Happy New Year, Welcome 2010!

Fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings - there's something great about changing the calendar every year and feeling as though we have a personal re-start button, a chance to get the bugs out, make the system move faster and better, and, well, you all know what I'm talking about.

I didn't make any "New Year's resolutions" per se this year, but I am going into 2010 with intentions of getting fit (went to Dick's yesterday and bought some cute work-out clothes to inspire me), planning menus to eat healthier and save money (I'm sure I'm not the only one who's budget goes kaploohie when it comes to the food category - groceries and eating out), more focused prayer time and Bible reading (check out YouVersion), more reading in general (at least one book every week, and Jacob's books don't count), quality time with my boys where work gets checked at the door, and, oh yeah, there's that little thing of starting a brand new, totally awesome, Jesus-centered, knock-your-socks-off, livin-for-Jesus-all-week, outward-focused church.

Now, I'm not under the illusion that I'm going to transform into a perfect person in 2010. I'm so far from that mark that it will take years to get there and none of it through my own doing. Nevertheless, the Bible says to "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect," and so I re-engage the pursuit knowing that the first step is making Jesus my everything, every day and every step of the way.

But even having said all that, I have to be honest about my expectations for 2010. As Clark and I crawled into bed in the wee hours of the morning after toasting the new year and finishing the movie I fell asleep during at 9:30pm (don't judge), he leaned over and asked me what I hoped for and expected in 2010. I didn't have much of an answer for him then, other than "roll over, I'm going to sleep now," but I woke up this morning thinking about it and here is my response:

In 2010, and every year for that matter, I hope and expect that God will be God. That's it. You see, I can't expect a perfect year with no tragedies and no disappointments and no frustrations. I can't expect all of my plans and dreams to come true (doesn't stop me from planning and dreaming), but I can expect that God will be God. I can expect that in every situation God will reign over all things. I can expect that even in the face of death and danger and disillusionment that Jesus will give me life. I can expect that I will be able to face and do all things through Christ who gives me strength. And so, I go into the new year with great hope. No matter what comes my way, Jesus is King of Kings and He is the Lord of my life.

I pray that all of you have the same expectation. It's a promise that has been true in my life again and again. And it's that expectation that gives me the fuel to dream big dreams.

What are you dreaming for this year?