Take the Plunge!
I heard someone say around the time of the New Year, ” 2009 - Not so fine; 2010 - Begin again.”
At any given time in our lives we have the opportunity or the chance to start again — begin afresh. That was it — I was sold. I was going to start afresh. This time I would step out of my comfort zone and do something that I would not normally do, risk a little, live daringly, take a somewhat small chance, and that is exactly what I did.
My husband and I live in the Northwestern part of Pennsylvania and we had decided to spend New Years Eve 2010 in New York City visiting with our daughter and her companion. After we had arrived in New York City and settled in to our daughter’s apartment we spent the evening hours of New Year’s Eve touring some of Central Park and taking in some of the sights in that part of Manhattan. The following day was New Years day and we had made plans to head off to Coney Island to “take the plunge.” Yes we took the plunge into the icy Atlantic Ocean and by doing so we became part of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club 2010. It was exuberant, exhilarating, and completely out of context of anything I have ever done in my life. It was frigid, fun, and I had to admit — I felt 10 years younger — with all of the hype and excitement of the huge crowd that came to participate, to cheer us on, and to witness this momentous event.
But there is more. This past Holiday I was given a gift — the Moravian Daily Texts 2010. It is a Devotional Guide for Every Day. So if truth be told, this is truly where my New Year began — before the Atlantic plunge — I plunged into the Devotional Text. It contains daily devotions, prayers, short hymns, and scripture readings and biblical verses. It is truly an inspirational and thought provoking way to begin ones day –let alone one’s new year. Now stay with me here. I began the New Year with a Plunge into the Devotional Text and then a Plunge into the Atlantic; however, it gets even better.
After arriving back home in Pennsylvania, I had previously signed up for a class entitled “The Inheritance” which is a Beth Moore DVD Study which began for me on Wednesday, January 6. Beth’s teaching is taking us on a journey throughout the bible showing us the various places and readings indicating our future Inheritance in Heaven and also our current Inheritance and promises while here on planet earth. This is a very warm and promising plunge and did I mention huge! And now for my next plunge. Our Church had previously scheduled a 21-day Daniel Fast to begin on Sunday, January the 10th. My husband and I both had made plans to be participants before the new year began so we were mentally prepared to begin this devotion / physical cleansing.
The first day of the fast began after the noon meal with a liquid fast for 24 hours (real 100% natural juices and water.) Starting on the second day after the noon meal begins the meals or the types of food that Daniel would have consumed when he refused to eat the Kings delicacies in the Book of Daniel. One may google the Daniel Fast to find more information on what all it pertains to or read the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament of your Bible. This is our third year at starting the new year with the Daniel Fast. The devotion to God, the cleansing of the body, and the blessings received from God during and after the fast make this a very worthy testament to begin a New Year.
So what are you waiting for? Take the Plunge! The year is early — make a new start. Begin again — Start anew — Start afresh.
The Atlantic was fun, cold, frigid, exciting, and exhilarating. The Devotional Text, The Inheritance DVD Study, and the Daniel Fast are warm, meaningful, enriching, and larger than life itself. Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
And to think that the year has just begun? I wonder what my next plunge / pilgrimage will be?
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
4 comments
Congrats again on taking the plunge. Jan and I are so happy for you, that you got to take the plunge. But now, after reading your latest blog, WOW. You really have taken a plunge for the month of January. This month, after you complete all of your plunges, should have you up and ready for the rest of the year and keep all doors open for what God has in store for you. Again, Wow. When you commit yourself to something, you go all the way in, or should I say under? Love ya and miss ya. Keep on writing. Janny
Good article, lots of intersting things to digest. Very informative
Благодарю за информацию….
At any given time in our lives we have the opportunity or the chance to start again — begin afresh. That was it — I was sold…..
Lerman, it is a great post thanks for writing it!
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