Is a New Year REALLY enough?

 Lamentations 3: 22 (NLT)

 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
      His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; 

His mercies begin afresh each morning.
  I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore,

I will HOPE in Him!”

Is a NEW YEAR really ENOUGH??

As I read through the reflections for 2007 posted in the news and on the Internet–I am bamboozled by endless top ten lists, best 100 this or that for 2007..and suggestions for New Year’s resolutions.

Yes, I joined the crowd in watching the New Year’s Rockin Ball hosted now for 36 years by Dick Clark, the new 1,000 light “eco-friendly” ball (is that an oxymoron?) to bounce Times Square, and viewed the pandemonium and glamour of NYC…the ads, the commercials…..but I ponder deep in my heart is a NEW YEAR really enough?

Impermanent, time is. 

Do I realize this?

While the nation celebrates from Times Square to Podunk, Vermont and every direction north south east and west.  People are making lists—well, at least some might be….

Are we killing old habits?  Or making promises we will never fulfill?

I believe in order to make something a HABIT, it must come from the heart and include heart change–a forever change–MUCH easier said then done.

Worthier in 2008?  Some of the lists noted include: lose weight, construct ideal relationships, find better paying jobs while others assured over the course of their lives–maybe now isn’t a time for changes. Some alterations are not worth the effort, while some middling or immeasurable in changing the path of one’s life.  Like many I desire that at some point the big pay off will occur when all the efforts and hard work will finally reach fruition.

So, I have pondered, what will I do with a NEW Start and a NEW Year?

What might my life list hold?

A YEAR is a LONG amount of time…in fact frightening ad infinitum for someone like me who is not a TIME management guru.  What will I do with a YEAR?  Start a new diet and lose weight so I fit into those jeans I  shuffle back and forth in my closet for 5 years?  Will this finally be the year?

In 2008, I just desire to be a BETTER ME…notable as a life toucher and not an occupant of the status in quo.  Someone who people recognize and notice as DIFFERENT.  Maybe 52 weeks isn’t suffice for such a big order?

Or maybe I can  attempt things less time consuming like: becoming organized and actually keeping up with daily life?  You know, pray more, write with consistency, clean and iron laundry better then in the past 20 years?    What do I need to be better?  is a NEW YEAR really enough?

Will 365 days do the trick?

3  6  5  DAYS–what will I do with them?  What CAN I do with them?

Oh the questions….

This evening David and I shared a delicious dinner with family at a local fish restaurant.  I enjoyed my favorites: fried lobster appetizer, hush puppies to die for, She Crab soup and steamed oysters–all of my nautical favorites, so I guess I am ending 2007 on a full tummy and starting 2008 with a satiated appetite.

(Very easy to set DIET goals on a full stomach!)

So, the traditions of my Italian Heritage of having seafood on New Year’s Eve can be checked satisfactorily off my TO do LIST. 

Mission accomplished.

After dinner the discussion included New Year resolutions and sadly none where bold enough to be inspiring–maybe because  humans don’t believe new or good can really happen, or perhaps it hasn’t been fully digested; what does a FRESH start look like?

As aging and seasoning occurs, the concessus reflected: don’t expect much due to past disappointments and regrets or resolutions that go astray–why bother to set new goals if they are just temporary? 

 Ponder on…..

The magnitude of having a LIST of NEW Year resolutions hit me hard.

I know I cannot find enough days in a year to keep up and stay true to my goals.

I’ll be honest…it is too much time, too many hours and too far out.

What do I do now to find hope, peace, accomplishment and joy to HIT 2008 running strong and remain fully ignited?

Well, Jesus comes to mind and His Word encourages me… He promises that each and every day is a new start–not the commercialized “every year you get a new start” Mantra. A year is too long a wait for newness, I require more, I like HIS instant & grace giving gratification.

With God, every minute is a fresh new beginning–if ASKED,  HE gives and forgives and provides a new clean SLATE.  The Bible states this clearly, I share with you this paraphrase:Lamentations 3:22-24  (The Message)

“God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, 
   His merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
   How great Your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
   He’s all I’ve got left.”

Time being impermanent holds no guarantees or promises for me, so a new year doesn’t matter to my soul.  I treasure a monumental and steadfast truth… God’s Word.  MY New Year will be every day–my resolutions transformed each minute.  I can keep up with a daily list and  His GRACE, as needed every waking moment.  I am into TRUE  promises…

Whether it be 2008 or 1000 years from now. I am hooked.

“I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). 

He’s all I’ve got left.”

Praying you find your New YEAR and FRESH beginnings every day with permanence of the only TRUE ONE!

Blessings,

Lisa