A New Year, A New Hope

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2010 is coming to a close, and we celebrate the coming of a new year, 2011.

The ebb and flow of our lives reminds me that God is ever with me, and He has

brought into my life the sureness of this promise.

He is with me, and you, through the ups we enjoy and the downs we would rather not go

through. But it is in going through the tough times that we are brought closer to Him,

and we are held close in His arms with a strength only He can possess. In the good and happy

 moments of our lives, it is as if we are receiving a kiss from the Son

 who shines in the beauty of the day, bringing a light into our world

 that fills our very being.

 Both of these times, the tough times and the good and happy times,

are gifts to us that bring us ever closer to Him and into the person He has made us to be.

All we have to do is trust Him, and we can open these gifts without fear that we will

be disappointed and want to return them. These gifts may not be what we think we want, but

God knows exactly, exactly what we need in our lives, and what He gives us will always be

a perfect fit and will not be a hand-me-down.

What does it mean to trust God? For me, it means to believe Him, not just in Him,

and to know that as I stumble and fall or as I skip along the path of joy, He keeps His promises.

 In Jeremiah 29:11, He promises that He has a plan for each of us, a plan with the best for us in mind,

even as we are going through difficult times. He gives us a new day every morning to step into,

 and even though our circumstances may not change, our attitude can.

 He even goes on in verses 12-13 to promise:

 "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

 So 2011 brings a new year, a new hope and future; let it begin today.

"What day is it?"

It's today," squeaked Piglet.

My favorite day," said Pooh."

— A.A. Milne

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

— George Eliot

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

— Mother Teresa

"Though we may not be able to see His purpose or His plan,

 the Lord of heaven is on his throne and in firm control of the universe and our lives."

— Max Lucado

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

— C.S. Lewis

"You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So... get on your way!"

— Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)