Becoming HIS Tapestry

Christian Lifestyle Blogger

NEW YEAR; IS A NEW ME POSSIBLE?

Hey friends, how are you today? Happy, happy new year, friends.  Wow! We are here; 2024 is here, twelve beautiful months of stories not yet told.  What are your plans? Did you make any? The Lord has allowed us to see a new year, 2024 is here.  Do you remember when the year 2000 rolled around, most of the world thought that year signaled the end of the world as we knew it? Yet here we are, twenty-four years later.  Time is in the Hand of the One who made day and night. 

2023 has come and gone.  Looking back, (which serves its own purpose) can be profitable and beneficial.  It provides guidance and most times, it provides growth.  It should also provide wisdom to make better choices.  When we take stock, we allow ourselves to see the benefits of missed opportunities, to understand better the chaos, to realize the completion of disasters we thought would never end.  

Looking back gives us a beautiful opportunity to move forward more successfully than the year before, because our experiences provide some knowledge.  I have a friend who has this saying, “I was a young fool, I absolutely refuse to be an old fool”.  I realize the chance of becoming an ‘old fool’ is totally my choice.  I choose not to be an old fool by making better choices this year.  The past should always teach us, we should use it as a steppingstone to becoming a better people.  

How are you doing today? Eight (8) days into the new year have unfurled and today marks the ninth (9th). Will today be a repeat of yesterday? And the day before? And the day before that? Will today look like everyday last year? Every year, seasons change, but do I remain the same? 

As I look back at 2023, I would say it was a good year, not necessarily a great one, but good.  It could always have been a better year, but I’ve realized I am ‘prone to wonder’.  From the time the weather broke in spring, I determined I would spend more time outside.  I determined I would spend more time with current friends and make new friends.  Praise the Lord, I did just that.  

It truly was a wonderful year, new places, new people, even new family, new (to me) things were added to my life, and I thank the Lord for these.  But I admit even with all this, I knew I was not becoming the best version of me, because I failed to obey the Lord fully.  In spite of all the beauty around me because we serve a Good and Mighty God, who gives without reproach, in spite of all that, I know now I wasted a lot of time.  

I owe you an apology, my friends.  I neglected this space. I do believe that the Lord has called me to spend time here and I chose to do the opposite. In 2020, at the height of you know what, I wrote 81 blog posts, in 2021 I wrote 68, in 2022, I wrote 54 and in 2023, I wrote a miserly 30. Yep, I am trending.  I was shocked when I looked at the statistics. I was also disappointed because I could have done better.  

Writing about what the Lord has done and is doing in my life allows these lessons to be cemented and take root.  Writing has always done that for me, even as a student while at school, I knew if I wrote it down, I’d be unlikely to forget whatever was taught.  For me, this space helps me to grow in the Lord.  It is for my good.  

I plan to do better in 2024.  This is a commitment between us three; my Lord and Master, you, and me.  I realize I allowed the hardly doing anything during you know what, to set a pattern for which I am just now recovering.  Procrastination brings us no benefits, but rather promotes failure. I did what I wanted to do and didn’t what I did not want to do. Because this pledge to write was between me and the One Who is not visible, I allowed myself to retract my promise.  Lord, forgive me.  Ahh, being an adult sometimes does have its consequences. Should we tell the youths? Nah… we will let them find out, because more than likely, just like we did, they won’t hear us.

How thankful I am that the One who is called Faithful and True knows me, He knows my name and time is in His Hand.  Doing better is possible because of the daily measure of grace and mercy our Lord supplies.  

I am here because I chose to be, and I can do better when I choose to do better.  I can choose to accept our God’s grace and mercy, I can choose to bask in His faithfulness, I can choose to repent and accept His forgiveness, I can choose to write, or I could choose the road to intentions.  You know that road with good intentions but no plans.  

I realize that not having a plan to do better, just means that in spite of my good intentions to do better, brings inevitable defeat.  I will not succeed if I don’t know why I failed in the first place.  I never intended to spend so little time here in this blog space, yet that’s just what I did.  I had so much to share with you, yet I gave so very little.  So, what are my plans to do better? Glad you ask… 

I’ve come to the conclusion, that last minute anything freaks me out.  I don’t like it, but lately I’ve realized that for the past few years, I’ve lived a ‘last minute life’. So, I’m going back to what I know works for me.  And I’ll share that with you in the next post… 

How are you today? As you look back on 2023, share your victories and if you desire, share your failures, I’d like to know. 

Check me out on Instagram. Let’s continue the conversation over on Instagram. Follow my Instagram and I will follow back, just let me know in the comment section. I would love to meet you 🙂

←
→

38 responses to “NEW YEAR; IS A NEW ME POSSIBLE?”

  1. I too am seeing missed opportunities and endeavoring to not miss as many as I can from this day forward. Every hour, day, week, month year, decade and maybe century if we live to that 120 years Joseph Prince teaches, is a new opportunity to do better. I don’t care about the naysayers, they actually make me do more as I often have a rebellious, wondering heart. So, I endeavor to use their naysaying to propel me. Take that satan. Pray for me, as I’m sure he’s even more mad now – lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Good post, Brenda. I plan to shed off anything and everything that does not reflect Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I’ve got a long road ahead of me but with God’s help I’ll be transformed into His Son day by day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. “I was a young fool, I absolutely refuse to be an old fool”. Now that’s a quotable quote, thanks! Ok, Brenda, if you’ll write faithfully here, I’ll read more faithfully this year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Happy New Year, Brenda! Last year was overwhelming at times. This year, I want to follow psalm 118:24; This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. To be more joyful and take time to enjoy nature. 🌺

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Good to have you back. I have missed your posts and wondered where you were. I too struggle with writing. Sometimes I wonder why I do it – does it really accomplish anything good? But, like, you God has been so good to me and I want to share that with anyone that will listen. I’ll pray for you as you commit to writing more in 2024. And I’ll look forward to your posts. Happy New Year!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you, my friend. Whenever I write, I see how beneficial it is for me, but I admit at times, I am too lazy, especially when I leave the post for the last minute. 😃my plan is to start earlier. May the Lord richly bless you in 2024

      Like

      Reply

  15. Happy New Year, Brenda! You’ve shared beautiful truth and wisdom. I understand about the “last minute” life. It’s been my goal to publish once a week since beginning 4 years ago. In May of ‘22 I started planning my funeral after being told I had just months to live. Nope! God revealed a rare cancer and I’ve put 2023 to bed~what does HE have in store for ‘24? He so richly blessed us. I had the most painful and tough 18 months of travel, treatments, doubts,…and absolute failures. Like you, I will lean on faith, do my best, create Spirit-willed goals, and harness hope to try and share with others! I’m rooting for you! But know, if I don’t see you, you are still supported and appreciated! God bless you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.