God's Top Ten List by Linda P. Kozar

"Every good gift and every perfect (free, large full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]."—James 1:17, Amplified

The new year looms before us, full of promise, yet laced with hints of world peril and uncertaintly. Change seems to be the one element we can all be certain of in life.

But the word "change" evokes visions of fear or favor. Which will it be?

Families change--children grow up and move on to college, careers, marriage and children. Financial situations shift from stable to steep decline to survival mode. Jobs are lost. Relationships turn from hot to cold in an instant. Children rebel. Friends rise up against friends, family members against family members. People who work beside you suddenly work against you. Marriages disintegrate, chipped away by infidelity or abuse. Loved ones are lost through old age, disease or disaster. Church leaders fall into sin and fail to repent. Those you trust are not to be trusted. Selflessness is replaced by selfishness. But change can also be good. Sweetness often ferments from the sourest of circumstances!

There are 50-year wedding anniversaries to be celebrated--young marriages to plan--babies yet to be born--prizes to be won--prayers to be answered--financial blessings to receive--relationships to be mended and reconciled--loves to be rekindled and renewed--kindnesses yet to be bestowed and treasures of the heart to be shared.

But where is God in all of this. . .and where are we?

Believers are not immune from the unpleasant aspects of change. In fact, we are tested by God through them. Faith is not simply a word or concept. Every word of God we say we believe is put to the test! But rest assured, those who live by faith are never alone through their circumstances or difficulties. Our Father is right beside us. He covers us under the shadow of his wings. He guides us through the dark valleys and hard climbs ever upward. He removes obstacles and builds bridges. He gives us hinds feet for the high places and light for our path in the low places. God is our VERY present help in times of trouble. Read the following passage from The Message Bible for further inspiration. 

Psalm 46
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. 



River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High
God lives here, the streets are safe, 
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
but Earth does anything he says.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, the 
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God,
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything."



Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

May you and your family be greatly blessed in 2010--with peace, good health and a holy life before God. May you pass every test by lining up your thoughts, actions and responses to the plumb line of the Word of God! May you love with the purest love of the Father! Be patient, compassionate, caring, faithful, generous, forgiving and pure in thought, deed and motive!

Join me in saying "Amen 2010!"

Now before you leave your computer, I want you to make a list of your top ten prayer requests to intercede for the coming year. Write them down on a piece of paper and slip that piece of paper into your bible so you'll remember to pray each day over them. One of my requests year after year was to be contracted with a publishing house--to become a published author.  I crossed that one off in 2008! And year after year, I pray for world peace:)  I'm still waiting on that one. . .