NEW, YEAR, OPPORTUNITY AND SNOW

NEW, YEAR, OPPORTUNITY AND SNOW

How do you say anything that has not already been said about a new year? So I decided to break it down.

NEW: 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The footnote tells us "The unrestrained hunger of a healthy baby provides an example of the kind of eager desire for spiritual food that ought to mark the believer." Is there anything sweeter than a baby? And the feeling of holding a sleeping baby, as you rock in the old creaky rocking chair, is like no other. Especially when that baby is well fed and content. Wouldn't that be great to feel that way? Safe in the care of someone that loves us. Well fed. Content. God loves us. God's Word will feed us.

YEAR: Genesis 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth."

God sure did put thought into his creation. Think how terrible it would be if the world was always light. Or, even worse, always dark. When would we rest? How would we tell time? But he separated our days and nights. Our seasons. Our years. And with each new day, new season and new year, we have the chance to begin again.

OPPORTUNITY: Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Before us is the year 2010. What will we do with it? Will we face it with a smile? With fear? With worry? Before us is the year 2010 and Galatians tells us that "as we have opportunity" we should do good. Opportunity is a big word that comes in small situations, like offering a smile. Or sometimes a kind word. And sometimes we have a really big opportunity, like offering a smile. Or sometimes a kind word. No, I am not confused. A smile or a kind word may seem like such a small thing. A natural reaction or the least we can do. But that one smile or that one kind word may be just what someone needed to get them through the day. Or even through the next second.

SNOW: And where does the snow fit in? That is what I see outside my window. Snow that is light and fluffy. Glittering like diamonds. A world made beautiful by white, pure snow.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you well fed? Are you full of spiritual milk (the Word of God)? How are you facing 2010? Are you excited about the opportunities ahead of you? Have you turned your sins over to God and allowed them to become white as snow?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, I am thirsty. Give me wisdom and understanding as I read and study your Word. I see 2010 in front of me and will try to face this year with excitement and appreciation for the days and seasons and years you have given me. And I will turn my worries and fears over to you so they do not consume my joy. I will look for opportunities to do good. To smile. To encourage. To give your love to others. I thank you for the blessings of 2009, for making my sins white as snow and for opportunities ahead of me. Amen