He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37 (MSG)
I longed to hug my kids. We were picking them up from a week-long camp at Lake Waccamaw in NC. We had not talked to them all week, and we could not wait to hear all about it at Family night.
{This post was written on July 2, 2014}
God is pursuing my daughter, and in that process he is tenderly pulling me closer to Him too… more and more. It warms my heart to see her drawing near to Him, and it stirs something in me.
Just recently on a Friday night we walked in from a long day at work and collapsed on the couches. My husband was on one couch watching sports, and I was on the other couch lost in the glow of my screen. At about 7:30pm, the kids were asking if we planned to eat anytime soon. So, we finally got up and said, “Yes, and it is a surprise!”
It really was a surprise, because we had no plan. At all.
As we were getting up to put on shoes, they all ran downstairs with blindfolds on awaiting the sweet reveal.
My husband and I smiled and went with it. It’s Friday night surprise – who knows where we will end up?
It was a cool October Sunday morning and I was still a little car sick from the long and winding roads that led to the country church. My 10-year-old knees were shaking as the last person stood up to share. I don’t remember what he said, but I know I started to cry. The piano played “Just As I Am” as I stepped out into the aisle and slowly made my way forward. A few Sunday’s later, I was baptized. It seems like this would be a happy memory for me, but it is not.
My word for 2015 is NEW.
The Bible has a lot to say about “New”. I did a keyword search in Bible Gateway for the word “new” and found around 280 references. In 2013, I made “All Things Good” jars to remind me of Romans 8:28. This year, that jar will be replaced with my “All Things New” jar.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5
God is making me new. He’s making you new, and sometimes we just need to be reminded! This jar will be my reminder.
Throughout the year, I will add new verses, new insight, and examples of the ways God is making me new. What am I learning about God that is new? I’m taking these truths and writing them down! I don’t want to be stagnant and just going through the motions. I want to be intentional to recognize how He is changing me from the inside out. These are the things I want to remember!
My jar is in front of my dresser mirror as a visual reminder of my NEWNESS in Christ. It’s His Beautiful Gift to me! There may be times throughout the day, week or year, where I will need to open that jar to remember truth and ground myself in who I am in Jesus who makes all things new.
How is God making you new? What verses have you come across in a fresh, new way? What new songs are you singing to praise the one who redeemed you? How is your heart and mind being made new? Grab a jar (or a box, or an envelope) and join me. Can you imagine next year at this time, the treasure that this ‘new’ jar will store? Can you feel the thanksgiving and anticipation in your heart already? It’s exciting and new!
Here are some verses and questions to ponder as you discover “New” in your own walk with Jesus!
What is something new you have learned in His word?
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
What new song are you singing to praise Him for what He has done in your life?
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
How is your life and the way you perceive the world around you being made new?
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
How is your heart being made new?
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh
New replaces old! Write the old and cross it out, and write the new with a big exclamation point! For example:
FEAR, DOUBT, INSECURITY, WORTHLESS
TRUST! HOPE! SECURE IN CHRIST! WORTHY!!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Writing it down makes a difference! Remember. Be encouraged as you grow in your “newness” with Jesus! Look to Him and all of the new that He brings! Happy ‘New’ Year to the ‘new’ you!
Linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee
