MOVE OVER, 2014!

For me, 2014 had its own story from beginning to end. 2014 was not just a new chapter in an already existing story; it was a whole new adventure in and of itself. With plot twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat all year. I even wrote a book about it.

Although 2014 has had its own great ending, it’s done just that … end! 2014's story started in January and perfectly culminated in December.



As I sit here on the eve of the new year, with my 2014 story published and at my side, I cannot tell you the contentment I feel as I say goodbye to 2014 and everything it’s brought me. I feel nothing but excitement brewing in the pit of my gut as I embrace this NEW door opening to a NEW adventure in 2015. I look forward to a new place, a new mission, new friends, and another NEW adventure! Once again, I anticipate 2015 not being a new chapter to an already existing story, but a whole new story in itself! Look at all this NEWNESS! I am overwhelmed!



But before I rush into the New Year (again, you see how anxious I am to get rid of 2014), first I want to recap—not the highlights of 2014—but the Lessons Learned. Because isn’t that what life is all about? Lessons? But it’s how we apply these lessons to our lives that paves the road to our futures. Will it be a road of success, or will we repeat these same hard lessons because we did not apply what we learned? In other words, we didn’t learn our lesson!



I have a name for people who don’t learn from their mistakes. They are “repeaters” living a “broken record life.” They repeat everything that didn’t work for them over and over again. It’s like living in a Deja-vu every day. If it didn’t work for you the first 500 times, chances are it’s not going to have a different result on attempt 501.   



FORGIVENESS

2014 was a time for forgiveness. One very important thing to remember is that forgiveness is less about the people involved and more about a person’s walk with Christ. Forgiveness is between us and God.



Although it’s good to forgive, we should not be too hasty to forget. To forget the hardships in life would be to bypass one of the most important stages we go through in this world. It's our hardships that mold and transform us into the people we are today. To forget hurts, pains, and the hard lessons we've encountered in life would cause us to have absolutely no spiritual, emotional, or mental growth.



There would be no learning from our mistakes. We would repeat situations which had bad consequences because we didn't allow ourselves to learn a lesson the first go around. This is what Albert Einstein was referring to when he said the definition of insanity is: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If we forgive others and ourselves, and then forget what we learned out of it, we are doomed to repeat the same situations over and over again while anticipating different outcomes! INSANITY!



DEAD WEIGHT

There are two kinds of friends in this world. There are the kind that drive you to be all that you can be, while bringing out the best in you, and then there are dead weight friends. Dead weight friends have nothing to offer you except heartache. They deplete you of energy, motivation, enthusiasm, and life. They create a huge drain on you.



This year I have experienced phony friends:

These friends want a relationship with me in order to get something out of me. Their interest in me is only for their own advantage.



I have also experienced green-eyed friends:

These friends don’t want to see me succeed. They hope I don’t prosper in anything I do because they fight for that “top spot” that exists in their minds. They cannot acknowledge or congratulate another person on their success because then they will feel inferior. They exist in a fantasy world where they are puffed up, sitting high upon their pedestal while looking down upon the rest of us.  



HATERS

They are out there and they always will be. Haters do one thing best: They hate.

They hate your success. They hate everything you post on the Internet. They hate every good choice and decision you make. They hate every blessing in your life. They hate your loving marriage. They hate your beautiful home. They hate everything you excel at. They hate everything you love.



I’ve actually experienced other “Christians” (they call themselves) coming to my FB page and spreading hate, diminishing the glory of God, just because this is what they do best … they hate! But we don’t have to worry about these people. God is taking care of them for us! They can’t touch us!!!



But the one thing they don't do is control you, your decisions, your destiny, your future, and your life! Stand tall, chin held high, and march your awesome-self forward without a care in the world! Their hate can't touch God’s blessings for your life!



Be proud to be YOU and let the haters keep on hating! It's okay to be hated! That means you're doing something right.



In the end the only thing that matters is your servitude to God. The only thing that counts is that you put Him first above all else. Others cannot see your heart or know your feelings, but God can. And through it all I’ve learned the only thing that matters is how God feels about your choices and your actions. Other's OPINIONS about your life do NOT hold any SIGNIFICANCE at all!!!



Let the users use, the enviers turn an awful shade of green, and the haters hate. You can move forward knowing God can see their hearts as well, and that’s why you walk in VICTORY! Let go of what didn’t work out. When you rid your life of negative people (and situations), it’s easier to keep your heart and mind pure.



It allows you to stay in God’s obedience and this is why you WIN!

This is the place happiness comes from!   



 



Don’t start the New Year off with old frustrations, anger, and bitterness. Don’t carry unhappy situations into your NEW STORY! This is a season of new beginnings for you! God is working things out in YOUR favor! Let go of what didn’t work out in 2014 and get ready for Chapter ONE in 2015!



Happy New Year to you! May God BLESS and PROSPER everything you put your hands to!