Skip to main content

New Beginnings

New beginnings are just around the corner.  Something magical happens as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. Something about the calendar flipping to a new year that motivates us to start something new. We like to call them resolutions.

Some of these new beginnings will be successfully completed. Others get chalked up as failures. Then of course there will be some that fail the day after we start them.  They never had a chance!

I decided I will focus on what I am feeding myself.  Physically, I am going to try to eat a minimum of five fruits and/or vegetables a day.  Thank goodness for the great prices at our local farm market.  I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  Seems like I could be an elf.  I just can't get enough of the cookies, candies, and of course pies.  So for January, I am going to quit all sweets.  Of the two, this one will be the toughest one, I think.  

I am working on what I am feeding myself spiritually, too.  If you follow me on the Bible App you have been subject to invite after invite for reading plans.  This year I'm changing it up.  I am committing to a 365 day reading plan by Pastor Rick Warren.  If you want to join, just sent me an email at matt@westsidechristianchurch.com. I'll share more on how God is creating new beginnings in my spiritual life in the near future.

As we look at a new year and new beginnings, I challenge you to consider what you'd like to do differently.  Maybe for you it's your diet, as well. Maybe it is committing to serving Saturday mornings with Downtown Ministries. Possibly you want to break the bond money has on your life and live in a space of generosity.  It could be spending more time in the word or sharing the good news with those around you. 

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your identity is not changed by these "new beginnings". They are merely steps you take or commitments you make to live a better life and grow in your walk with Jesus. Regardless of your success with your resolutions, your identity stays the same. You are a child of God. 

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." - John 1:12‭-‬13 NIV

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."- Galatians 3:26‭-‬27 NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited..  To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.   After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anchor House Week12: Constant

I've gotten almost a week behind on my reflections from Anchor House. It seems there just isn't enough time in the day.  The way these blogs come together is different from week to week.  Some weeks God puts a message clearly on my heart. Others it feels like a struggle to put "pen to paper".   This week was one of those that I knew exactly what I'd write about. However, each day passed and I missed the opportunity. You see, I write best in the mornings. Not sure if it's the limited distractions, a product of my habit of practicing my spiritual disciplines in the morning, or something else entirely. Most of my afternoon writing is intelligible and requires numerous edits.  In the AM, however, they seem to make more sense.   What's funny is that as I am writing, I am feeling God moving.  He's moving from what I thought I was to write about to what He wants me to share. These shifts and changes are a part of the shipping industry.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tables

In the communion and offering meditation, Mindy shared a picture of their family's dinner table. She described the numerous activities that happen around that table. The one she said that stuck out the most to me was forgiveness.  There is one particular table in the Bible that comes to mind. It is where a significant moment in our history occurred. At this table, Jesus is dining with his closest followers, just hours before He will be arrested. He gathers with them to partake in the festival of unleavened bread. During this meal, this table is the stage for truth, betrayal, denial, lies, promise, and forgiveness.   As Jesus identifies his betrayer (Matt 26:20-25) and predicts Peter's denial of Him (Matt 26:31-35), He is fully aware of what is to come. He will pay a ransom to free God's people. Even as these bonds of trust and friendship are broken, Jesus doesn't relent. He still breaks the bread and still drinks of the cup. He offers forgiveness, "T...
Post a Comment
Read more