2013 Year in Review

~~ 2Timothy 1:7 (KJV) ~~ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

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by Carley Cooper

Carley on Bitstrips!

Another year has gone by.  How was your 2013?  Was it good?  Not so great?  Did you accomplish your goals?  Make any new friends?  Did you make any great memories with your loved ones?  Did you get closer to God?

The High’s & the Low’s

For me, some things have stayed the same; I’m still single, I’m still overweight (instead of losing weight, I gained), I still don’t have a car, Jesus hasn’t returned yet, and my hair still frustrates me.  Then there were some really upsetting points; I lost my dog that was 14 years old.  I also lost 2 friends (both young men) and my uncle; all to cancer.  Those were the low points of 2013.  However, there were many things that changed in 2013; and most of them were great changes.

There’s a Facebook feature that takes the 20 biggest moments from all your posts from last year and puts them into one thread called “2013 Year in Review”.  I have to say that it was interesting to see the items on the list.  Some of them I had already forgotten about.  It makes me wonder about the items that didn’t make the list.  I also wonder how Facebook seems to be able to determine so accurately from your posts what ones are the big and important ones.  But I guess that is a discussion for another day.  It made me realize that 2013 was a very good year; at least incomparison to 2012.  In that year I had a bad 6 month Bipolar Disorder episode with a series of breakdowns, I thought I was going crazy for certain, I had lots of medication changes, and one of my best friendships ended; and that was just for starters.  

During this year that just ended my high points included:

• I was featured on SparkPeople.com as a Spark People Motivator
• An articlewas written and published about me in the HuffingtonPost Canada, Living section
• I finished my manuscript ‘Cocoa with Jesus’
• I moved into a house where I get to be close to my family all the time
• I got a new puppy (a wonderful little Shih-Tzu that I’ve called Maggie)
• My doctors and I have found a fantastic medication cocktail that has kept my Bipolar Disorder stable all year long
• I went to the most wonderful women’s weekend women’s retreat where I made some new friends and had an amazing experience getting closer to God (Plus I won a wonderful handmade quilt on a raffle ticket)
• I got to do another short public speaking engagement about my weight loss and healthy living journey (watch the video here)
• I won a contest and my prize was 16 books by Christian authors
• I went to Scarborough, Ontario and spend some way overdue quality time with my BFF
• I made a big decision that, after many years, I want to return to work because I am well enough to do that fianally (part time, to start)
• And the sprinkles on the ‘sundae’ was discovering Bitstrips!  (LOL)

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind; They’re Good Things

Unlike 2012, this past year was a pleasant year.  All these things I see as blessings from God.  I got closer to Him this year.  I’ve overcome some of my fears, and my faith has grown along with God’s peace within me.  As a result my power and love have grown, and most of all the realization that no matter what my diagnosis is I have a sound mind.  

Focus on Jesus and You Will Be Blessed

So what about you?  What were your highlights, and your lowlights?  No matter what, God is with you and He wants to get closer to you.  As you look back at your 2013, have you grown from the past years?  Did you get to be more like Jesus?  Keep your eye on Him and you will grow and be blessed.  

Let’s Pray
~~ Dear God ~~ You are so graceful, loving, and merciful that I cannot even wrap my mind around it.  So often I try to live my life without looking to You for guidance.  Thank You for never giving up on me, and for helping me to grow and be blessed from year to year.  Please help me to continue growing to become more like Jesus with each passing year.  I pray this in Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn

Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site.  (If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.)

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Who Are You Thankful To?

~~ Romans1:21 (NIV) ~~  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

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by Carley Cooper

Photo courtesy of Google Images

In my small group we’re currently doing a study about being “fishers of men.”  One of our homework assignments was to write a thank you letter to the person we feel is responsible for leading us to Jesus.  Have you ever thought about it before, who you would write such a letter to, and what you would say?  It really made me stop think.  I mean, I grew up believing in Jesus.  I don’t know a life without that belief.  Yet at the same time, I didn’t know that there was such a thing as having a relationship with Him.  I was lead to the truth about God and Jesus during a series of counseling sessions with one of my pastors.  I had several big “light bulb” moments during this time.  The end result was I began a relationship with God, I forgave those in my past that needed forgiving, I repented, and I was put in a position to move ahead toward a path leading to God.  Here’s the letter that I wrote to Pastor:

Dear Pastor:

How do I begin to say thank you to the person who led me out of the darkness and into a world filled with light?  Don’t get me wrong... I don’t want to ignore the people who came before you; my parents, grandparents who taught me that there was a man named Jesus who died on a cross for me.  But that’s where it ended.  It was a wonderful story from a book.  I didn’t feel any more connected to God or Jesus then I did with any other historical character.  I didn’t know I could be.  It’s amazing how people live in the darkness their whole lives and don’t even know it.  Stepping out of that darkness to see the Truth in Jesus makes the whole world different.  It made me different.  When I was in a position to see finally myself, I couldn’t help but want to change.  I didn’t like what I saw. 

You taught me about church family, how to get closer to God and grow a relationship, and how to step out of my comfort zone.  You led me through abuse, forgiveness, and emotional breakdowns.  You taught me that I am indeed loved and lovable.  You even helped me learn to develop friendships with other women.  Most of all you showed me Jesus when you acted like Him in the face of my sins.

Though it seems so very insufficient, I just want to say “Thank you” for allowing God to use you to change me and my dark world.

Carley

I challenge you to write a letter to the person who led you to Christ.  You don’t necessarily have to mail it.  However, writing it would be a great exercise.

Let’s Pray

 ~~ Dear God ~~  All-knowing and loving Father, way to often I am living in the darkness and don't even try to get out.  Thank You for loving me no matter what.  Help me to know You better with each passing day, and to glorify You with everything that I do.  I want to thank You for everything You give me and do for me, but I especially want to thank You for never giving up on me. Help my heart and mind to never be foolish so that I don't ever have to go back to the darkened world.  In Jesus name, AMEN

Now It’s Your Turn 
Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site.  (If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.)