Year In Reveiw

So - here we are again......seeing the end of another year and the start of a new one. Am I the only one that has a twinge of......I wish I had done this or that this past year, or spent more time doing this and less time doing that?  Do you end the year with a bit of regret? I always do. No matter how many awesome things happened during the year, I always feel like I could have done more......done better. Like I really should watch less Netflix. I really should eat less chocolate and do some form of exercise. I should write more and read more.  Maybe make another afghan. I should spend more time in the Word. I should complain less. I should cook more. I really should get that office organized! So then that leaves me feeling excited and a bit anxious about the new year.  I always wonder, what journey will we walk this new year?  What joys will fill our lives?  What new friends will come into our lives? What awesome experiences will we have?  What trips will we go on?  What hardships will we have to endure? The unknown - it can keep you tied up in a ball of anxiety.....can't it? Years ago I was once diagnosed with anticipatory anxiety. Oh yes, it is a real thing.  I was eat up with it.  I worried about everything there was to worry about before it even happened, or didn't happen.  Now it sounds crazy to me.....worrying about something that may or may not happen. What a waste of time. Then I started walking closer to Jesus and living my life for Him. Game changer! When you know who is in control and who holds the future....your future....when you know that you are His and your future is secure and that the battle is already won....it changes everything! No more worrying for worry sake. When you understand and abide in God's love for you, your world will change! I was studying Ephesians 3:17 - 19 this morning and this sums it up better than I ever could..... God's love is TOTAL, says Paul.  It reaches every corner of our experience.  It is WIDE - it covers the breadth of our own experience, and it reaches out to the whole world.  God's love is LONG - it continues the length of our lives.  It is HIGH - it rises to the heights of our celebration and elation.  His love is DEEP - it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair and even death.  When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to God's love! So, no matter what happens this year, with Netflix, exercise, new friends, new experiences, travels, trials, joys and sorrows.....I will not be shaken, for God's love for me is TOTAL!