Ready or not…

By January 12, 2018Blog

Not only is it 2018, January is almost half over!! So why am I just getting to my first blog of the year.  Oh my, there are many reasons.  Recent work on my website and the fact that I am not the most tech savvy person around is one of the main reasons. There are some posts out in internet never, never land for sure.  Were it not for my very patient, very tech savvy pastor I probably still would not be posting.  Thanks, Ryan Johnson!!

For the last few years instead of writing resolutions or goals Larry and I have chosen a “word” for the year.  Jon Gordan first introduced us to this concept and we both liked it.  This year, however, as I tried to chose a word or hear from the Lord what my word should be it just wasn’t there.  Last year my word was uncomfortable.  Does that sound strange?  The idea was to get out of my comfort zone.  Try new things, open my home more, be inconvenienced, go it alone if necessary to seek our personal growth.  I loved that word.  It may have been my favorite yet, but this year, nothing came.  As Larry and I were discussing the issue a few days after the New Year he told me that he wasn’t choosing a word this year.  Instead of a word he was choosing a verse of scripture.  Immediately I knew what my scripture should be, no hesitation.  It is one of my all time favorite verses that offers a huge challenge for the new year.  The verse…

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your GOD.”  Micah 6:8

What more could we strive for in 2018 than those 3 things that the Lord requires of us.

To do justly–according to Merriam-Webster would be acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good; conforming to a standard of correctness.  For the Christian it means so much more, like conforming to the standard God has given us in His Word, to treat others fairly, the way we would like to be treated, to love our neighbor as ourselves

To love mercy–on my soul, that’s a mouthful because it doesn’t mean love only the mercy given us but to love and bestow that same mercy on others.  I have often said that we desire mercy for ourselves and justice for everyone else.

To walk humbly with our God—not just walk with our God but walk humbly, realizing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him and that of ourselves we can do NO GOOD THING.  Now that should keep anyone humble.

So, for 2018, that’s my verse, that’s my goal, that’s my resolution and I realize without a doubt I cannot accomplish any of it without the Lord’s power and indwelling Spirit.  Will I fail—well, yes; I already have!  But thankfully He remains the God of mercy and forgiveness and I know He will grant me another chance.

(P.S. And, I had a beautiful graphic of the verse but it also is out in internet never, never land)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janice Pitchford

Janice Pitchford

Janice Pitchford lives with her husband Larry in the quiet southeast Alabama town of Abbeville, She is a mother, grandmother,registered nurse, speaker, trainer, and author. Her career in health care spanning four decades has brought a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to any business arena. She is a member of the Igniting Souls Tribe and Author Academy Elite led by Kary Oberbrunner as well as a member, certified speaker, and trainer with the John Maxwell Team. A woman of faith, her passion is to help others find meaning and fulfillment at every stage of life and to FINISH WELL!!

One Comment

  • Bill Picciano says:

    Hi Janice, It’s Judy and Bill from WW. I tried to send you and email at y0ul comcast address, but I’m not sure it went through, so I’m copying it here…..
    WILLIAM PICCIANO
    Fri 4/1/2022 1:34 PM
    Friday, April 1, 2022

    Dear Janice,

    What a gift from God that you, Larry and Jonathan received in Dawn. Thank you from both of our hearts for giving us the JOY and HONOR of knowing Dawns journey through your beautiful and soul-searching book, “Finishing Well”. However, I must tell you that you owe us a box of tissues, because both Judy and I cried throughout the entire book.

    Judy started reading your book, or I should say Dawn’s story, on Wednesday evening. I chased her to bed, as she wanted to finish it and it was passed our normal bedtime. The next day when I asked about the book, she said, “when you finish it, we will discuss it.” So, late afternoon on Thursday, I started reading about Dawn’s Journey. I finished the book after midnight and wanted badly to discuss it with Judy, but she was asleep.

    Today, Friday morning, after breakfast we sat down and talked about Dawn and her story and the first thing we spoke about was her amazing strength, intelligence and knowledge, that seemed so far advanced for her tender years. What a gift from God to all who knew her and will come to know her through your journals and subsequent book. Judy, said “Dawn seems like she was an old soul”. People used to say that about our granddaughter Jessica, because as a toddler, she seemed so advanced. However, our Jessica was very self-centered, while Dawn seemed to be much more caring and loving.

    It was very hard for us to come to grips with all our own feelings, because of everything that an individual carries from their own life. But we both were so touched by Dawn’s story and how much she affected people when she walked this earth, and probably even more so now that she is in the palm of Our Father’s gentle hands. It felt a bit like her personal Calvery here on earth. The words we discussed that we got from reading her journey were, loving, caring, gracious, strong, humble, and at times both grown-up and a normal teenager. She was, and still is, so beautiful, both inside and outside, we’re sure. We are so happy that you put that Angelic picture of Dawn on the cover of the book, as it makes us feel like we know her.

    In my Book, “Memories of Days Gone By”, I talk about my friend Kenny who I went to Grammar School with, that died from leukemia. I was devastated at the news of Kenny’s death, as he was so young and strong, that I couldn’t wrap my head around his death. I never truly knew details of Kenny’s journey, but your book about Dawn, puts it in prospective and possibly Kenny went through something very similar.

    I told Judy that when I awoke early this morning, it was still a bit dark. I was reading my devotionals and as soon as I saw a little light, I got up to watch the sunrise, as we both love sunrises and sunsets. I want to tell you that your beautiful daughter will always be remembered by us, as we will never watch another sunrise without thinking about Dawn – the perfect name that you and Larry gave to her, as with every dawn, there is hope for a new and better day. I have a little note on my desk that reads, “Hopefully today will be a better day than yesterday and tomorrow will be even better, as we thank you Lord for another day.
    Love, Judy and Bill

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