2016 – A New Year with New Open Doors
The day is fast approaching. The day each year little ones look to with sparkling eyes and hearts filled with hope. As adults we sometimes miss it in our haste to complete our checklists. But if we stop just long enough to listen, to watch, to feel – we can sense the One who was born to walk with us.
To give us hope.
To free us from all that holds us down.
He’s here. Among the laughter, the tears, the chaos, and the joy. Right here with us.
Emmanuel – God with us.
I’m taking a break through the remainder of the month, but will be back in January. I can’t wait to tackle 2016 with you! I’m praying God will strengthen us and grow us closer to Him. I hope you will join me!
Friends, I would love to pray for you and the year that lies ahead. I want to add you to my prayer lists and pray for the things that are heavy on your heart and the things you dream to make happen this coming year. Send me a note, either through the comments below (if you are comfortable) or through email using the Contact tab in the navigation bar. It would truly be my honor to come before God on your behalf.
In January, I’m going to be writing about the doors I shut. Whether it is out of fear, confusion, or lack of faith, we often shut (or maybe even slam) the door God left wide open for us! As the new year starts, I want to make sure we start it with our eyes open to the movement of God so that we don’t miss, shut, or slam any open doors He leaves for us. I pray we walk through open doors with bravery experiencing life in a whole new way!
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Isaiah 22:22
I also have some plans to grow. It’s that uncomfortable feeling you get when God is widely opening doors (ahem!) and even giving you a push. I think it’s often fear of falling short that makes me shut those doors, but I’m in this with you and I’m going to do my very best to keep this work-in-progress girl going forward. Not missing the open doors, but walking through them!
So, I’m going to expand in two different directions.
Guest Posting I want to have a regular series of guest posters. There are so many of you who have a message and a gift for writing. I want you to have a place to stop by and share your Moments of Hope. A place to feel loved. A place to feel like you are serving God well with the gifts He has given you! I’ll be creating a separate tab with details, but in the meantime, be praying about your willingness to share this space with me and speak hope into the lives of others. I plan to have the tab live by January 1st.
Link-Up I want to host a link up. Again, it is a place to share your gift of a message and of writing with others, but also a place for those needing a moment of hope. It also gives me an opportunity to connect with and encourage others along this journey in way I do not get to experience right now. This won’t start right away, but pray with me as I figure out the logistics of this?
Finally, remember my fun giveaway of a few of my favorite things? Well, I am excited to announce the winners!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you so much, everyone, for participating! And once again, thank you for walking alongside me this year! It has been a fantastic journey with you!!
So, until next year, sweet friends! Merry Christmas and much love and prayers for a blessed and hope-filled Christmas and New Year!
Please pray for my marriage. I have found out some disturbing things about my husband and I don’t know what to do with it. ( I am not in any physical danger or being abused.) I am not even sure what to pray for. Most of my family is deceased and I don’t know very many people. So please pray for me to have wisdom in dealing with this situation.
Praying for you Ola!
It is well! I pray the Lord breathe peace upon your life and home right now in Jesus Name. Don’t panic and don’t fret, Ola.
Be Blessed.
Sweet Ola,
I am honored to be praying for you. You are not alone. That God will guide you to your next steps, fill you with His wisdom and discernment, and wrap you in the comfort of His warm embrace. Much love, Lori
Please pray for me as I lead and teach an adult Sunday School class. Pray that I might have wisdom as I teach God’s word. Pray that I would set myself aside and let His Word flow through. Also please pray that I would know how to minister to this groups physical needs and how to lead them to be ministers. We have recently been experiencing many miracles of healing through prayer. My desire is for God and God alone to be glorified through this ministry. Pray that we would have a desire for the lost as well as those who are physically ill. I also know God has called me to write but am having a difficult time getting started. Thank you for your ministry. May God continue to bless and use you for His glory.
Delores, Thank you for allowing me to pray for you. I am praying all these things in the Name of Jesus! I am believing that in the year ahead God will move mountains and touch the hearts of many through your ministry and that you, my friend, will put pen to paper and tell His story.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you again for the Panera gift card, Lori! I was so tickled to learn I actually won. 🙂
“Whether it is out of fear, confusion, or lack of faith, we often shut (or maybe even slam) the door God left wide open for us!” This really grabbed my heart. I, too, want so much to be brave to go through the doors God opens. I’m looking forward to more of your posts about this. Please pray that God will break the chains of insecurity, shame, and fear that keep me from living fully in the freedom of Christ Jesus. Also that He will give me light and show me the way to what He wants me to do in this coming year. Thank you so much for your prayers, Lori! I pray also for you – that God will give you light and wisdom for the expansion of your site and continuing strength and courage to offer hope and encouragement to others.
I love the photos of your lovely family. 🙂 Enjoy some precious time with them. May your Christmas also be filled with hope!
No doubt it is the most wonderful time of the year. 🙂
Happy Christmas! 🙂
Hey Sweetness! your new ideas are great. I pray the Lord fills you up with strength and soak you in Divine Honor, Lori.
Have a Splendid Holiday!
Hello, fellow Hope Writer! Enjoyed looking around your lovely blog Blessings on great new year.
Hi Kelli, Thanks so much for visiting! I am pretty new to Hope Writers, but have loved the community! I am so excited for this year!