What's Happening in 2020?!!

I have to start off by confessing that I'm not a serious blogger. My last entry was in 2014! But I won't go on about that.

Every year, when it ends, seems to have gone by so quickly and 2019 was no exception. It was a pretty significant year for us as we celebrated 50 years of marriage. In preparation I walked down memory lane as I browsed through 50 years of pictures to put together some digital photo albums. In doing this I felt so totally blessed by the journey we have had together and the family and friends God has put into our lives! 

Thinking back to 1969 reminded me of the rough start we had. There was an unplanned pregnancy, a hastily arranged marriage and, having had just just one year of college, neither of us had jobs. I am so thankful that we chose to give life to our first born son. This reminds me a bit of Mary and Joseph, the unplanned pregnancy, and the difficulty of their journey. I can identify in a small and thankful way. We went on to have a daughter and the rest of the journey is, well, history, as the saying goes. There have been many difficulties along the way, but also many blessings. Your story is different, but also a mixture of difficulties and blessings. Some have more blessings and others have more difficulties, but no one escapes life without some scars. 

As we watched the news last night they did a very short year in review. It was filled with natural disasters, mostly floods and wildfires, shootings, as well as famous people who died, most of whom I had never heard of. But I did recognize Jean Vanier, Ron Joyce and Doris Day. It's always a reminder of the fragility of life, and the certainty of death. Most who died were older, but not all. 

So, what's happening in 2020?! We have some plans, some places we plan to visit. We plan to go to Mexico, the Azores and Newfoundland, God willing. Whenever I think of plans, I always think "God willing", that is, if God allows us to live another year, and if things go as planned, if no serious health issues arise, or other serious interruptions, then these are the things we are planning to do. One friend is getting married this year, one friend is celebrating 80 years this year. There are babies due this year, someone is buying a house,  graduating from school. You have plans. What are your plans? 

What's happening in 2020? Maybe some exciting events. Maybe some life changing unexpected interruptions. My friend did not expect to become homeless with two children. Another friend in Africa, with 16 orphans to care for, did not expect to have to find new accommodations this year. How many landlords will allow 16 children in a small affordable home? Wild fires and floods can be life altering unexpected events the news was full of this year. I saw hundreds of homes totally burnt to the ground. A friend had the river come right through the basement of their home. The same friend also had a cancer diagnosis. Isn't one unexpected event a year enough?! 

So, what's happening in 2020? One thing is certain. The unexpected can certainly be expected. But God.....God is the constant in our ever changing world, in our ever changing lives. He is the anchor in my ever changing life. Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." This speaks of Jesus, a shelter in the time of storms. He is with us by the Holy Spirit. God the Father is always listening for our calls to Him. Jesus intercedes for us. He is our High Priest. This is the promise to those who believe in the One born that Christmas Day so long ago, fortold by prophets. Isaiah prophecied 700 years before Jesus was born, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." One small child, unplanned, unexpected, entered history according to God's exact time and plan. Will you trust Jesus in 2020, with all of your heart, with your unexpected events, be they blessings or trials? 1 John 4:14 says, "the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." Savior from sin. God's plan to redeem you and me. One of my prayers is that all of my family and friends would spend eternity together in Heaven. God provided the way. Will you believe it? "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Will you receive the greatest gift ever in 2020?