Author: Barbara

My passion is to encourage women wherever they are on their life journey. In everything I write and in every opportunity to speak, my goal is to offer hope. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

Happy New… You!

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Every year our local tabernacle displays this probing sign for Rosh Hashanah:

What will you do better this year?

When I asked myself that question for 2025, suggestions swarmed. I needed to get a practical, manageable handle on my thoughts and develop attainable steps. I grouped them into three categories.  

  1. Plug the leaks—discover those things that steal my time, rob my health, distract my thoughts, and offer me good-enough rather than what’s best. This is number one. It has required honest introspection but has also stirred anticipation of newfound freedom.
  2. Plan specific, measurable steps that will increase my strength—physically, spiritually, and mentally. This includes increasing my intake of healthy food, inspiring reading, and meaningful activity.
  3. Plow intentionally—weed and nourish. Too often I tolerate unwelcome weeds or burrowing pests. When I neglect thoughtless habits or undisciplined thoughts, I have less joy and am not living effectively. It’s not enough to remove the bad, I must nourish the life God’s granted me—which reflects point two.

Grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

This isn’t about rigid resolutions and doomed sky high goals, it’s about doing life better.

So… what will you do better this year?

Happy New… Attitude!

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Last week we mentioned that ruts can rob us of opportunities. When we look deeper we discover ruts can also be embedded in our attitudes. It takes focus and honesty to admit their presence.

Ruts softly lull us into unchallenged complacency. They are comfortably familiar but they are also boring. We can be lured into accepting boredom because boring is mind-numbing. It becomes easier to linger in boredom than exert effort to break free.

What would happen in 2025 if we do choose to leave our attitude-ruts? What if we objectively examine our lifestyle and thought patterns? What if we were bold enough to challenge those unhealthy, comfortable attitudes and began asking questions like these?

  • What am I doing because I’ve always done it and no longer question why?
  • What life-sucking thoughts do I entertain out of habitual recitation?
  • What Biblical truth do I dismiss as irrelevant for me?
  • What dreams have I laid aside because I don’t feel capable… needed… worthy?
  • What have I stored on the back shelf because I’m afraid… or apathetic?

Contented boredom is a dreary way to live. It is unhealthy emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. We were made for more than life in a rut.

God has prepared good things for us. Work to do. Contributions to make. Discoveries to uncover. Freedom to relish. Joy to experience.

Let’s pull ourselves out of our ruts by shifting our inward focus outward and asking God to breathe new life into us.

Happy New Attitude!

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT

Happy New… Opportunities!

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

It’s easy to continue doing the same-old-same-old. We call our activities routines, but could they be ruts? They don’t call for greater effort or creativity; they simply ask us to keep on keepin’ on. Why should God’s children content themselves with the same old way when God is always doing something new?

Think about God’s actions.

  • He redeems—frees from captivity.
  • He renews—makes fresh.
  • He restores—perfects that which is imperfect.
  • He revives—brings to life.
  • He regenerates—makes the dormant active.
  • He rebuilds—creates newness to make the old better.

I want to be alert to the ways of God in 2025.

I want to allow Him to redeem, renew, restore, revive, regenerate, and rebuild me.

I want to be available for the God-opportunities He opens for me and not miss a single astounding invitation He offers.

Happy New Opportunities, my friends!

For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
Isaiah 43:192 NLT

Happy New… Anticipation!

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I am anticipating good things in 2025. I have no inside knowledge or prophetic insight. I am not relying on America’s political change or expecting world peace. I am not an irrepressible romantic or stubborn optimist. My expectation is solely based on the goodness of God.

I expect Him to be good and show me mercy.

I look forward to God’s faithfulness arriving new every morning.

I am eager for fresh discoveries of His nature and manifestations of His love.  

I believe He controls times and seasons, leaders and nations, relieving me of fear.

I hope in surprising revelations of His character, His care, and His love.

I anticipate God’s goodness will shine bright in 2025.

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

Image by dana279 from Pixabay