Morning Mosaic,

2023 is nearly in the past, and New Year's Eve is a great time to reflect on what has happened and what is to come. What I want us to focus on in 2024 is how Jesus made us new - not refurbished or cleaned up, but an entirely new thing that didn't exist before!

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Did you catch that? The old is gone, even though we don't always feel or act like it. Our new self sees God, the world, and people differently, and we have "put off the old self" (Colossians 3:9) and "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).

If we believe that Jesus reconciled us with Himself and the Father and rid us of our old selves forever, we can live as the new creations He made us to be. Sure, we'll have our stumbles, just like a newborn learning to crawl, walk, and run, but "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). Like a loving and gracious Father, He

picks us up and guides us so we can keep moving forward. It takes practice, and we have a community and leaders who can help coach you up, so you stride boldly in your faith.

My prayer for you in 2024 is that you say farewell forever to self-centeredness, self-righteousness, and all the other self-focused feelings and behaviors that make up your old nature and nurture and grow your new self this new year!

Happy New Year, Mosaic family!

Brian