Fresh as a New Fallen Snow

One of the gifts of a freshly fallen snow this time of year is that everything looks all brand new.  With or without snow, a new year is the same.   It is a brand-new day and a brand-new time as we venture forward into this new year of 2018.    While we can look behind us and see all the joys and sorrows of 2017, we know not what this new year will hold.      When you ride down the mountain roads of North Carolina, you can only see as far as the next curve in the road.   This new year of 2018 is much the same.   We can only see so far, and we know not joy and challenge will wait around the next bend.   

Some of you are probably glad to see a new year come because of good things you anticipate in 2018 such as graduations, weddings, and other accomplishments.   Others of you perhaps feel a sense of fear about this new year as you see storm clouds gathering on the horizon of your life.   Still others feel a sense of relief that 2017 is over because of troubles, tragedies, and challenges that were your lot for the past year.    

The apostle Paul knew his joys and challenges.    He knew the joy of being a missionary for Christ Jesus and spreading the gospel to many parts of his known world.  However, Paul also knew challenges such as trial, arrest, beatings, and imprisonment.   While Paul was in prison, he wrote the following words to the Philippian Church: 

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3: 13-14) 

Whatever may have been your experience of 2017 and whatever you may anticipate 2018 to be for you, I pray that we may go forward in God and with God in the days before us.  A blessed new year to one and all. -   Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God, thank you for the gift of this new year.   Help me to go forward knowing that whatever the future may hold you go with us; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.