I love this time between Christmas and New Years when everything seems to be in limbo. I don't usually have enough vacation days to take off the whole time, but most places I've worked move pretty slow this last week of the year. It's an opportunity to clean out my desk and finish up paperwork. At home Christmas toys are being played with (or worn, or listened to), the tree is still up, and there's plenty of leftovers to munch on. But my most favorite, favorite thing about this time is looking forward to New Years Day and to all the new beginnings it represents. It's my favorite holiday. Really. I feel like it's one great big 'do-over.'
Oh, so last year wasn't so great? Ok, here's another one for you to try. You didn't meet your goals? That's ok, now is your chance to try again. You actually gained weight instead of losing the 10 pounds you set as a goal last year? ;-> No worries. Let's give it another go this year! I love the feeling of the slate being wiped clean and having a chance to start over again. (I even like Mondays because of similar reasons! Weird, I know.)
I recognized some time ago that the reason I like New Years Day so much is because it represents God's forgiveness and His giving me a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth...(you get the picture).... chance. He's continually wiping my slate clean and giving me a fresh start. Maybe technically that's not theologically correct...? I suppose really my slate is always clean now because God sees Jesus instead of me. He sees His pure and perfect life instead of mine full of blemishes and failures. But, still, I am called to remember and to confess my sins so as to mentally and spiritually clean out my heart. I am forgiven through the blood of Jesus and adopted as a child of God, yet I am called to continually strive through the power of the Holy Spirit to be conformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus.
Some might think this is a contradiction, but I find it beautiful. God has forgiven me and sees me as pure, holy, perfect. He has wrapped the life of Jesus around me to wear with love, hope, and joy. And He has placed the Holy Spirit inside me so that I might be transformed from the inside out to become more and more like the life already given to me. The best ever 'do-over!' This is why I love New Years.
So, I hope you'll join me in the next few days to look back at the past year and then look forward to the next. I hope you'll think about the things you wanted to accomplish and honestly evaluate your growth in every area. I hope you'll recognize the things that went really well and give God the praise and glory. And I hope you'll honestly recognize the things that didn't go so well and, if need be, confess and repent, knowing God is faithful to continue the good work He has already begun in you!
I can't leave you without a list for my "Seven on Saturday" so, as I look back personally at 2008 and forward to 2009, these are the growth areas I'm looking at:
Oh, so last year wasn't so great? Ok, here's another one for you to try. You didn't meet your goals? That's ok, now is your chance to try again. You actually gained weight instead of losing the 10 pounds you set as a goal last year? ;-> No worries. Let's give it another go this year! I love the feeling of the slate being wiped clean and having a chance to start over again. (I even like Mondays because of similar reasons! Weird, I know.)
I recognized some time ago that the reason I like New Years Day so much is because it represents God's forgiveness and His giving me a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth...(you get the picture).... chance. He's continually wiping my slate clean and giving me a fresh start. Maybe technically that's not theologically correct...? I suppose really my slate is always clean now because God sees Jesus instead of me. He sees His pure and perfect life instead of mine full of blemishes and failures. But, still, I am called to remember and to confess my sins so as to mentally and spiritually clean out my heart. I am forgiven through the blood of Jesus and adopted as a child of God, yet I am called to continually strive through the power of the Holy Spirit to be conformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus.
Some might think this is a contradiction, but I find it beautiful. God has forgiven me and sees me as pure, holy, perfect. He has wrapped the life of Jesus around me to wear with love, hope, and joy. And He has placed the Holy Spirit inside me so that I might be transformed from the inside out to become more and more like the life already given to me. The best ever 'do-over!' This is why I love New Years.
So, I hope you'll join me in the next few days to look back at the past year and then look forward to the next. I hope you'll think about the things you wanted to accomplish and honestly evaluate your growth in every area. I hope you'll recognize the things that went really well and give God the praise and glory. And I hope you'll honestly recognize the things that didn't go so well and, if need be, confess and repent, knowing God is faithful to continue the good work He has already begun in you!
I can't leave you without a list for my "Seven on Saturday" so, as I look back personally at 2008 and forward to 2009, these are the growth areas I'm looking at:
- Spiritually - How have I grown in God's Word, through His Spirit, and with the Church body? How's my prayer life?
- Family - How have I nurtured and cherished relationships first with my husband, then my children, and finally with my extended family? How have I modeled grace and love?
- Physically - How have I taken care of the health of my physical body? Have I honored it as the temple in which God dwells?
- Friends - How have I developed and maintained life-giving friendships?
- Creatively - How have I recognized and developed truth and beauty in my life? How have I used my gifts and talents at work, at home, and in the church?
- Mentally - How have I stretched myself and grown by learning and trying new things?
- Home - How have I made our home a place of rest, refuge and peace?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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