A Fresh Start...

I went to church Saturday night to watch my Nana and my niece in the Christmas play. The play was phenomenal. It was so good I went back on Sunday morning to see it again. During the middle of the play the preacher came out to deliver the message. The title of his message was How To Make a Fresh Start for Christmas. I sat in my seat, overwhelmed with anticipation. I have had a wonderful year but it has also been a very hard year. Before I started this blog, I had just come out of a very serious four year relationship. I thought it was my last relationship. Four years ago I would have told you that I had met the man I was going to be with forever. It took me four long years to realize that this was not the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. 

I am a planner and always have been. This year I learned that no matter how many plans and to-do lists I make God has the ultimate say. He is steering my ship, not me. He knows what my plan in life is and I know that he will not steer me wrong. I was content in an un happy relationship because the next step in my plan was to get married and have children. One day I realized that I was staying with this person only to fulfill the next event on my list. Don't get me wrong, I loved him dearly but I knew that I would never be happy. 

Nicole wrote on her blog a few days ago about being content. I really connected with this idea because I realized that I need to be content with my life. I realized that no matter how much I worry about what is going to happen I am still not in control. I know that I am only 24 years old but I always "planned" that by now I would be married and have a child or trying to have a child. Never did I plan that I would be single. This has been a huge struggle for me. I have never been alone. Not only that, my three closest friends all got married this year and are all pregnant. When my best friend found out that she was pregnant a couple of months ago I found it very hard to be happy for her. I just broke down and cried. I went to Books a Million to buy her a baby book the day after she found out and had to walk outside because I started crying. What is wrong with me? I am a horrible friend! Those are the only thoughts that went through my mind. I didn't understand why I felt the way I did. I was not content with my life. I know that  their life is not my own and I have to be happy for them. I am now helping plan baby showers and I am so excited for this little person's arrival.

I sat in church Saturday night and Sunday morning and soaked up every ounce of God's word that I could. I was so excited to hear the preacher talk about a fresh start, My Fresh Start! I normally do not go to this church. I have been there several times and love it but I always go with my parents to there church. The Christmas play was sold out and my Nana searched to find me three tickets. God knew that I needed a fresh start. 

How To Make a Fresh Start This Christmas

"The Lord says, 'Forget about what has happened before. Do not think about the past. Instead, look at the new things I'm going to do.'"  Isaiah 43:18-19

I looked down at my sermon notes and read this verse. That was all I needed to hear. I need to stop focusing on my past because God is going to do wonderful things with my life.

1. Stop making excuses.

"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them he gets another chance." Proverbs 28:13 (LB)

2. Take stock of my life.

"You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope not." Galatians 3:4

3. Act in faith.

"According to your faith it will be done to you." Matthew 9:29 (NIV)

"Being afraid of people can get you into trouble...". Proverbs 29:25 (NCV)

4. Refocus my thoughts.


"Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts." Proverbs 4:23 (Good News)

"Happy are those who...are always meditating on God's Word...They are like trees along a river...that do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." -Psalm 1:1-3 (Good News)

5. Trust Christ to help me.


"'You will not succeed by your own strength or power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord." - Zechariah 4:6 (NCV)

I am so excited about my fresh start. I know that 2011 is going to be a wonderful year. I hope that it is the year that I meet the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with but if not, I know it is God's plan. The preacher said Sunday that the next ten years will be the best years of my life if I make them the best.

My friend, Jenni sent me some very inspiring words when I shared my story with her several weeks ago. I really appreciated her advice because she has been in the same situation that I have.
Jenni said,
"I have learned to listen to my heart. I have learned that if you never make room for better things and better ways to be, if you never clear out the things in your life that stand in the way of your happiness, then you are not aligning your universe to allow for amazing things. In this life, you don't find yourself. You create yourself. And the same goes for love: you don't find love, you create a road for love to travel and wait for it to come."
Thank you Jenni for your email and these wonderful words.

I hope that this has inspired all of you to make a fresh start this Christmas.

Blessings ya'll,

Tasha

p.s. Check out both of these sweet ladies blogs. They are wonderful! I am so glad to call them friends.