2019 ended on a sad note for me with the loss of a dear friend of mine and my own sister.  As 2020 begins I have determined not to allow the sorrow to overwhelm me and prevent me for continuing to do what God wants me to do.

Sorrows are a part of life and if we surrender them to God He uses them to shape our character in a godly way and give us strength for the future.  He also uses the sorrows of our lives to give us comfort that we can share with others in troubles and experiencing their own sorrows.

God is a God of hope and life.  Jesus is our Blessed Hope.  No matter what goes on in the world around us we are in His hands and He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  He is good and His mercy endures forever.

Today I received an email with an encouragement from Psalm 34.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing.  The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."  Psalm 34:8-10

I know that God is faithful.  He has been with me my whole life and He has never failed me.  So there is always HOPE and it is a hope that can be trusted.   May God bless you as you move forward in 2020.  My prayer for you is that He will draw you closer to Jesus, make Himself known to you in a greater way this year, answer your prayers for others and yourself, and ultimately change you from one degree of glory to another.