New Beginnings

It's been over a month since I've updated this blog. I, like I'm sure many of you, was busy over the holiday season. My family celebrated with my in-laws. We ate lots. We laughed lots. We enjoyed each other's company. My kids enjoyed their new toys and Beth even remembered to say thank you for some of them without being prompted. Michelle and I found out we were expecting number 3. We celebrated our 4th anniversary. We had fun and praised God for it. He is so good.

On New Year's Eve, I often find myself reflecting over the last year. The highs and lows. The joys and sorrows. We all have them, and reflection really helps bring things into focus. I love looking back and seeing how God has worked in my life through others, and hopefully how He's used me to work in other's lives. I enjoy recognizing how things have changed, and how they've stayed the same. My children grow. My son turned one a couple weeks ago and my daughter turned three at the end of November. Thad is almost walking. Beth can read and write her name. It seems hard to believe that they've gotten so big. But, for now, I get to live out the JJ Heller song "I Get to Be the One." (If you haven't heard it, check it out. Sorry her site didn't have a direct link to it, but the song is on that page.)  They do help me to follow Psalm 90:12 which states, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." As my children grow, I try to seek the wisdom of Scripture more and more. Partly in fear that I will mess up and partly knowing the grace that He gives to lead us.

Each new year we're given can be used as a new beginning, a fresh start. God has called you, Christian. Will you serve Him? I know what my emotions would say to that question, but do my choices reflect that answer? We show where our heart is by how we spend our time. Money and other resources can be lost to theft or disasters, but the time we have is given of God and cannot truly be taken from us. We make choices, we suffer consequences and time passes. Thank God that He has told us that He will help us make good choices. Because He is good, choosing to follow Him will always be a good choice. His Spirit will guide and direct us as we allow Him to do so. So what will your choice be with this new beginning?