Old/New

Proverbs 3:1 " My son, forget not my law."

I'm like you. Every New Year, I contemplate a new plan for the New Year. Its challenging as I grow older. I'm not much of a New Year's Resolution person, but I do still try to evaluate my life and see where I'm at, where I'm headed and what has happened in the recent past to hinder or help me. I love new ideas, new projects, new inspiration and I like initiating those things into life.

I am also a lover of "old". I cherish the seasoned things of life. I collect old stories. I display, with pride, my inherited old family pieces. My connection with "senior" (older than me"!!!) acquaintances is a valuable thing to me.

My most recent happy project is my husband's Christmas gift. It is a beautiful mix of old barnwood transformed into a new table/fireplace/ entertainment center/ bookshelf. It is still a work in progress. I am blessed so far with the first two phases of this wonderful creation. I think my new gift will keep blessing me through the bleak days of January and maybe February.

My love of the Old/New leads me to reflect on my desire to initiate new life into old commitments in my spiritual goals. When I reflect on my living for the Lord, I can see that I have made some progress in the last year. I also can observe that I have need for improvement in some areas of my life.

One of my reasons for the interest in Proverbs deals with the fact that Proverbs Scripture is timeless. Hundreds of years ago, Solomon offered advice in government, economics, religion, and family and personal life. I can take what was written so many years ago and still apply it to my life today.

This is Election Year. God has a plan. I'm wanting to be a part of it in the way the Word directs me to; which I interpret as a lot of specific, extra praying. There is also much needed biblical guidelines for the money that flows through my household. I want to always have that highlighted in my budgeting. My success as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and good friend can only be so as I interweave the scriptural instruction that I access through reading the Bible.  I must take care to encourage, and to teach by example both outwardly and by what is expressed through my mouth. I have a responsibility to the Church that I cannot overlook or treat lightly. If I am that one member of the Body who chooses to be disfunctional, the Word says all will suffer.

My goal for past years and for 2016 is that I would not forget the law of the Lord. Whatever pursuit of change I have in my life, I know that I must consider what the Word says. God created this world and He created me.  He has an orderly plan  morally, physically and spiritually for me. When I want new inspiration or new focus for myself, I must remember the original guidelines that are outlined in the Word. Thus, I can take the old, beautiful, tried and true colors, add some new hues or brighten them up and I can be refurbished.

On my "old/new fireplace mantle, I have a creative combination of some old things and an added splash of new.  I like it!

I wait in anticipation as God blends my  unspoken desires for this New Year with my commitment to His Way. He then adds His knowledge and love. I know it will be that perfect combination of peace, comfort, guidance, and accomplishment that I need for 2016.