The arrow of time moves swiftly.

For some as 2014 closes, you’re happy to see the back of it, draw a line and stride over the threshold into 2014. A year of pain for some – health, finances, grief and loss, others, a year of surprises, adventures, twists and turns and for most a combination of all.

My inbox is full of inspiring New Year blogs this morning. Social Media alive with sparkle and well wishes.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog this year – my most read were “The Worcestershire Way’ ‘Fighting Fires’ and ‘Isolation to Restoration’. It was visited from 97 countries and as ever my mom is my biggest commenter and cheerleader! Here’s to my writing life continuing to do what it does. Musing on life, faith, the mundane and the mountaintop and weaving it into a God filled experience.

Join me again in 2015?

Every year we gather with a few friends over Christmas and discuss our one word for the year ahead.

Mine for 2015… LAUGHTER!

#ifonlymyeyesdidntdisappear

“Solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light.” GK Chesterton

God is joyful. He sings, he laughs, he delights. Scripture says all creation was given a measure of glory – that’s us too. You hold a part in the chorus of the creator that no one else plays. You are alive with light and life. There is something unique about you that represents the Father heart of God.

Our joy is often lost when were turn inwards – becoming negative and self critical. Let’s fix our eyes on Him, the great designer. We were made to recognize His voice, our issue is when we don’t hear him, or rather we don’t listen, when our negative critical self talk speaks a louder, darker voice.

‘Joy is peace out loud. Peace is quiet joy’ BJ

Lets have a quick look at Nehemiah 8 and Psalm 23 then you can carry on partying…

In Nehemiah 8 we see a people who have found God’s word after being without it. The picture is wonderful, everyone standing from morning until afternoon listening in to the word – families, communities gathered, listening. Soon enough, tears – mourning as they discover among other things a standard they cannot meet.

For some of us a familiar story.

Here’s the good news. God had other ideas.

Here it is in verse 10.

“Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!”

This image of family, community, eating, feasting, living, sharing. God knows life is hard work and He offers us His joy to be our strength!

The story goes on to say. Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

They understood. They lived it. The seed of joy taking root, far from the topsoil where the enemy can steal.

As I ponder this truth, I think of my one of my favourites, verse 5 from Psalm 23. ‘You spread out a table before me, 
provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies’

Picture that. Your enemies. You know them. We all have them. God promises you will feast in the midst of them. You will eat, know his goodness, and in that eating, you will find that the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Let us set the feasting atmosphere for 2015. TOGETHER!

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.”(Herman Melville, Moby-Dick)

 Happy New Year from my family to yours!

Love, Michelle xo