Monday, January 1, 2018

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - EMBRACING THE NEW


BY STEVE DUNN

      As you are reading this, I am probably playing with my newest granddaughter, Gracie and her sister, Abby. They’ll probably get a lot of attention today because I am so rarely with them (they live more than 600 miles from my wife and I) plus their household doesn’t have cable TV and most of the football games will basically be inaccessible without a lot of computer gymnastics. I never was that good at gymnastics in any form.

      This really is our Christmas with the bulk of our kids and grandkids—Christmas 2017. I serve as an Intentional Interim Pastor and this year had to stay close to home for Christmas Eve services and then lingered a few more days to officiate at the Memorial Celebration of one of God’s everyday saints who struggled his final years with Alzheimer’s.  2017 needed to hang on a little longer.

       Nonetheless, 2018 has arrived—the New Year.  Like most of you, for me 2017 was a challenging and at times troubling year.  I am not going to list my personal ups and downs nor am I going to blemish today with one more analysis and/or diatribe about the politics of the past 12 months.

       I really am not sure what 2018 will hold—who among us can truly know?  I have some plans like visiting spring training, attending a granddaughter’s high school graduation, serving the church where I am as interim until the new pastor arrives – but I learned a long time ago to hold any plans I make loosely.

     Two scriptures inform me as I embrace this new year. “He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21.5) and “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). Those of us who serve God know He is always moving forward—and we know that wherever that takes us, God will work in and through us.

      So I leave you to embrace the new along with me and offer this prayer from that prolific saint and author Anonymous.



© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

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