JANUARY 6, 2025
ON THE PORCH
2024 IN THE REARVIEW
On New Year’s Eve last week, a sister and I were commiserating together about 2024. We’ve both had a rough year, and we were remembering and reflecting. After our pity party started and had gone on a little while, we concluded, “WE GOTTA STOP! This isn’t helping…” So, we waved goodbye to 2024, making sure to try and leave each other encouraged, we quit texting, and went to bed. (At least that’s what I did. We are old and that’s what we do, we go to bed early. LOL)
2025 arrived and the sun continued to rise and set as it always had. The world still turns, the Creator of the universe continues to sit on His throne, and He is still in control.
Taking pictures of the sunrise and sharing every morning is one of my absolute favorite activities under the sun. God is so faithful and creative to paint the skies every morning for my pleasure, and it brings me joy to share.
On the way to church yesterday morning, I snapped a photo right before the sun rose in Benny’s driver’s side rearview mirror. I shared it with a few loved ones. As I got replies, it was amazing how differently people saw this picture and how varied their perspectives were.
**Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
This morning, I realized my mind was much like that image of the sunrise in the rearview. 2024 was a hard year, there’s no doubt about that. We had many, many, many blessings, but we also had many sorrows. We experienced much joy and much pain. Living in a fallen world pretty much guarantees our lives will not always be sunshine and daisies. We will experience good and bad.
So…how I approach 2025 now is on me. I cannot unsee it. My perspective will make all the difference in the coming year. If I am focused on the rearview mirror counting my sorrows, I cannot look ahead and anticipate my blessings. If I remember all the bad things that happened in the past, I cannot celebrate the good things to come.
I STEER WHERE I STARE.
What I think about and focus on is what trains of thought will be what my heart gravitates toward. My mind will either dump me back in 2024 and leave me stuck there or surprise me with a brand-new journey into 2025 and all it holds.
HE BRINGS THE LIGHT
The moon is still high
when I get out of bed.
But the nighttime is fleeting,
As I look ahead.
The morning is coming,
The sun will still rise.
The darkness will vanish,
When God paints the skies.
He walks me through darkness,
And He holds my hand.
He will not let go,
Til He knows I can stand.
He takes up my sorrows,
My burdens are lightened.
The sun starts to shine,
And the skies start to brighten.
So, when I wake up
In the darkness of night,
I remember He’s there,
And He brings the light.
~Chris Baker
Good morning, LORD. Thank You for waking the world with such beauty every morning for our pleasure. Allow me to lift my face to the sunrise and feel the glow. May I remember to focus ahead, waiting for joys to come. Help me embrace the joy and the sorrows, the gladness and sadness, the happy and crappy. Help me stare at the good instead of the bad, the blessings instead of the pain. May I turn to You in all these things, not just the times I’m hurting. Wake my heart each morning with excitement for the day ahead, anticipating what You have in store for me. Help me count Your blessings and recognize the Kisses from the King each day. As You paint the skies and I feel the light, may I share that light with others and bring You glory. Thank You for Your faithfulness in the dead of night or the sunrise in the morning. Thank You for blessing our family and loved ones as much as generously as You do. LORD, help me look through the windshield this next year, not the rearview. Guide my mind, heart, and decisions in the year ahead. Walk me through 2025 with joy, LORD. Amen
** “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5
**The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
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(feat. Megan Woods)
ON THE PORCH 