New Year

Yesterday at church my pastor gave the "new year" sermon all about fresh starts and etc.  At first I thought it was going to be the same thing about how we should just have a new resolution that no one ever keeps.  But then as he went on I began to realize how great it is that we have a whole new year in front of us.  Kind of like when we are born again in Christ.  You can tell we are just terrible and sinful people because look how many times we get to "start over" haha. But really, a whole new year and a whole new chance to be the person you always have wanted to be.  Be the friend, parent, sibling, student or leader you wished you could have been in the past.  I know I always worry about what others will think if I started acting the way I should towards them and not be so sarcastic or shut off because I don't think they will believe that I have changed.  But then I remember the people that have changed towards me in years past and I can't remember ever holding it against them or not believing the guenuinity of their new attitude towards me.  Don't be afraid to be a better person because no matter what it will be appreciated in the end.  The main thing I struggle with is having the same attitude and optimism all the time.  It's so easy to be happy and upbeat when things are going the way you want them to, but then so hard when things are all falling down on top of you.  When I find myself being the "debbie downer" or being negative I try to remind myself of what the Lord tells us in 2 John 1:8 which is  to "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."  We all need to be reminded that our work here on earth is not in vain.  We will be rewarded in heaven and need not to worry about all the meaningless stabs we receive from the sinful natures of the people around us.  As long as we persevere and not let Satan get the best of us we can press on.  The Lord never leaves us and for that we should never feel alone, but we do because we are sinful.  Thank goodness we have God's grace to take care of us and our hypocritical lives!  In my opinion christians live under a magnifying glass 24/7.  Everyone wants to catch us messing up and having a bad day because then they feel much better.  That's why we can't claim to be perfect or act like we are so much better then the rest!  We are no better than the killers in the prison.  The only way we can reach others is by letting them see the power of God's grace in our sinful mistakes.  What a beautiful thing when He is perfected in our weaknesses and saves us everyday from ourselves.  The moment we put ourselves on a pedestal is the moment we lose the ability to reach anyone.  To be able to show Christ's true love we must follow in His footsteps and become a humble servant.  Of course we will fail many times but it's the process of taking up the cross daily that will get us closer to our Father in heaven.  I am not by any means a pastor or Biblical authority.  I am simply a high school student typing what I feel the Lord is trying to tell me.