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A New Year and a New Attitude

If you are like me, you probably wonder where 2013 has gone.  It seems like the Christmas season was so short and that the New Year celebration happened before we had time to even turn around.  I have always looked forward to January 1 of any year, because I like the opportunity for fresh starts.

I know that I am not perfect and to be honest with you, each day in the Scriptures reminds me of that fact.  I struggle to make right decisions and do what is right and proper in any situation, but as I said, I am not perfect.  So, as January 1 rolled around this year, I looked forward with great hopes of the opportunities to begin anew, however, I have learned that Satan just doesn't want that to happen.  He pushes, prods and provokes at every turn and uses circumstance and culture to antagonize...but, the opportunities for a fresh start never comes from him...rather, it always comes from God our Father.

Perhaps my favorite story in the Old Testament is that of Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul (2 Samuel 4:4) who was given that the opportunity to start fresh because of King David's desire to show grace to the household of his friend Jonathan (Saul's son).  Though crippled from childhood and hiding in the land of Lodebar (or a place of no pasture), God used King David to show grace, mercy and love to someone who had no right to expect it.

My favorite story in the New Testament is hands down from Luke 15, the story of a loving Father who welcomed his rebellious son home with no strings attached.  In a story of God's love for sinners, we are reminded that He loves us with an everlasting love.  He gives us the opportunity for a fresh start when we, like Mephibosheth have no right to expect it.

I don't really know where you are right now, but I am at a place in my life where I am ready to move on to the next adventure God has in store for me.  I am ready for a new, fresh start, for the opportunity to re-boot with a Tabula Rasa (clean slate) and to face each day with the confidence that I serve a God who loves me so much, He never takes His eyes off me.  I'm confident the same could be said about you too.  God bless!

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