New things—Friday’s Fave Five

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation.
The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy 2010!

I love a new year, a fresh start. Here are 5 new things this week that I’m thankful for.

Visit Susanne’s blog for more Friday’s Fave Five from other friends.

1. New calendar
Yesterday I transferred birthdays from my 2009 calendar to my 2010 calendar. It reminded me how I love all the empty spaces on a new calendar. There’s just no predicting how all the blocks will be filled. A little scary when I think about certain possibilities, but very exciting, too, to wonder how God will choose to breathe through the life of my family this year.   

2. New puzzle
I only trust myself with a jigsaw puzzle during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I totally lose track of time when I’m working a puzzle. So I had great fun indulging this week during any available opportunity. 

3. New friend
One of our neighbors held an Open House on Tuesday night and invited us. I enjoyed making a new friend there. We swapped stories of how we came to know Christ. She was mostly influenced by some gospel tracts that someone gave her dad when she was 16. Her dad would throw them on their coffee table, unread. But she read them. And became a believer!

4. New doctor
We met with my dad’s lung doctor twice this week, and since he’s out of options he can do, he’s referring my dad to a surgeon next week. I’ll be glad to hear a second opinion. As much as we complain about health care systems, I’m very thankful for all the choices we have open to us.

5. New spiritual resolutions
I know we have a fresh start with God every day, but I especially love the fresh start at the beginning of the year, a chance to refocus. For me, I’ve dubbed this as the Year of Breathing Deeply. I’ve written down five concrete things that I need to pray about and work on. One is to praise God for how he’s taking care of me and my family, even when I don’t understand what’s going on.

* * *

Like every year, this year will bring many new things to all of us.
May we use them to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord!

2010: Year of Breathing Deep