Happy New Year

It has been a while since I last wrote. We have been very busy around here.

This was Evan’s first Christmas. My little baby is growing so fast. He of course was more interested in the wrapping paper than the actual gifts. One of his gifts was an outfit just like Chris’s ACU’s. (Those are the digital camouflage for those of you who are not familiar with military terms.) He looked so adorable in them. Mom ordered them and even sewed Chris’s rank on his cap and his unit patch on his sleeve. He looked exactly like his Daddy. I guess the most fascinating part of the whole experience is at age 9 months, Evan looked so natural in the uniform. He has the military look already. I guess that is what I get for naming him Evan Bane. Evan means young warrior and Bane means destruction. For clarification, I did not know this until AFTER I named him and he was several months old.

Anyway, as Christmas came and left, it made me realize just how blessed we really are. Alana and Evan got more toys than Santa could possibly even hold in a sleigh. A lot of people were telling me what they had received as Christmas gifts and it will make you feel real blessed when you hear that some people got nothing. Although, sometimes I would rather someone else get everything I got instead of me.

So today is January 2, 2009. 2008 brought much stress but even more blessings. Here is a short list of some of the things that happened in 2008 for us: Chris was sworn in as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Chris began attending drills, Chris began attending school to get a Master’s in Divinity to become a Chaplain in the Army, I gave birth to our second child- a little boy named Evan, Evan was hospitalized with a UTI, e-coli, and c-diff bacteria, Evan has colic and has cried since birth, the doctors told us Evan possibly had asthma, surprise, they are wrong because my children have been healed by God……..that is just a few of the things we have experienced over the last year.

I guess the hardest thing for me in 2008 was to learn that I am not in control. No matter how much effort I put out or how much I think I can control what happens in my life, I have zero control. So now, I have learned to let go and let God have control. I believe I got too comfortable in my life and God had to let me know that my life is not for me to live for me, it is for me to live for Him. As Toby Mac says in one of his songs, “How could I forget that I was born to love you, I was born just for you, made to adore you.” So this year I am going to move forward knowing that God has a perfect plan for our lives and that as long as I am living for Him, He will always take care of me.

Over the next year I will try and remember this:

Jeremiah prayed, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)

Later in the book of Jeremiah, this is what God has to say, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…..” Jeremiah 29:11-14

What a wonderful God we serve.

I encourage you; if you are reading this and are not saved, if you haven’t accepted Jesus in your heart as your personal Savior, please do so now before it is too late. Why not? You have tried everything else to find happiness, why not try just giving your life to the one have gave it to you to begin with? Make 2009 the year for you to give your life to God once and for all. If you don’t know what to say or how to pray, here is an example:

Jesus, I give my heart and my life to you. Please forgive me for my sins and the bad things I have done. Help me to please you in all that I do. Lead me down the right road and help me to be obedient to you, In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Reading the Bible will help you lead a more stable and obedient life. There is no excuse not to read the Bible. A lot of people say they have trouble understanding the Bible but there are many translations that you can purchase that will help you learn and understand. I have a Bible called Life Application Study Bible. It is in the New International Version, which is much easier to understand than King James. Not only are the actual verses easier to understand, there are notes at the bottom of the pages that explain the verses in more depth.

If you need help finding the Bible that is right for you, you can research them at different book store websites or you can email me at caacameron@aol.com and I will be happy to help you find a good Bible.

I hope everyone reading this has a very wonderful new year loaded with the many wonderful blessings of God.