A New Beginning...

A new year begins. For many of us this means a chance to start over; a chance to do it right; time to see all things new. The past behind us we cannot change, but the future is ours to with what we wish or so we hope.

If you are looking forward to the new year with a feeling of despair, or with a feeling that nothing new is going to happen because nothing will change, look up! There is always hope. There is always a new path in front of you.

Remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, hoping something will change. Stop doing the SAME thing. It will be tough, it will be challenging. We like to stick with what we are familiar with no matter how much we want to change. Even with baby steps, when you walk a while you will see a lot of ground covered when you look back. Start small.

For me the challenge each year is to learn more about my faith in a deeper study of God's Word. I have read through the Bible from start to finish about five times...three times as it is traditionally written from Genesis to Revelation, once chronologically, and once in a study guide format (one old testament book, one psalm, one proverb, and one new testament book). Sometimes I use a Bible study guide, other times I just randomly read clumps of scripture to see what it can tell me about my life. Food for thought? Absolutely!

This year, I will utilize some of the online sites to help me and some devotional type books that I have on hand. I also hope to get some good CDs and DVDs by some excellent pastors and teachers to gain some wisdom. I plan to meditate more on the Bible and listen to some recordings from my church. I find this keeps me centered on God, allows his teachings to guide my thoughts, words and actions and hopefully improves my walk through life. The Bible never promises smooth sailing through life, it actually warns of trials and tribulations, but it offers the answer to solving much of what we struggle with through life.

In the book of James it says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."