A Fresh Start....

So we had an amazing Holiday with my family in Quebec. It was picture perfect! I am so happy most of all for my mom. She has had such a hard year and this Christmas was for her. It was beautiful! From the Cabin, and playing card games to the fresh snow Christmas morning God provided such a great time.

We have been so busy we hardly know what to do with ourselves! We are pulling out all our flip flops and shorts to head to the Bahamas bright and early tomorrow morning. What a great start to 2009!
I don't know what it is but I have a great feeling about this year! I just know God is going to do some great things in Josh and I this year and I am excited to see all He has in store. As I contemplate what I want 2009 to mean to me this year I think my theme is Stewardship. I want to live well and be a good steward of all the blessings God has given me.
A good steward of my:
Relationship with God
Marriage
Money
Things
Body
Time
and my Family.

I am learning more and more the balance of seeking to live a good holy life. I used to try and be holy because I thought that is how to stay in good relationship with God. I have learned more and more through the Gospel He has payed for my sin and it is covered and seeking to live for God is response of love. I seek to live in a way that honors God not to earn my righteousness but because in living a life that honors Him I delight Him. A life that is lived well for HIS glory is the deepest way to honor the one who lived and died to serve and save us. We desire to make ourselves into images of him.
As Tim Keller says:
"In religion we go to God because he is useful for getting the things our hearts most want. In the GOSPEL we go to God because HE is beautiful. We go simply to get GOD himself. WE want to sense His presence and we know that living a life imitating HIM is the way to do that."

I love that the New Year brings a fresh start. A fresh start to seek to live life well to honor HIM. But the awesome thing is for us who are in Christ "His mercies are new every morning".

Here is hoping that 2009 brings you and I a fresh start in to a deeper Gospel relationship with God. Far different from religion.