Loved Perfectly

This first month of the new year is always some sort of a conundrum to me. On one hand I love the freshness that a NEW year brings - like somehow all that happened in the year before can get magically erased away, all the yuk anyways, let's keep the good. At the same time the newness offers some sort of relief, it can also bring with it this pressure to CHANGE or IMPROVE…and with that I sound a profound *SIGH* of dread. Don't get me wrong, motivation is good, making a positive change is great but as I stand in the grocery line magazine covers assault my very being. I mean, seriously, am I supposed to give up pizza, get in ridiculous shape by working out 5,026.25 minutes a week, completely organize my house, AND buy new linens all in the same month? Um, NO. Just NO. So I check my momentary panicked crazy while I check out with my groceries and start to thank God that he loves me perfectly in all of my very imperfectness. Whew. Meltdown averted.

With this fresh new year of 2015, I just want to encourage you a little. When you start to feel tempted to measure yourself against the trumped up version of what the world says is important during this month, or measure yourself against what someone else is doing, let's get a little perspective…God made you UNIQUELY you. You're not going to be in the same season as everyone around you all of the time and that's good. Although we won't always be in the same place as everyone around us, we do need to be honest with ourselves and assess where we are and where we are headed. Let's face it, no matter what happens today - time is going to pass. Each day is going to turn into the next until its 2016 - so we should make the most of the time we have and be intentional. We need to challenge one another, build each other up, but all in a positive way and ALL for God's glory - not out our own. And not only at the beginning of a new year but at the start of each new day. Do you need to make a change? Do you need to reassess your prayer life, your health, your finances, your time management? Maybe you do need to make some changes….but you know what? You won't know unless you get before The Lord, get HONEST and LISTEN.

So friends, seek Him first….

Image Credit: Elle & Co.

Remember where your citizenship is…

Remember why you're doing what you're doing…

Image: LakeWood55 on Etsy

By God's grace and mercy alone everything will fall into place as you keep your eyes fixed on the only One who truly matters. In this new year, my prayer is that you see yourself the way God sees you - not defined by your circumstance, your past, your mistakes - or even all of your achievements - but with a love that is immeasurable by our own human standards, and with a grace that drowns every earthly imperfection, and with a mercy that redeems and sets you free not with the start of each new year but with the start of each new second if that is where you are. Friend, you are loved perfectly by a God who knows nothing other than holy perfectness and you are HIS.

XOXO,