Happy New Year!
Reflection tends to precede
a New Year. Resolutions are full of good intentions but they swiftly dissolve.
(At least they do for me.)
I’ve wondered if my
focus is wrong. Is it because my resolve is selfish? My focus is me: my health,
my diet, my exercise?
And… because I fly solo
in this Me quest, I rely on my will and my self-control.
That plan has never
worked well for me.
I crash and burn
almost as soon as I take flight.
So…this year rather
than the me focus, I’m looking at God.
The Lord desires for
us to love him fully—with our heart, mind, body, and soul.
I want to be able to
do that. Love God fully.
I don’t know about
you, but I definitely cannot do that on my own. I need help. Help from other
fellow faith-filled sojourners.
Truthfully, that isn’t
even enough.
Plus, I need intervention, supernatural
intervention; the wise counsel of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s word.
Kathy Howard and Julie
Sanders have gathered a team of bloggers, authors, and speakers who want to
start off 2015 by focusing on God’s word and deepening personal faith. I’m excited to be a part of this endeavor.
New Start 15 is 4 weeks
of biblical encouragement. It includes: daily
bible reading, a Facebook page, resource list, and a daily blog roll.
I asked Kathy to fill
you in on the New Start 15 vision.
Want a New Start in 2015?
I love the “undo”
button on my laptop. You know the one – that little arrow that curves to the
left. When you click it, the last thing you did magically disappears.
Sometimes I wish life
had an “undo” button. I could click it to magically erase the unkind words I
blurted. Or wipe out my selfish behavior. Or eliminate that wrong decision. To
“undo” all those things that brought unwanted consequences or now weigh heavy on
my conscience.
Yep. In fact,
sometimes it would be great to start over all together. To get a clean slate.
To get a complete do-over.
Guess what? If you’re
a Christian, that’s exactly what you got when you entered into a saving
relationship with Jesus Christ. And sister, if things have gotten a bit off
track since then, it’s not too late to undo and start new. In fact, now is a
great time for a NEW START.
If you’d like to
“undo” a few things or even start new on a bigger scale, consider joining me
for New Start 15. During January, a few friends and I will be leading a
month-long journey into holiness. Together we’ll explore what it looks like to
become a “new creation in Christ,” to practically live out the set-apart, holy
life to which God calls us.
Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is
here!
2 Corinthians
2:17, NIV
The “old” life looks
like the world around us. And it’s burdened with the weight and consequences of
worldly living. But the “new” life is radically different from the world, holy
and set apart to God.
There is glorious
freedom and joy in living a life of holiness. Freedom from the weight and
consequences of sin. And joy in a deeper intimacy with our holy God.
Do you like the sound
of freedom and joy? The chance for a New Start? Our God is the God of second
chances, clean slates, and do-overs.
Participation in New
Start 15 is simple. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Use the New Start 15 Bible
Reading Plan in your personal quite time January 5 – 23.
(Free download)
- Like the New Start 15
Facebook page to keep up with daily devotional blog posts,
get words of encouragement, and share thoughts from your own journey. (You
can also download the New Start 15 bloggers list and schedule.)
- Follow the New Start 15 “blog hop” January 5-23
(weekdays only) as the New Start 15 team
blogs about living the new, holy life in Christ.
- Check out the New Start 15
Resources List for books, Bible studies, blog posts,
printables and more to help you on your journey. (Free Download)
- Invite your friends to join you in the New Start 15 journey by sending them the link to this post.
Do you long for deep
intimacy with God? Do you desire for your life to please and glorify Him? Do
you want your life to point others to Jesus? If you answered, “yes” to any of
these questions, then New Start 15 is
for you! Join us in January as we dig into God’s Word to find out what He says
about living the new, holy life in Christ.
Are
you ready for a New Start? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Or
simply let me know you’re in! Happy New Year!
Christian author and
Speaker, Kathy Howard, has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years to a
varied audience. She has a Masters in Christian Education from the
Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary. Kathy and her husband live in the
Houston, TX area and have three children, two son-in-laws, and one precious
grandbaby.
We're so glad to have you on the New Start 15 journey with us Lori! You are SO right that we really need each other to grow, and we need divine intervention. Praying that January will be a powerful start for us all.
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