Hi friends! I trust you all had a great Christmas holiday! If you are like most people, the Christmas music is put away, the tree might be down, and you're on your way to figure out what to do for New Year's Eve. In Tauranga the biggest celebration for NYE I'm guessing would have to be at Mount Maunganui. I've spent a couple NYEs down there, and it really is fun! They close off the main beach road and have bands set up for concerts all over the beach, a few carnival type rides for the kiddies, food, fun, and then at midnight there are fireworks let off over the ocean. You can lay on the beach, and feel the thump in your chest when they blow. It's the BEST!
This year I won't be at the Mount though, but rather hanging out with some great friends where we can sit on their deck and watch the fireworks from all over the city - in the comfort of our lawn chairs. No crowds, loud crazy people, and plenty of good food and a private bathroom just a few feet away at all times. AHH! :) I'm sure we'll play some games, talk heaps, eat too much and enjoy each other's company as we welcome in 2011 - praying it's a year of new beginnings, renewed hope, and more crazy adventures!! (That's my personal prayer anyway!)
As I reflect over this last year it's once again a mixed bag of thoughts and emotions. Some excellent times seeing God at work in ways I would never have imagined, yet some incredibly sad and hard times as well. But that's life right? I'm pretty sure you can't live through 12 months without a mixture of both. And through all of it, the goal is to learn and grow and go deeper in our walk with God - the only one who can honestly make sense of it ALL. I am thrilled to be able to look back at this year and know that I have gone deeper… the painful times have forced me there, and the great times have allowed me to celebrate there. In looking at it all with that perspective, I have no regrets…. except for those situations that seem to be unresolvable. For those I have no other choice than to let go and move on. Anything other than that is simply unproductive wasted energy.
In looking forward, my hope and expectation is high that it will be a year once again filled with wonder, awe, adventure, discovery, challenge, excitement, and no doubt pain… and in the midst of it all - REST in the center of my soul - choosing to hang out in that place of contentment by the still waters and green pastures every day. Only in Jesus will any of us have the ability to live this new year well. I am so up for the challenge!!
I hope you will allow yourself time to reflect on this last year. I am thankful every day for new beginnings… aren't you? And I'm especially thankful for my God who created that whole concept - knowing we would desperately need them. ha! I'm certainly going to be thinking about how to do this year better than the last… more confidently knowing who I am, what I am called to do, and especially knowing the ONE who will accomplish His work in and through me as I do my best to remain faithful and obedient to all He's asking of me.
What's your journey going to be like this next year? Are you looking forward to it? Glad for another chance to do things differently and better? I hope so! Greater things are yet to come… greater things are still to be done…. Happy New Year!!!
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