Remember

          At times I like to share things that other writers have shared.  Recently I came upon an article written by a Pastor Barry Black.   It stirred my thinking and hopefully it might do the same for you.  Incidentally it was written in 2015 so it was written before all of our pandemic experiences.  But I think it is still appropriate.

Deuteronomy 11.12: "...the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year."

I AM THE NEW YEAR - I will help you to say goodbye to the previous year filled with "yesterdays" and comprised of 

Disappointments and surprises 

Losses and gains

Failures and Successes

Defeats and victories 

A year which may be remembered by recalling... 

Fleeting moments

Delightful memories and good times

The sobering reality of missed opportunity 

The insight gained from daily living

The unexpected surprise of reconnecting with old friends.

The joy of sins forgiven

Golden words fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11) 

And the fruit of obedience and pleasing the Lord 

Yes, the old year is a time in which we can recall with gratitude...

Blessings, protection, and rewards from the Providential hand of God 

Grace that was sufficient for our every need

Mercy received when justice would have just as easily been fitting for us. 

And realizing that even bad things that happened could have been worse ... much worse.

May your past productively transition to the future as you experience...

The warm daylight of lessons hard learned, 

and the fading sunset of the pain that was long endured while living through them.

The priceless value found in genuine friends, 

and the sober understanding of the shackles of superficial people who merely use us.  

The glorious journey of...

The unmatched wealth in reading and studying the Bible

The unparalleled stability of Christian fellowship 

And the unrivaled enjoyment of serving the Lord.

And as you experience the wise departure from... 

The comfortable enticement of procrastination

The deceptive decoy of excuses 

The childish pleasure of pettiness 

And the dull applause of mediocrity.

I AM THE NEW YEAR.  

I am...

The challenge of new goals

The desire for spiritual growth 

The continual burden for lost souls 

The anticipation of answered prayer 

And the eager expectation of Christ's soon return for His Bride, the Church.

I am the New Year, I may only be lived one moment at at time. 

I am replete with the unknown 

and rife with...

Opportunities to trust

Unexpected moments of blessing and delight 

Satisfaction for spiritual truth and hunger

Motivations to give of your time and effort to people and projects

And the joy and privilege of serving the Lord in new and exciting ways.  

YES, I AM THE NEW YEAR!