As I begin this year, it feels like a fresh new beginning. These past three years have been some of the lowest lows, but then in the valley’s I have begun to discover elements of this life that I did not see before. My head was in the clouds refusing to see the beauty, the gifts that have been given to me so graciously. My mind was spinning in circles, and I was racing, to that next event or the moment that “will be perfect”.

Perfection….. Why is it that so many want to attain it? To be, or not to be…. I have finally realized that I am ok with the “not to be”. Not to be the perfect in how society defines it. I chose to nurture my self and love me. This is what He has wanted for me for so long. Yet so many times, when I glanced in the mirror, I saw imperfection and choices that defined me. Falling short in so many areas – on a standard that was unreachable. A standard, lies that were spun in the many webs that are woven in this life.

I breathe deep, and feel the weights and walls finally beginning to fall. Feeling light again. The storm ranging inside, driven by fear and expectations has stopped. The rainbow shines after the rain. Renewal of the mind requires each one of us to change inside. This is something each one of us can control, and requires work. We cannot do this alone.

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. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1 (The Message)

Renewal does not happen overnight. For me, it has begun with forgiveness and filling the empty spaces with love. The old ways are sometimes hard to change, but the new way can be so much better. This is something we can control, we can adjust the lens in which we see this wonderful life.

Over the next year my blog will be devoted to the renewal process. If you have a story to share, I would be happy to share with others. The only theme is renewal and change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

May you be blessed,

Ness

Vanessa
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