Living with a New Year's Mentality - Reaching Forward to What Lies Ahead

How is your New Year so far? Is it going how you expected and planned?

When the New Year is about to arrive, we gather 'round, contemplate and celebrate, creating new resolutions. We are excited about the year ahead and are hopeful for what is to come.

As the days move on, that vision seems to wane, and we get stuck in the middle of daily life reality.

We need a New Year's mentality
to fuel us throughout the year. 

Paul wrote about his pursuit towards hope, towards the future, towards all that the Lord has for him:

"but one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind
and REACHING FORWARD to those which are ahead."
Phil. 3:13

There is a lot of junk on this earth: disease, conflict, hatred, rebellion, disorder, death... Creation is bound in imperfection until that glorious day when Jesus returns!

And until then, we must work with all of our might and all of our mind to stay focused on good things, let go of all that hinders, and REACH forward with faith and hope!

I love this familiar verse...

Phil. 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are TRUE, whatever things are NOBLE, whatever things are JUST, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are OF GOOD REPORT, if there is any VIRTUE and if there is anything PRAISEWORTHY - MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.

And that's my goal...

To keep pushing towards good and nobility.
To strive to be constantly thankful for my life.
To love the people around me.
To reach out to the needy.
To focus on the tasks God has given ME.

To make a way out of the miry clay of earthly dealings and the dramatic events of the world wide web and live the good and great reality God wants me to live!

Are you stuck in things about which you should forget?

Are you REACHING FORWARD to what lies ahead?

LET'S REACH FORWARD TOGETHER!

Let's live lives of hope, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith and of this Earth!

My Top Posts from 2016

Happy New Year everyone!

It's fun to look back over the past year and see which posts were at the top.

If you haven't gotten a chance to read these, check them out! And I plan to be on the blog soon with an encouraging word for the New Year!

Last month I did a giveaway for Andy Traub's Early to Rise Experience for Moms. If you haven't gotten the book yet, check it out! It could be a key to helping you rise earlier in the morning, and starting the new year on a better foot.

One of the highlights of my year was when my husband and I did the Whole30. I did a few posts with meal plans and also one that summed up our experience, as a whole.

A few well-hit recipes were:
A Great Big Tray of Delicious Nachos
Cauliflower Breadsticks
The Pioneer Woman's Brother's Tacos

At the beginning of the year last year, I did some posts about making time for important things. One of those things is to make time to take care of yourself! Even as this new year begins, I remember the importance of that!

A couple posts to encourage you to remember the goodness of God and treasure each moment:
As Life Unravels, Remember: God Gives Good Gifts
Motherhood: Why I Am Treasuring Every Moment

God bless you, and I look forward
to sharing 2017 with you!