December 31, 2024
Dear Family & Friends:
In the past I’ve written the notorious Christmas newsletter. I didn’t take the time this year but instead took time to write a Happy New Year’s letter. Hey, maybe it will be a new tradition. Maybe it will inspire someone.
Have you made your new year’s resolutions yet? I used to make a list, but then I stopped because I’d get mad and beat myself up over failing. Recently I thought about it again and decided maybe I need that challenge in my life. Don’t we all need to be challenged?
Resolution #1: I want to be a better [insert word here]: mother, father, brother, sister, employee, employer, Christian, etc. The list is endless. Everyone has something they can be better at. It doesn’t have to be big; simple small changes. The old adage says, “Pennies make dimes, dimes make dollars, and so on, and so on.
Resolution #2: I want to be more forgiving. Set aside the wrongs that have happened in our lives; the raise we didn’t get, the job that was passed to someone else, the relative who didn’t acknowledge the gift, the friend who talked behind our back, the driver who cut us off in the church parking lot, poor customer service, that list is endless. Let it go. If you are holding on to some old grudge that happened years and years ago, let it go. Life is short and tomorrow is not a promise.
Resolution #3: I want to be more intentional about sharing the Gospel. I know God puts opportunities in our lives every day. I want to be more aware and take advantage of them. If you have not yet made your peace with God, here’s your chance. You can do it privately in the comfort of your own home. Repeat these words:
“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen”.
God bless you if you said that prayer. The angels are rejoicing in heaven and you and I will meet again there. If you are still undecided, it’s okay. Jesus still loves you and we will not give up praying for you.
Resolution #4: I want to be more giving and helpful to those in need. Recently our very close friend was diagnosed with Laryngeal Cancer. He’s got a fight ahead of him. Talk about a wake-up call to not take advantage of the time we have been graced with on this earth. Every day is a gift.
Included with the hard copy letter is a bracelet for you to wear as a reminder to pray for Jeff. Maybe you don’t know how to pray. Hey, it’s okay, some people don’t. We all have to start somewhere. It’s really easy. God knows each one of us intimately. He knows our hearts so it doesn’t have to be a Billy Graham sermon ~ it can be as simple as, “God, I pray for Jeff Ayer to be healed.” Ultimately it is God’s will to be done. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Miracles happen for those who believe. Prayer changes things. God may even move in your own life. I implore you to wear this bracelet and pray for Jeff every day. (If you bloggy buddies are interested in these bracelets, let me know.)
A little more history on the bracelet. Forgive me for the length of this letter ~ sometimes I’m long-winded with the pen. The Only God theme is something Nen (and Jeff) came up with through the trial the two of them face ahead. Things happen big and small, good and bad, and through all of them, they are taking a stance that Only God will see this through. Only God will be the answer to all of our prayers.
If you’d like to do more for the Ayer’s through this season they face in their lives, please let me know and I’ll put you in contact with them. Right now Jeff’s diet consists of bland soups and protein shakes.
Every prayer is music to God’s ears and every prayer counts toward bringing glory to the Kingdom of God.
Happy New Year and be blessed and cheers,
Chris ♥Barbie
*Thank you for taking the time to read all the way through this letter.
**James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up.
CRACKERBERRIES 