May His Essence be Enhanced in You!

As Is Customary on this Day….Happy New Year!

My husband and I celebrated quietly last night. We were fortunate to have lunch with friends of 24 years yesterday. They moved several years ago and we virtually have raised our children together. We have kept in touch and we still consider them some of our oldest and dearest friends.

But our celebration last night was quiet….we are waiting on the call from our niece about her mother. Connie, my sister in law has been bravely battling cancer for months now. Hospice has been called in…it is just a matter of time, unless God performs a physical miracle here on this side of heaven.

I ran over the other day alone to visit her and tell her that I would do whatever she needed in the future. She is one of the kindest, caring, most sincere people I have ever had the honor of knowing. She knows Jesus, and she knows where she will spend eternity. She is ready and peaceful about it.

Several years ago I lost a very good friend to cancer in a similar matter. She was 43 and I tried to encourage her when we were together…we laughed, we cried, I would sit in bed with her and talk about the Lord. How precious she was to me and many others.

So, what can be said? Most of you reading this have been touched by cancer in some way. In my estimation it is plain, ‘ole evil.

It invades and takes up residence without permission. It tries to take away the essence of who people are…

…..but oddly enough, many times in the Believer it only enhances the essence of who they are….

Websters defines essence this way:

the basic nature of a thing : the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
: a substance that contains in very strong form the special qualities (such as the taste and smell) of the thing from which it is taken

Love that!!

Again this year, we do not make resolutions. We find them too “binding” and “legalistic”. Once put under the law, we are bound to break it.

So our PRAYER this year is that the ESSENCE of who we truly are in Christ is ENHANCED by the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:7

We could face many things in the coming year. There will be joyous things, there will be sad things. There will be celebrations along with storms.

But whatever the circumstance….May that ESSENCE run out of us as water runs down a mountain stream.

I do not want to be known….I want JESUS CHRIST to be known through me.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I covet your prayers at this time for my sister in law, her family and friends.

~Be Blessed
IN CHRIST ALONE