CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CHANGE YOUR WORLD.
Vol 27 • Issue 1
NEW YEAR PROMISE His unchanging presence
Forgetting the Past A fresh start
Seeing God in the Future Letting go of worry
Vol 27, Issue 1 For more information on Activated, visit our website or write to us.
P E R S ONA L LY SPE A K IN G peace in the storm What will this new year bring? Will I be able to cope? Am I equipped to make the necessary changes? Will I encounter towering obstacles? Will life throw me a curveball that could strike me out? Will I be able to make it if things go downhill? Fleeting thoughts like these might cross your mind when facing a new year, as they do mine. I have learned to counter them with the promises in God’s Word that can turn gloom into brightness and despair into hope. I rely on God, put my trust in His Word, and choose to face the future with faith. Last year presented a major hurdle for me, unlike anything I had experienced before. I suffered an aortic dissection which nearly took my life. I overcame this unexpected event through God’s healing grace and transcendent peace. The doctors were amazed that I survived, especially because my symptoms were initially misdiagnosed, thus I wasn’t tended to right away. Later, I found out that many people with this disorder don’t even make it to the hospital in time. In my case, God miraculously kept me until I was finally on the operating table. The prevalent feeling my wife and I had throughout the whole ordeal was not desperation or anxiety, but peace. This is the supernatural grace that only God can give. Even the doctors noticed the peace that surrounded me. You’re probably familiar with the expression “peace in the midst of the storm” or the Old Testament maxim, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). These are God’s promises for you regarding whatever circumstances you may encounter this year. There may be many challenges ahead, some that might even seem insurmountable. Do not be anxious. Put your full trust in the Lord, call upon Him from your heart, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind (Philippians 4:6–7). May God’s peace and grace keep you throughout the coming year.
Website: activated.org Email: activated@activated.org Local contacts: South Africa: Email: activated@helpinghandsa.org India: Email: activatedindia@activated.org Nigeria: Cell: +234 (0) 7036963333 Email: activatednigeria@activated.org Philippines: Cell: (0922) 8191142 Email: activated.phils@gmail.com © 2025 Activated. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Gentian Suçi. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2001 by Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Other Bible quotations are from the following sources: New Living Translation (NLT). Copyright © 1978, 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers. Used by permission. New International Version (NIV). Copyright © 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. Lexham English Bible (LEB). Copyright © 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software. New King James Version® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. New Century Version (NCV). Copyright © 2005 by
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INSURANCE OR ASSURANCE? By Rose Conn
As last year drew to a close, I was struggling
with many worries that had been making me feel insecure for some time. Then I came across an article about the difference between “insurance” and “assurance.” Insurance is a long-term contract that guarantees compensation in the event of future loss or tragedy. On the other hand, assurance provides security and freedom from doubt and uncertainty today. This got me thinking. Is God my insurance or my assurance? Having God in our lives is a form of insurance. We know that no matter what happens, He will be with us, take care of us, and bless us for trusting Him. “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). But in my day-to-day life, particularly when I’m faced with a decision or a problem, what I want and need at that moment is assurance. God gives us that, too. He promises us guidance (Psalm 32:8), the supply of all
our needs (Philippians 4:19), and grace and strength in difficult times (2 Corinthians 12:9). He also assures us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)— and that is as true in our immediate circumstances as it will ever be. Life is a series of challenges and decisions. When we focus on uncertainties, we can become paralyzed. But when we take our problems to God and look to Him in our decision making, His assurance gives us peace, and He leads us in the right direction. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God ... and it will be given him” (James 1:5). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT). Who knows what the coming year will bring? Probably a mix of surprises, successes, setbacks, and some sleepless nights. But through it all, God wants to be both our insurance and our assurance—insurance for the long term, and assurance day by day. Rose Conn is a project manager for web marketing and design. ■ 3
NEW YEAR PROMISE: HIS UNCHANGING PRESENCE By Maria Fontaine
As we turn the page on the past year and enter into the new year, with all its promise and hope, uncertainties and unknowns, we can expect to experience change. The world around us is experiencing a time
of great change unlike any before it in many spheres— technological, economic, religious, political, business, and environmental. The results are seen across multiple intersections, including governments, organizations, companies, and in the lives of families and individuals.
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Although the start of a new year can be a time when we pause to reflect and take stock of the ways in which change has occurred in the past year, in reality, change is constantly affecting all spheres of society. Life does not remain static, nor does the world around us, and one thing we can be assured of as we contemplate the year ahead of us is change, including in our personal lives and circumstances. In the Bible, we read of the guarantee of change as we journey through the seasons of our life: “To everything
there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” This passage goes on to enumerate some of the many changes people will face in life, including times of war and times of peace, times of building and times of tearing down, times of mourning and times of rejoicing. The author somewhat unexpectedly goes on to say that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 11). As Christians, how do we approach the inevitable change that we may face in the year to come and even find the “beautiful” in it? Change may come our way in the form of new opportunities in Christian ministry or serving others, receiving a better job offer, starting up a new foundation or business, studying something new, or engaging in new relationships with others. Other changes may be challenging, such as the loss of employment, a loved one, or a relationship, unforeseen economic challenges, or the need to move and start over. Many people, from religious leaders to productivity gurus to life coaches to political leaders, propose that the best approach to change is to focus on the potential benefits of change, and they emphasize the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. Focusing on the benefits of change, even when these are not always immediately apparent, certainly resonates with the Bible’s promise, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 LEB). Much of the benefit we can derive from the changes that come into our lives depends on how we approach them and whether or not we choose to adapt to
them—and even embrace them. Our attitude is a key factor, and can make the difference between successfully weathering life’s disruptions despite the difficulties these may bring, or succumbing to discouragement or despair. Trusting in God’s unfailing love and knowing that His presence is always with us is key to navigating the changes we will face throughout our lives. Having the faith to trust that even the tough things can result in good things can be a challenge. But I’ve found that when I accept that challenge, I’m well on my way to feeling more comfortable and at peace with whatever unexpected change comes my way. Sometimes the good that God intends to bring into our lives only comes when we pass through stormy times. So if you’re feeling the waves crashing about you, trust Him and have faith that He is with you and will never leave you alone or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). As your heavenly Father, He desires only the very best for you, His beloved child. You were bought with a price—the highest price imaginable, the death of God’s own Son—and now you are His temple, and His Holy Spirit dwells within you (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). No matter what changes or challenges we may face, God’s Word and our relationship with the Lord are constants in our lives as Christians. Everything else can change in our lives—our circumstances, our health, our relationships, our homes, our jobs, our countries of residence, our ministries—but His Word never changes; it never fails to guide us and is an enduring presence in our lives. God’s Word is our spiritual ballast, our anchor, our moral and spiritual compass, our joy, peace, and
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(Psalm 119:130). These principles are timeless, so a good resolution to make for this new year is to continue to strengthen and ground your faith in God through reading and studying His Word and receiving His inspiration, instruction, and guidance for your life and walk with Him. As we commit the change and challenges we will face in the coming year to His safekeeping, we can trust that He will be with us to navigate whatever will come our way and to weather any storms on the horizon. We can remind ourselves of His “precious and very great promises” (2 Peter 1:4) to us in His Word. He watches over us every moment of every day. He knows our every thought and desire, and He always answers our prayers in the way that He knows is best and will accomplish His will in our lives.
hope, and our comfort. His Word is core to who we are as Christians, our beliefs and our values, and sustains us through every change and challenge that we will ever face throughout life. Jesus once told a short parable to His disciples, just two verses long, with a powerful message. Every year can be a year of growth in our relationship with God, He said, “The kingdom of heaven in loving and caring for others, and in sharing the Good News so is like a merchant in search of that others may come to know Him and experience His love. fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46). Your relationship with the Lord All praise and honor and glory to the One who, in His is a priceless treasure—a pearl of the greatest price, of unfathomable greatness, rules the universe in wisdom immense and eternal value. You are uniquely created and and righteousness, and yet in His marvelous love cares loved by Him, and He has a plan and a purpose for your for each of us personally. The God of our salvation “daily life (Jeremiah 29:11). loads us with benefits” and His abundant blessings (Psalm The Lord is your Good Shepherd who will always 68:19 NKJV)! And in turn, we should be motivated to be with you, and He wants to accompany you in your share God’s love and truth with others so they can also personal walk of faith (John 10:11). So even if some partake of His riches in glory. things in life are unclear to you or just don’t make sense, Let’s make a New Year’s resolution to trust Him in you can trust that the Lord will continue to shepherd every season of life, to keep loving Him and others with and guide you to green pastures and the cool waters of all our heart, soul and strength, and to keep praising Him His Word that will refresh your soul and strengthen you for His excellent works and lovingkindness! (Psalm 23:1–3). The Bible teaches us that faith comes—and grows—by Maria Fontaine is a Christian author and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and the retired co-director of TFI, a Christian online entrance of His Word gives light and understanding network. ■ 6
KEY PUZZLE PIECE
THE
By Amy Joy Mizrany
I have a weird 3D puzzle. It has seven hexagon blocks with six colors on each one, all in a different order. You put one
block in the middle, and then try to match up the other pieces both to the middle block and the surrounding pieces. For some reason, I’ve always struggled with this puzzle. It’s very difficult to get right when you don’t know which block to start with. Sometimes, while attempting to solve it, I would immediately run into confusion with the first few blocks placed. Other times, I would put six of the blocks in place only to find that the very last one didn’t work. Again. This was frustrating, of course, but it only made it all the more rewarding when I finally got it right. By pure chance it seemed, I placed the middle block, and then tried and twirled the other blocks around until the final one slotted into place and I was left staring wide-eyed at the complete puzzle. Victory! That first block, the center one, was the key to success. Once I had chosen the right one, all the other decisions fell into place. It took a little bit of trial and error, but the result was secure. Now that I know which block to place in the center, the puzzle isn’t hard to do. In fact, it’s downright easy. Only if I were to forget what goes first would I have any difficulty completing the puzzle again. I’m sure the metaphor is clear. Our anchor decision, the choice we build all our other choices on, needs to be
a good one—the best one—if we want the rest of our decisions to be good ones, too. When I put Jesus and His will at the center of any puzzle life gives me, all the following pieces fall into place much more naturally. Sure, it takes a little time sometimes, a bit of attempting, discovering, and persevering, but as long as that first choice is Him, it all comes together eventually. Whenever I’m faced with the responsibility of making a decision, if I make my first priority Jesus and God’s Word, then life lines up a whole lot better. It all comes down to putting first things first: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Amy Joy Mizrany is a full-time missionary in South Africa with Helping Hand. In her spare time, she teaches the violin. ■ 7
FORGIVE YOURSELF AND TRY AGAIN By Marie Knight
Forgiveness is never easy, but often the person we have the hardest time forgiving is ourselves. It’s so easy to remember
all the times we made mistakes and let ourselves and others down. After all, who knows all the details better than we do? The first thing we need to realize is that, although we made a mistake, that mistake is not who we are. It may have, in a way, shaped the path our life has taken, but God has promised that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). He can take even our mistakes and use them for good, if we let Him! When we live in the past, we can’t move toward a better future. Remorse and self-loathing are like chains that tie us down and keep us from moving on and seeing God at work in our lives. God doesn’t condemn us for our faults if we sincerely repent, and we shouldn’t condemn ourselves either. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That reminds me of one of my favorite stories from the Gospels found in John chapter 8. The Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Jesus to see if He would condemn her according to the laws of Moses, which said that she should be stoned. The answer that Jesus gave cut
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them to the heart: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” The people left one by one starting with the oldest in the crowd. When they had all left, Jesus said, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus answered her with words that bring hope to my heart, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (See John 8:3–11.) When you’re tempted to get down on yourself, remember the words of Christ: “Neither do I condemn you.” The Bible says, “His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5 NKJV). Let His mercy wash over you and cleanse you from your guilt, remorse, and self-loathing. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Not only does He love the world, He loves you personally, as imperfect as you might be, and He wants you to live a life of joy and purpose in Him. Marie Knight is a full-time missionary volunteer in the USA. ■
FORGETTING THE PAST As we stand before the portal of a new year, we don’t know what it’s going to bring, and I’m glad for that. I’m glad we can’t pull aside the curtain of time and see what the future has in store.
holds such wonderful promises? “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV). Regardless of your past, Jesus can make your future so bright that you’ll want it to never end—and it won’t! Jesus has promised eternal life and everlasting joy in heaven for all who believe in Him. If you haven’t yet received Jesus as your Savior, you can right now by sincerely praying the following:
But there is one thing we do know, and that is we can leave the past behind, with all of its worries and cares, pains and heartaches, mistakes and blunders. Isn’t that wonderful?! All of that is forever in the past, beyond our recall. We can’t undo one single act or unsay a single careless word, but we can make a fresh start this year. If you’ve received Jesus as your Savior, you don’t have to bear the burden of guilt or regret. All of the mistakes, regrets, and sorrows of the past year are in God’s hands, covered by His love. God can give you this year “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3 NIV). He can bring honey out of the rock and sweet waters out of the bitter desert of the past, no matter what it was (Deuteronomy 32:13; Isaiah 41:18). This is all Dear Jesus, I want to know You. Thank You promised to you in His Word, if you are His child. for giving Your life for me. Please forgive me Many people say they believe in God’s mercy and forgiveness, for all the wrongs I have done. I now open yet they worry about the stains on the pages of their past. They the door of my heart and I ask You to come never fully rejoice in the fact that God has blotted them out in. Give me Your gift of eternal life and fill me (Isaiah 43:25). Who wants to live in the past when the future with Your love and Holy Spirit. Amen. ■
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PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR By Curtis Peter van Gorder
The New Year is a good time to clean our spiritual binoculars and get a vision for what’s ahead. The “Big Five” in Africa refers to the
five most iconic and sought-after animals for people who are on safari, which include the rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and lion. I suggest that in our hunt for a fruitful year, we go after the “Big Three”—planning, persistence, and the promises of God.
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Planning Making progress this year may mean reevaluating our endeavors and starting over again. A friend of mine who is a carpenter in Japan told me of how he was gifted a ryokan (a traditional Japanese-style inn) to create a Christian community center there. What a deal! He eagerly went to work on replacing old termite-eaten wood and crumbling weak structures.
He spent a lot of time and money restoring it, but soon realized that it would have been cheaper, faster, and more efficient to demolish the whole building, cart off all of the debris, and start from scratch. In retrospect, he would have done it much differently. Yet, despite this misjudgment, he kept at it until his hope was realized and he got the center up and running. Giving up and folding was not an option. Jesus said it is sometimes better not to patch up old garments using new material (Matthew 9:16). There are times when we must leave the old behind and start again afresh. The New Year is a good time to decide what our priorities will be. It’s helpful to determine where it ain’t in order to identify where it is, what we will take on and say “yes” to and what we won’t. One way to avoid wasting time, effort, and resources in projects this coming year is to follow Jesus’ advice to begin with the end in mind and see if you have enough to finish the job before even starting. (See the parable of the tower in Luke 14:28–30.) When I used to live in Manado, Sulawesi, I saw many buildings in the early stages of construction that were left decaying in the tropical heat and rain. When the clove harvest came in, people had some cash, so they started to build a house with their newfound financial resources. Unfortunately, though, they didn’t have enough money to finish, which was a great disappointment. Persistence It’s a given that we will sometimes blow it this coming year, but those failures can be steppingstones on our path to achieve a future goal. I have found that sometimes I just have to forgive myself and get up and try again. When doing archery, if I miss the target, I just look for the arrow, recover it, and then have another go at hitting the mark. The book of Proverbs tells us that a righteous man falls seven times but still gets up (Proverbs 24:16). This proverb emphasizes the idea that though we face challenges and setbacks, we will
continue to get back up on our feet and persevere. It is a message of resilience and hope, encouraging us to keep going and growing despite our failures. Another proverb tells us that two are better than one, for if one falls, he will be lifted up (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). We all need friends and mentors. As the old song goes: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Getting constructive feedback on our endeavors can help us to succeed at our next attempt and avoid repeating mistakes. In John C. Maxwell’s book, Failing Forward, he gives many historical examples of people who failed, but through persistence and having a long-term vision of growth, eventually achieved their goals. Think of people like Lincoln, Einstein, Edison, Beethoven, and Stallone. Sometimes they discovered something even better than what they originally intended in their “happy accident.” Promises of God A wonderful thing about the New Year is knowing that no matter what circumstances we may face in the year before us, God is with us, surrounding us with His love. We have the added confidence of knowing that God has promised to lead and guide us through tough times. Psalm 23 pictures the Lord as a good shepherd leading us to green pastures, beside still waters, and through and out of the “valley of the shadow of death.” When Israel was led into captivity, God promised them a brighter future through the prophet Jeremiah: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:11–14 NIV). God has a good plan for each one of us this coming year. We just need to check in with Him daily and follow Him step by step. Curtis Peter van Gorder is a freelance writer and mime artist who spent 47 years doing missionary activities in 10 different countries. He and his wife Pauline currently live in Germany. ■ 11
RUNNING OUR RACE By Uday Paul
God has a unique purpose for each of our lives. As Rick Warren says in The Purpose Driven Life,
“Life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not you using Him for your purposes.” Jesus Christ came to Earth with a clear sense of purpose. He said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37), and He accomplished that purpose (John 17:4). In order to fulfill His will for our lives, we each have been given unique gifts and talents. The Bible tells us that we are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2). Like athletes on a track, each in their lane, we each have a personal race to run on the track of life. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, who will empower us to run the race with perseverance and reach the finish line. When we take our eyes off Jesus and begin to focus on other things, it is detrimental to our spiritual lives. I have often been distracted by thinking about how other Christians are doing or how God is working in their lives instead of focusing on God’s calling for my life and fulfilling my destiny. When Peter asked Jesus about what 12
John would do, Jesus replied that His will for John’s life was not Peter’s concern. Instead, Jesus told Peter to follow Him and focus on his own calling (John 21:21–22). In the well-known chariot race in the classic movie “Ben-Hur” (1959), we see Judah Ben-Hur pitted against his archrival and opponent, Messala, who is determined to win the race at all costs, even to the extent of using unfair means to trip up his competitor. As the race progresses, in his seething anger and jealousy, Messala tries to destroy Judah’s chariot. But in doing so, he wrecks his own chariot, falls off, and is trampled by another chariot and killed. Judah Ben-Hur then goes on to win the race. The Bible says that “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). We will give an account of ourselves—how we lived for God and glorified Him— and not of others and their actions. If we have been faithful in fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, He will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 NIV). Uday Paul is a freelance writer, volunteer, and teacher based in Uganda. ■
Depend on the Lord and his strength; always go to him for help. Remember the miracles he has done; remember his wonders and his decisions. —Psalm 105:4–5 NCV
SEEING GOD in the FUTURE By Georgia Ray
I’ve come to realize that, whenever I find myself overwhelmed by worry, what I’m really doing is imagining a future without God in it. I’m facing the future alone,
forgetting to add the God factor into that future. That’s when worry comes in. But the moment I catch myself, and pause and reflect, I start seeing the error of my thinking and soon my worrying about the future turns into praising God for His goodness in the present. Understanding this pattern has been a turning point for me. Now, when I notice myself anxious and caught up in “what ifs,” I determine to stop and ask myself: Am I seeing God in my future? If I’m honest, I often realize that I’m not. That’s how I’ve learned to shift my focus and remind myself that God has helped me get this far. He’s been faithful every step of the way—through challenges, joys, setbacks, and successes. Looking back, I see His provision, His presence, His comfort, His strength, His faithfulness, and His hand guiding me. Because He has been faithful in the past, I can trust that He will remain faithful in the future. When I intentionally choose to see God in my future, worry begins to fade. I picture Him walking ahead of me,
holding my hand, or standing beside me, and I remind myself that He is already there, preparing the way before me. Recognizing His presence in the future gives me confidence and peace. Meditating on His promises in His Word builds a sure foundation for my faith and hope for the future. I wish I could say that I have mastered this practice. I have not. But what I can say is that it has been a major tool in turning worry about the future into praise that includes the past, the present, and the future all in one. When I worry, I am reminded that I’ve been helped thus far, and I can trust that God will continue to be faithful. Seeing Him in my future means trusting in His goodness, His plans, and His love—no matter what comes my way. And I no longer need to fear what’s ahead because I know that God is constantly with me and is working all things together for my good. Georgia R ay is a youth counselor and mentor, using her skills to empower young people from diverse backgrounds to discover their strengths and find their place in society. ■ 13
The Flowers Will Come By Marie Alvero
Seven years ago, the land our home is built on was a flat, rocky field of weeds.
I wanted a backyard with a big tree that spread out in the center of the yard, so we planted a fast-growing tree that flowers. Then a freeze came, and it got colder than it’s ever been here. I was sure the tree wasn’t strong enough to withstand the freeze. My fear seemed justified when we were in the middle of spring, and all the trees around us were turning green and budding flowers, and our tree was small and bare. Weeks passed and we were wondering if we should cut our losses and remove the tree. We decided to give it a while longer. One day, at the very end of spring, we saw leaves and then lovely pink flowers on our little tree. The next year we had another freeze. Again, I thought the tree was a goner. It had no blooms when all the other trees were bursting with color. But, at the end of spring, it bloomed! Every year, eventually, it gets leaves, then flowers, and it’s so pretty! This tree speaks to my soul. In its slowness, it reminds me that it doesn’t operate on my timetable. Its steadiness tells me that it will bloom every year. Not because of anything I did or didn’t do, but because it is a flowering tree. 14
There are things in my life I am waiting for. Stuff with my kids, my marriage, my work. My branches look bare, though I see others’ trees full and green and blooming. What do I need to do? Weirdly, much of the time the answer is nothing. I don’t need to do anything but wait and trust that, just like I cannot rush my tree, I cannot rush life. I can learn to be at peace in this season, because the flowers are promised. “Blessed is the one […] whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1–3 NIV). As I write this, we have one cluster of flowers on our tree. Every other tree has been blooming for months! I have no idea why our tree is on a different schedule, except maybe to illustrate this lesson—stay steady where God has planted you, allowing the soil and sun and rain He sends into your life to do its work, and the flowers will come. Marie Alvero is a former missionary to Africa and Mexico. She currently lives a happy, busy life with her husband and children in Central Texas, USA. ■
The Wonder of a New Year By Rosane Cordoba
At the end of last year, a friend asked me to care for her five-year-old daughter.
On New Year’s Eve, two of my sons and their wives invited me and the little girl to accompany them and their two young girls to Icaraí, on the Guanabara Bay in southeastern Brazil. We all really had fun, as the three young girls walked together hand in hand and we chatted along the way. We got to the beach, and the children had a lovely swim. Then we ate our picnic dinner and enjoyed the music shows provided by the city council. At midnight, the fireworks started. For me, it was nothing new, but when I looked at the little girl in my care, I saw that she was completely amazed with wonderment. The arrows of fire would shoot up so high and fast and then explode into giant fireballs of so many different colors, sizes, and forms!—How could I be watching such a marvelous event so matter-of-factly? I started to compare each of the fireworks to a New Year’s prayer. First, they are like those thin missiles of fire going up, but as God receives them in His bosom and begins to move in our favor, they appear as awesome
light shows to brighten our lives. Then, I remembered the scripture: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory ... for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV). What makes New Year’s Eve so special? It is a chance to reflect on the goodness of God and His work in our lives in the past year. It is a commemoration of hope as we look to the future, something so essential to our existence. As I make my list of prayers for the year, I am visualizing each of them as a firework shooting upward that will explode beautifully and then fall from heaven to fill my soul with new joy and victories. I am confident that, as that little girl was amazed at those marvelous explosions of colorful light, my heavenly Father will amaze me once again with His wonderful manifestations of love and grace in my life. And I wish the same for all of you. Happy New Year! Rosane Cordoba lives in Brazil. She is a freelance writer, translator, and producer of faith-based and characterbuilding children’s material. ■ 15
From Jesus with Love
Ditching Ruts and Embracing New Challenges Making significant changes in routines, habits, and ways of doing things that have become second nature to you can be challenging. But when you discover that certain patterns of behavior are holding you back from making progress and bearing fruit, it is time to consider making an adjustment. There is a time to cast away things in life (Ecclesiastes 3:6) so that you can leave the past behind and reach toward the goal which lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). Ditching ruts and embracing new challenges is not an easy prospect, but the goal of spiritual growth is well worth it and will bear good fruit in your life. Always remember that when it is time for a course correction, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life and I will advise you and watch over you (Psalm 32:8 NLT). I will go before you and I will be with you each step of the way (Deuteronomy 31:8). So don’t ever feel that overcoming ruts or habits that are holding you back is not worth the effort. It is worth every ounce of effort spent, every tear shed, and every difficulty. It will propel you forward and help you to step outside your comfort zone and seek a better route—a new challenge in life. Whenever I lead you in a new direction, it will bring forth good fruit and work to fulfill My plan and purpose for your life.