My cousin, Evangelist Ruth Demus Thomas, wrote and sent this to our family members and church family for the New Year. With a little editing to make it more appropriate to fit in my column; I am printing this for our readers as a jump-start for 2016.
Dear God: Thank you for what you have already done. I am not going to wait . . .
- Until I see results or receive rewards in 2016; I thank you now.
- Until I feel better or things look better, I thank you now.
- I am not going to wait until people say that they’re sorry or until they stop talking about me, I thank you now.
- Until the pain in my body disappears; I thank you now.
- Until I get promoted at work or get a job; I am thanking you now.
- Until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me hurt or grief; I am thanking you now.
- Until my finances improve; I am thanking you now.
- Until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am thanking you now.
- Until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed, I am thanking you now.
I thank You because — I am alive; I made it through my trials and tribulations; I have walked through and around obstacles in 2015. I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and better in 2016. I am thanking You because You have not given up on me!
In the New Year may all Christians have a renewal and reaffirmation of hope and God’s Peace, as we look forward to that day when Christ’s Kingdom will be manifested and we experience it in its fullness, when justice will fall down like rain on earth.
Remember Christians that faith in God provides eternal life and eternal life manifests itself in worship. Learn to Worship God in His beauty.
Your life and your experiences have meaning and purpose, even though your purpose might not be apparent to you at this time. Trust God because He knows the path that you must take.
For the New Year, I give you thanks for your enrichment, “The Beauty of Grace” by Ramona Logan, Image Advantage.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment . . .” 1 Peter 3:3-5
Clothe yourselves with humility, I Peter 5:5. Grace, II Corinthians 12:7-10.
Clothe yourselves in compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and love, Colossians 3:12-14. Put on righteousness and justice, Job 29:14 Put on garments of salvation, Isaiah 61:10.
Clothe with power from on high, Luke 24:49. Clothe with strength and dignity, Proverbs 31:25. Garment of praise, Isaiah 61:3. Clothe with joy, Psalm 30:11-12. Wisdom, Proverbs 4:7.
Beauty of discretion, Proverbs 11:22. Words from the heart, Proverbs 16:23-24. Tame the appetite, Proverbs 23:19-21. Physical discipline, Hebrews 12:12. Beauty treatments, Esther 2:12. “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” Proverbs 15:13.
You are reading my column; I know that, “You will have a Blessed Christmas.” Let us praise and thank God for His Blessings.
As the 2015 year is coming to a close, I truly thank God for all of my blessings, both naturally and spiritually.
And, I thank God for giving North Dallas Gazette the wonderful gift of our readers and partners in the newspaper business. May you and your family be blessed with God’s peace, God’s love, and God’s joy.
In 2016 may you have better health and a prosperous New Year. Happy New Year!
