Be Brave....

 "The new year means nothing if you're still in love with your comfort zone."

"Nothing changes if nothing changes."  Eric Thomas

About 3 or 4 years ago, I made a decision to begin to say yes more to things that scare me, things that make me a little uncomfortable, things that may make me change or learn something new.  I did it as a type of New Years resolution.  This one year resolution has now turned into a life habit-- one that has enhanced my life greatly, in many ways.  And don't get me wrong, I still weigh the pro's and cons, but I take a good look at the "why" part of my reluctance.  Am I reluctant to try this new thing because of a risk?  Is it a real risk, or just an excuse because I am scared to try, or I'm feeling insecure, or it may mean that I have to change (even if that change is for the better).

"I literally have to remind myself all the time, that being afraid of things going wrong isn't the way to make things go right."

"You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward."

"Normality is a paved road:  It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it."  Van Gogh

"You will not experience all life has to offer you or begin to experience life at it's fullest as long as you are satisfied with mediocrity."  Eric Thomas

"Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life."  Robin Sharma

This willingness to stand at the edge of the cliff and at least peak over the edge to see what lies beyond has brought a richness to my life that I greatly value.  Because I have been willing to force myself to step out of my comfort zone, I have discovered new passions.  I have traveled to places and experienced things that have added knowledge, understanding, and joy to my life.  I have formed rich and deep friendships with people who challenge me in good ways.  I have found more compassion.  I have found miracles that I might have previously overlooked.  I have found deep faith.  I have expanded my life more than I thought was possible.  There is a fulness to a life that pushes past my comfort zone.

"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."

And yet, even knowing all of this, I still find myself reluctant to say yes.  Hesitant to say yes to challenge, to change, to growth.  And the root of all this is fear.  Fear of what lies beyond the edge.  Fear of what this change might mean for me.  Fear of looking too deeply into myself.  Fear of what others may think or feel.  Fear of what may happen.  But I am learning to practice using my "brave muscle."  With each new yes, that muscle grows stronger.  And I am finding that what I fear most is missing out on great opportunity because I am simply afraid of trying something new.

"Never be afraid to try something new, because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know."

And the more I flex that "brave muscle" the more discontent I grow with living an average life.  I hope that I learn something new every day until the day I die.  I want to live a full life.  I want to fill my life with new experiences.  I want to continue to shift and change into the full potential of what God created me for (or as close as I can get to that potential while still on earth).  And I want my son to learn this lesson at a younger age than I did.  I want to teach him how to live life bravely, fully, and with anticipation of doing what God wants him to do.  And I want to teach him to not fear what God has in store for him.  Instead, to embrace it and lean into it, knowing that there is something there for him.  Something that will make his life richer in ways he doesn't fully comprehend yet.

So today, I want to encourage you to live life bravely.  To not be content with average.  To push your boundaries.  To face challenge and change with the knowledge that you do not face it alone.  Pray for wisdom to make good decisions.  Say yes to what God is offering to you, even if it is scary.  Even if it feels like you are being stretched beyond what is comfortable.  I want you to be brave!

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified;  do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;  he will never leave you."  Deuteronomy 31:6

I'll leave you with a few photos of the ocean.  The ocean is an interesting thing.  It inspires many different feelings in people.  Some people fear it.  Some people fear what it contains, what lives in it.  And some people, dip their toes in it to experience it in a perceived "safe" way.  And that may be fine for some.  But to me, the best part of the ocean is what lies beneath the surface.  And there's only one way to experience that-- you have to fully immerse yourself in it.  Only then, by taking the risk, can you see all the beauty and wonder it contains.

365 New Days, 365 New Chances

I was clueless in 2014 about what my goal was or should be for the year.  And I can say that I am really glad to be done with 2014, for in a lot of ways and various reasons, it was a really challenging year.  In others, it was a fantastic year.  I'll take the good with the bad, and hopefully I learned something.  To be honest, I wasn't really seeking out a new "theme" for 2015.  I was just busy limping toward the finish line of 2014, with hope that 2015 would be calmer.  It's not that 2014 was bad, but you know how some years are just harder than others?  2014 was one of those.

And then one morning while praying, God brought to mind the following verse:

"See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up;  do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."  Isaiah 43:19

Hmmm.  Interesting.  And I felt that somehow, this verse was an important clue as to what God has in store for 2015.

But, God being God, and knowing me and all my humanness, was apparently not satisfied with my response.  Low and behold, the sermon at our church the next week started out with:

"Be alert, be present.  I'm about to do something brand new.  It's bursting out!  Don't you see it?  There it is!  I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."  Isaiah 43:19 the Message

And my ears perked up and took notice.  And the next few verses were read in the sermon:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."  Ezekiel 36:26

"He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!" Revelation 21:5

Ok, I'm beginning to get the picture.  Even I am not that obtuse!  But apparently I still wasn't getting it because the next day a friend posted the Isaiah 43:19 verse on their page.

So I was now beginning to understand that this verse is going to be significant in 2015.

We were invited to spend New Year's week at a friends house in the Outer Banks.  It was a wonderful trip full of fun, friendship, and time spent making great memories together.  But I took the opportunity to walk the beach each day and repeat and pray that verse, over and over.  Trying to get that verse imbedded way down into the marrow of my bones, into the deepest reaches of my heart and soul, and into all the nooks and crannies of my brain.  The pessimistic side of my brain started to whisper to me, "Be careful.  Not every new thing is a good thing."  But I immediately re-read the verse and the second part, "I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland," stuck out.  Those are good things.  Good promises.  And I refuse to let doubt and fear steal the promises of God away from me.

So, I say all this to encourage you.  We have 365 new days.  365 new chances.  If you are discouraged, I encourage you to meditate on these verses.  Let them sink in.  Let them be a prayer that you repeat daily or even hourly.  Look expectantly for the good things that God has in store for 2015. Look for new opportunities.  Look for new roads in the desert.  Look for new rivers of life giving refreshment in what was once a wasteland.  Go boldly into 2015 with expectations that new blessings will manifest themselves in your life.  Go forward with joy.  Go forward with peace.  Go forward knowing that the God of the universe is directing your path, and He has good things planned.

I am praying that 2015 be filled with days of New Things for all.  Have a blessed 2015!

I'll leave you with some photos of a new day dawning in the Outer Banks.