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To Everything There Is a Season

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imageWinter seems to have left its cold, gray days behind. While it was often harsh, I learned to appreciate the quietness of the season, and certainly the beauty. Hot chocolate, warm cookies, and favorite blankets also made the season special.

Our hope now is for spring! Colorful blooms and sunny days await our beholding. Some see spring as a time for newness and starting over, a time of refreshing. A time for life again. The brightness of the season, I would argue, is best captured on Easter Sunday. Dresses, hats, and fun baskets filled with crazy eggs seem to make spring official.

Before the eggs and the hallelujahs of Easter, we face the season of death. Not just reading about Christ’s crucifixion, but looking at the destructiveness of our own sin – the reason Jesus went to the cross to begin with. It is dark and horrible, a place I don’t think one would normally visit voluntarily. But as faith followers, that is what we must do. We have to face the monstrous, distorted look of sin, the look that was put on our Christ as he bore it all for us, before the entire world.

We must face what we were, what He did, before we can face who we are. With Christ’s resurrection, we are raised to life also. We are resurrected. We can face who we now are:

Redeemed.
Saved.
Freed.
Forgiven.

Our hope might now well be for spring, but I’m aiming for something higher in this season. I’m aiming for Jesus and the hope of my salvation. My soul longs to be saved by my Savior, to be raised to new life in Him.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ KJV)

What is New Day?

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What is New Day

Welcome March!

For new followers, I thought I’d take time to reintroduce New Day…

New Day is an expression of God’s faith, grace, and love as I have experienced and know them, and it is meant to celebrate the gift of life and of each new day we’re blessed to see. It is based on the scripture found in Lamentations 3:22-23:

His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (KJV)

New Day was born out of a gift for words and writing. So far, I’ve captured thoughts on life’s toolboxes, my nieces and nephews, why I started blogging, love and Valentine’s Day, gratefulness, even Dean Smith. Through it all, my hope is to honor the Lord and to share His goodness through these posted words.

Since the blog was launched on January 1, I’m learning to embrace life more. I begin each day in Him, I choose Him for the day, and I live in the day and path He’s set for me.

Let’s face it: life is hard sometimes. There are good days and bad days. But great IS the Lord’s faithfulness. Trust the One who holds the day, and make the most out of each moment. It’s worth it!

New Day is currently published weekly on Friday mornings. I hope you’ll keep following and engaging as we make this journey together!

Grateful Friday

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Today I’m giving thanks for:

Mornings. Well, once I get up. Morning is the start, the new, where we first meet God in the day. I like the feel of morning, the sounds, the brand new faith.

In the morningwhen I rise, give meJesus. (1)In case you’ve not noticed, starting the day in the Lord is important to me. It sets the tone for the day. You know where your Trust and Source are, no matter what comes. Each morning, each new day is a blessing. So embrace it.

Family. I love these people more and more. They keep me laughing, they support me, we trust, give, and love. At the end of the day, I know I CAN count on blood.

God’s guidance. I have seen firsthand over the past few weeks just how God will guide you in all life circumstances if you leave all in His hands. He will reveal His will directly through the Word, in prayer, and even through an old friend who walks into the same McDonald’s you’re in. Just keep praying and trusting and EXPECTING. You will see the hand of God move!

Lent. This is the season of knowing our Savior, of remembering His life and sacrifice, and seeing in His light our sins which once kept us in darkness. It’s a season of extreme focus and repentance as we race to the joy of the empty tomb. I pray that you also are thankful for this time, and that you see Jesus anew all over again.

What are YOU grateful for? Share your experiences and testimonies in the comments!