This crazy overdone yard of inflatables inspired me to see how we really had craziness in the year and also to see it in me. Think of the sad scenes but also our excessive blessings – how crazy the haves and have nots – and those who lost it all in war and more… It was like I was feeling JOY of blessings – driving thru beautiful countryside – and yet then realizing that I was forgetting that so many suffer day to day. May I always, Lord, be more thankful to You – to remember to count my blessings and yet suffer your suffering of sorrow as motivation. Ride in Joy but suffer in sight. Pray to You Lord, to make all things right.

Here is an ode to an Old Year goodbye, where we failed to see excesses and failed to be humble. Lord, help me, help us next year to be better than we were in 2023.

Suffering to SEE, what was 2023

Sometimes we are suffering to see, others who pull in excesses but want more and still say “what about me?”.

Many suffer, us too, we see, From a worldly view where we can’t break free.

Stuck in a sin of self-inability, We frustratingly think others should do more, but then they also say “who? me?”.

Some buy into the fable, that they are born unable. But God says you are special capable. I know, I made you from before your cradle. 

And whom are we to judge those missing our mark, whom we see, But yet we do see it, oh ache and suffer to see human shortcomings. That feels truly like such suffering Jesus crying through me.

I get it, Jesus, and You died for them, and also for me. We ALL are as human as human can be.

Jesus suffered then, indeed, seeing others who didn’t know Him as Holy THEE. And He suffers now from these (us too) who fail to get past the “whoa is me”. 

We don’t stay humble well or remember it’s not “all about me”. So Lord, when I hoard, Or when I seem bored, Or lie myself, when I don’t appear above board, Please find me the correcting convictions that give me vision of You, seeing YOU more clearly is a suffer-based reward. 

Excesses, digresses, regrettedness-es.

We are the forest of every broken tree.

Let us leave 2023 now and grow out of it, FLEE.

Let us put aside grumpy grudges and every non-culpability plea.

I explore MORE, for 2024,

To see You Lord, MORE.

As You stand at MY door, help me walk with You MORE. 

Let us get into 2024.

Amen 

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Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:1-4

 “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus in John 16:33