New beginnings...

I was looking at some old photographs this morning and came across this one –

Yes, I thought, one of my first trips out to “the Daisy Field”. Of course I didn’t know then what daisies would one day mean to me. (Guess it rather explains why I like cats too.) Looking at this picture of me when I was just about two years old made me think of innocence and discovery – a sense of childlike wonder.  Life’s circumstances often have a way of diminishing and sometimes destroying those things in our lives, don’t they.

Here we are at the beginning of a new year… day two. Often at the beginning of a new year we take stock of the year that has gone by, think about what the future holds and about what changes we need to make in our own lives in order to reach our idea of what success means.

I think for me, right now, I want to be like that little girl in the picture – on a journey of discovery, with a renewed sense of wonder. I’m so thankful that in Christ that is possible!  

Lamentations 3:22-23

The Lord’s lovingkindness indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

As I consider the past year and look forward to the new I want to lay hold of those things that God has purposed for me. As Philipians 3:12 says: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

In order to lay hold of the things God has purposed for me I need to keep walking in the Daisy Field (in God’s Word) and allow Him to transform and shape my life.

And so Lord, I am walking into 2012 holding Your hand, ready to discover how You can use me to be a blessing to others. Do in me Lord what needs to be done in order for that to become a reality.