Wouldn’t it be nice if life worked like that? When our life seems to have turned sour, we could get a new one that is clean and fresh?

Related Readings:
How to Start Over with a Clean Slate
Escape your Past: Talk with a Mentor about it
Good People? Are you really good?

Good Health: Body, Soul and Spirit
Did you know that our bodily, emotional and spiritual health are closely connected? Well, they are. If we guard our bodily health, it helps promote clear thinking and good emotional health, which are beneficial to our soul. If we seek to have good spiritual health, the resultant peace and joy will keep our bodies well and our emotions in line. Read more.

Take action: Do you ever find your life unfulfilling? Explore this topic in our online interactive study “Struggling with Contentment“.

You said it: This week Rysheda shared on the Knowing Christ women’s devotional, saying “I need to stop putting everything else in front of Christ and list him to be #1 in my life. I must surrender my life 100% and lean more on Jesus Christ. I need to start prayer and seeking God face more.” Read the rest of the comments on Knowing Christ, and join the conversation on the Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Blog: Thanksgiving Reversal
Even though Thanksgiving is now over (for Canadians, anyways) a word or act of encouragement can uplift the spirit. Read more

Devotional: A Clean Slate
God knew the desire of Kelly’s heart to change. He used a Bible verse that was in a greeting card to remind her how to make a lasting change. The words flew off the card and went straight to her heart. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Heartfelt Longings” Join us in the chat room October 18th 2009 @ 12:15pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

It’s easy to be negative about it. That calendar flips over and suddenly humanity swells with good intention. Intention that rarely ever sees February.  But maybe this year, instead of making a top 10 list of vague resolutions – lose weight, pay off debt, quit smoking – you could sharpen your pencil, get real, and ask yourself one question.

What is it that I want?

You want to play guitar, swim off the island of Santorini, Greece, help protect leatherback sea turtles or learn Spanish? Well how much do you want it? Because you are the only one who can take the necessary steps to make it happen. You can decide to do these things on any day of the year, but what better time than at the brink of a fresh, clean slate.

Instead of moping about new year’s resolutions, take some advice from H.L. Hunt,

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.”

What’s on your list of things you want to accomplish, places you want to see, people you want to meet? Are you trying to tackle that list proactively or are you whining at the thought of resolutions?

Image credit: moni

This year she was thankful for the calendar turning. As she looked in the mirror she was reminded of some of her choices and the consequences they had brought into her life. She had regrets this year. Yes, a clean slate would feel good. She would make some resolutions and hoped, this year, to keep them.

Yet she knew herself all too well. Fear nibbled at the edge of her heart and mind as she hoped she had the courage to make the changes she needed to.

With sudden clarity Kelly knew she would not succeed in her hoped for change of lifestyle. No, in herself she would simply circle back to where she had been. She didn’t want to go there. She realized she needed help beyond herself. Silently she asked God to give her the help she needed to make the changes she so desperately wanted.

“Change of behavior comes first with a change of heart.”