Hello God, it’s me, Mara: Lord, You watched two gals enjoying a quiet time in the park. A young fellow stopped and asked: “Are YOU Miss Sue?” Sue smiled and nodded her head. He continued: “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you for a long time, mainly to tell you that you were the best teacher I ever had in School.”

Sue looked speechless, but before she spoke, he smiled, “Do you remember once in Middle School, there was some peanut butter spread on the bottom of the slide and some kids, sliding down, got dirty.”

Miss Sue gasped, ‘Was that YOU?’ He smiled, “But that’s not what I came to tell you. Shortly after that incident, we/my family moved away.

Then in High School, I met a guy who had a different attitude about life, one I’d never known. He invited me to church with him and his family. My parents didn’t go to church, they argued and fought a lot, but said I could go with Rick!

“We’re both named Richard, but decided, he’d be Rick and I’d be Dick. Long story short, he said there was a key to getting into Heaven. I asked: ‘HOW?’ He said he had the key. Like, really? He said he’d show me.

“The next day he had a small Bible, handed it to me and said, ‘Here’s the key.’ I looked at him – he laughed and said, ‘check out the bookmark.’”

Romans 10:8-10 was highlighted. Verse 10: ‘That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’ That’s the Key; that’s the reason Jesus came to earth; Happy New Year, Dick.”

“Long story short, I believed. Now my folks go to church and I’m learning how to minister to needy folks. Just wanted you to know that I have the key, hope you do too, Miss Sue, and know that Jesus changes lives and promises eternal life. Best wishes to you, have a Happy New Year!” And he left.

Love, Mara

New Year’s Wishes

Hello God, it’s me, Mara:

You know, Lord, a New Year has dawned and as we change the calendar to the New Year, we come face to face with the fact that our days on earth are numbered. As we turn to this clean, fresh, new page on the calendar we’re also aware that we have a new day, a new year in our lives. It is up to us to fill in those pages. Please help us to choose wisely, Lord, as we forget about the past and begin to look forward to what You have in store for us.

Your Word is full of promises for us, all-be-it, we are your way-ward, stubborn, stiff-necked children, but if You wrote out a wish list for us for the New Year, would it look something like this? Right?

NEW YEAR’S WISHES FOR YOU

Enough happiness to keep you sweet.

Enough trials to keep you strong.

Enough sorrow to keep you human.

Enough hope to keep you happy.

Enough failure to keep you humble.

Enough success to keep you eager.

Enough friends to give you comfort.

Enough enthusiasm to look forward.

Enough determination to make each day better.

We are not robots, Lord, so please help us learn to take time to discover the secret of a happy home and its family members; help us take time to be pleasant, to smile, to learn how to give and to receive love.

From the Living Bible we find these promises which we can claim for this New Year. (Rom 8:28) “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.” (Heb. 13:5) “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you;” that’s You, Lord, speaking to US! What a great promise that is that You will never forsake us!

Love, Mara