Following a busy and enjoyable holiday season, it is now the start of a new year. Well, we are 28 days in but you get the point. Being the beginning of a new year, I suppose this is an opportunity to be reminded throughout 2024 that God is in control. Many thoughts and feelings regarding future endeavors and responsibilities consumed my thoughts rolling into the new year. One might call it a sense of anxiousness. In recent personal reading, reflection, and natural conversation, a subtle hint at Philippians 4:6 would consistently emerge.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
This is a good reminder that I can–no, should–come before the Lord for everything. My tendency is to try and figure everything out on my own. I am a planner and logistician by nature. I, however, can forget that my plans are not always God’s plans. This was apparent in my new project (stepped away for a while), A Couple New Things. In short, I had a week of travel that started as a train ride out of Seattle and ended at a beach church service on O’ahu. It was an uncomfortable adventure in the moment, but every step was directed by God and I had to constantly remind myself to be anxious for nothing. Apparently, I’ve got more work to do relying on God.
So, that’s the plan. Trust God with the process and pray fervently knowing I can only control that which I can control. Hmmm. . . this sounds a lot like a previous post. 🤔
December was a whirlwind of activity. We had our Ramsey Solutions [epic] Christmas Party, my brother stayed at my place and hung out, I went to the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, the whole family was in Kentucky for Christmas, my immediate family was with me (at my new house) in Tennessee for New Years, and there was another drill weekend mixed in there.
The most unique thing to happen this month was the Middle Tennessee Snowpocalypse. We all went home over one weekend knowing it may snow. Turns out we averaged 7″ of snow all around. Tennessee doesn’t do snow well and, well, we all got snowed in. Then we all got iced in because the roads froze and were horrible to drive on. I ended up working from home the entire week because local streets were sheets of ice. Thankfully I had already bought my milk and bread before everyone was thinking about snow. You know, because milk and bread will create a shield against all weather enemies. I don’t know. It’s science.
I look forward to what this year brings. After reviewing my calendar for the first six months, it is actually going to be full of local and not-so-local activity. Of course much of my travels will be for the Marine Corps. After all, I did pick “Travel” as one of the little tags at the recruiting station. So there’s that.
My hope for this year, and life in general, is to keep God top of mind. Knowing that He is in control of everything brings about a peace which surpasses all understanding. It is good to know that I can bring my burdens before the Lord because I cannot do life alone. We cannot do life alone.
Thank you to the ones who still read these. Hope the update was worthwhile. Please pray with me as I navigate two careers (civilian and Marine Corps) and make long-term decisions today. More immediate, pray for safe travels throughout the year. Finally, I pray that I would be anxious for nothing. Until next time: Be strong. Love God. Love others.
rejoice.always
The Wild Ride 