As I begin this new year I am so aware that I do not have it all together!  Because Ed had the gifts I do not have and he handled the things I never had to think about, I have come to the conclusion that I need help.

I know some Christian that would never admit that.  There are some that pretend to have it all together.  They may even put on a good show, but here is the deal, I need Jesus more now than I ever have.  I need my friends and family more now than I every have. I need the Body of Christ more now than I ever have.

As I study Paul I am finding out that I really relate to him.  One thing is that he did not let his past dictate his future. He kept moving forward.  We can't get stuck in the past.  We have to move forward.

I relate to Paul when he states in Romans 7:19 I try to do good, but I still mess up and do wrong. {Cheryl's paraphrase)  That is when the Holy Spirit grabs my heart and says, "hold up! let's repent and have a do over."  That is when one of my friends says to me , " Ok, let's pray, you are not in the right spirit."

I want to encourage you that none of us have it altogether.  We are all going to have hard times.  However, we have all the resources we need to do what we are called to do.  We can lay it all down at the feet of Jesus and grab on to the hem of His garment and He will love us and lead us, and teach us, and grow us.  He will complete what He has started in us.  It is not about being perfect or having it all together.  It is about a relationship with the one who knows you best and loves you most.