Tuesday, December 28, 2010
New Year, Fresh Start
#100 on the list of Things You Never Knew About Carrie (that you didn't really want to know)
I have been known to bust a move in the Kroger, Target or Walmart, if I hear a song that moooves me! This doesn't happen much anymore, since I don't know any of these new songs and most of the time they are singing something that I can't even understand. (Oh, I am so old) However, recently on a trip to the mall with my kids I heard an oldie from back in the day and I just couldn't help myself! So there in the American Eagle scarf department I began to boogie!!! Much to the embarrassment of my oldest, he grabbed his arms around me and said "Momma, pleeeeease stop!!!!". I did not want to scar him for life, so I stopped. But I was dancing on the inside.
I not only dance to songs from my teenage years in my kitchen, car or department store. What really and truly moves me these days are the ones that start in my heart and come out. One in particular lately is a new one my kids have introduced me to. (Oh, I am so old) "It starts tonight" by Toby Mac. A couple of lines of it go like this...weary of my ways, my days....I wanna feel a new day, I wanna feel a new way. Listening to this on the way home made me think of the New Year that is fast approaching. Usually Terry and I have a state of the family meeting. We go on a date one night just before or right after New Years Eve. We discuss where we have been and where we want to go as individuals, as a couple and as a family. It helps us to cast a vision for the next year. I just want to share with you that this has been huge for us. It has helped us to make changes in our families walk with the Lord both practical and spiritual. If you are in our Sunday School you have heard a good bit about this from us. The Bible says "without a vision the people perish" Without a vision a family can get stuck or separated. Things from the past that we have done have dealt with finances, getting out of debt (It can be done, budgets are your friends!) health and exercise issues, sometimes working extra hard on forgiveness of others. Usually the Lord leads us in a direction or two and that is what we concentrate on for a whole year. My super visionary husband comes up wtih a catchy motto and we repeat it to each other when we struggle and want to give up. I want to encourage you my chicks to set aside some time and seek God's direction on where He wants to take you in 2011. I am not talking about resolutions. I am speaking of Him refining you, refreshing you, restoring you. It is important to do this with your husband. Ask him what is he thinking. Where would he like to lead your family and how can you help him. An important note here is to pray before you ask. That way if he comes back with something like "I would like to have socks in my drawer everytime I look for them this year" You won't get defensive! Then write some things down and do it together. What made Ma and Pa Ingalls so great and strong was that they had a challenge or dream and they dug in and did it together. What one wanted or needed, it became the other's want or need.
There is just something wonderful about new starts. I am grateful for a God who gives us a new year, another chance to make progress, to keep moving albeit sometimes slowly. He gives a new year, a new day, sometimes a new minute. Where will this new year take you and your family? Where will you allow the Lord to take you? What will you step out in faith and do this year? How will you deepen your commitment to Him? to your Husband? to your family? What will you give up? But oh what will we gain!
I have been known to bust a move in the Kroger, Target or Walmart, if I hear a song that moooves me! This doesn't happen much anymore, since I don't know any of these new songs and most of the time they are singing something that I can't even understand. (Oh, I am so old) However, recently on a trip to the mall with my kids I heard an oldie from back in the day and I just couldn't help myself! So there in the American Eagle scarf department I began to boogie!!! Much to the embarrassment of my oldest, he grabbed his arms around me and said "Momma, pleeeeease stop!!!!". I did not want to scar him for life, so I stopped. But I was dancing on the inside.
I not only dance to songs from my teenage years in my kitchen, car or department store. What really and truly moves me these days are the ones that start in my heart and come out. One in particular lately is a new one my kids have introduced me to. (Oh, I am so old) "It starts tonight" by Toby Mac. A couple of lines of it go like this...weary of my ways, my days....I wanna feel a new day, I wanna feel a new way. Listening to this on the way home made me think of the New Year that is fast approaching. Usually Terry and I have a state of the family meeting. We go on a date one night just before or right after New Years Eve. We discuss where we have been and where we want to go as individuals, as a couple and as a family. It helps us to cast a vision for the next year. I just want to share with you that this has been huge for us. It has helped us to make changes in our families walk with the Lord both practical and spiritual. If you are in our Sunday School you have heard a good bit about this from us. The Bible says "without a vision the people perish" Without a vision a family can get stuck or separated. Things from the past that we have done have dealt with finances, getting out of debt (It can be done, budgets are your friends!) health and exercise issues, sometimes working extra hard on forgiveness of others. Usually the Lord leads us in a direction or two and that is what we concentrate on for a whole year. My super visionary husband comes up wtih a catchy motto and we repeat it to each other when we struggle and want to give up. I want to encourage you my chicks to set aside some time and seek God's direction on where He wants to take you in 2011. I am not talking about resolutions. I am speaking of Him refining you, refreshing you, restoring you. It is important to do this with your husband. Ask him what is he thinking. Where would he like to lead your family and how can you help him. An important note here is to pray before you ask. That way if he comes back with something like "I would like to have socks in my drawer everytime I look for them this year" You won't get defensive! Then write some things down and do it together. What made Ma and Pa Ingalls so great and strong was that they had a challenge or dream and they dug in and did it together. What one wanted or needed, it became the other's want or need.
There is just something wonderful about new starts. I am grateful for a God who gives us a new year, another chance to make progress, to keep moving albeit sometimes slowly. He gives a new year, a new day, sometimes a new minute. Where will this new year take you and your family? Where will you allow the Lord to take you? What will you step out in faith and do this year? How will you deepen your commitment to Him? to your Husband? to your family? What will you give up? But oh what will we gain!
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