know me by His scars.

The fact that I made ZERO posts the entire month of December only serves to sum up what my month looked like – busy, busy, and a little bit busy. Followed by a solid demand of “rest, rest, rest” that I’d clearly been ignoring a little too long.

What are the new major plot points in my life? I’m finally actually legally divorced (after a more than a year-long battle in court), I have full legal custody of my daughter, and I turned 32. Praise God for all of that!

The unignorable necessity for rest? My daughter and I both had a solid week of sickness each. Still potentially recovering from mine – it’s a weird one. But one I know will last only as long as it’s supposed to be, just like everything else that the Sovereign allows into my life

Which is a reminder I received this week: none of it escapes His notice, and everything comes to me Father-filtered. If it’s in my life, it has an intended purpose, and that purpose will be fulfilled.

And that brings me to another reminder I needed this morning – that all that’s in the darkness will come to light.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” – Luke 12:2-3 (NIV)

Evil rejoices to see good downtrodden, to think they are getting away with evil, but judgment will come to all. Nothing escapes his notice and nothing will be left unturned. Evil will be exposed for exactly what it is. There will be a day of justice.

“Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked. Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.” – Lamentations 4:21-22 (NIV)

My hope is in God; I will continue to wait on Him. He is able to keep me.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” – Micah 7:7-8 (NIV)

He is good to me. It’s who He is.

“I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” – Lamentations 3:24-26 (NIV)

But that’s all reminders and words for the new year. Let me get back what the premise of this post is specifically supposed to be.

What else did 2024 hold for me? I’ve roughly run the numbers, and I:

• Worked mostly full time – approx. 1,800 hours
• Cared even more hours for a 2, now 3 year old
• Spent $$$$$ (for your sake, I can’t even list this number here – it makes me sick and it would make you sick too) on my divorce attorney
• Traveled to 2 different countries
• Filled up 7 journals cover to cover
• Read approximately 25 books (give or take, I counted once)
• Spent at least 1 hour a day in the Word, often more, with seldom exception (such as one day this past week when I was sick)
• Started this blog and wrote 14 posts
• Wrote 90,000+ words in my own books
• Met 1 really, really, really special person

Quite a year, if you ask me. And that doesn’t even touch on the obviously much more monumental work God has done in my heart in that period of time.

I’m not planning for this post to go on forever, but let’s do a little bit more of a recap (and I guess see where this goes from there).

If I had to come up with a theme to cover my 2024, it would probably be:

Progress —-> Resistance

Every. Single. Time.

Followed by a very healthy dose of: Fear God, not man.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

**me realizing I’m about to get some more doses of that one, since my pastor plans to start a study in Galatians in a week…and noticing a theme that may be recurring for 2025, oh boy.**

Who do I seek to please? Whose approval am I looking for? I desire purity of heart – to fear God and God alone.

The road is not easy, will not be easy – I have bargained for a cross. So if a cross is before me, then a cross I will carry.

If before me He places a cup of suffering, I will receive it, drink it to the dregs, and say, “Thank you, Jesus, for counting me worthy of knowing and following You.”

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,” – Philippians 1:29 (NIV)

The end is not the end – my end is heaven – and heaven is my home. So I can eagerly await the end of my sojourn when I will join my Father and King.

And as I wait for that eventual day, I will be faithful in the small things, step by step. Just doing the next thing.

Keeping my eyes ahead and above.

“My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.” – Psalm 101:6 (NIV)

It’s an upward call – to watch those who are faithful, to develop relationships with those of good character, to keep my mind on good things.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

It’s an upward call, not downward, and not to stagnation. It’s a higher calling to grow, to move forward, to factor from heaven’s perspective and be Kingdom minded.

The fire reveals what the foundation is made of. Will you be consumed or refined?

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV)

So as we enter into 2025, I urge you to take up that higher calling. Start with Jesus as the foundation, and build with what cannot be destroyed. Receive whatever cup is placed before you with thankfulness. And don’t get tired of the manna – of COURSE it’s the same thing day after day, on repeat, loop cycle ad infinitum – it’s called manna. What did you think you asked for here?

Store up those treasures in heaven, and stop worrying about the little things down here.

“For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Luke 12:30-34 (NIV)

I’m rooting for you. Your Father is rooting for you. And you have the Spirit here to help you walk forward.

Upward and onward, friends!

The best is yet to come – and 2025 is going to hold good things!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Keep pressing into Jesus!

Emily