"follow me"

Shortly after I woke up this morning, this first day of 2016(!), I got to spent some quiet time with the Lord, the cloudy sky, some hot coffee, and a new devotional. "New Morning Mercies" has been a somewhat regular source of encouragement in my life this past year, as one of my besties has been great to take and send pics of random pages from her copy that seemed to hit me just where I needed it. Well, for Christmas, I got my very own copy! 

This so pretty and inspirational bookmark was created by my so-talented friend, Hilliary

new years declaration

Thinking on what the Lord has been teaching me and on the new year ahead, these thoughts below are where I landed today in my hopes for life going forward. Instead of a New Years Resolution, I'm calling it my New Years Declaration :) I posted it earlier on my personal Instagram feed, but felt like it'd be a great way to start 2016 on parapalla too . . .  

" … My heart cry, more than ever, is to rest into my role as a Christ-follower; to believe in and rest in His leading. Speaking from experience, it is SO easy to slip into an independent, self-serving, "I got this," mode; to cater to fear and doubt and forget His faithful love, presence, and purpose in our day-to-day. 

In the past couple months, God has so graciously been helping me see my need for more of Him and less of me; to lessen my grip on control and pride—and on the flip side of that, to experience and remember how beautiful and life-giving, surrender is.

I've been reminded in the beauty of others' encouraging Instagram posts today that, He is always doing a new thing (@lanabarker6564), it is never too late (@christinecaine), and the former things are to be forgotten and not dwelled on (@pastorchrishodges). I'm thankful for #newmercies and hope for the first day of 2016 and everyday that follows! #liveintheordinary #expecttheextraordinary #2016 #newyearsdeclaration … '

Any resolutions or declarations for you?

I'm not the best planner, but I do love to process, so here are a few processing kind of questions for any of you wanting to take a minute to stop and think or share with someone else . . . What stands out in your 2015 as something you'd like to see grow for the better in 2016, and beyond? What is or could possibly hinder that growth? What area of your life grew in 2015, and what contributed to that growth? Can any of those "growth helpers" apply for your 2016 focus? 

As I always sign my emails to my parapalla email list, thanks for being here! 

And, Happy New Year!