A new year ...

Yesterday ... Today.
Old ... New.
New Year's Eve ... New Year's Day.
2008 ... 2009.

Last Sunday in morning worship our pastor started a Bible study in Ecclesiastes. Yesterday's devotional was in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 "Times and Seasons."

A time to reflect on all the days of this past year and resolve - make resolutions for the next.

In years past I used to resolve to lose weight. Last year I resolved to read and study the Bible more, listen to what the Lord tells me, and be obedient and follow His commandments.

This year I believe I will resolve to seek that which is true, meditate consistently on God's truths, to remember who He is, what He is, what He said He would to; to stay more focused on God, His word, and less on the world around me - less on what I read or watch on TV.

verse 1 says, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven."

David Sper, an editor of Our Daily Bread, says:

"Just as the winter turns to spring,
Our lives have changing seasons too;
So when a gloomy forecast comes,
Remember -- God has plans for you."

Whatever the season (s) of life, attitude makes all the difference.

In 2008, I have said things out loud or even to myself that were just not totally true. And even if they were true, if it is harmful to another, nothing should ever be said where others may hear. If you build up another it is fine and good, but in so doing, you should not tear another down. It would be better to keep quiet.

It is very easy to step in and give your opinion, often unasked for. Someone complains of another and you add your own two cents. It is not right that we should act or react like this. When we do, we are being selfish, thinking whatever we are dealt in life, we will deal with it "our way."

Our way. My way. Your way. But what about God's way? If it were God's way I doubt "our way" would be so darn important.

Our life experiences can help another or perhaps hinder. It depends how we portray those experiences, what we've learned from them ourselves.

God is in control and can enable each of us, but it is us individually who must take an active part in any situation for it to be accomplished, fulfilled. We must be actively seeking God's will as well, not our own. God knows far better than we ourselves do what we need, what is coming along, what strengths we'll be needing at a future time.

Our lives are so overloaded. So much makes up our lives ... our minds, our emotions, our thoughts, when we read, watch, hear, listen, talk, imagine, dream, what we see, smell, do, bake, create, walk, run, jump, swim, bike, crawl, reach, grope, reminisce, memorize, remember, celebrate, mourn, repair, restore, renew, write, paint, frown, smile, laugh, cry. ...a time for every purpose ... a season

My resolution for 2009 is to be and do what Psalm 1: 1-3 says:

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers.

But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
day and night they think about his law.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing
fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither,
and in all they do, they prosper."

... to think on God's truths, to remember to stay on them, rather than on what is not true, to see God's goodness in everything and to meditate on God's truths daily, being always mindful of who and what is the great and holy I AM.

God answers ... in His time for our time.