Saying Goodbye to 2010

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2010, some of us will look back at the year that was. As I reflect on the past year I have to say it was a year of trials for my family.

I returned to the workforce full time after being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years.
I was a part of the leadership team that started a new church.
I preached at a homeless shelter for men.
I preached an Easter Sermon in an old, historic church.
I started Seminary. I quit Seminary.
My father-in-law suffered a massive stroke that left one side of his body paralyzed.
My second daughter became a teenager, making me the mom of two teen girls.
And I turned 40!

These are just some of the trials we encountered, I could list several more. But I don’t want to focus on the trials of life. Instead I want to share with you a new way I found of looking at trials. I recently participated in a Bible study on the book of Daniel. One of my favorite stories in Daniel is the story of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego. I learned some new things from that story that will change how I remember the year 2010 and how I embrace the new year ahead of us. I learned that there are three scenarios to any fiery trial. God can take you away from it, God can take you thru it, or God can take you in it. Of course, we would prefer the 1st scenario; I would have preferred that my father-in-law not have had a massive stroke. But I had faith that God would see him & us thru the stroke & recovery; this refers to the second scenario. The third scenario would have meant that God would have taken Charles to Heaven during the stroke, & I know Christ well enough to be comfortable with that scenario if it had happened.

But I want to share with you the most amazing part I learned this time. Daniel 3:26-27 says, “So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” They came out of the fire with no smell of fire on them! I just can’t imagine that. I think of camping, one of my favorite things about camping is the smell of a campfire. But when I get home I can’t wait to get that smell out of my hair & clothes & pillow. Can you imagine being in a fiery furnace & coming out not smelling of smoke? That is how God wants us to come out of our fiery trials. He doesn’t want us to come out smelling like putrid smoke, & carrying that stink with us wherever we go. Think of Pig-Pen from Snoopy & how everywhere he goes there is that dust cloud that follows him. This is not how I am to remember the year 2010. I do not want to look back at the year & only see & smell smoke. I am choosing to look back at 2010 & see the Glory of God in that year, to see His hand at work, to see my family trusting Him, to see how many blessings He has poured out, to thank Him for being my rock & my redeemer! So, let me reinterpret my year for you.

I was blessed with a good job at a great company & I get the pleasure of working with some terrific people!
I was able to help start a new church!
I had the privilege of preaching at a homeless shelter for men & watching as eyes filled with tears as the Holy Spirit moved among us!
I was lucky enough to get to preach an Easter sermon in this terrific old stone church, it was awesome!
I started Seminary and realized that I am not capable of working a full-time job, taking classes and caring for my family so I did the smart thing and quit Seminary for now.
My father-in-law is a stroke survivor! He is able to recognize us. He is able to communicate with us. And he is regaining feeling in his arms & legs.
I have 2 teenage girls who are growing into beautiful young women, on the inside & outside! And I am very lucky to be their mom!
I have lived 40 very blessed years & am looking forward to many more!


I hope that 2nd list doesn’t smell of smoke like the 1st list did. I hope that it glorifies God. It is my prayer that when you look back on the year 2010 you don’t see & smell smoke. And that you enter 2011 with the Glory of God shining on your face!