The birth of 2017 came with a nudge from the Spirit that this was a God-ordained Big Year. We had no idea what that was going to look like but we leaned in, full of anticipation, ready for God to do something big.
As the year rounds up, I can honestly say that it has totally lived up to that prophetic banner! It’s been big in every sense – from pushing out the boundaries of our minds and hearts, to stepping into larger capacities, to responding to greater opportunities. From fighting epic battles, to increasing our intentional engagement in kingdom matters, to being tested to our core.
From leaps of faith, to self-discovery, to personal and corporate growth. It’s been mighty big. On a personal level, we added a granddaughter (a role I am completely relishing) and a daughter-in-love to our family. Oh, and a dog. Apparently. Still recovering from that one. And we celebrated 10 years of being in the Hawkesbury – you can read about that here. It’s been a year of stretching and trusting, of occasionally freaking out and the odd tantrum. And that’s just me! God, in His graciousness, has met us at every turn, faithfully paving the way forward. A few big ideas have settled in my spirit as we come to the end of this year.
Firstly comes the notion that we are not of this world. Foreigners, aliens, sojourners. That’s how the Scriptures refer to us. No matter what happens in the world around us, we are not of this world but of another. We are passing through. And while we are called to be Ambassadors, and Light and Salt, to this world, this life is not where we keep our treasure. So, we don’t have to be reactive to, or alarmed at, events around us. The world is on a timeline and God is on the throne. The second big idea that is settling confidently in my heart is from Micah. Micah 4 prophetically speaks of the last days: “On your feet, Daughter of Zion! Be threshed of chaff,
be refined of dross.
I’m remaking you into a people invincible,
into God’s juggernaut…” God’s faithful work in our lives is preparing us to be a massive, overpowering, inexorable force as His people. The Church, in these end of days, is meant to be a juggernaut. Not a pale, insipid, fragile people, so frightened that they are driven underground to live in caves, but a flourishing, thriving, unstoppable body, competently representing Almighty God! I don’t know about you but that fills my heart with so much hope and faith and confidence in the future! I have never in my life before felt such a surge from Heaven to champion the Bride and her many expressions on the earth. She is beautiful and bold and breathtaking and most beloved of the Lord! And this is Her moment to shine. Our message remains true; it remains desperate in cause because the hour is late; it remains close to the Father’s heart because He wishes for not one to be lost. In this finest hour of ours, I long to see each of you rise to the full potential and stature of your calling. The world needs you. We are living for far bigger things than we can imagine. The best days are right in front of us – not behind. The final big idea that is taking root in my heart – and growing rapidly – is that we have the capacity to make much of Jesus. Just lean into that statement with me for a minute. We have the capacity to make much of Jesus. To magnify. To draw attention to. To make big. John 12:32 says, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He is drawing people to Himself. They just need to know where to find Him. Fortunately, I happen to know a company of extraordinary women – and a juggernaut of a church – in whom He resides. As you end this Big Year and dive into the Christmas season, my hope is that you might also discover your capacity to make much of Jesus. With every celebration, every decoration, every gift exchanged, every meal prepared, every family member embraced, I pray that Jesus is lifted high for all to see and experience. Seems like the right way to end a Big Year. So, these are my final thoughts for the blog for 2017. The blog will be taking a little vacation but will be back in the new year, rebirthed with a twist! Who knows what 2018 might hold for us?! I think it’s going to be pretty exciting! Merry Christmas and much love!
