It's Coming . . .

It's coming . . . only a few days and it will be here.

A new year.

Like turning to a blank page in my composition book called "Life," I will turn to the beginning of a new year.

Already I'm thinking about things I want to:

• do differenlty
• improve upon
• change
• be more intentional about

People I want to:

• spend more time with
• help more
• get to know better
• be there for

But there's one thing that wants to hold me back . . .

The past . . . for I've tried before but haven't always had success.

So what will be different about this year?

"I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies BEHIND me and REACHING FORWARD to what lies ahead," (Phil 3:13 NASB).

What lies behind you that keeps you from reaching forward? 

Let's begin this year pressing "on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus," (Phil 3:14 NASB). As we press in towards Jesus, He will be the One who helps us accomplish the things we want to accomplish in the new year and help us move beyond the regrets of the past.

And as we reach towards Him,

He will be faithful to take our hand!

Photos courtesy of morguefile, caprisco and Penywise.

A Cry From My Heart

To everyone else it's a pretty church on a hill overlooking the quaint main street of Highlands, NC, but not to me. To me it's where my Heavenly Father answered the cry from my heart and said "Yes. Yes, you can come back home."

First Presbyterian Church, Highlands, NC

I was a prodigal daughter and was tired of wallowing in the muck of the world and running from bad choices that I didn't want to define me or my future.

Have you walked away from the Lord?

Do you want to come home?

Do you want to see your Heavenly Father waiting with out-stretched arms to welcome you back?

It's NEVER too late and He is faithful to forgive.

As I poured out my words of confession and sorrow to Him it was as if he took His finger, placed it under my tear-stained chin, and lifted my head towards His extravagant love. He washed me clean, infused me with joy, and enveloped me with peace. From that moment on I've never been the same.

He will do the same for you.

Don't stay away if your heart yearns to be back home. Open the eyes of your heart and look . . . He's right there with you, waiting to be the lifter of your head. He met me at the top of a mountain in an old Presbyterian Church, but He will meet you where ever you are at the moment.

Call out to Him today then join me in declaring,

". . . He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God" (Psa. 40:1-3).

Yes. You can always go home . . .