It’s easy to look back on the past year and regurgitate all the significant moments and events that happened. But what’s the use if you haven’t learned anything from those times? There is one word that sums up the bulk of what God has taught me this year: FAITH.

I thank God everyday for community. I have witnessed so many close lives around us stand in faith when the circumstances they were facing screamed at them to do otherwise. Here a just a few of the faith stories that have impacted my life in a significant way this year.

I watched Bryon and Susan give glory and praise to God through every step of their darkness and pain. Then I helped them move into a beautiful apartment back in South Florida last month. They’re now back home with their gorgeous new daughter.

I saw Chris and Penny stand solid in their calling to adopt two children from Russia even when easier opportunities presented themselves again and again. Through two years of waiting and false expectations, I watched their boys walk through a Miami terminal this year, finally home.

I heard of my uncle’s sudden and unexpected divorce and saw his pain that came with being alone. I watched him give up his life to God and then witnessed what God does best: change a life. He’s now a man of incredible trust and faith.

I saw my close friend go through two miscarriages in a matter 0f 6 months. I watched her and her husband give everything up to God and in return be blessed with an amazing, healthy new pregnancy.

I joined with the church staff and pastors as we fasted and prayed for a building that seemed unlikely and financially risky. Then, we worshipped together August 24th in our new buidling: exactly 11 years to the day of Calvary Jupiter’s first Sunday.

I watched and joined with my parents as we prayed for a complete healing of my dad’s knee after his replacement surgery. After more than half a year of immobility and surgeries, God healed him when the odds were stacked against it. He’s walking more and moving more at age 52 then he was at age 32.

I’ve even watched my own husband step out into the unknown. Going through interim manager training last year meant that Chick-fil-a could place us anywhere in the country for any length of time. But we trusted and knew that God was in control. 5 months later, Andrew stepped into his very own store as the owner/operator.

And this year is already calling for new steps of faith. And I have learned to face them head on, fully believing, trusting and speaking God’s promises. These are some of the verses that have become so precious to me this year and I claim them as we pray about some specific things that God has laid on our heart.

2 Corinthians 4: 13, “But have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed therefore I spoke.’ We also believe, therefore we also speak.”

Hebrews 11:11, “Since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

Luke 1:45, “And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mark 11:24, “Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them and they will be granted you.”

Romans 4:20-21, “Yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

I want my faith to grow deeper and wider in 2009. If nothing else, may this next year be a greater year of faith for me.