Hello 2017

New Years. Wow. This is one of my very favorite times of the year!

It's a fresh start!

A clean, blank page of your story!

This is a sweet gift from God to us: a brand new year, waiting for it's days to be filled!

SO dang sweet!

January 1st is such a fresh and new day. We are reminded in scripture that "His mercies are new every morning," and the new year is no different! God put in place rhythms and calendars for a purpose, and I do believe that He gave us the weeks, months, and years so that we have a way to mark our time. A way to look back and to look forward! And that is just what I am choosing to do at the beginning of this new year.

My theme for 2016 was GRACE. As with every year, 2016 was a year of mountaintop highs and seemingly rock bottom lows. My heart was filled and my heart was broken. I felt both joy and pain. There were times of incredible community and times of loneliness. Mountaintops and valleys, people. I saw them all. But what I also got to see was a glimpse into just how incredibly faithful, consistent, dependable, unswerving, unchanging, trustworthy and steadfast the God we serve is. I saw His grace. There was not one single time in my year, mountaintop or valley, that God did not use to drive me into a deeper (and so much sweeter) dependence on Him. He used my failures for His glory. When I was weak, He showed me His strength. He took me in my brokenness and allowed me to have a part in the glorious work He is doing around me. I was completely and utterly overwhelmed by His grace. And with that, I want to challenge YOU. To remind yourself of God's grace in your life this year (yes - even when your life seems hard, yucky and broken). Trace His hand of faithfulness. I don’t know what His grace has looked like in your life – maybe its shiny, new open doors or slammed-shut ones, maybe it’s healing or maybe it’s pain. But seriously, people. Do. Not. Miss. This. Our God is a God of abundant, overflowing, grace-giving.

And as for 2017... 

I spent a lot of time thinking about my 2017. One thing I know for sure is that it is going to be a BIG year! Not only will I finish up my second year of college, but I will also start my SENIOR year (weird, huh?). I have two internships lined up for the year - both of which I am over the moon excited for! Some things will be the same as 2016, too. I have the same, great job. The same, wonderful friends. And the same, loving boyfriend. I get to do life with the same, beautiful Shelby High School girls. A lot of same! BUT - I am excited for change, too. Excited for a couple new, fresh starts! A couple of exciting unknowns! A whole lot of good ahead.

For 2017, I made some goals for myself that I plan to stick to and reflect on often. Goals are my favorite! They help you to prioritize, dream and they set you up for a more intentional way of living! My goals include things like running a half-marathon (#kgrunsahalf!?) and starting (AND finishing) a book a month! But - more than goals, I have decided that I am going to choose to live my 2017 by a verse. 

Romans 12:1 - So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

This past summer when I was working at camp, my director read this verse aloud to us during the last few days of the summer. I stood there listening, leaning on the person next to me trying to give my legs a break from the morning. I was tired and fresh out of energy. Knowing that most of the counselors were feeling the same way, my director encouraged us to take whatever we had left, and give it right to God! He didn't tell us to rest up, so that we had something better to give. He told us to give Him our last bit of energy - every step, every conversation, every meal - everything we had. He knew we were spent, but He reminded us that even the little that we had left in us, we could offer to the Lord.

I think sometimes I fall into believing the lie that God doesn't want my "normal." I find myself feeling that what I have to offer on a day-to-day basis, just doesn't make the cut. What a silly thought! He doesn't just want my put-together, try-hard life - He wants the all messy, broken, and regular parts too. God calls me to lay down everything I have at the foot of the cross. To place my life before Him as an offering. And that is just what I hope to do during 2017! To begin each day reminding myself that everything I do is a chance to glorify, honor, and serve Him. My sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life is something that I can give to Him. I plan on re-reading this scripture often throughout the year, and spending lots of time in prayer - placing my whole life before God as an offering!

What are your goals, verses to live by, or words to hold onto for 2017?