INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday, we kicked off 2026, and I have to say we truly enjoyed the day. We slept in, made breakfast, and then relaxed with projects.

One of the gifts I got for my husband for Christmas was the Lego Bronco, which has some pretty cool features, I might add. He parked himself at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and began “the build”.

I, on the other hand, made my way to the lanai with the paint-by-number picture I purchased for myself the day after Christmas in 2020! Yes, it’s been five years, and I haven’t even made it halfway through this project.

There was no TV on, no music, only the fountain in our little lake for background noise. We both sat in our little spaces for hours, just working on projects that were relaxing.

As I mixed colors and painted the little sections of the ocean scene, I thought about the year ahead. I found myself quietly talking with Father as I painted, asking Him to be with me this year. I found myself making a commitment to spend more time like this, doing things that allow me to spend time with the Lord, while relaxing with hobbies that make me smile.

How many times do we allow ourselves to let other “priorities” come in front of our time with Father? How many times do we let other “priorities” come before taking time to let our minds and bodies rest? “I’ll work on that next weekend”, I find myself saying often. Well, next weekend is this weekend 🙂 .

I’m not making a New Year’s resolution; I’m making a commitment to God and to myself to paint the picture this year. Yes, I want to finish my five-year-old ocean scene, but I want to give myself the grace to spend more quality time enjoying this life that Father has blessed me with. That begins with spending more time with Him, in whatever I’m doing.

So friends, as we begin 2026, I encourage you to paint the picture. Make time to enjoy the blessings of this life, and make time to live more fully into the Lord. He will be walking beside us every step of the way, so let’s enjoy that walk with Him.

Have a great day, friends 🙂 . Happy New Year.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.