As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus on this New Year’s Eve morning, I’m finishing up my list of ways I want to challenge myself in the  NEW YEAR.  I always make a list, not resolutions, a list of areas of growth. I make a goal of how I want to grow SPIRITUALLY, and build my relationship with the Lord.  I make a goal of how I want to grow EMOTIONALLY, including books I want to read, or classes I’m going to take, ways in which I can grow INWARDLY.   And then I set a goal for PHYSICAL growth.  I look at ways in which I can take better care of the temple God has put me in charge of.

I don’t set unachievable goals, I just seek ways in which I can set patterns for the new year.  I think of the healing that I need, and the areas in which I need to grow in forgiveness, patience, and trust.  I have come to believe that God sometimes takes us to places and gives us experiences to draw us closer to HIM! 

So, today I’m going to prepare prayerfully to walk into this NEW YEAR with strength and trust that each trial and blessing, no matter how difficult, is part of God‘s greater plan to build HIS kingdom.  That becomes exciting and challenging, knowing that God has taught me, and continues to teach me, to surrender, trust, love, and serve HIM!  I can’t help but be excited about a NEW YEAR!  Ready or not, here I come, with Jesus at my side!