A Bit Of Encouragement For 2016

"The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 Today is the start of a new story. The story of 2016 in which today is just one of 365 blank pages, waiting for you to write it. But how is it that we ensure ourselves that we are going to make this year, 2016, a good one? Now yes, God controls every aspect of your life, but you get to control your attitude, and you get to control the outlook that you are going to have.
 Now, I am not going to tell you how to act in the new year, I am not going to tell you what type of resolutions to make or what not to make, but I just want to encourage you with a few words. Words that I hope you will take in, go out, and make this the best year that it could possibly be.
 Now, the first thing that I want you to do is dream big. Don't be afraid to go out and chase those dreams that God has put within your heart, no matter how impossible they may seem. Go and chase them and take inspiration in them. Don't knock your own dreams down because you think that they are too big and too impossible, but rather, take heart in the fact that our God can do the impossible, and if He puts a dream or inspiration in your heart, know that He will find a way so that you can fulfill it.
 Next, I want you to believe. I want you to believe that God has control of your life, that He has you in the palm of His hand, and that He is not going to let you fall. I want you to believe in the beauty of your dreams. I want you to believe in them and they they can come true, and God will cause them to do so. I also want you to believe in yourself. Believe that you are capable, that you are strong, that you are smart, that you are beautiful, and that you are loved. Believe that, with God, you can do anything.
 And last, but certainly not least, I want you to seize the day. Take each day that God blesses you with and live it to the fullest. Take each moment and live, full of purpose, full of joy, and full of inspiration. Each moment is a gift, and this year, I want you to stop and smell the roses, slow down, and just enjoy your life a little bit more than you did last year.
 So with that, I wish you all a very happy, miraculous, blessing-filled, inspiring year of 2016. I know it's going to be a great one.