Enduring the Process by Jessie Garcia

With over 20 years of ministerial service, I am a dedicated servant of God. My passion is to live and work for God and bring others into an intimate relationship with God. I understand that this life comes with many challenges and many have stumbled along the way. I am committed to helping those get back up and continue their journey towards a successful walk with God. God’s Kingdom will advance with strong men and women building strong families. their comfort zone and take a new path that led

Looking forward while overcoming the past.

As we sit back and reflect on all that we have endured in 2020, one can only sit and wonder as to where our thoughts want to take us. Our faith was tested and our patience was put through the fire. Many saw the hand of God move through their lives, and others have encountered death and destruction. Some of us were drawn closer to God, and others drifted away. Some took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves while others fell victim to the unfortunate events that took place.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV) reminds us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” As we near the end of 2020, although many have come out victorious, the battle that we all fought had taken its toll. The burdens that come from our daily way of living were augmented through the events that took place during this year. Christmas time brings the opportunity to look back at the battles we have endured and allows us the blessing to not only see how much we endured, it also signifies that we are nearing the end of one chapter and going to open a new one.

As the shepherds were out attending to the flock, they noticed a star that normally was not there. They relied on the stars to navigate their journey. Coming to a determination that something was new allowed them to get out of their comfort zone and take a new path that led them to the Savior. They could have noticed the change in the stars, yet continued living their normal lives. The disruption in the stars prompted them to make some changes that would affect the rest of their lives. Witnessing the birth of our Lord and Savior would lead them down a new path.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV)

One can assume that the shepherds had nothing but time on their hands to see the new star. It was their job to be out with the sheep, and it is easy to assume that the shepherds stayed awake all night attending to their flock. We never seem to think that these men would walk for miles seeking a place to feed the sheep. They grow weary, hunger, thirst, and also get distracted attending to the needs of each sheep as well as the whole. To think their lives were any different from ours is a false claim; they too were humans with the basic needs of life. They not only had to care for the sheep, but they also had to attend to their families and other obligations.

As we come to the end of 2020, what is it that you are seeking; where is your focus fixed on? Are you focusing on the things above or on the things at eye level? Are you still trying to figure out the events that took place in your life during 2020, seeking meaning and understanding of these events? Are you choosing to grow and gain experience, or are you lamenting all the loss? Though it is unfair to compare losses, we can all agree that up to a certain point, we all have suffered losses, some more than others. Also, we have all gained, some more than others, yet we have all gained.

There is a light looming above us all, letting us know that the Savior is still in our midst. His light is still shining as bright as it first did when God gave us that gift of life at the birth of His son Jesus. We all live busy lives. We have to attend not only to our own needs, but the needs of our families, our job, and all the obligations we have. It is easy for us all to become distracted, causing us to miss the light that is shining before us. This Christmas time, let us remember the light that was given to us to direct us down a better path. Let the light bring light to our future and leaving our past behind us in the darkness, never allowing our past to come to light.

As we come to a close in 2020, we can bring a new light into our 2021. We can allow the light to strengthen our faith, having the confidence that God brought us through the difficulties during the 2020 year. 2021 can bring forth a new blessing. Let us allow the Lord and Savior the ability to bring blessing and prosperity to our lives and the lives of our families. Let us not go astray while the light is shining above us. Let us seek those things that are above to bring blessing to all that is around us. Let us bring back the light of God into the center of our lives.

Let us look forward while leaving the past behind us. “… up to this point, the Lord has helped us,” (1 Sam. 7:12 NLT)

In Love With Marriage by Jessie Garcia is available at Amazon.com Click the book cover to go directly to this book.