Throwing Out The Old..Ringing In The New

"For I know that plans that I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

That's a lot of confetti, folks.

Have you ever watched the ball drop in Times Square? It's such an anticlimactic event. And symbolic, really. There's yelling and screaming and kissing--and of course, the 2,200 pounds of confetti that rain down like magic.  And then, it's over. People vacate and leave Times Square desolate and littered in the trash of the previous year--on to the new adventures, opportunities, struggles, and experiences of the new year.

Whether we're watching on our sofas, or at some grand party--we all have the opportunity to have our own Times Square moment.  We have the luxury of looking back at our best and brightest moments of the previous year and celebrate the joys and hope that they brought us--but we also have the opportunity to reflect on our deepest and darkest times of the past year, be appreciative of where they've brought us--and discard those moments and sadness to the place where things that don't matter anymore and have sought to hold us back go to die.

Gotta love photo booths! :)

As I look back over my 2013, I see a year of transition, a little instability, and lots of change. More importantly, it has been a year of tremendous growth--in my career, in my personal relationships, and even better--my relationship with God.  So much of my growth this year has been birthed through moments of pain and uncertainty--but I rejoice in a way that I've never been able to before, knowing that I have learned the most about myself and I'm the most self-aware I've ever been because I've chosen to walk a path hasn't been easy or explainable.  Choosing to admit that I don't have all of the answers has shown me that there is Someone who does--and His solutions have been SO much better than mine.  I am the closest to my friends than I have ever been before. They continue to inspire me, encourage me, call me out, and edify me--all things that God calls us to expect from those who are in our lives for the right reasons.

I anticipate 2014 with both caution and zeal.  I'm ready for change, I'm ready for joy, and I'm ready for God to continue to show me all of the awesome things He has in store for me. God continues to open doors and place amazing things in my midst as I continue to trust more of Him and less of me. It's ok that I don't have all of the answers right away. I'm determined to do a better job of protecting myself and the love and spirit that God has placed within me. 2014 will be a great test of my commitment to loving myself AND loving others genuinely through that self-love. I choose to see the validation of every negative and painful experience of my life that happened last year, but I also choose to leave those parts of my past where they are because I refuse to build a new foundation with old bricks. I pledge to live my life everyday this year--even when it gets hard-- in the fruits of the Spirit--with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I'm confident that I am up to the challenge because I know that there is a God that walks before me, beside me, and behind me--and I'm determined to be confident in that and receptive to directions that He will be leading me in this year.  I hope to see all of you along for the ride!