Well Christmas is over and the New Year is fast approaching. Everything that has been will not be gone or forgotten, but it is in the past, the future is coming and it is almost like starting anew.

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

On January 1st I am looking forward to starting reading the Bible in a Year with Soul Survival and I am looking forward to committing myself to this.

In Australia our schools are on holidays from mid December until the end of January so all our outside commitments like music lessons are on hold for 6 weeks.  I try and start our schooling earlier than the schools do so that I can have a bit of leeway through the year, sometimes things happen and you need to take time off.

This is a nice period of rest, finishing up some projects that I didn’t get done. It’s also a time of planning for the coming year.

As I’ve said I don’t like New Years Resolutions – you seem to make a promise which lasts about a week and then they fall away.  This year I want to make plans, and steps to complete these plans.  I want to be more organised, more dedicated to the children’s schooling.

I want to be more caring  of my family.  I want to create a more warm and comfortable home, adding the little touches that make things special.

I want to weave and spin and knit gifts for the year,  I want to make better meals and get back into making my own sourdough bread.

I want to get healthier and fitter and work this into all our lives.

But most of all I want to make sure that I am listening to God and allowing Him to lead and guide me – as I interact with my husband and my family – as I school our children – as I take care of our home.

I want to spend more time in prayer for others and I want to teach my children to pray for others.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

What a great scripture this is in 2 Corinthians, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  That’s me, that’s you – we are a new creation.

I sort of feel the New Year is like this, there is something there for me that says I am starting again, that I have the opportunity to try harder to work better.  What a wonderful opportunity we have as Christians.

How do you face the New Year – does it represent new beginning to you???

From our family to yours – may you be blessed as 2014 becomes the past and 2015 becomes the present, remembering that we are new creations in Christ Jesus holding onto Isaiah 40:31.

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

This post is linked up here…

Fellowship Friday