Well, here it is again: Something else new upon us. At Christmas perhaps you got a new coat. Or maybe you're like a friend of mind who got a new vehicle. Wow! Oh Wow! As for me, I got a new knife set! (ha.. yay for Pam's cooking skills). New. New. New....yet don't forget: we all got something else new, as well. In fact, we all received it at the same time on December 31 at midnight: a new year.

Have you determined what you're going to do with it? Will you wear it well like a sweater? Will you drive it carefully like a car? Or will you put it to good use like a knife set? After all, you get to choose what you're going to do with it. Not 'to choose' is to place yourself in a stagnant drift dictated by your circumstances and emotions, but 'to choose' is to set yourself on a positive course of action; therefore, I suppose the old adage makes perfect sense: If you don't make plans where you're going, then every road will get you nowhere.

So I'm asking myself the question, "Pam, what's going to be your main spiritual objective in 2012? Where are you going this year?" I have lots of areas to choose from, all of them revolving around personal weaknesses. I could say, Lord, overhaul the thoughts in my attitude.  Or Lord, empower me to praise you more in all things. These would be great, but another one stands out above the rest: Lord, increase my faith. Lead me to believe that when I can't see an answer to my prayers, I can trust your heart knowing that for now, "that's" your answer concerning my request.

Why is it as women we can have a plethora of bountiful blessings in our lives (like eight healthy fingers), yet those two thumbs of seemingly unanswered prayers become the focal point of our spiritual well-being? Lord, all is well... except this. When will we learn that our "except this's" are a monumental part of the government of God's will for us at that moment in time, not eight perfect fingers only, but also two sore thumbs. "Lord," I ask, "just enlarge my faith enough to cover the entire hand and teach me in the process to celebrate Your presence remembering you never withhold anything good from me."

So it's elevated faith I'm seeking in 2012:

• MORE capacity to live in the invisible realm of God's promises over the visible domain of earth's momentary predicaments
• MORE grace to thank God for the 'sore thumbs' over the temptation to question why He won't fix them immediately
• MORE determination to give God glory in ALL things over the tendency to lose sight that His plan is currently at work

How about you? What do you need an extra dose of in 2012?

• MORE joy? Lord, if joy is a choice, then enable me to pick it.
• MORE courage? Lord, even if it doesn't turn out the way I had planned, I will still trust You.
• MORE endurance? Lord, whether I live or die, You will supply the strength I need to persevere - one moment at a time.

MORE! God the Father is in the business of MORE! Jesus Himself said so.

Matthew 7:9-11 encourages -

Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will give him a snake, will he? If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much MORE shall your Father give to those who ASK Him!

So there you have it. Take an inventory of what you need to be more like Christ, and then ask for it. 

 Pam

See Pam's blog. It's a true story -"The Water Bottle." Oh, that we would have the faith of a ten year old when it comes to asking God for our needs.   ENJOY!