Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
The phrase, "Back to School," indicates a plethora of new beginnings. Students move on to a new grade level. Many individuals embark on their first semester of college. Teachers and professors anticipate a new school year with new challenges, new successes, and a new opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their students. Still, there are others who do not find all of this “newness” to be quite so fascinating. Some students are fearful of moving to a new school, making new friends, and meeting new teachers. Some college students would much prefer the comforts of home to a seemingly uncomfortable dorm room. Parents and grandparents may simultaneously suffer from the negative effects of an “empty nest.” And while they may love teaching, many educators will likely long for the lazy days of summer when they could spend more time with family, read a good book, go on vacation, or do absolutely nothing at all! Even so, a new beginning can be a positive one, despite the many hiccups we may encounter along the way.
Personally, I have found that the new school year has brought about a lot of positive changes for me as a teacher. I am most excited about teaching eighth grade English Language Arts and having a new classroom, which my dad has so lovingly helped me prepare. I thank God for this amazing environment in which to teach my students. I know the resources I have been given will enable me to help them achieve their goals. Because of God's unmerited favor, I know this school year will be blessed beyond measure!
While I am enjoying a wonderful start to the school year, several friends and colleagues have started the school year with illnesses, financial crises, and even the loss of loved ones. My heart hurts for them and I pray God will give them strength to face each new day ahead. Having lost my mom at the beginning of August eleven years ago, I know what it’s like to have your heart broken and then be expected to continue teaching as if nothing happened. But through it all, I know God is always faithful. While I still miss my mom greatly, I know we will see her again in Heaven, where there will be no sorrow or tears, sickness or pain. Until that happy reunion, we can rejoice concerning the promise found in Isaiah 25:8 (NLT): “He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears.” Everyone who puts their trust in Jesus Christ will one day be free from all of the grief on this earth.
Perhaps you are going through a personal struggle this month. Jesus Christ knows exactly what you are going through. Call on His precious name. Ask Him for a new beginning. Not one that will be frightening, as it may be for students finding their way around a new campus, but a new beginning that will renew your strength, restore your joy, and bring you eternal hope. Jesus is the friend who will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you so much that He gave His life for you (I John 3:16). Don't worry about tomorrow, but through prayer and thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ our Lord (Phil. 4:6-7).
Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever imagine. He wants to give you a new life. Second Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Ask Jesus Christ to guide you through all of the discouraging moments and the joyous ones as well. When you put your trust in Him, all things become new!
Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever imagine. He wants to give you a new life. Second Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Ask Jesus Christ to guide you through all of the discouraging moments and the joyous ones as well. When you put your trust in Him, all things become new!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
New seasons can bring many changes. From new careers to new residences, each season brings about a myriad of possibilities. A new season could even bring a joyous new addition to the family. Even the temporary change of scenery one experiences on vacation can be an exciting adventure.
While these changes are most welcome, there are uninvited changes in life as well. The loss of a job, a burned out home, or the bereavement after losing a child can all be devastating. But even in these moments of despair, we have hope for the future. Jesus knew we would encounter trials in life. He said, “‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! But I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33 NIV). Even in the moments when you feel all hope is gone, there is eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.
No matter what season you find yourself in today, God has not forgotten you. He “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). If you find yourself in one of the most difficult seasons of your life, call on Him for help. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” God wants to hear from His children. He wants us to come to Him for help, just as a child goes to their parents for comfort when they fall and scrape their knee. You are never beyond the reach of Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:35-39 NIV).
New seasons also remind us that we can start anew. Think of your New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you endeavored to lose weight, make amends with a long-lost family member, or read the Bible in a year. It’s never too late to start something new. Jesus said, “‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’” (Luke 18:27 NIV). As someone once said, you can only fall so many times before you get back up again. God will help you if you look to Him for wisdom and guidance.
This spring, thank God for the blessings He sends your way. Trust Him in the moments when fear or disappointment threatens to overwhelm you. While life may change at a rapid pace, remember that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). He loves you more than you could imagine and His love for you will never change. Through every season of life, He will always prove faithful. Put your trust in Jesus Christ today.
In Christ's Service,
Jennifer
As this Leap Day comes to a close, I encourage you to reflect back over the day. Did you tell someone you loved them? Did you share a kind word or deed? Did you laugh or cry? Did you smile or frown? Most importantly, did you pray to our Heavenly Father?
The blessing of an extra day may only happen every four years, but the gift of life happens every single day. When God wakes you up in the morning, you have a fresh new day to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). What will you do for Jesus Christ in 2016? You only have 306 days left! What are you waiting for? Get out there and share the love of Jesus!
Personally, I have found that the new school year has brought about a lot of positive changes for me as a teacher. I am most excited about having a new classroom, which is the biggest change I have encountered this school year. I am so blessed and I thank God for this amazing environment in which to teach my students. I know the resources I have been given will enable me to help them achieve their goals. I have an awesome group of students this year and I am enjoying the addition of a new course that I will be teaching, Digital Design. God has truly shown me favor and I know that this school year will be blessed beyond measure! Of course, it still seems like the alarm clock goes off way too early in the morning and there are never enough hours in the day! But I know the weekends and holidays throughout the year will provide us with the chance to rejuvenate ourselves and before we know it, summer vacation will return once again.
While I am enjoying a good year, I have several friends who began the school year with illnesses, financial crises, and even the loss of loved ones. My heart hurts for them and I pray that God will give them strength to face each new day ahead. Having lost my mom at the beginning of August five years ago, I know what it’s like to have your heart broken and then be expected to continue teaching as if nothing had changed. The meaning of life gets construed and things that once mattered seem to dwindle and things that never mattered seem to escalate out of proportion. But through it all, I know that God is faithful. While I still miss my mom greatly and I know that life will never be the same again, I have the calm assurance that I will see her again. And I strive to enjoy each and every moment to the fullest. Life is fragile and I know how important it is to cherish the ones we love every single day. Even in the darkest nights of life’s journey, the Son of God shines bright. He lights our path and gives us strength when we are weary. He gives us joy when we feel no joy can be found.
Perhaps you are going through a personal struggle this month. No matter what is bothering you at this very moment, Jesus Christ knows exactly what you are going through. Call on His precious name. Ask Him for a new beginning. Not one that will be frightening, as it may be for students finding their way around a new campus, but a new beginning that will renew your strength, restore your joy, and bring you hope everlasting. Jesus is the friend who will stand by your side forever. He loves you so much that He gave His life for you. Don’t sit there drowning in your sorrows. Stand tall and reach out to Jesus. Grab on to that new life that He is holding out for you! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Ask Jesus Christ to guide you through all of the hard times and the good ones too. If you put your trust in Him, you will not only experience a new beginning, but you will receive a new life as well!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Can you believe that the first full week of the year 2013 is now history? Seven days of the New Year have already come and gone. Either those New Year’s resolutions you and I made are clicking right along or else they have fallen by the wayside. There are now only 358 days remaining to make a difference in the year 2013. Only 358 more opportunities to start the day with a smile on your face, make someone’s day brighter, or end the day with thanksgiving to God for blessing you with another day to love, another day to laugh, and another day to live.
Living is what my New Year’s resolution is all about. Sure, I’ve made resolutions in the past to lose weight, consume less sugar, exercise more, etc. While I still plan to work on these things, I wanted to make a resolution that I could stick to, one that would make a difference not only in my own life, but in the lives of others around me. And so, my New Year’s resolution for 2013 is to love life more, love my family and friends more, and love Jesus Christ even more. Granted, I already love all of these things with all of my heart and soul, but I still know that there is an infinite amount of love in the world, so there is always more love to give. And that’s what I want to do in 2013: give more love to the ones I love the most!
In life, we get so busy that it is easy to get wrapped up in our daily routines, not even realizing the day-to-day blessings that God bestows upon us. It could be a hug, a smile, a handshake, or a sweet note, a smiley face, or a cup of coffee. Even the smallest little things can make a huge difference in our day. We may even set out to bless someone else in return, thinking we will pay it forward and do something nice for them tomorrow. 365 days later, the year has come and gone, seemingly unbeknownst to us. We don’t mean to forget, but the year comes and goes so fast that we simply lose track of time. And so, I urge you to make the most of every single day, even on the busiest of days.
Don’t let one minute sneak by you. Enjoy every moment of your life, whether you are at the office, sitting in a hospital waiting room, or riding the subway home in the evening. It doesn’t matter if you are walking down the aisles of the grocery store, driving your son or daughter to soccer practice, or waiting at a red light, there is always a blessing waiting just around the bend. Sometimes, it comes when we least expect it. And sadly, there are times when it comes and we don’t notice it at all. That’s why we need to pay special attention to every day of the year. Why? You never know if tomorrow might end up being recorded in your book of memories as the best day of 2013!
What about you? What are your resolutions for 2013? What goals do you hope to achieve? What hurdles do you hope to jump over? Who can you love more? How can you enjoy life more? I would like to give you a little assignment. I challenge you to post a comment below where you list one resolution you have for the New Year. Big or small, write one thing down. You’ll be surprised at how writing it down can be the little nudge you need to watch yourself actually achieve whatever it is you set out to accomplish! Plus, we’re all in this together. I’d be happy to pray for you and help encourage you in your journey to success! May God bless you always and may you always remember to live every moment to the fullest! There are 51 weeks left of 2013! What are you waiting for? Get out there and LIVE!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
I’d
like to invite you to think back to the day when you last purchased something
new. Perhaps it was a new car, a new
pair of shoes, or even a new bag of potato chips. Do you remember that “new car smell?” Or the way your new shoes were so clean and
bright? And it’s always more fun to pull
out the first whole potato chip, as opposed to reaching down in the bag for the
last few crumbs!
What is
it about something new? It makes us feel
happy and at times, it may even bring back fond childhood memories of a new
bicycle or a new puppy or kitten to love.
As humans, we are not generally attracted to old, ugly, discarded pieces
of merchandise. While someone once said
that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” we can be assured that there
are some pieces of trash that are just that: trash. Still, we continuously find ourselves trying
to sell this “trash” at yard sales, flea markets, and the like. Or we may determine that something we own
simply needs to be placed in the infamous “file 13.” No matter how they get rid of the “junk,” people
usually follow the old adage, “Out with the old and in with the new.”
Every
365 days, we are given something new: a new year. Every year, we virtually are given the chance
to hit the reset button. We have the
chance to live a fuller life, love a lot deeper, and laugh even harder. A new year brings with it the opportunity to
make amends with family or friends or spend more time with your parents,
spouse, or children. Yet, in our rush to
get through another day, there are times when we simply stick to our old ways.
Likewise, there are times when we keep driving the same car, even though it’s broken down five times in the last week. God may have even sent the money for the down payment on a new car, but we keep putting it off until next week. And those new shoes in the closet never get worn because they’re not “broken in” yet. So, we continue wearing our ragged pair instead. Then we can hardly finish our work day because of the pain in our feet from the worn out soles that offer no support.
Similarly,
you may already be ignoring the New Year.
Instead of using this fresh start as a reset button, you may be
continuing to live as before. You might
be living in fear, feeling unloved, or struggling with no hope in sight. You may have plans to give God your life next
week, next month, or next year. Your old
life is “broken in” and while it has its flaws, a life with God may seem even
more uncomfortable, much like a new pair of shoes. Yet, a life with God will be clean and bright,
filled with God’s amazing unconditional love and grace.
God
often opens doors for us in our lives.
He may open the door to a better paying job, a new home, or a new
family. He may even open the door to a
new life with God at the center. When
God opens a door, He gives us the choice as to whether or not we will walk through
it. If we just stand there on the wrong
side of the door, nothing will change. But
if we take that first step across the threshold, everything changes.
God’s
Word says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17
NIV). This is the first day of
2013. Don’t wait any longer to begin
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He will restore your hope, fill you with joy, and mend your broken
heart. Throw out the old, ugly parts of
your life and replace them with new, joyous ones. Take that first step. Walk through the door. Embrace this New Year by beginning a new life
in Christ.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
I’d like to invite you think back to the day when you
last purchased something new. Perhaps it
was a new car, a new pair of shoes, or even a new bag of potato chips. Do you remember that “new car smell?” Or the way your new shoes were so clean and
bright? And it’s always more fun to pull
out the first whole potato chip, as opposed to reaching down in the bag for the
last few crumbs!
What is it about something new? It makes us feel happy and at times, it may
even bring back fond childhood memories of a new bicycle or a new puppy or
kitten to love. As humans, we are not generally
attracted to old, ugly, discarded pieces of merchandise. While someone once said that “One man’s trash
is another man’s treasure,” we can be assured that there are some pieces of
trash that are just that: trash. Still,
we continuously find ourselves trying to sell this “trash” at yard sales, flea
markets, and the like. Or we may
determine that something we own simply needs to be placed in the infamous “file
13.” No matter how they get rid of the “junk,”
people usually follow the old adage, “Out with the old and in with the new.”
Every 365 days, we are given something new: a new
year. Every year, we virtually are given
the chance to hit the reset button. We
have the chance to live a fuller life, love a lot deeper, and laugh even
harder. A new year brings with it the
opportunity to make amends with family or friends or spend more time with your
parents, spouse, or children. Yet, in
our rush to get through another day, there are times when we simply stick to
our old ways.
Likewise, there are times when we keep driving the same
car, even though it’s broken down five times in the last week. God may have even sent the money for the down
payment on a new car, but we keep putting it off until next week. And those new shoes in the closet never get
worn because they’re not “broken in” yet.
So, we continue wearing our ragged pair instead. Then we can hardly finish our work day
because of the pain in our feet from the worn out soles that offer no support.
Similarly, you may already be ignoring the New Year. Instead of using this fresh start as a reset
button, you may be continuing to live as before. You might be living in fear, feeling unloved,
or struggling with no hope in sight. You
may have plans to give God your life next week, next month, or next year. Your old life is “broken in” and while it has
its flaws, a life with God may seem even more uncomfortable, much like a new
pair of shoes. Yet, a life with God will
be clean and bright, filled with God’s amazing unconditional love and grace.
God often opens doors for us in our lives. He may open the door to a better paying job,
a new home, or a new family. He may even
open the door to a new life with God at the center. When God opens a door, He gives us the choice
as to whether or not we will walk through it.
If we just stand there on the wrong side of the door, nothing will
change. But if we take that first step
across the threshold, everything changes.
God’s Word says, “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). This is
the 29th day of the year. Don’t
wait any longer to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He will restore your hope, fill you with joy,
and mend your broken heart. Throw out
the old, ugly parts of your life and replace them with new, joyous ones. Take that first step. Walk through the door. Embrace this New Year by beginning a new life
in Christ.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer