KG — If you are battle-weary, I believe the new year, 2017, will bring welcome changes. I’m not implying battles will stop suddenly and everybody goes on vacation. I’m saying many long-term battles will end because you finally win. “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around” (MSG, Pro 13:12). I expect some sudden good breaks in the year to come.
As the people of God assemble today, may they pray over the coming year with hearts of faith and expectancy and may they be led throughout the whole year by the hand of the Lord, and turn not from the path of His sure Word.
”They will come with weeping [in repentance and for joy], And by [their] prayer [for the future] I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble,” (Jer.31:9, Amp)
May the Lord cover us, rescue us and keep us from involving ourselves with those who are not intending to operate within the timing of Him who sets the times and works His plans accordingly. May our Lord save us from those who do not desire HIS calendar and those who simply neglect concern over His times. My times are in His Hand and I will not put them in the hands of any other. We need HIM every hour. “My times are in your hand…” (Ps.31:15, NKJV) “Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.” (Ps.31:14-15, Msg)
Not all of us got everything our parents, family and tutors tried to get across to us as we have progressed through life. Occasionally (if not more often) 
we say something or do something that isn’t in keeping with those things that are most proper in relating to others. For some of us, there are probably people who think we grew up on the back side of the wilderness without any effort from a parent to impart wisdom and etiquette. But God is wise and He is also good and merciful to the point that He will give us the wisdom in etiquette we have not absorbed thus far.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].” (Js.3:17, Amp)
In days to come, as you walk before God Most High in the light of His Word and trust in Him, may our beneficent Father grant you good times, happy 
times and times of celebration. May you look to the future expecting to see the goodness of God in your life and the lives of your family. Don’t be defeated by what appears to be on the horizon. Don’t be disheartened by rumors and every story that finds flight on the fancy of someone’s fears or imagination. May our merciful Father God send delightful surprises your way and grant you good times, happy times and times of celebration. (2Chron.6:41b, Msg) “…let your holy people celebrate goodness…” We are praying you discover daily God’s goodness working in your life.
May your home be filled with different conversation in the year to come—different because you are no longer discussing threats and defeats but hopes and victories.
“Answer my prayers, O True God, the righteous, who makes me right. I was hopelessly surrounded, and You rescued me. Once again hear me; hide me in Your favor; bring victory in defeat and hope in hopelessness.” (Ps.4:1, The Voice)
Let us live more than a mere semblance of life, more than a reasonable facsimile thereof. In this coming year, let us rise to the heights that our Lord invites us to and live full lives.
”Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” (Eph.3:19, Msg)
Miracles are begun in grace and perfected in glory. They start with God’s supernatural enabling and come to complete manifestation through His intent and purpose and timing. As I wait on God, I shall continue to pray for miracles this Christmas season because the coming of the Christ is still in effect as well as God’s goodwill toward men. May His presence and power and purpose and timing change your life as His goodwill touches the earth again.
(This is the last excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Christmas Miracles“ taken from Volume 20 Issue 6 of SEEC Magazine.)
The Christmas events were extraordinary. Angels were active and interactive with the characters in the event. Persons of high rank got personally 
involved at great expense. Individuals of lowly birth and lowly means played as important a role as those of higher caste. Divine intervention and protection and wisdom kept the characters in pace and in place. Signs and wonders served to help the characters get into position at just the right time to be supply for Mary and Joseph and the Little One they were privileged to raise up for the saving of a nation.
Let us do far more than delight in the extraordinary events of the Christmas Advent. Let us consider them as that which was initiated to become the ordinary, all year long, for those who would embrace this Extraordinary One born in such an extraordinary way.
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.” (Lk 2:20, Amp)
Waiting on God involves continuing to do what we were born to do instead of deciding to be still and silent in a puddle of disappointment. For the record, I did get past my disinclination to encourage people like Marty had asked me to that Sunday morning and, before midnight, I got two phone calls with reports of undeniable supernatural interventions. I did not hear about them before Christmas like I had prayed, but both had happened the week before Christmas! One was financial and one was a granddaughter coming to an incredible God-turn in her life. I remembered the word of wisdom that started the financial miracle and I knew about that grandmother’s prayer vigil for that particular granddaughter. So, I realized before either miracle, there had been a “working of miracles” behind the scenes before anyone saw the actual miracle.
(This is the eighth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Christmas Miracles“ taken from Volume 20 Issue 6 of SEEC Magazine.)
Beside Still Waters With Marty Gabler
