New Year~A guest post by Brooke Church

With a couple of weeks into the new year behind us, I have been reflecting on new starts and new beginnings.  Most of us never learn to appreciate where we are at this very moment because we are so focused on what happened in the past.  We also tend to worry about a future that hasn’t happened yet.  Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Don’t be afraid to start over.  It’s a new chance to rebuild what you want.  Setting goals is an important part of success and happiness.  If you give yourself something to work towards, it gives you a chance to put the past behind you and look forward.  As a motivator for myself in the New Year, I created a list of 15 things to do, see or try in 2015. The only reason you should look into your past is to see how far you have come, not to dwell on what did or did not happen.  You can’t change it so don’t focus on it….only focus on bettering yourself so your future is what you want it to be.


Having salvation through Christ is the single most important decision you will make in your life. Making the commitment to live for Jesus is the best way to start a new and fresh beginning.  He erases your sinful past and gives you hope for the future!

2Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  (NKJV)

Brooke is a single mom to two wonderful kids and a member of First Baptist Church of Woodstock in Woodstock, Georgia for the last 20 years.  She enjoys living life to the fullest and encouraging others along the way!

New Beginnings - By Cheryl Laurenza

Amelia Grace Photography

 

Is 43:18-19 Message

"...Forget about what's happened;

don't keep going over old history.

Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand–new.

It's bursting out! Don't you see it?

There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."

 

I've been praying, meditating and thinking about what it means in God's economy to move forward, press on, not dwell on the past etc. It's clear that the focus must be on trusting in the Person, not the circumstances. I've had much help and clarity from practicing this, and I say practice because I often do not get it right...but there's grace for that:) 

January gives us a clear line in the sand to mark this change in focus if we don't allow the enemy to get us focused on how we've failed, been failed or feel ill equipped for the journey ahead. We can't just erase our memory, nor should we push unhealed hurt or grief down deeper. It's about perspective, as one writer said we look at where we have come from (which is usually quite a climb already that we have achieved) rather than looking at how far we have to go as that will quickly overwhelm and paralyze us. It's what you focus on like when you're rock climbing right? You don't look back or down, you don't look at the top, but at the next hand or foot hole right? (not that I have done this in the physical sense-yet :)  

 We have no idea what's coming up, yet we only have to take that next step, even better, He is the foot and hand hole or spike. We need only follow the guide whose gone there before and who stands ready to help us one step at a time. We have to move forward though, we cannot go rogue and expect we know how to "fix or manipulate" our situation as this usually fails and causes more fall out and we lose ground.  

So if you're feeling discouraged, depressed or down, I want to encourage you to look up, keep moving, if you come to a fork in the road- take it as you are gently led. I saw a quote from Spurgeon that blessed me today let me paraphrase..." I often find myself in a dark place of depression just before God moves in my life or ministry." It may be that you are on the threshold and the enemy knows this. This year, let's all agree together to focus, look up, and be aware that we are being, held, led and supplied. Our future is bright, even though we may not see it now.  

Walking with you all,

 

Cheryl Laurenza, MA, LPC, NCC CPCS, ACS 

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

3211 South Cherokee Lane

Suite 640

Woodstock, GA 30188

P: 678 693 2281

F: 888 971 3910 

Cheryl@refugecounselingcenter.org