Shannon here: Joi Copeland shares a message of hope plus a chance to make Christmas last a bit longer with the opportunity to win an e-copy of her latest Christmas novella, Christmas Snowe and Peppermint Cocoa. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Jan 7th, 11: 59 pm central time. Here’s Joi:
As we wave good-bye to Christmas, we now turn our eyes to the New Year. We may have experienced one too many trials in 2016, and our prayers are begging God to allow good things to occur in 2017. Perhaps you’ve experienced pain and suffering and now look to January first as a new beginning. Maybe 2016 is ending on a sad note, where loneliness has set, and you hope and pray the coming year will bring about new friendships or relationships.
Regardless what has happened in 2016, we often look to January first for new beginnings. Isn’t it great that we can have the hope of something new? God tells us we don’t have to wait until January first to experience restoration and hope for a new beginning. Lamentations 3:22-24, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
God’s compassion, mercy, and faithfulness are new every single morning. We don’t have to wait for January first to experience them. We receive them every morning. Isn’t that fabulous?
Please don’t misunderstand me. I, myself, have resolutions every year. More often than not, I fail at them. This year, my husband and I are hoping to get healthy. Lose weight, get our health problems under control. We hope to be in Ireland by August, as well. We have a lot of hopes and dreams for the New Year. Nothing wrong with that. But first and foremost, may my hope be in Christ. And why wouldn’t it? Because His mercy, faithfulness, and compassion are new every morning, why wouldn’t my soul hope in Him?
As 2016 comes to an end, may you have hope in the coming year. No matter what the new year brings, rest assured you can have hope in the One whose birth we just celebrated, in the One who we sing about every Sunday, in the One whose compassion never fails.
About Joi: Joi Copeland is married to a wonderful man, Chris, and has three amazing boys, Garrison, Gage, and Gavin. She lives in Denver, Colorado, but within the year, hopes to be living in Galway, Ireland.
Joi’s love of writing began at a young age. She wrote short stories for several years, and in 2009, she began writing her first novel, Hope for Tomorrow.
Joi’s books include: Hope for Tomorrow – book 1, Hope for the Journey – book 2, Hope from the Past – book 3, Letters of Love, Christmas Snowe and Peppermint Cocoa – a novell, Sheriff Bride Rob’s Story – a novella.
Learn more and connect: Joi’s Blog Joi’s Website Joi’s Books
About the book – Christmas Snowe and Peppermint Cocoa: Snoweflake Jacobson left Camden, Maine, and her secrets. Though guilt follows her wherever she goes, she pushes it down and ignores it. When her aunt passes away and leaves her a huge property, Snowe must return to Camden to not only figure out what to do with this house but also come face to face with her past. When the love of Tanner Graham’s life returns, he can only hope and pray God will rekindle the love they once shared. But when Snowe’s secrets are revealed, will Tanner find even his love has its limits?
Question for Readers: What do you hope for in 2017?
Come back Jan 29th for Lorna Seilstad!
that our troops will come home to stay. And our nation will turn back to God.
Grace, mercy, kindness.
Better health for my family.
All great, ladies! Praying with you!
To get My House in Order (Long Story Short) All Parts of My House
Prayers on your behalf!
Thanks
I have a winner! MH won the drawing. I appreciate Joi for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.