the invincible future

I know the whole "I resolve not to resolve anything because nobody does anything they resolve anyway" mindset is very popular nowadays, but this girl's not kidding herself.

I lay in bed every single night thinking about the past day--its triumphs and shortcomings, laughter and tears--and make new day resolutions.  just ask Matt.  drives him crazy.  

So a chance to deliberately set out on a New Year with a bunch of reflection on the past and new resolve to draw closer to Him, mama better, wife better, friend better, live more love in the New Year?  Yeah, I'm all over it. 

My resolutions this year are not these....but they cracked me up:

ok, well, that WOULD be mine if I had a pint of ice cream!

this IS Sofie's.  No question.

As inspirational as those are, as I've been praying about and pondering the past year and the new one, exercise plans and ice cream haven't even come to mind.

Instead, I've collected some of the resolutions and reminders I hope and pray will be a part of this upcoming year for us, and hope some of them will be claimed by you, as well!

Spending more deliberate time in the Word, learning to say NO with great love and for His glory, spending time more intentionally, loving others better....it's all here!

Best, I am setting out upon this New Year of being His child, of being Matt's wife, of being Lily's and Sofie's mother, of being a friend, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and a Christ-follower with this: 

Our present enjoyment of God's grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday's sins and burdens.

But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future.  

And for today?  Let us go out with the patient power of knowing the God of Israel goes before us.  It is true:  we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform our destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. 

Leave the broken irreversible past in the hands of our God, 

and step out into the invincible future with Him.

Happy New Year, Family!