A photo-montage of fireworks from a Guy Fawkes Night display at Roundwood Park in Harlesden, London. Eight separate images were merged together into one photo.by Billy Hicks
Good morning, beloved,
If you turn on the radio or television, most likely, you will inundated with a year in review. As I listen, I think back on all God has done this past year. How about you? Are you pondering your year in review? What comes first to your mind? I think there is benefit in reviewing a year, what you have learned, what God has done, ponder and count your blessing one by one.
Being with my brother these last few days, we spent some time remembering humorous stories from our youth. Remembering our grandparents. Remembering times of good and bad, we have a shared history. We all ache with the loss of our loved ones. We ache for times of innocence and yet, I would not ever want to endure puberty again. I would never want to go back to high school again. You get the point. Some things are better left in the rear view mirror.
I heard my girl singing this song the other day, I know I’ve shared it with you. Such a good reminder:
Yet I think God has another plan for our thoughts. Check out these verses from Isaiah 43:
A river in the Ansel Adams Wilderness by Eric T Gunther
18 Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
I wonder about these verses. I wonder. Isaiah 43 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible to recall and encourage myself and others.
Isaiah 43:
He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt [to the Babylonians] for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba [a province of Ethiopia] in exchange [for your release].
4 Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and because I love you, I will give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life.
7 Even everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, whom I have made.
Makes me smile every time I read it. I know passing through the waters. I know fires that burn. Yet I also know the God who calls me precious, who loves me. Loves you.
He asks us to look to the new things He is doing.
Revelation 21:
Then I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband;
3 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.
4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditionsand the former order of things have passed away.
5 And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).
So maybe this year, I need to be thinking more about what He is about to do. More longing for what is to come. Less mourning for the past, less looking back over my shoulder, sad for what is gone…God has new things He is doing. Are we looking for the new? Or always pondering the old…
My thankfuls today:
82. Kid’s giggles
83. Phones
84. Cortisone shots
Happy New Year, friends. Pray on. Pray on.
Comment
Ah, those Is passages give me more to chew on. The past few days I have felt I cannot recall what God has taught me this year or what He has done in my life. I did not journal hardly at all. 🙁 I stocked up on my journals, so that is all changing for 2013. It was sad sitting in church and all I could think was, “Nothing has changed.” And maybe nothing will until Christ returns. It’s not something I normally think about.