Happy New Year!

I don’t know about you, but I’m filled this morning (afternoon) with a sense of renewed hope, renewed enthusiasm, and renewed JOY! Woo Hoo!


Maybe it’s sleep (no, we did not make it to midnight). Maybe it’s turning my calendar page to a new year, maybe it’s that I’m about to start teaching again and that most certainly gets me off my heels. But here’s what I really believe is the source of my renewed self: I believe that my Lord Jesus Christ is about to do something new and great in our lives! Can you feel it too?

You know what? I have no idea what the new thing will be, but honestly, it just doesn’t matter. If it comes from my Lord, I want it and I eagerly await it! Maybe it will be BIG! Or, maybe (and quite likely), it will be something small and mighty. I can’t wait to see what He has for me!

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NASB): Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

You’ve been a rather quiet bunch of readers so far and I invite you to begin to offer comments, questions, etc. to what I affectionately call my “budding blog!” Please share with me!

I would love to know what steps you will purposely take to grow in the Lord this year. Notice I’ve stopped short of calling this a resolution – I read yesterday that most resolutions fail after just 13 days! No, I’m asking you what you will do on a consistent basis to follow Jesus more closely today than you did yesterday.

This is my number 1 goal: I’ve acquired a scripture memory partner and together we plan to memorize 2 verses each month this year! Our focus will be verses that help us combat worry and fear in our lives. We’ll strive hard to equip ourselves to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ! (2 Cor 10:5)

My secondary goal (again) is to read the Bible all the way through. I have a deep desire to have the full Word of God inside of me, whether I retain much of it or not. As I study the Bible, I enjoy going deep. With this goal, however, my intent is to go W-I-D-E! Wide doesn’t replace deep, but for 2011, I’m trying to bring wide alongside deep. I created a free account on http://www.biblestudytools.com/, clicked on Bible Reading Plans (scroll way down – it’s close to the bottom of the home page on the right hand side). Here, you can select a personalized reading plan just for you!! I selected the chronological option. It’s a great tool! Give it a try!

Hee hee – I just re-read that paragraph and I’ve made it sound like I’ll read the Bible through again for a 2nd or 3rd time. Nope. I’ve never done it. I have tried many times but haven’t accomplished it yet. So, the “again” part means that I’m trying it again!

What will you do? Please share!! There is something about sharing your plans with others and putting them in writing that helps us take the steps to accomplish them! I invite you to take the first step of faith and “put it out there!”