Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy "Renew" Year

Today marks the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one. Many people use this time to make New Years resolutions. I have to confess, I've never made them. I don't think anything is wrong with resolutions, I just don't necessarily make them on January 1st. Tonight I've decided as 2012 comes to an end I will celebrate 2013 as the "Renew Year."  It is a time to renew things to life; bring refreshment, vigor & restoration to life. Friends, It is a time to continue & extend ourselves in the things of God. It's a time for new ideas, miracles and God's love to refesh our hearts and minds. Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Phillipians 4:8 gives us 8 clues to help us renew our minds. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things". To achieve the freshness of life and share it with others the adjectives below should describe the things that we do, say and think. 

1. True (real, genuine, faithful, actual)
2. Noble (grand, high-minded, excellence, above)
3. Right (morally just, favorable, fair)
4. Pure (clean, free of the unnecessary, virtuous)
5. Lovely (beautiful, charming, harmony, grace)
6. Admirable (deserving of respect, love, of merit)
7. Excellent (eminently good, heavenly,
8. Praiseworthy (commendable, exemplary, tough)

Remember,  a New Year is only a mark on the calendar, but a Renew Year can happen anyday of the year, one day at a time :) If you stumble you can always get up and keep renewing!


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Show Up & Play

I love this time of the year! I love the decorations, the baking, the laughter, the gift-giving, spending time with family and friends, all done in honor of the birth of Jesus. To me it's one giant birthday celebration. Instead of the traditional "happy birthday," song we sing carols of His birth. One of my favorites is "The Little Drummer Boy." It's a simple yet powerful story of a young boy who hears that a King has been born and is told to go see the baby Jesus. He is ashamed because he is poor and thinks he doesn't have a gift fitting for a King. Instead of letting this great moment pass him by he humbly offers Jesus the only things he has... a song played on his drum. With a nod from the King's mother, encouragement from the animals and a smile from the King himself, he plays his drum. I admire this boy for his humble courage and willingness to give Jesus all that he had. This season I pray you won't let a God-given opportunity pass you by because of shame or the feeling that what you have is not good enough. You have talents inside of you designed to be shared with others. Sharing your gifts with others honors the King far greater than any expensive gift. You don't need to look any further than within yourself. Your gift is there. Waiting. For you to show up and play your best. The King is there. Waiting. To give you His smile of approval.