Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Happy New Year

My husband and I would like to wish You and your Families a Blessed and Prosperous New Year. May the Lord Bless you and keep you!
May the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

And may you all have a Blessed, healthy and Happy New Year.
Lets chat about Resolutions!!
It's that time of year again where we make promises we often don't keep in effort to improve ourselves (or others) in one way or another. Every year I think about what I'm going to challenge myself to accomplish. Some people decide to join a workout or weight loss program and others think about getting their finances in order. I know there are many who plan to read the whole Bible in a year as well. There are countless things to commit to doing or changing.
This year I really hope will be different for most. I think the best way to make your New Year's resolution come to fulfillment is to start now instead of after the first of the year. I've started working on mine. My one set goal is indeed, for a new "me"!! Yes you read that right. I have a big birthday coming up next year and would like to have a new look to go with my new perspective on life (what God has been showing me in the Word). I would like a new hairdo, to lose some pounds, tan my skin since my current complexion is kind of pasty looking right now.

As I think about fresh new starts, I think back to conversations I've had with others over the years about "clean slates". Maybe as this New Year approaches, you recognize you're not the person you really want to be. Maybe you're ready for a change in your attitude or your actions. Whatever it is you decide, don't look at it as a year long commitment or a far set goal; take it one day at a time and seek the Lord in how He would form you as you allow Him. Decide today what kind of person you want to be from now on.

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1)
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:13-14)
Give up complaining . . . focus on gratitude.
Give up harsh judgments . . . think kind thoughts.
Give up worry . . . trust divine providence.
Give up discouragement . . . be full of hope.
Give up bitterness . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred . . . return good for evil.
Give up anger . . . practice patience.
Give up pettiness . . . put on maturity.
Give up gloom. . . enjoy the beauty that is around me.
Give up gossiping . . . control my tongue.

Make the most of today! May God bless your New Year as you seek His direction.

22 comments:

Nicole said...

I can't wait to see pictures of the new "you". Please post them. I would love to see the beauty of the Lord on your face coming fourth from the inside out. Happy New Year to you!

Love,
Nicole

Paula V said...

I agree with Nicole. I can't wait to see the new you...especially the hair do. I'm into dos. I love seeing how people change their style, length, color etc. I guess that's why I love those make over shows even though I don't watch them much. I'd be satisfied with just a before and after without all the connotations for 60 minutes. I sometimes cheat and watch the last ten minutes. Don't tell.

Great ideas on making changes with our selves this year.

Love ya,
Paula

Michele Williams said...

The new you.... I posted a new me... but it's an older me... lol... I am looking forward to posting this coming year a new me... healthier me..... not only weight loss (greatly needed)... but my chronic health. I looking forward to a Spiritual health, physcial health, emotional health, financial health, realationship health, ministry health, business health..... A healthier year for all....

Blessings dear friend.

LisaShaw said...

I will pray for you that this coming year finds all that God has for you overflowing in your life. We're all on journey's -- good ones so let us keep one another encouraged. I don't make resolutions but I do reflect and then make changes with the guidance of the LORD and so I'm looking forward to more Christ-centered changes in my life in 2009and in all of yours.

God bless and keep you in His care as you trust and walk in love with Him.

God's Girl said...

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't make resolutions either cuz' I've learned I don't keep them.

I make it a practice to write a letter to the Lord thanking Him for the year. It is good to focus on His faithfulness!

Happy New Year to you! May the Lord draw you closer and closer to Himself. ...Just loving and hanging out with Jesus is where we are filled.

I hope to go on a date with the Lord sometime soon for just that! : )

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Sharon..
I just wanted to wish you and Pastor Brad a Happy New Year. You both have been such a blessing to me and I know the Lord will continue to use you both even more in this new year 2009.

The Best Is Yet To Come..

Hugz Lorie

Amy said...

I pray that God blesses you and your family abundantly this upcoming year!

I have several changes that I want (and definitely need) to make this year, and God willing, I will.

Happy New Year, my friend!
God Bless,
Amy:)

Edie said...

Looking forward to seeing whatever changes God makes in you. I love the changes you listed at the end of this post.

Rich blessings to you as He brings you into the New Year!

God Chaser said...

Sharon a great post with great advice. I too have so enjoyed getting to know you this pass year. You are a great encouragemt to me. I look forward to us both growing together in the New year- and I know your makeover will be successful for God is so good at makeovers. Be blessed and have a wonderful new year.

From the Heart said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog and thanks for the encouraging post. I don't usually make New Year Resolutions because I usually don't keep them.

We got a wonderful surprize this week. My daughter who lives in Virginia Beach took her dad and her cousin's husband with her to look at new cars. She has been contemplating a new one for a while. The one she had gave her a lot of problems but she had gotten those all taken care of. She found a 2008 Volvo (a lease car) with only 8,000 miles on it and the price was good so she bought it. She gave us her other car. She had planned on doing that when she got a new one but I didn't expect it this soon. It's an Audi and will last us for a while. Our van is beginning to give problems so this was great timing. Isn't God good?
To God be the glory, and I hope you have a very good, happy and prosperous New Year,
AliceE.

Sharon Brumfield said...

Amen to starting now!
And yes, one day at a time. He is not expecting us to change tomorrow or to give Him tomorrows heart. He just wants our hearts one day at a time.
And I have come up to that 40 mark and wanted to change things before I got there. Some changes took place..not the outside but the inside. Now for this coming year I would like the outside to line up a little more closely with what I feel on the inside.
No huge goals...just one day at a time.

Ashley Marie Rinaldi said...

Happy New year Sharon

:-)

Shanita Waters said...

Happy New Year! You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. I'm excited for you about the new "you" (even though I liked the old one just fine). It's always good to reach for higher heights and deeper depths. Be the best You you can be.

Blessings!
Shanita

Leaon Mary said...

Hi Sharon,
I really enjoyed reading your post tonight.
So many people are trying to make life changes.... -- and like you I have weight to lose as well.
I'm anxious to see the new look! How exciting!

Lea

debrah said...

Happy New Year Sharon to you and your family. Great Post! Alice had a scripture on one of her latest post about us those of us in Christ Jesus have become a new creation, the old has gone behold all things become new...I am familiar with this scripture(obviously not enough to quote it correctly) but reading it this evening is stirring something within me...Be Blessed My Friend.

Dorothy Champagne said...

Happy New Year to you!! Are you not just loving this weather we're having!! This is why I love Florida. I look forward to keeping up with your blog and seeing what's in store for you and your husband this year!!

Kristie said...

Just stopping by to say "Hello" and Happy New Year!

sailorcross said...

Hi Sharon!!

I just got over that nasty "bug". Kept me down all weekend!!

I'll be looking forward to seeing you next week in the Weekly Memory Verse.

Edie said...

Just stopping by to say hi to you Sharon. I noticed you didn't stay away from that bad, bad giveaway. LOL! Best wishes to you!

Technonana said...

I love your post for today... GIVE IT UP!!
Let it go!! Give it to God!!
Thanks for the inspiration, Sweet Sister!!

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