I am a new creation. I used to waste hours stressing and worrying and being so scared to take a risk, so worried about what other’s would think of me, that I hid in gallons of chocolate carmel ice cream and back to back episodes of Sex in the City. Not making any decisions or developing relationships or helping to create a better life for myself or anyone else, just eating and dreaming of a life of material desires and great shoes. Pathetic. I’m not saying ice cream is bad. I’m not saying television is evil (however I think it could be totally justified.) A life where I am only concerned with how I am affected by situations or the what about me mentality is not a life worth living and I will be judged harshly if I pretend I am doing a good job even though I am not following His will. I attend church to learn. I connect as best as I can so I can grow. The more contact I have with others the more I get exposed to their point of view. Hanging out with the right kind of people is important. Having the right perspective, this means, I am only concerned with my performance according to God and if I keep in constant contact with Him during quiet time and then practice through serving others, the life I once so desparately tried to escape can be full and alive and useful. In 2nd Corinthians 5:20 it reads, “We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” I am so grateful to be part of a church that respects differences, whose leaders are humbled by the word of God and where I get to serve with the hardest working, most talented and diverse group of people I have ever known. I can’t wait to see what this year brings.