Wishing everyone a safe and joyous New Year’s Eve and a new year in which we all draw closer to God. Flipping a page on a calendar doesn’t really change anything. Improving your relationship with God changes everything!
2012 is coming to an end, to the surprise of some and the dismay of many. I’ve long held that each passing year seems to go by more quickly because each year is a smaller fraction of the total time that we’ve lived. When you’re five, one year represents 20% of what you’ve lived. At 50, it’s down to 2%.
Anyway, I’m looking ahead more than looking back. I know that flipping the page on a calendar accomplishes little and changes even less. Still, these milestone moments seem like a good time for introspection.
Here are a few resolutions for 2013, futile though they may be:
Have you looked ahead to what you desire for the coming year?
Happy New Year to all! I hope this year finds you drawing closer to God.
Here’s a great video to start the year with. Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge’s famous “indescription” of Jesus:
Thinking about new years and how much people like new things, this passage came to mind:
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”” (Lamentaciones 3:22-24)
It’s just about the only hopeful passage in all of Lamentations. A disaster has occurred: the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. The writer sees death and destruction all around him; surrounded by suffering, he knows that God is punishing his people. Yet he also knows that God is merciful and forgiving. He clings to the fact that God doesn’t get tired of forgiving; his mercies are new every morning. They don’t run out, they never come to an end. Every day God has brand new grace to offer.
We don’t have to ask ourselves, “How can God forgive me again?” His mercies are new every morning. Yesterday’s forgiveness was applied to yesterday’s sins; the grace extended to today’s sins is new.
That’s good news.
Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! I always wondered why one was merry and the other happy. The adjectives ought to be interchangeable.
Ever wonder why the year starts in January 1? Goes back to good old Julius Caesar, who set up the new solar calendar in Rome. There’s really no rhyme nor reason to it; it would make much more sense to tie it to a change in seasons or something. Interestingly enough, New Year’s was mainly celebrated in March up until just a few centuries ago. The Gregorian calendar restored the January date in 1582, yet the British empire, including the American colonies, celebrated a March date until 1752. That’s pretty recent, folks.
In a related theme… I’m curious why those Christians who get all worked up about Christmas being a pagan holiday rarely do the same with New Year’s. Any ideas out there?
Anywho, hope everybody gets to spend time with friends and family in these days. The calendar tells us that a new year starts next week, so let’s get out there and treat it like a new year!