HIGH EXPECTATIONS

"This is the day that the lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

I am extremely excited and blessed to have had the opportunity to bring in the New Year! Like any new year, I always try to take time to reflect on the previous year. Not being a "new years revolutionist" myself, I didn't commit myself to anything that I would probably forget about by the 10th; However, I did make the decision in my heart that I am going to have High Expectations for 2009. I believe that God has a way of revealing to us many things in the future, and because of that, I feel really good about this new year...and for good reason. New Year, New Things!

I was reading a friend's blog this morning, and he gave the quote, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that why they call it the present." That is such an awesome reminder going into the new year! 2008 is now a piece of history. It can and will never be relived. If there was some unfinished business, its going to be left unfinished because we can't change the past. If there are things that we unfortunately were unable to accomplish, we must set new goals, because we are no longer able to hold fast to the past. Now is the time to set new expectations, to make plain before God what we expect! We have to covenant with Him on this Present Day, that whatever his will for 2009, we will complete! Whatever his goals, we will accomplish. Whatever his plan, we will fulfill. because I have found the truth and the light in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because I have found peace and joy and hope and faith and most of all love, I know that 2009 will be an awesome year. I am expecting miraculous things to be done! I am excited to see God's will for this time, this day, this year manifest in my life like never before.

God has given us the GIFT of today, the gift of 2009! He has given us something that many will never see although they desired it. He has given us the most precious gift of life and fortunately, I have a High Expectation of what is to come. Like the pastor said at watch night service on Dec 31, 2008...2009 is the time to JUST DO IT! 2009 is the time to, in my terms, MAKE LIFE HAPPEN! What is it that we have wanted to do but haven't? What do we want to see, but haven't been obedient to our calling in order to have it manifest in our lives like we desire? What can we do to be better people in 2009 than we were in 2008? How will we challenge ourselves in 2009? There are so many questions that we can ask ourselves, but for me the most important question is this: How will I allow God to move in my life in 2009? The answer is simple: IN ANYWAY HE DESIRES!

So I say to you...I will continue to live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly! I will continue to grow in the things of God because I love and trust His perfect will. And I will continue to have HIGH EXPECTATIONS of the gifts he will keep blessing me with in 2009!!!