Fresh Start to the New Year of 2023

Monday, January 9, 2023


Happy New Year! Here we are at the beginning of another year, 2023! There is always something special about a fresh start, a new page, a new day, or a new piece of clothing… anything fresh and new always sparks a bit of joy in my heart! As I was reflecting back on the past year, and looking at the new year ahead, memories of past "fresh starts" filled my mind, and so I will share those thoughts with you, along with some pictures I took of eagles on Lake Coeur d'Alene that my husband & I got to enjoy together on New Year's Day.  Each December and January hundreds of eagles come to catch kokanee and they are such a treat to watch. I am sharing my pictures of our eagle watching along with my New Year's thoughts... read on! 


 
  As I pondered the start of the New Year, I began to think about first days and new starts - my mind went back to the first day of school – in grade school, I remember the smell of fresh crayons and newly sharpened pencils that brought great joy to my heart.  A fresh clean notebook to write in, a blank page to color – oh the joys of carrying a new backpack with all the zippers and pockets to explore. Then all the new textbooks to read through – yes, I was that kid that would read ahead of the class. I just had to know what we would be studying throughout the year!

Yes, the fresh, new, and exciting adventures of reading, writing, and learning have always been a joy for me.  Perhaps that is why I am a blogger today... there is something so special about turning a new page and writing the first words on that page.  A favorite activity in grade school was when we got to journal. I loved writing my thoughts and ideas down, with little doodles and creative colors.  Did you remember doing that? So yes, exploring the fresh and new on paper has always been exciting for me. 



In recent years, my favorite time of day is when I walk early in the morning, right after drinking my hot black coffee. I dress for the weather, and the dogs and I set off, so we can enjoy a fresh start to the day. The sunrise, if we have one, thrills my heart, and the cool morning temperatures get my blood pumping. As the sun wakes up from its nighttime slumber, I rejoice to see its beautiful rays spreading across the skyline, and the joy it fills my heart with lasts with me all day. 




After a fresh arrival of snow, my heart’s greatest delight is to take the dogs and walk in the forest, and to see the sparkling diamonds glistening in a million brilliant patterns catching the light and spreading it into the world joyously. As our steps through the forest path are fresh, the road ahead is always a challenge, full of beauty and the excitement of walking that path first, even before the turkeys or deer! 



Always a lover of words, the sweetest delight of words ever written in the world are in the Bible, for those are the words of God, written for all mankind to read.  Those words never cease to fill my heart with boundless joy.  I look forward to learning more and more from the Word of God where treasures abound endlessly, multiplying, rewarding, and increasing without measure. 


Each new year, I seek to learn more about this precious God of mine who loves me so much. I long to enter into His presence more fully, more completely. I long to trust more and doubt less. I long to trust Him even when fog, dark clouds, trials, and sorrows persist. I long to grow into a deeper, more intense relationship with the One who shed His own life-giving blood for me. My heart yearns to walk step-in-step with Him, to abide in Him, and to grow in the virtues He offers – grace, mercy, peace, love, giving, and more! 




Each new year offers an opportunity to set aside the weights of life that can easily separate my heart from its relationship with Him.  The burdens and stress that life brings with it often serve as a dividing tool from Him, but instead, I want to find my rest, my peace, and my hope in Him in the midst of life’s greatest burdens. 





This new year has come like so many others that have come and gone – yet this year will be my 50th on earth – so in this 50th year, I long to KNOW Him more fully.  My prayer for this new year is this - I want to walk in His grace, peace, truth, and holiness, and be ever ready to share the gospel with others.  May His light shine brighter through my heart this year than ever before. May His grace cover me so that my imperfections and shortcomings would be overshadowed in the light of His righteousness within me. May His truth so fill my being so that I would radiate His love, His goodness, and His mercy to those around me.  May the light of the gospel be a radiance beaming from the deepest part of my being so that I may walk unashamed of the gospel of Christ.  




With this New Year’s comes a resolution to live more fully for Him, to walk more contentedly in the paths He has chosen for me, and for me to know Him as fully as He can be known in this earthly body He has placed me in, and that I may glorify Him, bring honor to His kingdom, and that His truth would be alive within me, pouring out of me, and into the community around me.  I long to see His gospel transform lives, minister healing to broken bodies and spirits, and bring light into the darkness where sin reigns. I long to see the gospel resounding from the hilltops, reaching into hearts and homes where sin’s bondage has ravaged lives. I long to see hearts transformed through the miraculous healing power of the blood of Jesus cleansing them from the misery of sin’s bondage. 




Yes, this is a New Year… yes, this is a fresh start, a blank page, a new pencil, an open Book – His Word that lies before me – and my heart is rejoicing at the opportunities ahead, the glories that await, perhaps even greater than my heart or mind can conceive.  For truly, what awaits us is as Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 2:9, “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”  




My heart is open, just like a fresh journal with free space to write. May this New Year be a year that fills the fresh page with great and mighty works of the Lord like our eyes have not seen, and ears not heard.  My resolution this year is to seek Him early, walk with Him more closely and obediently, and look for the handiwork of the Lord in all that I do. May this be the year that His kingdom advances in ways that we could not have ever seen or known. And all the while, my heart will continue to daily cry out:  “Maranatha Lord Jesus, even so, come quickly!”

 


How about you?  What is your New Year’s Resolution? I would like to challenge you to spend a few moments prayerfully considering in this New Year how you plan to draw closer to the Lord.  Write down any scriptures that will confirm to your heart throughout the year how to draw closer to the Lord. 


What I have done this year is chosen a pretty piece of paper.  For each month of the year, I will write a scripture down that has spoken to my heart that month.  This will be a piece of paper that I can leave in my Bible, and return to in prayer time, to revisit these scriptures, and repeat them in my heart, pray out loud, and share with others.  This is a personalized way to have 12 scriptures memorized and stored deeply in your heart by the end of the year.  



My chosen scripture for January is 1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. " 



Another scripture that I dearly love is this one:  Isaiah 43:1-2 "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."



John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 



I hope you enjoyed the view of the eagles and seagulls on the beautiful New Year's Day where we got to enjoy their activity.  I pray that your New Year is very blessed and that your heart is encouraged to seek after the Lord's heart and draw ever closer to Him this year. 




In closing, I want to share with you a music video I created using the pictures from our recent eagle outing.  I hope you enjoy this beautiful song along with the eagle pictures! Many blessings to all :) 








45 comments

  1. Hello, my friend! Your photos are beautiful. Simply beautiful. Enjoy your day, and thanks for the memories. I can still smell the brand new crayons and tablets on those first days of school.

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    1. Thank you Billie, I always appreciate your kind visits and comments! Isn't it funny how that smell stays with you! Blessings to you!

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  2. I love those skies and the eagle photos. Have a great 2023!

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    1. Thank you Marie! It was a wonderful experience to watch the eagles! Happy New Year to you!

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  3. Thank you for this post my dear friend. You have encouraged me to do the same.
    Love, Carla

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    1. Thank you sweet friend. May the Lord encourage us both in His word more than ever before this year!

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  4. Such a beautiful, inspiring and convicting post, Marilyn. May this new year find you soaring with eagles and finding answers and promises in God's unfailing Word. My word for the year is "mindful." My prayer is that with each passing day, I become more mindful of God's presence and more open to listening to His will for my life.
    Blessings!

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    1. I appreciate your wonderful comment so much sweet Martha! Yes, may we soar with the eagles, and find our answers to the world's issues in His word! I love your word for the year. Yes, let us be mindful of His will for our lives! Blessings to you!

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  5. Happy New Year! I always enjoy your photos, and this post was no different.
    I like your idea of choosing a verse each month.
    The Isaiah verse has always been meaningful to me - and it was part of our message yesterday in church.

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    1. Isn't it wonderful how the Lord reinforces His word through different sources! I love that! Thank you for your kind words! Many blessings to you!

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  6. Happy New Year Marilyn and thank you so much for sharing your Lake Coeur d'Alene photos. Oh, how I miss that lake. Dennis and I would go there on our date nights and walk the boardwalk or drive to the east end of the lake and walk around the waters edge. Or we would camp at the south end of the lake and watch the heron. I was blessed to read of your thoughts of the new year. I have been trying to be more intentional about my time spent with the Lord in the early mornings. I like your idea about writing scriptures down and memorizing them through the year.
    I pray that you'll have a wonderful January. I'm off to London on Sunday afternoon for a month to babysit my youngest granddaughter. It's a hardship, but someone has to do it. Ha! I won't be able to comment on blogs because I need to leave the laptop home so Dennis can do our Zoom Bible studies with our church family in Spokane. He's still leading that study after almost 2 years since we moved. I can write blogs on my iPad, but blogger won't let me comment at all. So, I'll be reading blogs but not commenting while gone.
    Many blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Thank you for such a wonderful comment. I love the beauty of Lake Coeur d'Alene. We are so blessed here with such beauty everywhere! I hope you have wonderful safe trip to London, may the Lord bless your time there in a special way! Don't worry about commenting! I will be praying for you while you're gone! And will look forward to your return :)

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  7. what beautiful photos and thoughts. I don't make resolutions for the new calendar year but i do set goals with short term objectives to reach that goal. I wrote about it on my blog (you'll have to scroll a bit to find it). I have goals for Physical, Spiritual, Relational/Emotional, Career/Mental/Personal. bascially all the areas :) I too love walking in early morning and cannot wait to retire so I can do it Monday thru Friday as well!! (right now i only do that when we are on breaks). There's just something about that early morning air. Oh...send some of that snow our way! here in eastern NY it looks like March!! We have NO snow and need some!

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    1. It's so good to set short-term goals, much easier to attain! Walking in the early mornings is so refreshing, and is the best part of my day. You will love being able to do it when you retire! Our snow is now melting here, as we are getting so much rain. The weather has been quite erratic, seems like everywhere! Blessings to you!

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  8. Love this post, Marilyn! The photos are gorgeous and the Scripture so meaningful. I am just beginning with my New Year posts, but I'll get there!

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    1. Thank you for your visit Sarah! Happy New Year to you :)

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  9. What a joy to see and capture the eagles in flight. Beautiful. Wonderful encouragement to continue growing in the Lord. A pursuit we started the day of our Salvation. I'll add a quote from a book I'm reading alongside my Bible and Devotionals called God Has Spoken by J.I. Packer. A heady book for me. "we are all under obligation to God, to do as His words, spoken at different times in biblical history, require--or, as we put it, to be ruled by what 'the word of God says'. Your morning walks are an inspiration and I'm sure your furry friend is a happy companion!

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    1. It was so wonderful to see the eagles, Ellen! Indeed, it is my desire to soar like the eagles, with the Lord! Yes, I love your quote! We are all under obligation to obey and love His word. My morning walks are the best part of my day. The dogs agree, I do believe! :)

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  10. Oh, those eagles! They are so majestic, beautiful, and graceful. You did such an amazing job on photographing them! We met a man who calls himself the "eagle preacher," and I have been listening to his sermons about eagles on YouTube. I tell you, it is utterly fascinating to learn about eagles, and it is no wonder God incorporates them so many times in His Word. May God richly bless you in this new year, dear friend.

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    1. It is so fascinating to learn about eagles, and their majestic nature! I pray that the Lord would allow us to rise up like eagles, about the sin, sorrow and strife of this world, and be in His presence. Many blessings to you dear friend!

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  11. Marilyn Dear,
    Thank you for sharing always stunning images from your wonderful Land and for writing always so beautiful words which warm our heart!
    Wishing you a most lovely New Year
    With my warmest hug
    Daniela at ~ My little old world ~

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    1. Thank you sweet Daniela for your precious comment! Your visits are always enjoyed! I learn so much from the historical perspectives you share. May you have a blessed and very special New Year too!

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  12. Love the photos, Marilyn! We have eagles and seagulls in my neck of the woods, too, and watching them in winter is a joy. I don't have a resolution or word for the year, but I do love opening that new planner on January 1 and it's fresh, clean page!! Happy New Year!

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    1. It is such a joy to watch the eagles soar, they are so majestic! Thank you for a wonderful visit and comment! Happy New Year to you :)

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  13. Good Morning, Marilyn. Your photos of the Eagles are wonderful! What a sight that must be to see so many of them every January at the lake. I loved hearing about your school memories. I, too, had so many good school years. And when you mentioned the crayons, I smiled, as I still have Nel's crayons that she had in grade school. Your early morning walks are so lovely, and I'm sure your dogs love them so much. It must be cold as ever out there in the early mornings. I didn't know you liked your coffee black. My father loved black coffee as well, and it's always a little cream for me. It's so special to write a Bible verse down in your journal each day. There's so many dear ones that speak to me.

    Thank you for following us on my side bar, and I thought I followed you as well, but I am now. Have a beautiful week, and your photos truly are spectacular. I love to dwell in God's nature, which provides so much rest and peace.

    ~Sheri

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    1. School memories are so special Sheri! I had a wonderful time in school growing up, I feel so bad for children nowadays as things are so different. I love my morning walks, they truly are the best part of my day. Yes, I stopped putting things in my coffee about a year ago, and I feel so much better in the morning. My husband and I do intermittent fasting, and having black coffee in the morning keeps my fast through the morning until I eat later, after I walk. I don't "love" it, but it works for me ;) There are so many precious verses in scripture... I wish I could memorize them all! Writing them down does help. Many blessings to you sweet friend!

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  14. A beautiful post from start to finish.
    Your photographs are wonderful and I enjoyed your words and the scripture you shared.

    Wishing you a blessed 2023.
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan! Your visits and kind comments are so appreciated! May you have a blessed and wonderful 2023!

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  15. Hi Marilyn. I'm a new friend as you visited my blog and I was anxious to meet you. Love your blog and your photography, but what I loved most about you is your heart for the Lord and your love of Scripture.
    I know God will do a mighty work in your life as you walk with Him daily this year. You live in a place to see God's magnificent creation, up close and personal.

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    1. Hello Wanda! I am so happy you came over for a visit! I look forward to getting to know you better! May the Lord do mighty things in your life this year as well! Yes, I am so blessed to live in a beautiful place. I never tire of the beauty here. Many blessings to you!

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  16. An early morning walk after a hot cup of coffee, a wonderful way to start your day! The pictures are wonderful, the sky is so blue and that eagle flying around. WoW, I bet that was a sight to see. I like your idea of using pretty paper for your scriptures and notes and it be able to be in your Bible. AND, starting a new one on a new paper is great!

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  17. Instead of making resolution I am doing a word for the year and that is hope, I have never done this before but I have so much hope that God will bring change to many bad situations this year.
    I have a notebook that I jot down scriptures that I read that really speak to me at that time and then write how it touched me with what is going on in my life.
    I so enjoyed your eagle pictures, we have them come to our area too around this time but they aren't very easy to see.

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    1. I love the word hope - what a wonderful word to think on throughout this year! I join you in hope for a better year this year! A scripture notebook is so wonderful! I have many of those as I like to journal/write down the scriptures that speak to me. Blessings to you!

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  18. Praying the goodness of the Lord continues to bless your life and draw you closer to Himself. For me I don't make resolutions each year...but each day I seek to direct my life towards the Lord Jesus.

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    1. Thank you Jennifer, I agree with you... no resolutions, just a desire to seek the Lord daily for His direction for me! Many blessings to you dear friend!

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  19. Have a great day my friend. Regine
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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    1. Hello Regine! Thank you for stopping by, you have a wonderful day too!

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  20. Oh Marilyn what a beautiful post full of gorgeous pictures of God's creation. Love that song - thank you - thank you dear one for sharing. I pray that God's goodness blesses you well in 2023.

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    1. Hello Debbie! Thank you for your kind and wonderful comment. I am so glad you enjoyed the video. You can visit my YouTube channel, as I have created many more music videos with pictures from our area. Blessings to you!

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  21. I just love that verse Kitty! It is so beautiful, and full of such incredible promise! All things, even though they don't look good, He can turn into good. Such an encouraging thought to think on! Many blessings to you sweet friend!

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  22. Marilyn, your photography is really beautiful. Such majestic birds. We have eagles higher up than we are but on a Sunday drive one year I did see one high up on a tree. When we took a cruise to Alaska years ago, that was one thing I wanted to see but out in the wild there was nary a one, only saw one in a wild life sanctuary. A beautiful one he was too..Happy New Year..xxoJudy

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  23. Precious friend Marilyn I am st in trance of your Captivating words!
    You have way to express feelings so beautifully my friend and I everyone reading this will feel how inspiring and fulfilling your writing is by the grace of God!
    I believe that lord knows how much you l him and he has rewarded you specially with gift of writing to share your love for lord and wisdom with all!
    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful beautiful beautiful thoughts as delightfully that each word goes straight to the deepest place of heart!
    I truly share your love for Dear God my dear friend and each word you said here seems echo of my heart that feels same deep love for my creator!
    Along with your uplifting words photos of soaring eagle transformed my day :) breathtaking shots absolutely loved them.
    I open our holy book everyday to read words of God and to deepen connection of my soul to him. This has empowered me greatly and I am grateful for this!
    Happy New year, a fresh page may you write health, peace and happiness and prosperity each word amen

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  24. So many beautiful pictures! Happy New Year! And thank you for visiting my blog!
    ~Nancy from Two Trails One Road and you also know me from IG as Nance Endless Summer

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  25. Your shots really soar...literally! I feel the joy. :)

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  26. Oh how I love John 14:27... and the photo you placed with it is just stunning! All of your photos are stunning of course... as you live in Heaven on Earth! I'm sorry I'm late commenting... I would go back and skim what you wrote, but wanted to read your post more slowly and with good intent. I finally took the time today! I've been a slacker of late, with myself, my home, my crafts, just everything... and trying to pull out of this funk. Many of your scriptures lifted me up today! Your beautiful "talk" with us was so heartfelt.. I enjoyed every word. I believe YOU my dear.. are beyond measure and you shine in the eyes of God. I don't think you have any shortcomings that you speak of! You were so blessed to see the eagles on New Year's Day.. and to share that experience with your hubby is beyond being blessed. I have never really made New Year's resolutions.. but this year my word is Direction. I need some direction in my life.. and I pray every day for the Lord to guide me on my new path and in my new direction in this life. You GIVE in so many ways.. you are an inspiration and a blessing to many! Hugs.... Marilyn

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Your comments are blessings to me, and I appreciate each and every one, they are precious to me! I appreciate you taking the time to comment on my blog... this is what makes blogging worthwhile! Have a blessed day!

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