Tools for making a beautiful new year

The start of this particular new year comes loaded with more change for me. After slogging through a season of transition already, you would think I would have this “change” thing down by now, but every “new thing” is a beast all its own. I can always use helpful tools. God has a way of giving us enough blessings to keep us grateful and enough burdens to keep us prayerful. I’m starting a new job Monday, so I welcome it with gratitude and prayer. Next week, I’ll share more about my new opportunity, how I’m planning for our new normal, and the thing I think we’re all wrestling with as the new year begins.

God loves to create new things. “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert,”  (Isaiah 43:19). He is about the business of making people new (2 Corinthians 5:17), and there will be a day when He makes ALL things new! (Revelation 21:5) Participating in creating something new gives me a sense of being part of the work God loves.

For today, so many of us feel the need to start something new when a new year arrives. I like to make changes that are realistic and manageable. After all, who wants to set ourselves up for failure? I find that most women of faith set goals related to physical life and spiritual life. The two are so closely connected that a win in one area pretty much guarantees growth in the other.

As I look to my new normal in just 3 days (yikes!), let me share some fresh tools that might be helpful resources for you, as they are for me.

Tools for physical life goals

My teammate at The MOB Society, Monica Swanson, is also known as the GROMMOM. She writes from her home on the North Shore of Oahu, where she is the mom of 4 surfing sons. I just finished reading Monica’s book The Secret of Your Naturally Skinny Friends. This is a book you could share with a friend who does not have a relationship with God, but cares about her physical health. I love the thoughts Monica shares about how we think about our bodies and food, in particular. She used to think about food all the time, which is a common problem as a lot of us set “food goals” for a new year. Check out her post about how to lose weight and get fit and make it last a lifetime. I’m NOT a fan of trendy eating or fad diets, so I appreciate the way Monica approaches the question of eating well.  You can get your copy here.

Tools for spiritual life goals

My teammate at The MOM Initiative, Kathy Howard, shares a great summary post of Discipleship Resources for the New Year. You’ll find a tool to evaluate your own spiritual health, a goals worksheet, help for planning, and a list of general resources to use in growing in your faith.

Tools for spiritual strength for moms

• At The MOB Society you can sign up for the 40 day pledge to be in God’s word, using the Hope for the Weary Mom devotional by Brooke McGlothlin and Stacey Thacker.
• The MOM Initiative is offering a 13 week study about The Matriarchs of the Bible, starting on Monday. This is totally free and will include a video message on Mondays starting January 4th.

Are there tools you’ve found that help you start a new year well? I’d love to add resources to my personal toolbox. Happy new year and I hope you’re off to a beautiful beginning!