January 1, 2019

A New Day

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

– Isaiah 52:12

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Did you giddily toast to your dreams? Are you determined to live differently this year? Did you make plans for good things?

Why do you think this year will be different than last year? Are you different? Are you more determined? Has life rocked you to the core and changed your direction?

We like to think of the first day of a new year as a new beginning. In many ways, it is. But it is only a new beginning if we are willing to make real changes in how we live our lives. Dreams are great but they don’t do anything unless we are willing to take action.

Sometimes we get so mired in the past that we lose our hope for today. We get so overwhelmed with where we are that we can’t seem to make ourselves take small steps toward who we want to be.

Our goals were so attainable in the giddiness of the New Year’s Eve celebration. We felt strong enough to conquer anything. And, maybe, for a day or two we bask in the glow of change.

The reality isn’t always so easy. There’s no way to lose weight without changing our eating habits and adding physical activity to our lives. No amount of dreaming or fad diet challenges will cause us to lose weight. We’ve got to actually step up and change.

The same is true with seeking a new job, changing relationships, living more determinedly for Christ. Jobs don’t happen without applications and networking. Relationships don’t change without time and effort. Living for Christ doesn’t happen without spending more time with Him and actually stepping up to serve.

Do you see the pattern? Are you willing to do the work necessary to live differently in 2019?

Don’t let the past overwhelm you. And don’t get caught up with how large that mountain looks. Every goal is reached by taking one step and then another. You don’t have to do it all at once. You simply must take one step toward it today.

Can you do that? Do you trust God enough to follow the dreams He’s planted deep inside of you? Can you move forward even when you quake in fear? Are you willing to follow the light?

God never leaves us alone. He never lets us to wander without reason. Seek His wisdom and move forward into the New Year. God has called you to great things but it’s up to you to take that first step.

January 1, 2018

It's A New Year!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

It’s a new year! It’s time for a fresh start! How many of us made resolutions and rang in the new year last night with a determination to make changes? And how long do we really expect our new goals to last?

Making a fresh start is hard, no matter what day of the year it is. We have dreams and goals. We want to change our lives for the better. We want to lose weight or make more money or finally take our dream vacation. Maybe our goals aren’t so self-focused. We want to go on a mission trip, give more money to the church, volunteer at the food bank or help with the outreach program for the homeless.

We have good intentions. We’re going to make positive changes. And we’re going to move away from the bad choices of the past. Ah, yes. The past. That thing we can’t change and yet can’t seem to forget either. That albatross that has wrapped itself around us and refuses to leave us to peacefully live out the rest of our lives.

Other folks help us with that. A sweet friend once confessed that she only goes to church when she is at her family’s vacation home. Why? Because of the looks she gets when she attends a church in her hometown. When she was young and foolish – and weren’t we all – she made a mistake that broke up a marriage. She wishes she’d never made that choice but she can’t go back and undo it. She has forgiven herself. It’s everyone else who has the problem.

We can’t seem to let others change. We can’t seem to forget their sins. Why should we? We can’t forget our own sins either. And that is what keeps us locked in a past we can’t change.

What if we showed ourselves – and others – the grace and mercy God shows to us? What if we pressed forward into Jesus, forgetting what is behind, and focusing on the possibilities that lie ahead? What if we gave ourselves a chance without allowing the past to cloud our vision?

I pray that we all become better people this year. I pray that we reach forward and let go of all that is holding us back. I long for the opportunities Christ has given to all of us. We have a chance to live like we are His. How amazing is that?!

Each journey is different for the individual making it. I can’t tell you what path you should take and you can’t tell me what path to take either. But we can support each other. We can pray for one another. We can forget the past and move toward Jesus. We can do it together, one step at a time.

So make your goals and resolutions. Fill your heart with joy. Then take a step forward. Then another. Give yourself grace for the inevitable setback, getting up again and trying once more. Our days are measured in His love. Lean into Him. You can do this, not under your own strength and will, but because Jesus has hold of your hand.

January 1, 2016

Every Day Is A New Day

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

There’s something about January 1^st that fills us with possibilities. It’s a new start. A fresh day. We set goals. We make plans. Our hearts are filled with joy at what might be.

Then the next day comes and things aren’t quite as bright. We slept in and didn’t spend time with God before our day started. We judged someone without knowing that person’s situation. We yelled at our spouse -- again.

Life isn’t perfect and it rarely fits into our grandiose plans. Our dreams are usually quite big. Nothing wrong with that. They rarely include specific small steps that are actually achievable. And sometimes, maybe most times, we’ve neglected to put God first.



It’s easy to talk about what we’re going to do. But how often do we ask God if our dreams are in line with His will for us? We’re so busy asking God to bless our plans and our hopes that we neglect to seek Him until after we’ve got all our goals in place.

Plans are awesome things. It’s important to have goals and to strive to better ourselves. But the Bible clearly tells us to seek God first. Not second and certainly not last.

What does God want you to do this year? Spend more time with Him. Focus on showing others His love. Living your life for Him. Doing what is right even in the face of evil.

Stop making excuses. If you want to grow closer to God, make spending time with Him a priority. Get up earlier. Stay up later. Carve out time each day for Him. Write it down. Put it on your calendar. God is more important than anything else.

Take small steps if you must. Read a Bible verse and devotional every day. You’ll soon want to do more. A little bit of God is never enough.

Then give yourself a break. Seriously. We all mess up. We all fall short of what we want from ourselves. And we all fail God every single day. Falling short today, or even this week, isn’t an excuse to quit.

Every day is a new day. Not just January 1^st. Every day. So do the very best you can, striving always to put God first and be the person He has called you to be. And when you fail -- and you will -- ask for forgiveness, learn from it, and go on.

Fill yourself with the hope that is in Christ Jesus. Live your life focused on eternity. Be true to the unique person that you are. Trust God to take care of the rest.

January 1, 2015

Change Require A Plan

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12:1-2

The new year has dawned sunny and cold, a beautiful respite from the rain that has been over us in recent days. It is a day to start fresh, to set goals, to walk a new path. Isn't that what New Year's Day is all about?

What have you resolved to do differently this year? Lose weight? Change jobs? Gather your family closer? Pursue God more fully? We've all got goals but it's not the goal that makes the change. It's the person implementing a plan. So what's your plan?

Yeah. That's what I thought. Most of us set lofty goals with no plan, no road map on how to get there. Then we beat ourselves up because we fail. Maybe next year, we tell ourselves. How about this year?

Let's break it down. How do you lose weight? One pound at a time. There's no quick fix. You eat less and exercise more. It sounds simple because it is. The next step is the one most folks don't ever take. What does eating less mean? Analyze your food choices. What are you eating that's bad for you? What about portion size? And what does exercise look like in your life? Walking in the park? Joining a gym and participating every other day? Make it specific and you're far more likely to achieve your goal.

One of my greatest frustrations is when people tell me they want to be closer to God, to know Him on a deeper level, but refuse to make time for Him and His Word. They're full of excuses. We all are. Family obligations, work obligations, church duties eat up our time. But what good is it all if we don't have our Creator to sustain us through it all?

Do you want to be closer to God? Then make that choice and devise a plan to make it happen. Choose an easy for you to read Bible and start with Genesis Chapter 1, verse 1. You don't need to follow a reading plan. (Though you can if you want to.) Just begin. I promise that God will meet you there. And I know that Satan will put obstacle after obstacle in your path. Do it anyone.

Set a time and make it happen. Sacrifice sleep if you need to. Turn off the television. Close the door. Make the commitment and see it through. You will never be closer to God if you aren't willing to spend time alone with Him. It's that simple.

Today begins a new year. If you want to make a change, develop a plan and see it through.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Draw Closer To Him This Year

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

-- Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

What are your dreams? What are your regrets? What would you do with your life if money was not an issue? What kind of life would you lead if your health allowed? How would you fill your days if you could choose your own course?

This first day of the New Year brings reflections of the past and renewed commitments to the future. Most of us want to lose weight and get in better physical shape. Some people have career goals. Some have vacation goals. Some have no goals or resolutions at all. How about you? What do you want to accomplish in the coming year?

“In those days when you pray, I will listen.”

-- Jeremiah 29:12

Is God part of your plan for the New Year? Do you plan to spend more time with Him? Do you vow to study His Word? Or do you plan to continue on as before?

God wants us to know Him. He wants us to desire to spend time with Him. It’s sad that so often we don’t turn to Him until something catastrophic happens in our lives. He wants to share the good times. He wants to be part of the journey. And, yes, He’s there in the bad times too.

“If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land.” -- Jeremiah 29:13-14

Are you lost? Are you seeking to fill an emptiness deep in your soul? God can fill that spot. He wants to. But you have to seek Him first. You have to ask Him to come into your life. You have to want His counsel.

The reward? Time with our Creator. Guidance in all situations. Love beyond anything we can imagine. Blessings galore. And the very best part? We are never, ever alone. He is with us always, in all things, at all times. Loving us perfectly, no matter what.

The New Year brings us a fresh opportunity to change our path and move closer to God. It doesn’t happen in a moment. It’s a steady journey that requires us to each day seek Him. To devote time to His Word. To turn off the television and close the door. It takes effort. But it’s worth it all to feel His Presence deep down in your soul.

New Year Fills Us With Hope

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." -- Isaiah 40:31

There's something about a new year that fills us with hope. It's almost as though we wipe our slates clean, determined to start anew on that path we long to seek. We toast our new year's resolutions. This year will be different we say. We will lose that pesky 20 pounds. We will volunteer for a worthwhile organization. We will find a job we love. We will. We will. We will.

Yet, life has a way of charting its own course and offering up a myriad of excuses. Perhaps it isn't the resolutions that are the problem. Or even the circumstances that create our excuses. Maybe we aren't starting in the right place.

God is in control. Of all things, at all times. Resolve to start each day asking Him what He'd like for us to do. Ask for His help in curbing your appetite or finding a way to minister to His people. Seek His will first, then chart your course accordingly.

Put your hope and trust in the Lord and watch yourself soar into a glorious new year.