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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