New Year, New Me?

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All of this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

The time leading up to the New Year is filled with reflecting on the past year and planning on making the New Year even better by creating resolutions. We think resolutions to eat healthy, work-out more, or declutter our lives will create a new us. However, most of these plans fail before January ends.

This review of the past can also be dangerous. Focusing on the past does not allow for us to be in the present moment. We are not able to see what God is doing in the here and now because we are focusing on what God has or has not done in the last year.

The past can be improved. The story is yours to write. However, this can be done at any point. We do not need the New Year to decide to do what is best for ourselves. There is no New Year, New Me. The way we become new is not the hours between December 31st and January 1st.

We become new in Jesus. In our relationship with Jesus, we are reconciled with God. The old versions of ourselves pass away and we become new in Christ Jesus. There is no need for resolutions or unmet goals. There is only a need for preparing room in our hearts.

As the New Year greets us, do you have room in your heart for Jesus?

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It’s Fall Y’all

I was scrolling through Pinterest, looking at all things fall, when I came across this photo.

Then it really hit me… this is a season of change for the world, so why can’t it be a season of change for you and for me? A time where we shed the dead leaves to make room for new ones in the spring. So, this week, I challenge you, take a moment, and ask yourself, “what dead leaves do I have in my life?” As you begin to shed them, you may feel bare like a tree in the fall, but remember that God will fill you up with so much good and new when it comes spring!

Happy Monday!! Have a great week! And feel free to drop you dead leaves here in the comments! ❤️🍂🍃

Making It Monday

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  –Colossians 3:23-24

Happy Labor Day to those in the US! And for those who don’t have the day off, make sure you make today count! You are serving the Lord no matter what profession you may be in! You have entered the mission field, make it count!

Don’t Pretend

Just because you don’t feel like being yourself is good enough doesn’t mean you should act like someone else just to please those around you. God made you. He made one of you. He said the world wasn’t perfect without you. Just be you. Because you is all you are meant to be.

Monday Celebration

Not two words we normally see together. But hey, it’s almost the Fourth of July. Which calls for celebration. Fireworks, family, parties. And for all you out of the US followers, there’s always a cause for celebration. Always time for families and parties! So promise me this: don’t sit around and get your self in a hump. Wake up, enjoy the day, and call a family member and chat. Celebrate the day.

Marvelous Monday’s

The sun is up. It’s a gorgeous day. Here’s your reminder that you too are gorgeous. Your mind. Your thoughts. Your heart. You.

P.S I’m back from Italy! So, regularly scheduled posts are back! I’ve missed you all! ❤️

Celebrate Every Step

Don’t wait till you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud every step you take toward reaching that goal.

We all set goals. Have less panic attacks this week. Make a new friend this month. Cut less often. Whatever your goal is, you really hope to reach it.

But if it’s not done in a day, we seem to place too much guilt on ourselves. This guilt lowers our motivation, and it doesn’t come from God. Instead focus on the small steps you’ve made toward your goal.

Maybe you went a full day without panic attacks. Maybe you talked to someone new and really enjoyed the conversation. Maybe you were able to stop yourself from cutting recently. However small the step may be, it is a step in the correct direction.

Speed doesn’t matter. Forward is forward.

Don’t put so much pressure on perfection. Place that pressure on steps to do better instead. Then focus on those steps! Celebrate the small wins. The excitement produced will increase your motivation towards reaching your goal. You’ll be there before you know it!

What small steps have you taken this week? What goals are you striving for?

© 2018 Kiersten Smeal