From Old to New

Here it is the end of December and we are just getting our first winter storm of the season!  We were taken by surprise when torrential rains glazed everything in ice overnight.  Birds suffer in such sudden changes – the empty bird feeder is frozen shut so I do my best to scatter seed ahead of the snow accumulation.  I am reminded of the futility of making plans at this time of year.

Perhaps, like many of us, you are assessing the waning year and making resolutions for the New Year ahead?  Magazines feature extended articles on getting organized.  Sporting goods stores tempt us with exercise equipment that promises to have you in “the best shape of your life”.  We tend to get drawn in to the, ”This is the year I would like to…” attitude of the world.  Instead we need to remember God’s warnings in James 4:13-16:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.

There is one kind of resolution we could make for the New Year that might be pleasing to God.  That is the goal of gaining the “higher ground” of knowing and following Christ better this year than last.  If we can mark spiritually progress for ourselves in 2011, we can be encouraged to move forward and upward in 2012!

“But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him.  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”                   1 John 2:5-6

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15, Amp.

Love as always,  Elaine (hitting The Book)