Hey beautiful friend, happy 2025!! 🥳🥳

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I hope your holiday season was filled with fun, laughter, love, and hope in Jesus Christ! But if it was a tough time for you this year I completely get that too, and you are not alone. 💖

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I had 2 wonderful weeks off and I was so excited to do all the things - record a few new podcast episodes, write a few new emails, plan + vision cast for the new year, etc. etc. But the day before my first day off work officially kicked off my daughter started complaining of some pains and I realized she was starting to get sick... *cue my productivity hopes + to do list dreams being crumpled up and thrown into the trash* 🗑️ 😂

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Normally my girl is down for a couple of days and then is back to her playful self. Not this time. She was down for 5 days. I am talking fever that wouldn't break, body aches, wouldn't let me out of her sight, and just wanted to cuddle up on the couch all 5 of those days + a coupe of days for recovery.

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Although my stress levels began to rise when the dishes + laundry were piling up around the house, the extra one on one time with her was so special. Getting to watch some of her favorite shows with her, nap with her, and loving on her as I prayed that my son and I didn't get sick was truly priceless.

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And one of the sweetest things? When she would wake up fussing or crying she wanted me to sing her a specific song. It was one that I had made up with the words of Psalm 23. I am not sure how many times I sang to her that the Lord is our Shepherd, but I do know that those words were being held on to by both of my little ones. My son actually began to sing the song with me a couple of times! 🥹

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So I didn't get much writing or recording done the last couple of weeks, but I did get to experience God's mercy in beautiful ways. God did answer my prayers to keep my son from getting whatever sickness my daughter had. Even though my son did catch a small portion of her sickness, by the grace of God my children weren't sick at the same time nor did the issues my son have bother him too much.

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So here we are - getting back into the full swing of "regular" life, and now I have my own health issue I am having to overcome. 🙃 But even in that God has still been showing up!

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In those moments of slowing down and not getting myself "ahead of the game" like I had planned, I was blessed to just be Mommy + be reminded that just being Mommy is so very special! I also got these important takeaways to start my 2025 off right and take with me throughout the new year:

• The reminder that God DOES hear + answers prayers
• God DOES strengthen us + walk with us as we face unforeseen circumstances
• Extra love, cuddles, and one-on-one time with both of my children are truly so important, needed, and special
• The reminders of what truly matters most

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So why am I sharing all of this with you, Reader? To remind you that it is OK if you don't have it all figured out right now.

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It is OK if by January 1st, or even by today January 7th, you do not have a vision, a word, an anchor verse, or any defined goals set out for this new year yet.

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It is OK if you don't quite know where you are headed yet in this new year.

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It is OK if all you have is the word of God as you search for His heart + guidance because that is truly all you need.

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It is OK if you are in a waiting season + struggling to get through each moment as they come.

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Why? Because:

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As long as you are in step with God + His plans for your life that is the best place you can be.

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So be encouraged, my beautiful friend!

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God's still in control. God is still watching over you. He still has a plan + purpose for you and your life. He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you!

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I am not convinced on the "new year, new me" movement, but what I am convinced of is this:

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Here's to a new year with the SAME miracle-working, loving, steadfast, faithful, prayer answering, quick-to-forgive, healing, delivering, pouring-out-the-Holy-Spirit God of the Bible who sees you, hears you, created you so intricately + everything else around us, and loves you more than you could ever comprehend on this side of Heaven! 🙌

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In Christ's love,

~Sarah Murphy

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PS: Did this message resonate with you? If so, hit reply and let's continue the conversation!