A Joyful New Year To You

If I were cleverer, (is that a word? hmm, case in point...) I'd write an insightful and reflective post, closing out 2011.  Because it's been a good year.  A wonderful year.  A giant-and-fabulous-blur kind of year, at this point.  But as it happens, I'm tired. 

Did you stay up last night?  All the way until midnight?   My parents - in their 60's - made it.  Me?  Not so much.  Should I be embarrassed?  Meh.  When the boys were younger we'd trick them celebrate New Year's for the east coast time zone, at a comfortable 9PM local time, but they got wise to that.

Actually, we had a fun time last night, livin' it up with our friends at the Chapel.  Taco dinner, story-telling, games, movies.  Some of us watched Narnia while Wyatt learned to play Texas Hold'em.  I think some of the college students stayed until midnight, but most of us headed for the barn by about 10:30.  Back home, Kerry stayed up with the boybarians, watching something cheery and festive.  Probably Sons of Guns, or Future Weapons.  I - apparently lacking the necessary testosterone - went to bed.

Other than staying up late, we don't have any particular New Year's traditions.  You?  Maybe that would help.  Or maybe what would really help is just more sleep in general ;D

At any rate, I don't think I was the only one yawning in church this morning, and that's no reflection on Pastor Bert's sermon, which I'm still chewing on.  And since I'm at a loss for wisdom, let me pass on some of his.

He preached from Philippians 3, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what it ahead."  But what should we forget?  Two things.

Out bad deeds, and our good deeds.  Which covers a lot of ground, right there.  But here's the good news - our sin (bad deeds) can't condemn us (Psalm 103:12, Jeremiah 31:34, Romans 8:1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Jeremiah 50:20), and our righteousness (good deeds) can't save us. 

Only the grace of God counts.

Let go of bitterness and regrets.  Drop the self-righteous "credits" we think we've earned.  Let it all go. 

And press on toward the goal.


Amen.

Wishing you a joyful new year,

Julie