Here we are in the last day of 2008. How did that happen so fast? It’s been a great year, but now I’m doing what seemingly everyone else is doing, looking forward and wondering how to get off those extra holiday pounds.
Seriously, I’ve never been much on New Year’s Resolutions, but what are your hopes for the New Year? Here are mine:
1. Attack the Gracie and Bella bulge. It’s been 2 years. The “but I’ve had twins” excuse just doesn’t work any more. Wii Fit, here I come.
2. Read more. I need more books in my life.
3. Memorize scripture. I need to get back in to this great Sunday School ritual. I heard writing scripture on sticky notes and putting them on the bathroom mirror works. I will try it.
4. Pay it forward. My goal is to do 1 random act of kindness every week. Buy a stranger’s lunch. Help a stranger load groceries in to their car.
‘Random’. ‘Kind’. 2 words I will focus on this coming year. Would you join me in number 4? Let’s make “kindness for no reason” popular. I think it could be revolutionary.
Share your dreams for 2009. And many thanks to all of you who helped make 2008 an incredible year for me. Somebody told me I was the most played female Christian artist on the radio this year. Cool. That’s thanks to you. The Home Foundation is exploding and we are helping victims of human trafficking all over the world, especially those in our own neighborhoods with the launch of our domestic shelters program. God is at work. What a privilege to be on His team.
Hugs to all of you,
Natalie
Hey Natalie,
I read your goals you want to achieve and one of them said catch up on some reading and I have a suggestion of a book you should read it’s called Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot. I enjoyed And I ope you do too if you read it.
God Bless You
Your Fan, Destiny
Hey Natalie!!!
My name is Natalie too. I am turning 13 in April and I am taking some of my friends and myself to come see your concert on April 25. I am super excited and look forward to meeting you before. You are so beautiful and such a big romodel for me.
~Natalie
Natalie, I just saw you on television today, on the Canadian Edition of the 700 Club, and believe me, you do NOT need to lose ANY weight. You are absolutely gorgeous just as you are.
Please don’t let your industry pressure you into starving. You are so beautiful with your current appearance. It’s a natural kind of beauty that is so much more refreshing than the ugly, tanorexic, underweight image that Hollywood produces.
A male friend of mine was also watching, and commented that you were the prettiest singer he’d ever seen.
So please, please don’t worry about your weight. You don’t need to. You’re far more beautiful as you are than you would be if you succumbed to the androgynous Hollywood-manufactured look.
Slightly belated 2009 blessings to you, Natalie. Thank you so much for all that you do with the Home Foundation. My blog is on anti-child trafficking issues and today I profiled the Home Foundation. In case you’re interested, you can see it here: http://seasonoflight.blogspot.com/2009/01/spotlight-natalie-grant-and-home.html. Just wanted to let you know that I am thankful for you, and my wish is that 2009 will be the difference-maker in the fight against human trafficking!
so that post really got me thinking. i know its already the new year and such, but i havent realized how much has happened thus far. its actually pretty amazing. i have a short story to tell, which will explain my resolution for this year. i went to revolve in atlanta in 07. i got to hear your testimony, natalie, and it really hit home for me. i could totally relate in so many ways. i recently lost my dad on june 13, 2008, from cancer. and that sent my into a spiral. ive been struggling with eating and cutting and stuff, but have also been seeking help. my small group leader has helped me out a lot and we have set goals: one meal a day. to me, thats a glimps of hope. even when its hard and when i dont want to at alllllll…… i want to see the day when i can use my story to help girls, just like your story once helped me. so my new years resolution is a little diffrent from the rest of yalls.
1. reach a healthy weight.
2, start treating my body as a temple that belongs to God.
3. stop believing the lies of the enemy.
4. be honest with myself and others.
5. pass the tenth grade.
6. finally get my license and a car (im turning 17 on march 23 and still only have my permit)!
“love yourself”,
kayla
well mine are
1 to have patients with my sisters who tend to drive me crazy a lot
2 loose weight
3 have a devotion every day
and about 15 more…..as if half of them will be kept… haha but at least i am trying right?
happy new year natalie and thanks for sharing!!!
my goals for 2009:
1. have higher self-esteem
2. recover from my eating disorder!
You may not understand and you may but here is my list for this year.
1. Prove people wrong
2. Help those in need (like the random acts of kindness)
3. Follow my dreams
4. Read the bible
5. Fix things I have messed up
6. Have more happy days even when it seems the sky is falling
7. Become more fit
8. Become more active in my school and comunity
9. Follow my heart a lot more
10. Introduce atleast one person to God
Yeah thats my list for 2009, hopefuly this year will be better than last
Natalie- Thanks for sharing your resolutions for 2009.
I only made one this year b/c I think that this one will be transforming & far-reaching throughout many areas of my life:
* Memorize 2 new Bible verses each month in 2009! *
I actually got this idea from Beth Moore’s blog…there are over 2,400 people working on this resolution from her blog…we have an accountability system set up…it’s going to be a Jesus year!!
o and p.s. i love ur music hehe forgot that part sorry girl…..bye <3
hey natalie..u are an amazing women and happy new year to u also and ur family….u do not need to lose any weight u look amazing the way u r! glad everything is going well for u and i hope to be seeing u at WOF this april in Columbus….God Bless and Lots of Love..Malisa <
Happy New Year!
Hey Natalie, thanks so much for this site and your music. You have encouraged me to make a difference right now. Sometimes I feel like I can’t do anything to change the world because I’m just a teenager but your music has made me ask “what are you waiting for?”. So thank you!
My goals and hopes for this year are:
1. Grow closer to my Savior!
2. Read the whole Bible
3. Memorize a book of the Bible.
4. Meet Natalie Grant at the Revolve Tour in Greensboro.
happy new year to you all!
I’d say my list would be too long to put one here,
He is a scary case!
and just put a few things on, but right now I can’t think of anything to say, except that I’m scared about Obama.
We’re gonna have to pray, pray, pray, and trust God!
But I just thought of some things I could list:
1.) Start running every morning. ( And I’m not fat, I just like to run, and i tend to get lazy, and say, “I’ll do it tomorrow”. ).
2.) Develop more self discipline in my schedule. ( that’s actually my dad’s idea, but I COULD use use some )!
3.) Read my Bible more. Sometimes I just don’t feel like I’m getting anything out of reading it, and then I realize; I need to just let God speak to me, when I’m reading.
3.) Love more, and not live my life so much for just me. ( I can get so selfish, with all of my make-my-life-a-perfect-picture ambitions )!
Happy New Years!
Happy New Year, Natalie!
I’d say my new years resolutions are:
1.) To grow closer to the Lord
2.) Try new things that I’ve always wanted to do
3.) Sing more/Read more
4.) Take more time to appreciate those around me!
5.) Eat better/Start exercising again
Hello Natalie,
You are so beautiful! I have seem many of your pictures on your blog and you are just so lovely and I love your singing voice tremendously as well as your speaking voice. You don’t look like you need to lose an ounce.
I agree with you about trying to do a random act of kindness a week for the sake of Jesus and I sure am glad to have Our Lord to rely on and Love me just the way I am.
My #1 desire this year is to draw closer to Him. I also want to allow my light to shine for Him and to let the stuff that doesn’t matter just go.
Thank you so much for your delightful blog. Many blessings to You.
Sincerly,
Lisa
I just HAD to give you a little feedback about your song “Held”. I know its already a smash hit and all, and I hesitated a second sending this because you must get many compliments about it.
But I need to let you know that this song has touched me in a place nothing and no one has been able to in quite a while. I’m a pastor and have been for about 5 years. During this time God has been doing what He does so well, which is digging deep into my heart, healing and growing and changing me. Its been maybe the most intense, challenging, wonderful, and painful experience I think I’ve ever walked with God through.
The message, spirit, and indefinable “Godness” of your song is healing my heart and allowing tears to come that have been locked away.
But even more than that, the sentiment of your song, that its ONLY about His love for us no matter the pain…that no matter what we go through we WILL be held and that is enough and more than enough…this is what He has been trying to teach me. And its true.
Thank you for making this truth so present to me Mrs. Grant (I hope “Mrs.” is correct).
I wish you and your loved ones a totally “God” New Year and the deepest knowing of being “held” by Him this year you have ever known.
Sincerely,
Phil Bender
I know, 2008 went by SO FAST!!! It seems like it just turned 2008 a month ago. This year, I’m going to work on reading more, having a WAY better diet, and kinder. Have a great 2009 natalie!! (your daughter is so gorgeous and adorable!!)
I love to read and I could definitely recommend a ton of books for you.
Look up Karen Kingsbury, Jodi Picoult, and Dee Henderson. They’re 3 of my favorite authors and they’re absolutely amazing. 
Have a great year!
im not a new years resolution person. i never keep them up!
Hey NATALIE!!
How ru?
I love that u r doing New Years Resolutions.
I am so glad that u r the most female artist of the year!
I have discovered your music this passed October when you sang at Revolve in St. Louis. It has inspired me. My mom passed away this passed Jan. It was good to finally have some peace with ur song, In Better Hands. I listen to it all the time. Well I hope that u have a merry 2009! I hope to meet u @ next years 2009-2010 Revolve Tour!
Love your fan,
Jessa H.
It is amazing that it is almost over!! We did the random act of kidness in our small group it was our challenge of the week and it is cool and awesome!! oh and wii fit is awesome by the way!! Congrats on the most played female artist that is awesome! I am glad The Home foundation is going well! I am going on a misssion trip this summer to Nicaragua it is kinda my senior tri!! I have never been big on new years resolutions cause honestly i never end up keeping them.
Happy New Year!!
1) Invite someone to church with me every week.
2) Join you in doing a random act of kindness every week (I think it’s a wonderful idea).
3) Have a better relationship with my parents.
4) Be more open about what i’m thinking.
Keep doin’ that thing you do!!
God bless!
In his will
-Karleigh
Great idea about the random act of kindness. That is something I’ve incorporated into my life as well. A lot of the time I try to do something for someone or somewhere when no one will know it was me. Really checks to see if my motive is pure!
Happy New Year!
hey natalie!
happy new years!
xo
haley
nat,
keep up the great work!
here are a couple of my “resolutions”:
1: eat healthier, become more active.
2: do my beth moore study all the way through, this is my first one and i want to do it everyday.
3: your number 4!!! my friend blogged about that one as well…she invited everyone to join her in doing at least 1 random act of kindness each week. i think its a wonderful idea!!! im sooo looking forward to 2009, God is going to be at work.
now as for The Home Foundation, each year my mom lets us pick a chairity or place to donate to, and this year i picked the home foundation as mine. its such a wonderful cause, and your such a great person!
Happy New Year!! I think it’s still 2008 right now in America, but it’s 11am on New Years Day in Sydney, and I just got home from a party, wearing pajamas and high heels (don’t worry, I’m not drunk, I just didn’t have any other shoes with me LOL.)
I really don’t make New Years Resolutions. The way I see it, nobody is perfect and we never will be. Why put pressure on ourselves and guilt ourselves when can’t? If there’s something someone wants to change in their life, that’s cool- but I don’t think a new year needs to start, for that. I just try, and if I mess up, try again.
If anything, I want my New Years resolution to be the opposite of what the rest of the world is doing- I don’t want to stress about weight and stuff anymore. It really takes away from moments in your life you could be enjoying
I will definitely think about doing the pay it forward thing, though. You’re very inspiring
i guess every time i do make a new years resolution i always end up finding something better then the original 1 i came up with=] This year has a been a phenominal year… You are and angel sent from heaven natalie=] I love you and your music soooo much… God bless you and everything you do… and kindness for no reason is a great thing=] i think of it as a little piece of gods heart made visable for the world=] If every single person in this world could be a little kinder the world would be a little bit happier=] Ok i got one=]]]]] I have this friend who was telling us at youth group the other wednesday that she does not have time to read the bible so i want to make a new years resolution of writing one verse from the bible every day down on a post-it note and then i will stick it to the outside of her locker=]] and that way i can enlighten my life with the bible more tooo=]=] wow this is cool=] Have an excellent new year=]
God bless you and your family
And hugs to you too=]
-Cassie
I don’t tend to do new year’s resolutions…probably because I never keep them. However, I do plan on losing weight and getting fit. I also want to memorize more scripture, read my Bible more (get into it rather than just “reading” a chapter every day), bettering my prayer life…on the hobby side of things, I want to learn to knit two socks at the same time on two circular needles.
Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Natalie,
Happy New Year!!!! For the past couple of years I have written down New year Resolutions and not always follow through, but this year I am going 2 try really hard cause I don’t want to say that I am going to do something and then not do it , that’s not good! so, this year my goals are::: 1) To memorize scripture more and spend more time with HIM! I have heard of the idea of using sticky notes and I like it, that would help me out a lot!. 2) To lost weight.3) To find my calling in life, I know that God has called me to do more with my life than what I am doing and I am just going to continue more to draw closer to Him and know for sure what He has called me to do.4.) well, I am going to be 21 this year and get this I don’t have my license so my goal b4 I turned 21 is getting that! I don’t really know why I haven’t gotten it yet I guess I have just been kind of scared but now I am going and it is all going to be okay! anyways, I LOVE the random act of kindness it is a wonderful way of showing God’s love! I am going to try and do that also! well, I pray that you and your famliy have a Happy New Year and May God contiune to pour down his ending ever love on your life and help you spead his word whatever you may go!!! LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!!! Lauren:)
Natalie,
Those are great goals. Here are mine:
1) Lose weight and become more fit.
I trust God to help me with this 
2) Draw closer to God through reading and studying scripture and daily prayer time. I had gotten away from this and our pastor has issued a new challenge to us for the coming year. You can read more about his challenge to us at http://pastorlewis.blogspot.com/.
3) Become more obedient to God and really pay attention to his direction for my life. This is not something I have always been good at but I am determined to do it this year.
4) Memorize scripture which is semi difficult for me since memorization is not one of my strong suits
Happy New Year to you Natalie. I discovered your music this year and it has brought me a lot of joy. Jane xx