2011 A New Year

One of my favorite "end of the year" things to do is to get my new calendars for the new year. I did exactly that the other day. As usual, I went to my favorite mall and I knew the exact spot I wanted to look for my calendars. Waiting until the end of the old year means you will probably find your new calendar for 50 percent off..which is a good thing! I need one for my kitchen, my office room and a daily planner. There are certain designs I like and then I must narrow it down to the exact ones I want to purchase. Crazy, but I always look to see what the picture is for the month of March since it is my birthday month. After I study them carefully, I make the purchase and bring them home.

What a thrill to take off the wrapping and feel the freshness of an unmarked calendar. They all have that big piece of cardboard in the middle to keep them from wrinkle. I always save that cardboard for some craft projects. Next I take my calendars to their prospective spots and hang them up. Each month it gives me great pleasure to turn the page to the next month. Before you know it, we will all be out getting our new calendars for 2012!

Let's talk about the freshness of a new year, as fresh as a new unmarked calendar.
As we unwrap our New Year, let us do it with much prayer. One of my favorite things to say to someone on their birthday is that "I pray for God's best upon their year." I think this is a good prayer for our New Year..God's best for our year. After all, if it is God's best for us then it will be a good year. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, He sees the first and the last. Like as a tapestry,He is weaving you and me to someday be just like Him.

God knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to hurt us...but we must remember they are His plans. We have no control over the plans for our New Year, but our plan needs to be to live in the center of His will and His way. As the song says, 'Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know WHO holds tomorrow and I know WHO holds my hand.'

Just as the new calendar is without spot or blemish, so we as Christians are to strive to live our lives each day. When we do mess up a day thru a wrong choice, an unkind word, a bad attitude, not spending time with our LORD, we quickly confess our sin and move on again. Teach us, Oh Lord, to number our days and to live them for Your Glory.