Happy New Year, friends. How are you doing? How did you ring in 2022? Did you take some time to reflect on 2021 and the memorable moments of the year, personally and communally? Have you reflected on your personal accomplishments in 2021? Are you planning things for 2022? (Could I pray along with you specifically, for a goal or two you have in 2022? I’d love to, if you’d like to share. Just click on the black “2022 Goals Prayer Request” button on the left hand side of the screen.)

Last week, I scrolled through photos that I took throughout 2021 (scrolling through photos is a great way to reflect on the past year), and I was surprised to see some moments that seem to have happened eons ago. For me, 2021 was packed with activities, and my mind processed a lot of changes, and all of it created this illusion of eons of time passing by. One big thing, I think, that has packed my days and mind, is my finally settling into my role as a writer. I joined a writers’ association, and I’ve been setting aside intentional time for writing, and learning about writing and publishing. I have a few projects in motion. And other ideas are always in the back – or are about to spill out – of my mind, this blog and my new devotional writings being one of them.

If you are reading this, I’d like to say thanks so much for taking a moment to check out my blog and devotional writings. There are a lot of things and other authors out there that you could read, and a lot of other things you could spend your time on, but you’ve stopped for a moment to spend some time here, and I don’t take that lightly. It means something. (Likely, it means that you’re my mom, one of my aunts, my sister, or one of my best friends, and you are reading this out of charity or support. Thanks a lot, and if that’s the case, well, you are welcome. But, if you are tired of me, you could pass this along via social media, and help me to find an audience who needs/enjoys my writing as much as you did in the beginning before you got bored, so as to take some pressure off yourself? Please? And thanks again, for your faithful support.)

Anyhow, my devotional time with God, reading the Gospels and writing and praying my thoughts over these scriptures, has been one of my favorite habits that I’ve been able to form over the past few years. (Thanks, to my aunt, Diane, who prodded me into this habit.)

I’ve been so consistent in this habit – most times privately, and sometimes publicly – that I recently said to myself, (as I was tossing and turning in my bed late at night, thinking of my writing life, and probably disturbing my fast-asleep husband), “Sara, you’ve got a blog that you pay for every year, and you’ve hardly posted a thing on it. What a waste! What are you doing!? You write wonderful [this was the delusional, late-night brain kicking in] devotionals fairly consistently. Why not publish some of them on your blog, so that they might benefit others, too?”

And then I answered myself, “You’re right. Okay. I’ll start doing that.”

And so then I did, towards the beginning of December, and it’s been going pretty well. I enjoy it. And a few of you enjoy reading it, also. (Maybe? Or maybe I’m being delusional again.) Anyhow, I took a Christmas break, but I am going to continue. Except, I will be going back to the beginning of the Gospel books, with Matthew, and I will rehash some of the stuff that God highlighted to me in the past. I will also, as much as I can, include pieces of my life story over the years, as practical illustrations, and to provide a sometimes comical and hopefully always relatable and imagery-rich, reading experience.

The first few devotionals, that I’ll begin publishing on Monday, January 3rd, actually just so happen to relate to God’s promises, visions and goals for our lives. I hope you find them useful and encouraging for your goal-setting at the new year, and that you gain some wisdom and knowledge about how to fight for your goals. Also, I believe you will learn about how to support others in accomplishing the goals that God has for them.

Again, thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. I hope you won’t be shy to leave a comment, and that we’ll connect in conversation soon. (Also again, please feel free to click on the “2022 Goals Prayer Request” button on the left, and I’ll be so happy to pray along with you about a goal or two that you have for this new year.)