NEW CALENDAR
At the first of the year, I always get a new calendar for my dad and I. I am still old school with a paper calendar to record birthdays and appointments. It helps dad to remember to call and sing happy birthday to our family members. It helps me to keep all my and dad’s appointments straight. When I go through the previous year, I can get a quick view of some happenings in that past year. This past year of 2023, I think and smile remembering my daughter and my four littlest grandkids, coming this summer for a couple of weeks. My dad turned 90 this year and he got over 90 cards and well wishes. Some great, happy memories. I remember the precious people who have passed away, two funerals within two days. In August, I remember the pain I had in my face and neck. I had to be in the hospital for a week. Not the best memories of 2023. Happy-sad memories. They are all a part of a year gone by.
How are you spending the first day of this new year of 2024? I am being very lazy. I am finishing the rotel dip that I took to dads for him to enjoy. I will sit and read for a while. Dad gave me sixteen books to read of my favorite authors for Christmas. So, ladies who I share books with, I have enough to share this new year! The other day dad called and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was ordering a book off of Amazon. There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. Of course, I was kidding and gave him a good laugh. What are you doing today?
Did you make New Year resolutions to only break them in a few days, like in past years? I try my best but I end up messing up every year. Sometimes I center on a negative happening in the past year and just can’t get past those bad feelings. Maybe you have lost a loved one and you feel guilty and sadness that you did not spend more time talking and spend time with them. Maybe you took another drink of that alcohol which you had been trying to get past those feelings of want and need. Maybe someone said something hurtful to you and you just can’t get past that feeling of sadness, deflation and self-guilt that you felt. Maybe your New Year resolution last year, was to spend more time with your family. But you let life and work get in the way of that goal. Maybe you promised God, on that fresh new day of a new year, that you would put Him back as number one in your life and would spend more time in His word. But you have let worldly things become your center once again. It is after the holidays, and you feel depressed because all the lights and activities are all gone. All those positive hopes for a new year, have become like dust that you have trampled down and forgotten.
This life is hard! Time passes so quickly and before we know it, we are starting a new year. We feel regret for those promises we made and did not keep. So, when I feel those feelings of regret and depression, I turn to the only place that will help me-the bible, the words of my God, which He gave me to help me through this world. I remember that God does not waste any of my experiences and He uses them for my learning. God does not forget His promises. God gives us unconditional love, no matter what we have done or who we are. 1 John 4:16 says that “God is love…” He is all we need.
Instead of dwelling on the past mistakes of the previous year, we need to make the choice to dwell on those promises only God can give us. We need to forge into another year, learning from our mistakes-pushing those negative feelings about ourselves in the past-move past feeling guilty and shameful for what we have done-pushing away those old regrets. We have to renew each and every day to follow God and push forward knowing that one day we will be blessed to live with Him forever.
Here are a few verses I turn to when I need a reminder and a push of positivity.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” When I am trampled underfoot with this life, I need to remember that God is right there with me and He is the only true strength.
Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” When I have lost a loved one and do not know how I can go on, I need to remember that God is near me, hears my cry and gives me peace.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to His purpose.” When trials come my way, and they will, I need to remember that I am allowed to go through that pain to help my future and what it holds for my life.
Lamentations 3:22-24 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!” The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. I am refreshed every morning to walk one step at a time and make a new future. Every day presents me with a new opportunity to discover and experience more of God’s love.
Matthew 6:14-15 “for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” I have to learn to forgive others who say hurtful things to me, but even harder, I also have to forgive myself for all those missteps I have made during the past year.
There are so many verses that can help us with each and every day. So many to give us hope and excitement for the next chapter in our lives. God has given us a self-help book. We need to stop looking, leaning and building on the things of this world and only look, lean and build on the promises and hopes of our Lord and Savior!
We will make mistakes this year and feel pain, that is a fact! When we once again turn the new page of a new calendar of each year, we need to remember to get into God’s word and feel the peace and love that only God can give us! This world is not the answer. God is the only answer!
Till next time! Happy New Year!
Keela