God promises to restore what I've lost!

"Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring." (Joel 2:23)

We usually think of the rain as the difficulties in our life - as something bad that only causes us pain, but here it says the rain demonstrated God's faithfulness! The rain during the storms of life may not feel good, may get us 'wet' and feel yucky. But it is also the rain that gives LIFE. We need the rain to survive. We should be still and soak in the rain when it comes, knowing that His rain brings us life.

"The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil." (Joel 2:24)

After the rain comes the harvest. The more we soak in that rain, the greater our harvest.

"The LORD says, "I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you." (Joel 2:25)

He promises to restore what was lost! What are the locusts? Sin. Rebellion. The enemy's attacks. We allowed them to take away those years - to be unfruitful. But God promises to give us back those years...to restore and redeems us. He says He sent the locusts! He did it to make us aware of our sin and rebellion - so we'd recognize our need for Him! He doesn't want to hurt us - He wants us to come to Him so that He can bless us.

"Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you." (Joel 2:26)

We will have everything we need! We will praise God, our Redeemer! Why not praise Him IN the rain!?

Redemption!

The word for 2009 was LOVE. The word for 2010 is REDEEM!



What does redeem mean? It means "fulfill". I'm very excited about this word!! It gives me great hope to think that 2010 will be a year of redemption for me! So many things have happened in my past that could be redeemed this year.



First of all, I am redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He died on the cross for me and my sins are forgiven because of what He did for me! There is no better redemption than that! And I've already received that redemption!



Anything else is whipped cream and chocolate sauce and cherries on top!! It WILL be a great year!!

"Put your hope in the LORD,

for with the LORD is unfailing love

and with Him is full redemption."

--Psalm 130:7

I am in love!!!

I know what you are thinking... "this must involve the new man in her life!" I imagine you are excited and so happy for me. And well you should be!!!

Each year, I pray for God to show me a word for me to focus on for the year, a word for Him to define and grow me in for that year. Last year's word was clearly "LOVE". At first, I was very afraid of that word. I thought that it might mean dating and I didn't think that I was ready for that!! Well, God DID have a plan for that...and HE prepared me for it. I am so glad He did. I AM enjoying the company of my "Joseph". He motivates me to draw nearer to my God, to be more like Him!

But that isn't the aspect of LOVE that God was going to focus on for me. The LOVE He had in store for me was my own love - for others, but mostly for HIM!! By the end of 2009, I am able to truly say that "I am SOOOOO in love with Jesus!!" He is so sweet to me. He provides for me. He keeps me safe. He cares for me and shows me how much He loves me! He is faithful and honest. He wants the very best for me. He does special, personal things for me! He grows me - for my good! He has chosen me. And He blesses me.

I AM in love! With the God of the universe!