I will endeavor to avoid the usual platitudes, but you must admit, the promise of a fresh start that a new year implies is alluring. Who among us has not desired a do-over or clean slate sometime in their life?

Therefore, every January we create this imaginary new life, one that begins on the 1^st. Well, since many continue to celebrate on New Year’s Day which may include some of our old, bad habits, the new life begins on the 2^nd. Unless of course the 2^nd is any other day of the week than Monday because who can start something new in the middle of the week or on the weekend? Everyone knows Monday is the starting line. So, the new life REALLY begins on the first Monday in January after the 1^st day of the month. This is widely known and accepted in any civilized society. 

What is the origin of this fascination with new beginnings?

When I see babies, I see a new life just starting; when all things are new. The first chapter of their story has not been written but it has begun. Babies look and listen to everything with wonder and fascination. Have you ever watched a baby look at and move their own hand with complete amazement as they try to comprehend this marvelous discovery?

Think about it. All things new. Everything interesting and exciting. That is the allure of new beginnings.

At some point in our life we all want to be a new or different person.  We come face to face with our faults and short comings; how we hurt or even continue to hurt others around us. Others find themselves in a cycle of additions or a series of bad relationships. Some have been hurt deeply by others. Life has become dull or meaningless. The list goes on and on.

If only we could go back and make a past experience new again.  

God understands. He knows you. He knows your heart. He knows your hurts, doubts and disappointments. In His Word, God said “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” He knew you before you were born and just like any good parent, He desires a personal relationship with His children, which includes you. Likewise, in the heart of every person is a desire to know God. Though that desire may get buried under the weight of our human experiences, it is there.

Because He loves us, the One who knew you from the beginning of your story does want to make all things new in your life.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A new life has begun-a new spiritual baby!

After I invited Jesus to be my Lord, He immediately began to make this true in my life. I began to see this life from an eternal perspective as my relationship with Him continued to grow. All things truly began to be new again. It is an amazing thought that newness of life started from His death on the cross!

2019 can be truly new through the One who knew you from the beginning.

Every year I watch at least one version of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. By far my favorite stars Alastair Sim as Scrooge. He is both ideally mean and believable. I attempted to watch the version with George C. Scott as Scrooge but could never get past his role as Patton. At any moment I fully expected Scrooge to roll down the streets of London in a tank on his way to take out Bob Cratchit’s house.

This year I did something I have never done: read the book! Though I did complete it, after a few pages I was reminded that I do not speak “Charles Dickens” very well.  Often I would read an entire paragraph only to realize I had no idea what it meant. The power of “context” and familiarity with the story pulled me through.

I want to share a passage from the book and if you have never read it or at least watched the movie (Scrooged with Bill Murray does not count…not even close.), then I may lose you for moment but hold on, the principle is awesome.

To briefly set this up, Scrooge is being escorted by the Spirit of Christmas Past and now taking watch over the company Christmas party thrown by his boss, Mr. Fezziwig when Scrooge was young in his career. While watching the replay of the party, Scrooge took leave of his senses and forgot he was mean and nasty and enjoyed the party.

Charles Dickens describe Scrooge’s state as “His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self. He corroborated everything, remembered everything, enjoyed everything and underwent the strangest agitation.”

At that moment, the Ghost commented “A small matter to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.” Scrooge, again forgetting his ornery-self, disagreed with the Ghost. Here is what Scrooge said in Fezziwig’s defense:

“It isn’t that” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that this power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ‘em up; what then? The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

I love that exchange. In a moment of clarity, Scrooge realized the impact of the powerful positive influence Mr. Fezziwig had into the lives of his employees. Fezziwig VALUED others. It was no small thing what Fezziwig did for those he led. Mr. Scrooge basically said it was priceless.

In many ways can’t the same be said of you and me?

In Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi he wrote: 

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Phil. 4:8-9, MSG)

Daily we have the opportunity to render people happy or unhappy; to lighten their load; to help make their life a pleasure not a toil.  Do we not have the power to see the best in people; to perceive their potential regardless of their behavior? Do we remind them and our hearts that God loves them as much as He loves us; that He has a plan for them, just as He has for us?   

I Corinthians 15:57, NIV “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”    

Jesus was an indescribable gift willing to die for our sins.  Rising again on the third day willing and able to live in our hearts today.

Merry Christmas to all and “God bless us every one!” 

Recently a client asked me if I think “ambition” is a bad thing. What a great question!

“Ambition” has a political origin relating to candidates soliciting support for office. They want us to prefer them over the other candidates. One may say of another, “He has political ambitions.”. Of course, that can be a noble goal. The issues are motives and the conditions of the heart.

You see ambition can spring forth from both healthy and unhealthy motives. Ambition can mean a desire for excellence or it can mean a desire for superiority. Nothing wrong at all to desire to do all things with excellence. However, it is a problem when we seek or have a sense of superiority. Superiority requires us to compare and judge ourselves against others. Comparisons have only two outcomes, both which are bad: that we feel superior or inferior. Worse yet we judge someone else as more superior or inferior than us. 

As your OneCrown LivRite Coach, I want to encourage you to do all things from a desire for excellence. To be the best version of you, not in comparison with others. You have been given a precious gift from God, life. God made you and loves you. He wants you to enjoy today as you strive for an even better tomorrow. Here is a simple perspective from Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

When you desire excellence in all you do, with a thankful heart that springs from a relationship with Jesus, it is honoring God with the life He has given you.