Happy New Year everyone! The day has hardly begun and my mind is already busied with all that is ahead of me today. We’re head ed up north for a family get together, some shopping, and of course, to go to Starbucks. The closest Starbucks is over an hour away so when I get to go it is sweet bliss!
I’ve been thinking of the year ahead and how today means a clean slate. I have no idea what is going to happen. Sure, there are plenty of plans I have made and maybe some of those plans will work out, but the truth is, I don’t know.
I have been reading Angie Smith’s new book Mended this past week and something she said reminded me that although I may have ideas for how I want this year to turn out, ultimately it is God who holds the pencil in this great sketch of life. Let me tell you what I mean.
Before my husband and I were married he gave me a gift that is still one of my favorites of all the things he has given to me. It is a Thomas Kinkade snowglobe with a music box in the bottom that plays the song “White Christmas”. The house inside the snowglobe truly belongs on a Hallmark card. It is a two-story, light blue, country style house. It is sweet and simple and warm, despite the snow that flurries all around it when I turn it upside down.
The other day my sweet Noelle who is four was looking at this snow globe and she said, “It’s so neat that they made a snowglobe of our house, Mommie.”
I looked at her, puzzled for a moment, and then I looked at the snowglobe. Sure enough, the house inside does look like ours. It’s big and blue and old fashioned…for all intents and purposes, it is our house.
Isn’t it funny how God works? My husband couldn’t have known that we would end up in a house that looked like the one inside the gift he had given me, but God knew. To me, my little snowglobe is His way of telling me, “My sweet Sara Beth, don’t you see that I hold your world in my hands?”
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:14-16
You see, to God, we are like my little snow globe. From the inside looking out, life may seem overwhelming and huge and we just can’t see how things will work out from all the “snow” that clouds our vision. But to Him who created our inmost being, the One who is outside looking in, our small little world is something He can hold in His hands; He can tip it this way and that and you can be sure He’ll never drop it, no matter what storms come our way.
As you begin a fresh year today, remember that He indeed holds your world in His hands. Happy New Year and as always, Happy Reading!
Yours in Christ,
S
PS The winner of last week’s Fire Prophet Giveaway is Amy R. Congratulations, Amy! Stay tuned for more great giveaways coming in January, courtesy of Thomas Nelson.
All too true….YHWH has so much in store for us that is better than anything we could come up with!
I can’t wait!
Ephesians 3:20-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Amen, sister!