A New Year on the blog...

Happy New Year to you all!
I hope 2013 will bring you much peace, joy, happiness and memories to look back on in years to come.

I'm not sure how I feel about it to be honest. It doesn't feel like a new year, just a new day, which I guess it is. Why is it we wait until a new year comes to change things or make a fresh start anyway?

A few days ago we watched the film, 'We bought a Zoo', starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.
The film is based on a true story and follows a widower who has two young children, and in the midst of his grief, after losing his wife, he starts looking for happiness, looking for a new start in life and he decides to ...buy a Zoo! I don't want to spoil it so won't share too much of the plot.
But one thing he said really touched my heart.

Whilst talking about life and making the most of it he says,
"It only takes 20 seconds of courage."
And he is right. How many of us wait until the 'right time' or 'put things off' and miss an opportunity which could turn out to be a huge blessing?

I remember hearing a speaker at church once say, that God brings us opportunity like a river...the river flows past us and if we don't jump in at that very moment in time that part of the river keeps on flowing and the opportunity we had just passes us by and will be missed forever. It takes courage to jump in! 20 seconds of courage may just change the course of your life! If you can find 20 seconds of courage, God will find the rest.

I want to share with you that my middle daughter, Laura, has been struggling with severe anxiety and nerves and at the moment things are so bad, she has not attended school for the past few months.

It breaks my heart to see her like this and I just keep on praying that God will bring her through it...and He is...baby steps. We have finally managed to get some help for her and she is seeing someone to help with her problems but ultimately she knows only she can make the change and find the courage to turn her life around. The last thing I want is for her to look back on her teenage  years in years to come and regret being sat at home, not leaving the house, not going to school, not living life to the full but merely existing. My hope for 2013 is that she will gain the strength and courage she needs to face her fears head on.
I have shared this verse with Laura,

John 10 verse 10 says:
...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

It is not want God wants for her life. He wants her to live life to full abundance!
I have every confidence that Laura will overcome this and with God's help, come through the storm she is passing through at this time in her life.

And if you are struggling to find the courage then something I often say, not only to Laura but to myself is,

"Do it scared!"

And I have done that on so many occasions this year, one example being leading the worship at church. I sing in the worship group but had never led worship and when I was asked, every part of me was saying no, I can't stand at the front of church and do that but a quiet whisper in the depth of my soul said, yes, you can!  God was pushing me beyond my comfort zone but by doing so I have received so many blessings in return.


Even writing this blog has nudged me gently outside of my comfort zone...In the beginning I would press the 'publish' button and feel vulnerability wash over me.
" What if they don't like this post? " or " What will they think if they know this about me? " or
" Should I share my faith so openly? "
 But as time passes, I find pressing the 'publish' button easier and I know that my readers only come by this page if they want to and are interested. I've had a few followers saying some lovely encouraging things and so I've kept going! It's nice to know when I've touched someone's heart or said something to help another.


I like this quote from Mother Teresa:

Every day is a blank page in your book of life. What depth, colour or shading are you going to bring to that blank page? Will it be the start of a great chapter in your life?


I am changing. I am a work in progress. He has a lot of work to do!
I trust God and I have faith that He is bringing about change in me for a reason.
Ultimately, He wants the best for me and I know I can be better than this. He wants greater things for me but I have to keep trusting and hearing Him in it all.

I hope 2013 will be a year of opportunity. A year of change for the better for you and for me!

What are your New Years resolutions? Have you decided to make any changes in your life this year? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm going to be reading the Bible in a year.  You can follow it too by clicking on this link:
http://about.esvbible.org/resources/reading/

Last year I read the M'Cheyne one year reading plan. I just finished and decided to start all over again! I don't think reading the Bible once right through qualifies me in anyway to say I really know my Bible so I think I might have to do it every year!

I know of someone who has read the Bible through every year for the past 45 years! Amazing!

I encourage you to give it a go...It really is a blessing and God has spoken directly to me on many occasions whilst reading.


Hoping 2013 will be a wonderful year for you all and that it brings blessings your way everyday.
I intend to count mine as often as possible.

Love Marie xx