New Year Thoughts

Well, here we are about to ring in the New Year. I think for most of us, it’s a time to reflect on the past year. What did we do well? What would we change? How can we be better in 2019?

2019 is an open book ladies, and while we don’t control every detail (only God sees and knows what is ahead) we can take steps to make 2019 a great year.

Here are 3 things I’m committing to doing in 2019:

1. Moving Forward. One of the biggest things that hold us back from moving forward is past hurts. I have certainly had my share, but I don’t want to bring that hurt in 2019.

Shelley Giglio shared this quote, “Don’t let past wounds ruin your future potential. 2019 is your year of healing.” Hurts are a part of this life but let’s learn from them and move on.

2. Since we’re talking about Hurts, let’s talk about Forgiveness. 

Matthew 18:21-22 says, Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” 

Jesus wasn’t giving us a mathematical equation. He was telling us to forgive repeatedly, and as often as necessary. The way He has forgiven us.

I don’t say that lightly because forgiveness is hard, but God’s continual forgiveness and tolerance of my sin can help me to forgive others.

3. Commit to Love Big. Luke 10:27 tells us how to love, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

Let’s make 2019 our year of loving God and loving His people. Our world would be a better place if we loved big.

This song sums it all up….

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

Have a blessed Sunday!

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  1. I am praying that I can move past my breast cancer diagnosis and death of a good friend of 40 years all on the same day in 2018. God has been with me and He will continue to be, of this I’m sure. I pray for all of you, I humbly ask for your prayers as well. Prayers for a healthy 2019 and peace for all who knew Steve,

  2. I have only recently found your blog and enjoy your tips as well as the spiritual content you incorporate, 2019 is a year of new beginnings for me, and I intend to make the most of it. With the help of God and a village, I can do it!
    Keep up the good work!

  3. Amen, Cyndi! I am looking forward to new beginnings and a closer relationship with God in 2019! Reading more, being more intentional about taking care of me, and stepping out in faith.

  4. Wow amazing to read this and know many others have the same struggles, but that we are also looking for improving our outlook, disposition and service. For 2019, I am starting Joyce Meyer’s “Healing the Soul of a Woman”. Hoping with intentionality and Gods guidance, that I can clear some of the emotional clutter from my life and be of better use to Him and others. Thanks Cyndi for your leadership.

  5. I loved that song. Needed to hear that. I appreciate your uplifting notes. Here’s praying that in this New Year, I can challenge myself to always give the glory for all things to God.

  6. Love this post Cyndi! Thank you for helping put our focus where it should be. You’re correct in that forgiveness is hard – so hard. I need more of that in my life as well.
    Happy New Year! I wish you some months of “nothing” :).

  7. My goals are also to draw closer to Jesus and show His love to others and to find more peace in my life. One thing I’m going to try (again) to do is to read the Bible all the way though. I have a “Read the Bible through in a Year” journal book. I also want to spend more time in prayer for others. I got this idea from somewhere a while back but I took the Christmas cards I received this year, along with the sympathy cards from my father-in-law’s death, and put them in a basket and plan to pull out a name each day to pray for. And I will add notes or cards throughout the year to pray for others. I also want to have more quiet time away from my phone and social media so I am putting that phone down at each meal and certain designated times throughout the day. Happy New Year. I have added you to my prayer box as well. 🙂

  8. Thanks Cyndi for your post today. I had just finished my goals for 2019 in my new planner and now I want to go back and add something. I had put that I needed to be more positive. I now feel the best way for me to do that is to let go of all the hurt from last year. It’s over….time to move on. Prayer and forgiveness on the top of my list.

  9. Cyndi – Thank you for sharing from your heart! I, too, need more of Jesus and this song really spoke to me! For 2019, I pray that I can reflect Jesus more to others – to let others see His light in me! Being more in His Word, His Love letter to us- is a goal, as well! I look forward to your posts each day and relate so to the daily struggles we all have in the responses! I feel like I am engaged with more sisters in the Lord and I truly value that! May the Lord bless your new year!

  10. Thank you for sharing your changes for 2019… I love to pray and I want to pray more and worry less… I want to adjust to our daughter moving out when she’s married in May… a big adjustment for us all but so thankful God has given her a Godly man. I want to keep encouraging our children no matter their age that living for the Lord will never lead you astray… I want to keep my focus on him and not what others are doing around me but continue to be aware of others needs .. before Christmas I started taking each one of my closet friends out for breakfast and I’d like to continue that in the year ahead … just a time for us to share and take a break from all the craziness… I also want to read more which includes reading more of God’s word… I want to stop feeling like a fish out of water since loosing both my parents within the last five years and keep our traditions alive but begin new ones especially with our daughter getting married… well I’m sure there’s more but that’s it for now…
    Happy new year 🎈🎆🎊
    Blessings and love
    Karen

  11. I whole hardedly agree with your 3 commitments. We are still looking for a better fit for my hubby since leaving the pastoral ministry 2 1/2 years ago. (He is a church planting director after planting a “mother church” and subsequently, 5 daughter churches and now 5 grand-daughter churches-just not enough “purposeful” work for him). We are opening both heart and hand to where God is leading. In some ways I think this last year was more about being a haven for our 4 sons. (Their families/career pursuits) They all expressed their thankfulness for our home and the comfort that it provided for them in 2019. Praying for God’s direction and the reassurance that we are following His will for us. I would love to start a blog too, but not sure how to start. Prayers for God’s leading in all of it. Romans 15:13

  12. Wishing you and your lovely family a blessed and prosperous New Year filled with faith and knowledge that He is in control.

  13. I love the song you shared! It is my 2019 and now theme song …it’s been on repeat on my playlist. Thank you for a your positive blog! The world needs more bloggers that share light like you.

    Happy New Year!

  14. I feel your pain I lost my mom this year unexpectedly. And, instead of leaving the following week for an all inclusive vacation I spent the week planning my mom’s funeral and cleaning out her house of 50 years! Life sure gives you some surprises! I so appreciate you and your blog, as it’s good to know others have similar struggles. Happy New Year!

  15. Thank you Cindy, I needed to hear this. I love that you are making 2019 about HIM and not yourself. Loving others how Christ commands, dropping all judgement and forgiving others as Christ forgives us. Can you imagine if Christ kept a mental list of our sins as saw us through the eyes of our past mistakes? That’s human nature not God nature. Happy New Year all

  16. Thanks for all the encouragement you give us – especially since we have never met face to face! Your posts are a reminder of what is truly important and that ALL of us struggle with the
    Changes life brings.

  17. OMGoodness…..we’ve all had a pretty “ruff” year for sure. And with hurt piled on top of “life happenings” made it so very hard. I am stuggling with the hurt more than bodily damage and such. You have reminded me that I need to keep working on the hurt with Gods grace and His strength. Cuz I can’t do it on my own….heaven knows I have tried. Happy New Year!

  18. Thanks so much for your transparency about this year being hard. We too have a had a challenging year…graduations (1 college, 1 high school), weddings (2 in the past year!) and significant job changes for both my husband and I. And to top it off…empty nesters since August. So much change and even with ALL of it positive, my heart is worn out and tender. I SO appreciate your words about keeping Jesus at the center of our lives.
    Love staying in touch with what’s going on in your world!
    Praying for your sweet family as you head into 2019…❤️

  19. I am sitting in my car listening to my new CD “Only Jesus” as I’m reading you’re blog. Can we talk about timing? The title song “Only Jesus” is playing as I read your words.
    Thank you so much for your encouraging words. 2019 will be a year of change for us as my husband starts a new job, we sell our house and move to a new state. Our oldest son is scheduled to graduate from college and my brother-in-law is getting married. My focus will definitely need to be on Jesus to make it through all the changes ahead of us.

  20. I am so glad I found your post Cyndi! You are truly an inspiration. I look forward to reading your posts everyday!

  21. Agree with your thoughts for 2019.
    Mine are somewhat the same for the New Year! I definitely want to move on and forget the hurts, love people and pour into meaningful relationships, and more of Jesus to help me through the journey. Love your blog!

  22. Thank you so much for your inspiration. I shared your quotes with my sister that has been going through a hard time. Your commitments for 2019 are definitely ones I aspire to keep also. Blessings on your family on this new year.

  23. I just started following you a couple of weeks ago. I wish I knew about you sooner but so happy to know about you today! I enjoy reading your messages. They give me so much inspiration and help me to think and recognize about so many important areas in life. I love yyour three commitments for 2019! One if my goals for the new year is moving forward and letting things go. I wish you a very happy new year!

  24. Enjoyed your Thoughts for 2019 as I had my morning coffee. I was able to practice with forgiveness over the holidays with one of my husbands sisters. Now I need to work on letting go of my 22 yr old daughter as she moves into adulthood. She is in college but still lives at home but our relationship has changed and the more I resist letting go of my little girl the harder it is on both of us. So I just continue to pray for all the choices and decisions she makes and have faith in her and the Lord. I hope that we can find our way back to a good mother-daughter relationship again soon. I think letting go is the hardest, not only for those we have lost but also those that are still with us.

  25. Cyndi-
    Thank you for bringing light into my life every day. You are a gift. Wishing you and your beautiful family all the best in 2019!

  26. Oh, Cyndi, this is just beautiful! I started following you several years back and you have influenced me to strengthen my relationship with God. I first stumbled across your blog when my mother was dying and I had bitterness in my heart. I have learned to let go, to count my blessings and to trust in God, surrender to his plan and purpose for me and try to spread love and kindness everyday to everyone I meet. Wishing you and your family a blessed 2019! And thank you for sharing your grace, beauty and faith with us!

  27. My Mother went to Heaven in July of 2018, my hurt is beyond words but you are right. I need to let it go and let God’s joy fill me in 2019. I want to carry on her legacy of asking every one she met “Do you know Jesus?” I can’t do that if I am carrying all the hurt and grief and sadness. With God’s help I will find peace and move forward. Thank you for your encouraging words of Godly wisdom! God bless you!

    1. Hi, im Dee. I know your hurt, lost my mom 3 yes ago. Im praying for you. That God gives you peace in knowing she is in a wonderful place and that he will put joy back in your heart. Have a wonderful New Year!

      1. Ladies, I share your feelings. My Mother went to heaven in May, 2018, and I didn’t know I could be so sad. Holidays were strange without her, but we rejoice that she is in the arms of Jesus. God Bless! I said a prayer for you.

  28. Your blog was so great, as always! I love your thoughts on the New Year. Best “resolutions” I can think of! Love, forgiveness and moving forward. Awesomely worded, Cyndi.

  29. So glad you talked about forgiveness. It is crucial to a good life and necessary for us Christians. As a preachers kid….I know how a church and church people can hurt. But as I age, God has been more clear than ever that forgiveness, mercy and grace are necessary

  30. Thank you so much for the encouragement. We’ve all had many hurts and need to move on. I pray for all in 2019. Bless you Cyndi for reaching out ✝️

  31. Perfect song for 2019! As my area still cleans up from the hurricane, and our church stands in reunions (First Baptist Port St. Joe) much has been exposed to us …. that only our Lord matters! Only Jesus!