young people affected by the loss of one of their own. Once again, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from so many people at his wake. His mother, another classmate, would also say goodbye to her son. I watched my dear, precious friend mourn and grieve—the mother of the girlfriend. A young girl shaken, broken, grieving. So much heartache. Yet in the midst of it, love covered yet again. Another line was drawn in the sand for Him. Forward, we must move forward, pressing on toward the prize.

More loss. This past week three sisters would lose a mother. Another precious friend, a father. And just yesterday, another precious and dear friend, a grandmother. One of my very best friends has endured great loss. She’s watched her aunt lose a son, later a daughter and recently her husband. How can one person bear the grief of so much loss? How can anyone? Although I haven’t experienced the depth of grief these people have, I know the One who is acquainted with grief, a man of sorrows. And although I cannot comprehend such loss, He understands. He alone can fill the heart of grief with peace. And so I continue to pray, brokenhearted for so many people trusting wholly that He is faithful. He will honor is Word above His very name.

This year has been one of great heartache for my family as our precious loved one gave way to addiction. But again He was faithful and we’ve watched Him move in her life. And we will continue to pray and trust Him. He was faithful when my uncle had back surgery. It hasn’t been an easy walk for him and it hasn’t for Joe. But He was faithful when Joe had back surgery as well.

I don’t know what next year holds. But I know that His promises are sure. I know this:  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning ~Psalm 30:5. Just as there has been a time of loss and a time of sorrow, a time for joy is sure to come.

So now we stand on the brink of 2011. One door will close for Courtney as she leaves high school. Another will open as she starts LSU in the fall. Sophie will start Kindergarten in the fall. Cammie and Trey will be exploring new possibilities for school and careers as well as planning for their first home. So we plan and we expect and we hope. But we can’t possibly know what’s on the other side of tomorrow, of next year. There are no certainties of this life. No real job security. We aren’t promised tomorrow. None of us. Politicians rise and fall. Wars continue. There is but one Constant—Jesus Christ. He is steadfast, unchanging, ever faithful. He is truth in the midst of a world of lies and broken promises. He is life in the midst of a dying world. He is the only Way! There is no other. If you don’t know Him, why not now? Why not start this year with the joy and peace that comes only from Him?

This year, may we surrender all to Him. For no matter what this year brings, we can have the assurance that He is with us.

Happy New Year!

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