For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
Deuteronomy 8:7-10 ESV
Draw near to the water’s edge
dust the sand
from your bare feet
leave wandering behind.
Remember not
the wishful would’ve
shameful should’ve
care-less could’ve
Watch water slow
and time drift by
pause here a moment
let go of the why.
Wins and losses
failures and fear
joys and sorrows
cheers and tears
No way to back up
nothing more to control
there’s no other way
step by step is the flow.
A great crowd surrounds
set aside every weight
lay down sin’s burden
with every step that you take.
Look up to the One
whose promise is true
to complete what’s been started
it’s all for your good.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Dear friends,
I invite you to join me in the following New Year’s Eve reflection. May your final day of 2025 be a crossing over. I pray you leave what lies behind and move toward the riches of glory only found in his presence. With every step, may you discover who God is and how beloved you are.
Stacy
Crossing Over
A prayer-full reflection for New Year’s Eve
You’ve been here before, preparing to begin a new year. Perhaps you are sighing with relief or dreading what might be in store for you. Let’s begin our time of prayer with an honest examine of 2025 by considering the following questions.
What in 2025 gives you reason to give thanks?
What in 2025 still grieves you?
Imagine standing at the Jordan banks and watching the water flow. Gather some rocks from the ground beneath your feet. Hold one in your hand and name your joy… or sorrow. Now toss it into the water as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God.
What memories rise to the surface when you consider the last year? What should’ve, could’ve, would’ve are you holding? How is God calling you to let go?
Is there something to set aside? a weight you’ve been carrying? the burden of some sin?
Listen…
confess…
ask God to empower the change you desire.
Now… turn your attention to the coming year.
Read Romans 8:28-30
So much of what happens in our lives doesn’t seem to align with what is good. Death, divorce, and loss all bring a burden that can shake us to the core. I get it. The last few years have been one loss after another. My home, my business, my usual rhythm of life. There were times I couldn’t wrap my mind around God’s plan. If I’m honest, I still can’t and it leaves me a little leery of moving into another year.
My dearest friend and I have a saying when we come to the edge of something. After we’ve wrestled for a time, there’s a phrase that expresses our desire to love God more than ourselves.
We simply take a deep breath, sometimes sigh, and say, “There is no other way.”
No other place to look to but Jesus
no promise to count on but God’s
no way to finish on our own
There’s just no other way.
Let’s pray
Lord,
You know my heart better than I do.
You know what it will take to bring about my greatest good.
So I surrender all that I am, all that I want, all that I think I need to you.
Teach me to count on you, to trust you more than myself, and to say with confidence.
There is no other way.
Amen.
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