20/20 Vision for 2020

2020 is almost here. I love that round number. My grandson, Payton, was born in 2000. No problem keeping up with his age. It’s the same end-two digits of the year. He’ll be 20 in 2020.

I enjoy studying numbers and their meaning in the Bible. Here are some clues for what we can expect in the new year based on the number 20 in the Bible. First, the number 20 signifies expectancy or things to look forward to and it symbolizes the cycles of completeness. It is also often connected to a perfect period of waiting, labor or suffering that is compared to a trial and rewarded. Jacob waited 20 years to get his wives and property in his possession and released from his father-in-law. Israel waited 20 years for deliverance through Samson. Solomon waited 20 years for the completion of two houses. May we have 20/20 vison for 2020 to be OUR year of dreams coming true, deliverances, and many accomplishments. It's up to us to stand strong and to believe it so!

In case you didn't know -- 2020 will be a Leap Year with 366 days in the year. That’s because the Earth actually takes 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds to go completely around the sun. To keep the calendar cycle synchronized with the seasons, one extra day is added every four years as February 29th. It's called Leap Year because in 365-day years, fixed dates advance one day in the week per year. For example, Christmas fell on a Tuesday in 2018 and on a Wednesday in 2019. With the insertion of a “leap day”, dates (following February) advance two days instead of one. In 2020, Christmas will leap over Thursday to fall on a Friday. Good news – a longer holiday weekend! You’re welcome!

Whatever 2020 holds – and we know it will be a year of many ups and downs in politics, let’s not get that “ups and downs” mentality in our minds about our own lives. I'm NOT! I’ve got my 20/20 glasses on and my EXPECTORS expecting this to be a banner year when it comes to the goodness and faithfulness of our God Who holds our future and all that comes our way! I’m on the 20/20 expecting side of grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, joy upon joy, peace upon peace, and overtaking us in powerful ways because we are on the same winning side as our God. Whatever 2020 holds for you and me is just about the same as it is for any minute, hour, day, month or year! We may not know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds our future and “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is HE Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12).

Happy New Year’s Eve and Happy and Blessed New Year to you and yours! Own it! Those blessings are ours for the speaking, acting and SEEING with 20/20 vision for 2020!

Having a God-is-in-Control Mindset

Thank goodness for the winners of the political races because now we can breathe easier. The ones who won their seats in the House and Senate proclaimed that they would fix the economy, solve the issues on immigration, health care, and give their supporters whatever they want from them. So, no concerns or worries! NOT! It's a fresh, new day to realize “God is in control”! I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know WHO holds tomorrow!

It may sound like a cliché but I assure you “God’s got this!” In a culture fixated on the present and ourselves, it's understandable that there are many who are ecstatic about the outcome of yesterday's elections and others who are disappointed and anxious. We are right to be concerned about our nation, but we are wrong to worry about our future: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). When we do, (verse 7) "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". We must remember this: Our mighty God, is in control.

I am so happy that my peace, well-being, and hope for tomorrow doesn't depend on what a man or woman promises in some political arena and, if elected, what my life will become. Here's what I do know and here's what I'm staking my life upon. I believe God's ways are so much higher than ours and His sovereign plans and purposes will be carried out. If we are people who live by faith, we will just keep overcoming because we know that God is in control -- no matter "the who" is in the White House, the schoolhouse, the greenhouse, House of Representatives, or a household.

Instead of being in that "I'm-so-worried-about-what-our-future-holds mode", how about us looking at a penny and stand by those words engraved on it that say "In God We Trust"?

This morning is another gorgeous day for us to say again “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I looked for a flag that depicted who we are as Americans. This one below is the one I found. I just added the words. I have a vivid picture in my mind: "THIS FLAG stands for freedom. I'm proud to be an American where I know I am free, and I won't forget the men and women who died who gave that right to me. And I'll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today, cause' there ain't no doubt, I love this land, God bless the USA!" And as much as I love that song sung by Lee Greenwood, more than my beloved American flag, the cross of Jesus Christ is my statue of liberty. In GOD I Trust! With Him, our future is secure.

Remembering Magical Birthdays

Day 249 of Photo Inspirations -- Remembering Birthdays at Disney World
#TBT It was September 2007 and we had planned for months to go on this special trip to celebrate Papa's & Alexia's Birthdays.  It was going to be Papa's BIG 60th on the 12th and Alexia's BIG 6 on the 16th.  And celebrate we did!!  We stayed in a great hotel with a lazy river and huge pools and we kicked up our heels in a grandiose way at Disney World and Sea World in Orlando.  Oh what fun we had.....and these photos say it all.   Alexia Wallace was smack dab in the middle of her "Princess" styles and fantasies.  She had to wear her "Belle" dress when she met Belle.  Of course, Payton and Papa's big deal was Buzz Lightyear and the sharks and whales.

Oh, what precious memories -- that will live on because SOMEONE (aka ME) was a fanatical picture-taker -- still am....and even more so as now I also carry my selfie stick.  Look out.....Nana's on her way to save the day AND memories!   It is those photos and those memories that help me recollect some of our most joy-filled times.  We made the most of our times together.  And, now, we REMEMBER!  

God talks a lot about "remembering" in His Word, so I'm in good company when it comes to remembering!  

1 Chronicles 16:12 --  "Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,"

Deuteronomy 8:18 -- "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."














It's AWESOME to remember all the good things God has done for us.  And, we learn so much from
those remembrances.  We get to start each new day with the wisdom and knowledge we gained from the past. Each experience – good and bad, has equipped us to be better, do better and appreciate time more.   

It is the dawn of a new day, today. I know one thing for sure -- we can’t live in the past, and the future isn’t ours to predict. But, we can make minutes, hours and days really count for what matters most. I speak a lot about it, but I repeat, treasure THIS day – make memories for yourself and someone else. Live as if there were no tomorrow. Spread sunshine. Give love and laughter and life to those who need an injection of fun, faith, and friendship. The BAD news -- time flies, but the GOOD news -- we get to continue capturing the joy-filled experiences and thank God for PRECIOUS MEMORIES!