In about one month, we took an around-the-world trip, had traveler’s sickness (and jet lag!), celebrated Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. With all these events in a row, it’s been more than four weeks since we had a regular schedule here at the house. 🙂 I’m not sure how hard it will be for all of us to get back to normal again after so wonderful of a break! But I think I’m ready for a healthier diet, early bedtimes, and much more exercise. 🙂 Here’s to a good start in 2021!
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
2020 was surely a year of growth for our family. New challenges brought new weaknesses, which allowed God to display His infinite strength, because His power is made perfect in our weakness. So as Paul reminds us above, looking back at this year, we were weak because in it God was shown to be strong. While difficulties are so…well, difficult; Christ’s power resting on us? We are glad for that. We want that. May God show us both more of our weakness and more of His mighty strength in 2021.
This has been my morning view, and I’ve been loving it:
These winter days by the fire are some of my very favorite. <3
20 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). – Matthew 1:20-23
About 33 years later, before He was to give up Himself for us on a cross for our sins, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6.
Do you see it? The way to God is free through Jesus!! No payment or sacrifice of our own could do it; only a perfect Lamb could pay the price for sin, because no amount of our good deeds could outweigh our serious crime of sinning against God. And that is why we celebrate Jesus coming at Christmas. He is God who put on flesh to rescue we who were lost without Him forever. He is my righteousness, my salvation, my God! Christ is truly the reason for joy-both now in 2020 and for all time.
Heading into 2021, I need a plan for my goals. I find that once I put my goals on paper, I am much more likely to want to accomplish them! I love having a fresh start in a new year, so I made this worksheet to help me line out what I would like to accomplish in 2021:
If you want to try it for yourself, you can click on the image or download it here for free! 🙂
Saying goodbye is always hard. And even more so when you’re not sure when you’ll be back. Somehow friends become family quickly in a foreign place, and leaving them feels like saying farewell to your brothers and cousins. Leaving friends makes leaving a country for home much more difficult. As Shakespeare wrote: “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
Goodnight, dear Islamabad, and farewell, dear friends.
Our visit to Lahore was incredible. I can’t wait to share more when the video goes up, Lord-willing! I LOVE this charming city and already can’t wait to go back.
Without a doubt, traveling abroad in 2020 brought new challenges, but these two people were pretty excited to be headed east once more:
Who would have thought the sight of an airport would be so sweet? Welcome to December 2020! 😉
Masks were mandatory in the airport and on board the aircraft, but surprisingly, they didn’t make the flight terribly uncomfortable. I buy these cotton masks from LOFT and I love them over all others for sure!
Masks or no masks, one thing is for sure: I was glad to be traveling again in 2020. 😀
For the first time in 2020:
I’m flying again! I can hardly believe it’s happening, but I’m SO glad to board a plane again!
Looking for a lovely gift this year for the lady in your life? Here is your 2020 gift guide for adult women who are 30 years old or older. These are my very favorite things- things I would add to my own Christmas list!
