The countdown begins

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving… but coming in a very close second is New Year’s.  These next couple of days I will be counting down to the new year. I love New Year’s  - not only because of the promise of a new beginning, but also the reflection of the year past.

And the best part – we get an entire day to stop and think. New Year’s Day is unlike any other holiday. Think about it…. Every other major holiday centers around festivities and activities.

Halloween there is trick-or-treating; Christmas is overloaded with gifts and holiday dinners, parties and programs; Thanksgiving is food and football; Easter even is centered on sunrise services and egg hunting.

But New Year’s Day = there is nothing. Now of course, New Year’s Eve there is much celebrating and I think New Year’s Day is a built in recovery holiday. But for me, New Year’s Day is a day that has no requirement – just a day to stop, do nothing but think about the year past and the year to come.

Reflection and introspection is super important. We see this example set for us when Jesus spent time alone. I think the day is well spent doing as Jesus did…. Thinking, praying and spending some time away from crowds.

My challenge for you as you come into the new year…. Don’t let the year start without knowing where you came from and deciding on a path to go toward. Whether you are a new year’s resolution type of person or not, you must know what the destination is before you set out on the journey. Although there are details about the course you will not know…. Making a conscience choice to move in one direction or the other is a decision that requires an evaluation of one’s self.

 **Join me and others as we start an online study of God's promises. The study begins Jan. 2 - visit the Events page for more details.