A New Year Letter to my Regular Readers (others are welcome too!)
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Dear friends
Happy New Year 2020. It’s hard to believe we are entering a new decade, isn’t it! The past ten years have brought many changes for each of us — from the delightful to the challenging to the downright tragic and everything between. And God has been with us and in us every step of the way because we know Him who is Life indeed.
And now we can “let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.” (Oswald Chambers)
Before we continue on with our blog posts in this new year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, my valued readers. You are so precious to me. And some of you I have never met in person, but now we have a continuing relationship because we communicate periodically here at a Branch in the Vine and/or via email.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought “I’m not sure anyone is reading this. Is this really how God wants me to spend my time?” And just when I’m tempted to quit, someone verbally or online shares how God spoke to them through a particular post or that they benefit in regularly reading post by post. I am humbled and grateful, and so I keep on writing as God gives the message.
Would you believe it will be 9 years of writing in February 2020! When I started, it was so that at least my kids and grandkids could eventually know what God had been saying and doing in their mother/grandmother (Babci)’s life. Right now “my kids” are busy doing their lives and so don’t read my blog very often (although my 13 y.o. grandson Kaden seems the most interested to read and know what I’m writing about — he’s my encourager. Thank you, Jesus). I remember thinking that I would love it if my mother or grandmother (my Babci) had kept journals. I’d would have LOVED to read their thoughts and struggles. And so I continue on.
This was more than I intended to write. Thanks for your patient grace. But I would like to ask you two favors:
When you read this year, would you consider forwarding a meaningful post to a friend whom you think may benefit?
If there is a post or two from the past that the Lord used to speak into your life in a particular way, would you be so kind to let me know what they are (you can just describe them)? You can comment below or email me at jan@abranchinthevine.com. The reason I ask is that the Lord gave me the word WRITE as my word of the year, and I’m waiting on Him about writing a devotional book containing some of my posts. (See Word for 2020)
Thank you so much, dear friends. You bless me beyond measure.
One with you in our Savior and Friend
With love
Jan
So [let us]encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
