In Your Face, New Year!

It's the end of the month of January and yes I am just now getting to my new year blog. But I figured now is probably better than to have written it on January 1st. I, personally, subscribe to many devotionals and blogs and I had an enormous influx of "New Year, New You" and "What's Your Word for 2017?" and "Be Healthy in the New Year" that they all kinda seemed to be the same and I began to just skim right over them and wish for the New Year newness to wear off a bit.

For some of you the New Year's Resolutions have already waved you goodbye and you find yourself struggling to get into the gym and validate that membership you put a bucket load of money into. For some, eating healthier eludes you as you walk into that coffee shop and smell the sweet scent of those blueberry scones as you sit down and pull out your laptop to blog, (Oh wait, is that just me?)

Bottom line is we struggle, all of us, with inner turmoil between what we wanna be and who we currently are. It's a never ending cycle of beating ourselves up internally for messing up and whipping ourselves into shape when the temptation to waver off our financial plan, diet plan, book reading plan falls apart or whatever New Year's resolution we made seems to come apart at the seams. 

But let me encourage you with this, no matter what goal we set for ourselves this year, know this...you are a treasured and cherished daughter of the King and nothing will change that. No amount of pounds, no amount of books read or written, no amount of college finished or yet to be completed, no amount of healthy food in your fridge or brownies sitting on your counter can change that. 

Being healthy and increasing your knowledge through going back to school or reading more books and even getting out of debt are fantastic habits and goals, but your identity in Christ is set despite what amount of money is in your bank account and what title is on your business card. Stay at home mommas, whether you got to shower today or not, put on your makeup or even get out of your pajamas, doesn't change how much God loves you or how beautiful He thinks you are.  

So let's all stand up and hold hands this year sisters and say "In Your Face, New Year!" Don't let the would'a, could'a, should'a's get you down. Focus on today and the next right step. Focus your eyes on Jesus and spend time in His Presence asking Him what you are to prioritize today. Rest in knowing that you may not be where you want to be, but thank God you are not where you used to be. (Thank you Joyce Meyer for that quote.) 


No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
Philippians 3:13 NLT

This song, "You are Loved" by Stars Go Dim could not be more appropriate...

We hide pain in the weirdest places
Broken souls with smiling faces
Fighting for surrender
For now and the after, yeah
Just look around and you'll see that people
Are scared to say how they really feel
Oh, we all need a little honesty

You are loved
If your heart's in a thousand pieces
If you're lost and you're far from reason
Just look up; know you are loved
Just look up; and know you are loved
When it feels like something's missing
If it hurts but you can't find healing
Just look up, know you are loved

We're not made to be superheroes
Photoshopped, all size zeroes
A light not expected
But not quite perfected yet
Look up; see the sun is shinning
There's hope on a new horizon
Calling you, it's calling