The Artist of Our Life

I was headed home on Friday night, after a really long week, and witnessed possibly the most beautiful sunset EVER.  The sky burned with such vivid colors, I could have sworn it was on fire.  I was stunned, and even tried to capture a pic or two on my iPhone, but after swerving on the highway I decided it wasn't the best idea.

Taken from google images, not my iPhone :)

After an emotionally exhausting week, I couldn't help but smile when I saw that sunset.  I realized God had brought me through, just like He always does.  It is often too hard to focus on the beauty of every trial while you are experiencing it.  However, when you can see the beautiful picture finished and in its entirety, you cant help but feel His grace and beauty.   He always has a plan and it is so much bigger and more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.

Remember, that there are beautiful endings to what would otherwise be dark situations.  Pray for God to give you the strength and endurance to make it through to see your rainbow after the storm.  The spiritual reward awaiting you is one you won't ever forget.  God uses these trials and beautiful endings to give us the wisdom we need for our future.  I would never want to replay any of the most excruciatingly difficult trials of the past few years, but I do know I am stronger and wiser for having gone through them.  God has prepared my heart for things in my future that I am not even aware of.  I am a better person for having gone through them, and I hope God can use my life as a testimony to those who may need encouragement.

Whether you are in a trial currently, or are experiencing the beautiful rainbow at the end; remember God has you where you are for a reason.  You may not currently understand why, but what you can count on is that God is in control.  He is the artist of your life, painting a beautiful ending and you just can't see it quite yet!  You must have the patience and faith to wait until it is finished!  

Happy New Year! Happy New Beginnings! Happy 2012!

I for one am so glad to see 2011 go!  I am looking forward to a fresh year of opportunities and beginning a new chapter of life!  

This time last year I wrote a list of New Year's Resolutions and posted them HERE.

I made a resolution to start my non-profit last year, and I DID!  I put my heart into Owl Love You Forever, and it feels so amazing that the organization is doing so well!  The feeling of checking a resolution off of my list is SO INCREDIBLY SATISFYING!  

However, if you are anything like me, you avoid making New Year's Resolutions.  Last year was my first year really writing them down and making a point to complete them.  I am a perfectionist and the idea of writing down a list of things, I say I will complete, is scary.  If I don't get to them all, or if I don't finish them with 100% effort, I feel like a complete failure.  Therefore, to avoid the feeling of failure I just never really like to make them.  

For the past four years I have had the same resolution.  I am pretty sure you all know what I am talking about, I want a happy, healthy baby!  Every New Year's Eve I try and picture myself celebrating the next Christmas, and I try with everything in me to see if Ferrari and I are holding our baby.  I try and picture what it will actually be like when we have a child on Christmas Day.  The emotions we will feel as we experience Christmas with the child we have been praying for and thinking about for the past few years.  I can get excited really quickly, and I have to reign myself back in because I don't want to be let down or feel like a failure yet again.  Well, I have come to the realization that my one resolution I have wanted more than anything, is one that is completely and utterly out of my control.   

If I can get myself to just focus on today, and the opportunities that are before me today; I can avoid those feelings of failure for things that don't come in the future and that are out of my hands.  What I can do is realize and understand that God has me where I am for a reason, and I may not understand it but I need to accept it.  He has entrusted me with my experiences and expects me to move forward with FAITH in Him and what He will do on my behalf.  

I have to constantly remind myself to change my perspective of life, and not focus on what I don't have but on what God has blessed me with.  This is not an easy feat, but if I can do it successfully, God provides me with a peace that is unimaginable unless you have received it.  My future is not in my hands, THANK GOODNESS.  He is 100% in control of what comes my way in 2012, and instead of getting down because I can't control it, I am excited!!  God never leads me where I expect, and going where He leads can be THE most EXCITING adventure ever!  

Look around you, where has God brought you in 2011?  Not what you expected?  Get excited about where He may take you in 2012! 

I challenge you to join me this year in waking up every day and asking God to use you.  This could quite possibly be the most scary New Year's Resolution, but it is one that will never leave you feeling like a failure.  

Lord, how can You use me today and every day this year?