New Year - New Hope - and a Blessing Box

I love that each new year provides us with a clean slate. Not that every new day doesn't bring the same clean slate. There is just something about a fresh new year.

Many people begin each year by making New Year's resolutions. I stopped making resolutions years ago because I always ended up feeling like a failure when I gave up by February! Instead, each year I choose and claim a new verse for the year. I print out the verse, with my name inserted, and put it over my desk, in my bathroom, tuck it in my Bible, etc. I immerse myself in this verse.

I trust God to give me a verse each year so on New Year's Eve I open my Bible and ask God to direct me. Here is the promise He has for me this year:

"I am with you always, LeAnn, even to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:20)

El Roi, the God who sees me, knows that I struggle with loneliness. He knows that I struggle with self-worth. He knows that I struggle with feeling overlooked and insignificant.

He knows.

When I opened by Bible on the loneliest night of the year (for me), God reminded me that I am never alone. He is with me ALWAYS. And, because He equips me to do His work, I have self-worth through Him. If those He places within my sphere of influence see Him through my words and my actions, then I certainly am significant.

He is with me ALWAYS.

Before my feet hit the ground each morning I will remind myself that God's Word is alive and personal. I will repeat His promise to me that He is with me always. I will go through each new day knowing that I do not walk alone and I do nothing without His help and His guidance.

He is my hope for each new day. And... He is yours!

Blessing Box

Here's an idea that I just love! Find or decorate a box and place it in an area where everyone in your family has easy access and will see it every day. Beside the box put a small notepad or slips of paper and a pen or pencil. Every day, every member of your household writes something that they are grateful for on a slip of paper and places it in the blessing box. At the end of the year you will have a box filled with blessings!

You can read through them on Thanksgiving as a reminder that there is much to be thankful for.

You can read through them before opening gifts on Christmas morning or before Christmas dinner.

You can read through them on New Year's Eve as a reminder of all that God has done in your lives over the past year.

You can pull them out during a crisis as a reminder of all that is good in your life.

Thinking of, and writing down, a blessing every day helps us to recognize the good things more easily so that it becomes a habit. It becomes easier to notice the good stuff instead of the bad.

Some days will be harder than others but, even on your worst day, find something to be grateful for and put it in your box. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, or your home. On those days, perhaps you are grateful that the sun came out, that Jesus died for you, that you have air to breathe, that God's word is alive, that tomorrow is a new day...

My friends, I pray that your year will be filled with blessings and that His Word will come alive for you in a new and exciting way.

God's Peace,
LeAnn