God is My Refuge in 2013

I’m working with a group of people who are passionate about the evil of Human Trafficking. Yesterday we had an Awareness Luncheon in our city and gave out a 40 day Prayer Journal. Each day includes scripture and a related way to pray. If you would like a copy to pray with us or to share, you can download one here: 40 Day Human Trafficking Prayer Journal

Be honest. You didn’t know what 2013 held for you either. I’m looking at my planner and seeing that tomorrow is the last day of January. That was fast. Tomorrow I’m going to share the PLAN step in our 2New Planning for a Great New Year theme. I don’t know if it’s helped you, but God has been thrashing me around a bit this month. I’m better for it. The year is better for it.

When I received my friend Kathy Howard‘s new book  God is My Refuge in the mail long before Christmas, I already knew it came from deep within Kathy’s own heart and life. I knew it was for women facing troubled times and that it would be, like her other books, full of truth and practical application and refreshment. I just didn’t think I particularly needed it at the moment.

And then December came. And then it slogged its way too slowly into January. I found myself turning to chapters called “Loneliness” and “Broken Relationships” and “Worry.” Like she does in person, Kathy opened bits of God’s word with me and shared real life stories and examples from her own well traveled life of slogging through months and years herself. I underlined things like, “The God who hung the sun and painted the sky with starlight knows you by name. He gently calls you to sit at His feet and share your needs, your pains, and your longings with Him.”

I pondered her few questions at the end of each reading and used the prayer prompt she gave me. I was so glad I had a copy of God is My Refuge, because we never know what a month or a year will bring. What we do know is that we will want God to be our Refuge, and He can be.

If you could use some words of confidence and comfort for hard times, you would be blessed by a copy of Kathy’s book. Maybe you know someone else who’s going through a hard time. Or maybe you want something a little deeper than chocolate to give a loved one for Valentines Day. Then again, Kathy is a chocolate-loving lady, so she would want you to tie some chocolate on top of her book!

I found Kathy’s book at my local Sam’s Club, but you can also find it here on Kathy’s website or on Amazon. You can hear more of her heart where we write together on Do Not Depart.

I’m not sure what your year holds or what mine does either, but I’m so glad that God is My Refuge.