New Year's Resolutions

Hello friends and Happy New Year!

I thought I would start the new year by doing some blogging and thoughts on new year's resolutions since we all love to make them.  I don't know about you guys but whew! I am so glad that this year is behind me and it's time to have some new things going on.  First of all, I am thankful to be getting back to my nursing classes and being further on the road to becoming an RN.  I am thankful for some family reconnection that I really didn't think would ever happen, but God is so good to us.  It has also been a rough year. I know I am by far not the only one that feels that way and even now as I reflect..I know there are those out there hurting much worse than I.  The past month has been a revelation of sorts..and might I say not good ones! I have learned things that have knocked me for a loop and made me question everything I believed growing up...and have had to make some hard decisions that are best for me and that I feel God is calling us to.  My heart seems like it has been ripped and torn so many times in 2009, anyone else feel that way?  So, what then will my new year's resolutions be. Let's see...

1.) Seek healing, comfort and Godly guidance about my past issues that have come back and the new issues that date back to my past until present. 2.) Finish Nursing school  3.) Hopefully move to Sumter in a month or two....for reasons I will keep to myself.  4.) Commit to letting God be in charge of my life everyday, being consistant in my church attendance, bible study...and focusing on the Lord.  5.) Learning to let go..realizing that all you can do about some situations is pray and Let God.  6.) Keep rebuilding some broken relationships. 7.) Taking time everyday to reflect and be thankful for all God has given me and continues to bless me with instead of focusing on the stress and things that cannot be changed.

Also these verses are my New Year's verses and I think they are indeed important: 2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”- this verse says it all. God's word is true for all of us, no matter where we have been, we are new in Him!!!  Next is Matthew 5:44-48 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  This last one takes some time to digest and reflect...take some time with it.  Love your enemies...even the unrighteous can love those who love them...so we are to love, really love our enemies as well.  Enemies? That means the people we are at war with, the terrorists, the unsaved everywhere, those who hurt you, those who continue to hurt you...we all deserve hell so we should be thankful for God's grace, forgiveness, compassion and mercy.  These qualities do not make us weak but rather make us more like Jesus, and afterall that is the point of this relationship isn't it?

What are you going to do in this NEW YEAR?

Tis the Season

I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but i enjoy writing so I will keep it up.  I love this time of year.  I love buying presents for others and I have to reel myself in or I would spend every dime and then some.  I love Christmas lights and decorating the tree.  I love to go to singing christmas trees and plays.  It's the only time of year I actually want it to be cold so I can stand by a fire and drink hot cocoa.  Truly, it is the most wonderful time of the year.

I find myself counting all my blessings more this year.  I am thankful for my family and friends.  We had an awesome Thanksgiving and stayed together and played together, literally all day.  I am not sure I have ever laughed that hard in my entire life. This is also the time of year when you reflect on everything that's happened in your life...i'm not sure why it all floods.  You can find yourself wanting to change 1,000 things that should have been done differently.  So, thankfulness for God's forgiveness, grace, love and mercy starts to overwhelm me.  People always talk about Karma.  Well it's not really Karma, but God wants us to extend his love, grace, forgiveness and joy to others.  If we do, He blesses us with it in return, but remember if you are harsh, judgemental, haughty...that is likely what will come back to you as well.  The media bombards our senses this time of year. Buy this, do that, Santa is coming. It's easy to get caught up in it, I do find myself doing it from time to time.  Let's refocus ourselves on the real reason we need to celebrate.  No Virginia, Santa isn't the reason despite the Macy's commercials and he doesn't live on and on.  However, Jesus is.  God sent his son to live and go through all the things we go through, to take on our sin, and to restore our path back to Him.  What better reason for celebrating? I don't know what exact month or day or even time of year Jesus was actually born.  Perhaps we do celebrate this particular date because of a pagan calendar.  Let's remember what's important though, God did send his son to be born through Mary in Bethlehem.  God did show the shephards the star to follow and they visited him in a manger because there was no room in the inn.  He was born, He lived, He died for us. He rose again and one day we will be with him once more! What more do we need to be joyous and giving and loving towards each other and our God than that? Merry Christmas everyone!