I’m writing this in a state of shock,
The calendar says the same thing too;
I now embrace the blur of time,
So I’m wishing you fast, happy days,
Happy New Year to each of you!
Who can believe that it’s already December 31, 2012? This year has flown by us. Looking back, it’s been a year of ups and downs, highs and lows. We’ve experienced some wondrous blessings from the Lord, because He is still a God of miracles! We’ve also faced some difficult days~serious health problems among friends and family, and the loss of a beloved pet, our little Chloe.
Looking forward, this is a time of celebration and renewal. We are ready to put the old year behind and move into the future, knowing that God has a plan for each of our lives. Once we know the Lord as our personal Savior, He will always stand beside us, in good times and bad.
I want to sincerely thank my dear friend Regina Swarn, http://reginaswarnworldentertainment.com/ for her constant love and support. Her faith in me has inspired me to continue sharing my thoughts with you. Her bubbly personality, her generosity, and her loving kindness have made such a difference in my life and the lives of many others.
This being said, I’d like to reflect briefly on one of my posts from 2012 ~ the blog entitled “Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win.”
http://beckylagace.blogspot.com/2012/07/never-never-never-give-up.html
This article was written before the information regarding Lance Armstrong’s doping charges was exposed. I used Mr. Armstrong as an example of someone who has fought valiantly to overcome life threatening cancer. Although he has been stripped of most of his awards and honors, I still believe that Mr. Armstrong has accomplished great things. If he hasn’t accomplished anything else, he’s become an inspiration for millions who are battling advanced cancer. That in itself is admirable. He was diagnosed with~and treated for~advanced Stage 3 testicular cancer which had already spread to his abdomen, lungs, and brain. His recovery is amazing. One of his most famous quotes is this:
“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”
Today his foundation, LIVESTRONG, http://www.livestrong.org/ offers support for cancer patients in a variety of ways and has raised millions of dollars for cancer research.
I would never condone selling or using any kind of dope. And though I heartily oppose the use of any drugs, I would still cite him as a man of great courage and perseverance. Someone who, against terrible odds, fought and overcame a horrible disease. Someone who is a daily reminder that cancer can be beaten! He is an inspiration to all who have cancer or have been affected by this awful scourge.
I’d like to leave you with a verse of scripture that is dear to my heart, as we look toward the New Year. And this verse is a good guide for our futures:
“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13-14.
May this be a year in which we seek the Lord Jesus Christ with all our being, and may we glorify God with our lives. May each of us know His peace, joy, and love; and may we be the light of the world to those around us!