I was reading in the Old Testament how God led His people through the desert by a cloud.“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out, but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lords’ command they encamped and at the Lord’s command they set out.” Numbers 9: 22,23
Today we do not have a lit up cloud to guide our path . . . in fact, sometimes it may seem like clouds dim our view . . . but we have God’s written Word to light our way . . . and we have access to His leading through prayer.
It is my prayer that I will listen and hear God’s voice . . . as expressed in Psalm 25:4,5
“Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths:
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior
and my hope is in you all day long.
teach me your paths:
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remind me, dear Lord, that I can ask more often. I can ask before worrying or fretting . . . because you delight in giving to those who ask. And when you ask me to sit a while and wait . . . whether it be day a or two or a year or two, remind me that You see way ahead of me. I can trust your faithfulness.
24 comments:
What a great post. It's funny, I was just thinking yesterday about answered prayers... sometimes with a "yes", sometimes with a "no", often with a "wait". The "wait" is definitely the hardest! Happy New Year.
That exact verse was in my thoughts this morning as I began the day with prayer. Thank you for your words. They blessed me this morning.
A great prayer for every day. Thank you for the encouragement...
Amen Anneliese. .thank you!
My prayer too! Amen!
"I can ask before worrying or fretting . . . " If only I could remember that each time a difficulty arises! So, like you, I pray that He will remind me.
Yes! We can trust His faithfulness for every step of the way! He has gone before us! It has been a long while since I've visited you and I'm glad I stopped by today. Blessings to you in the New Year!
I just realized that you have a blog. I have seen you at church and at the hair salon...I find that you are very snobby and you never sing in church...you act like you are better than others and won't even show a smile. You act very stuck up. Your blog reflects very different than who you truly are.
Sorry, to point this out.
Tammi Lynne Fraser
Thank you, I needed this reminder today as we start a new year. This is also my prayer for this year.
alvina
I love this thought today. It is wonderful and gave me just the message I needed.
In response to Tammi …
I don’t know what to say . . . especially since I do not know who it is that has been watching me. I am sorry that your impression of me has not been anything like what I am on the blog. There is no use pretending that I am perfect and I am sure I have unknowingly offended people along the way. I do not always smile . . . I sing when I can… one of the first things I would change about myself, if I could, is to give myself a singing voice … but it is not to be and so I follow along … I guess you have not seen the tears in my eyes?
Maybe this blog shows that we cannot judge people by their looks or whether they sing in church. I would love to say hello to you and let you know just how normal I am.
By the way, I get my hair done in a home salon and rarely meet another person there… so I’m hoping this whole “recognition” is a mistake. Even so ... you have given me something to think about and challenged me.
Perceptions of others...who are we really? Whether a mistaken identity or not, everyone sees us differently.
I get together regularly with a group of women. One of them said to me recently, "You're way more fun than I thought you would be." Well, thank you, I think? Comments like this, and like the one that Tammi has written, make us question our true identity. It's a good exercise, actually.
Interestingly, I have never met Anneliese in person, only through blogging. She has been friendly, warm, and caring in our interactions. I appreciate our friendship and hope to meet her someday.
Great verse for the new year.
To Tammi Lynne Fraser,
I feel it is very uncalled for for you to make a comment like this in a public forum. If you have something negative to say to my Mom, since you apparently see her on a regular basis, I would suggest you go to her privately.
Have you ever actually met her? Like actually gone up to her and said "hi"? If so, you will find that she is one of the kindest people you know. She will give out of the goodness of her heart just to help people. She is not very outgoing, so maybe you have misjudged her by assuming she is being stuck up? If you knew her personally you would find out that she is very sincere and loving. And because of her generosity in numerous ways, she has been blessed.
My Mom is right, she doesn't have the best singing voice, but she worships from her heart. And isn't that what God looks at? He doesn't care if you sing the loudest or the best, but that your heart and mind are worshiping Him.
I hope that the next time you see my Mom you will choose to have a conversation with her instead of leaving a nasty comment on her blog.
Sincerely,
Kristal
Just chiming in here, regular reader but first time to comment. Mrs. F. (not sure if you are sharing your last name here!) I have always found you to be warm and kind. When I was in high school with Kristal you would always bless us with snacks and treats on long after school practices. To this day when I meet you in public you remember my name and are so warm and friendly. Please brush off these comments as untrue and unfounded!
Also, loved your post today.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Trish Mathison (nee Isaak)
I have often found that the very person I have judged in my heart as snobby or unfriendly is often one who is naturally reserved or shy. Tammi, I've known Anneliese personally for several years and before that through a close friend. My advice to you is to take the time to introduce yourself to A and get to know her. She is kind and forgiving and always gracious. Her blog truly reflects who she is when no one is looking.
Anneliese - thank you for the lovely New Year's post. It's a beautiful analogy of God's consistant love and care for us.
I'm smiling...and I'm thinking to myself....a ski photo?....Oh Anneliese, did you steal that off my sight and if you did...I'd be smiling more. I know how much you love the frigid temperatures of the snowy ski hills. You always continue to surprise me.
I think a good down hill ski with me could be very therapeutic right now....
My your heart be clouded over completely with the comments that were left to you today...It's appalling to know that someone would use this forum to discredit who you are...
I' have so appreciated getting to know who you are over the past three years.
To Tammi Lynn, that was mean and uncalled for. Maybe you should read Matthew 7, no time? then here it is.
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Jessie
Whoever you are Tammi Lynne Fraser you obviously have a bad case of mistaken identity.....our friend Anneliese is one of the kindest, most generous giving people I have ever known.....I am so sad for you that you felt it necessary to leave a nasty comment like this on an open forum. You are obviously a very hurting lady who needs some love.
Long time reader, first time commenting-I feel compelled to say something:
I do not have the privilege of knowing A personally, but I attended school with her daughter. I have enjoyed her blog for a while and am astounded at the comment made by Tammi. Here is a woman of true integrity. She has maintained a loving relationship to the same man for over thirty years. She has raised three beautiful children who have made positive life choices and chosen paths that truly please the Lord. She clearly has her priorities straight as she focuses on her family.
For you to judge her spirit of worship is disgusting. Imagine as she enters her house of worship, her heart full as she entrusts God with her most prized possession, her family on a daily basis. Some of these family members she may not see for months! And for you to "call her out" on the way you perceive this act of worship? You should be ashamed of yourself. She has the true spirit of sacrifice, a characteristic hard to find in this world. A, please continue to share! Your words are honest and a pleasure to read in a slew of negative Tweets and status updates. Thank you!
Leeanne
I'm one of those anonymous people who reads your blog, I know who you are, but I really don't know you personally, I've always thought of you as shy as I am the same way. I find your blog encouraging as we have somewhat the same background, being that we came to Canada from a different country as teenagers so I can kind of relate to you that way.
I feel bad that you were judged that way and had to remind myself how maybe sometimes I do that as well, when I really don't know the person or what they are going through. When I see you I always smile at you and am reminded how I can learn from you.
Often wish I could do a blog myself, just don't know how to do one. I would for sure make it private, as I would be very sensitive to other people comments, I'm already hard on myself and I really don't need anyone else to be.
I just wanted you to know you bless me.
And really the only thing that matters is that God knows our hearts.
It's wonderful that we serve a loving God that has compassion for us even when we fall short. I am not a regular but just happened to be here to read this, this evening. We must also realize that we have an enemy who works through others to discourage us.Let not your heart be troubled. I will pray..Blessings!
I agree so much with these commenters who support you, Anneliese. We have only met on a very few occasions and yet you remember me from when I was in J's grade 4 class, some 23 years ago! You inspire me so much in my role as wife, mother, friend and homemaker. And I quite like the hair cut you get at that home salon. I've been working toward getting a similar style. :)
I just had to post this because I realized this week that you are not the person I thought you were.
You see, way back when I commented something very unkind to you. And then this week at the hairdresser I realized that you are NOT the woman I see every Sunday or at the hairdresser. So I started going back through your posts and realized you have a husband and at the hairdresser this woman was sharing about how this Christmas was going to be awful since her divorce.
I am so very sorry for all those things I said to you and it wasn't even you. But more importantly, I feel awful for even commenting such things and just needed to say "I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart". I have learned a very hard lesson through all this.
So please forgive me. And just so you know, you definitely have a twin in Abbotsford who attends the Seven Day Adventist church, where I attend.
Again, I am very sorry for anything that would have caused you pain.
I don't even need to sign my name as I'm sure you remember me.
TL
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