New Adventures

It's a new day, the second in a brand new year. And although some may argue that we've merely put a new calendar on the wall, I think that here in the confines of time, as humans we like to mark definite starts and finishes. We like to think that two nights ago at midnight, we closed one book and in the next minute opened a new one rife with possibilities gleaming on blank pages.


And so we did.


And so we do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. To a smaller degree, perhaps--but each day is fresh. God's mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.


Many of us, giddy with the idea of a fresh slate entitled 2016, make resolutions and goals for the year. Stats say only a small percentage actually reach those goals. Don't get me wrong; I love goals! But let me just encourage you to strive for this delicate balance:


Dream big.


Savor the small moments.


Start each day with thanks.


Forgive. Forgive yourself, forgive the humans in your life. We're all imperfect. Forgive the world for whatever bad turn it may have given you. Know that your Father is in the business of making beauty out of brokenness.


Divide your lofty goals into chunks, little milestones that you can celebrate along the way. The way to reach them truly is one step at a time.


Go for your goals, yes; but have grace for yourself along the way.


You cannot give what you do not have--ground yourself in God's love more than ever before, and watch as it overflows into the lives of those around you.


As the quest of 2016 commences, I'm so blessed that our paths intersect here! May the road be straight before your feet. May you happen upon unexpected beauty along the way. May you have the strength to scale the mountains and the perseverance to cross the valleys. Sally forth, warriors! The best is yet to come.


P.S. I like to be a polite little blogger and cite the sources of the pictures I use, but these two I found a long time ago and merely saved to my computer without marking down where I found them.