Hello 2018!

Welcome 2018. We couldn’t hold you back even if we tried. I was captured by this quote early last month as it circulated on social media:

“Hosted the Super Bowl. 

Survived a Hurricane. 

Won the World Series. 

Played in the Snow. 

What a year, Houston!”

The words inspired pure pride that I am part of this great city. We have experienced a lot this past year and even more than survived, we’ve thrived. We’ve seen the Lord work in ways we never imagined bringing beauty from bad. 

Two weeks ago today our precious granddaughter was born. The last two weeks have been somewhat of a blur because I’ve watched my daughter patiently try to teach the babe what daytime and nighttime are and how they are actually different. It’s exhausting for me to watch them sleep little at night. I can only imagine the exhaustion they are living through. And then there’s the toddler… which makes for no naps to catch during the day. 

As I considered the “what’s your new year’s resolution” question, I could only come up with “I just want to survive.” That’s literally all that my mind could handle. I couldn’t even imagine anything beyond just surviving until this morning. And this morning, I couldn’t think of anything better than, “I’d like to thrive, not just survive.”

Then I opened up my laptop and the verse of the day is Micah 6:8 on Biblegateway.com. I love this classic verse and noticed that it began with “No” and wondered why. So, I started looking back at the verses that precede it. Check it out for yourself (the whole chapter/book even), but here’s what I will pursue in 2018: 

“…Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: 

to do what is right, 

to love mercy, and 

to walk humbly with your God.” 

Micah 6:7b-8

What are you pursuing in 2018?