Happy New Year!

This New Year's Eve has my family safely back in the States, Lily finally off to bed, parties all around us (tomorrow is also the day of Haiti's Independence), guests coming in at midnight, and Matt and I praising the Lord in wonderment as we think back through the past year. It's unbelievable that a year ago, I was still pregnant, and as we think through all the transitions and transformations of this past year, we can so clearly see His hand keeping us...We are so thankful for His faithfulness and for the ways He has drawn near to us and we've sought to draw near to Him.

We've seen a lot of articles and news tidbits lately poking fun at the "New Year's Resolution", and while it's true that "Lose 30 pounds by February" or "Wake up an hour earlier every day" would most likely end up in the trash can by January 4th, we can't help but think that it's an important tradition.

What an awesome chance to search His heart! Where have I fallen short of who He made me to be this past year? Where has my pride or my grudge or my comfort or my selfishness or my laziness or my fear or my stubbornness or "the ways I've always done it" or "the way I've always thought" kept me from drawing closer to Him? Kept me from representing Him well? Kept me from being in godly relationship with others? Kept me drinking spiritual milk instead of dining on solid food?

How can I be more like Him this year? What can I do to make Him better known in my relationships with others? What disciplines do I need to embrace in order to become Holy so that my Holy God can be near to my thoughts and desires, speech and actions?

It's not just about what I hope for, or what I want...but what I commit to...what I lay down before Him as promises because of my great love for Him, in response to all of the promises He has given to me out of His great first love for me.

It may not take many days until I slip up on one of those sweet promises to my God, but as I've seen for years, His grace and unwavering faithfulness are more than enough for me to stand on this coming year. We don't have any idea what the days ahead hold, but if they are in Him...We have so much to look forward to.

"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.

The beasts of the field will glorify Me,

The jackals and the ostriches,

Because I have given waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to My chosen people.

The people whom I formed for Myself

Will declare my praise."

Isaiah 43:18-21