Recipe for a GREAT 2022

 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Philippians 3:12-15 ESV).

 

Within just a few hours we will see the day’s end and a beginning of a new year. I’m not sure what your traditions are for a New Year’s meal; however, we have always added black-eyed peas to whatever else we may be serving. Regardless of what you may be preparing, there is one recipe that you must try in this year ahead. The Apostle Paul encourages us to “press on” in our reading today (v. 14). There are so many ways we could interpret that one phrase that I thought I’d quote an anonymous “recipe” found on the Appleseeds site:

 

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

 

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

 

I hope the little quote did two things for you today. First, I hope you have glimpsed some of the wisdom within it. And, second, I hope you are further encouraged with the prospect of the great truth of the grace of God winning the greatest of victories for us through Jesus. We can press on. We can go forward. We can overcome all things in Him. Whatever 2021 may have been like for you, this year can certainly be different in your hope for the strength to go forward knowing it ends in the greatest of joys and victory. We who are believers, KNOW that to be true! Celebrate that truth today!

 

Auld Lang Syne

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

 

Just a couple of days left in 2021. That is always a little bittersweet for me. I am filled with both feelings of success and regret. There have been those things that were done well and achieved great success; and, there have been some things I could have done better. Either way, as I wrote yesterday, the New Year is a time for a new start. That seems to be the theme of many sources. You may have noticed the countless renditions of “Auld Lang Syne,” seen numerous advertisements for “once-in-a-year” purchases and deals. Perhaps you’ve been talking with friends and families about your resolutions for a new year. And now, it’s here. New Year’s Eve has arrived.

 

Our reading is preceded by what many have called the “Hall of the Faithful.” The writer lists an interesting list of faith-heavyweights in biblical history. These are people who were able to see living possibilities where others only saw dead ends, who saw victory where others saw defeat, who saw what God could do when others saw the impossible. They not only saw with eyes of faith, but they also acted on that faith. Each person mentioned understood faith as a verb. Faith helped them persevere even in the midst of difficult circumstances, like Joseph in Egypt. They were able to step out into the unknown with courage and to take risks, like Rahab and Gideon. It shouldn’t surprise us where this list ends: with “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Jesus, Prince of peace. Jesus, Immanuel (“God with us”). Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords!

 

The lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” are in the Scots language. The title, translated literally into standard English, is Old Long Since. The words can be interpreted as “since long ago” or “for old times’ sake”. The lyrics are about old friends having a drink and recalling adventures they had long ago. Maybe without the pint of ale, but with friends remember the old times, the victories and defeats, the joys and sorrows; and, through it all look forward to a new year and the journey of life ahead. Know that just like these spiritual ancestors of ours we can be encouraged the One who looks encouragingly back at us, the One who came to die so that we could live with him forever.

  

A New Start

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11 ESV).

 

A story is told about a factory burning down that was owned and managed by the great inventor Thomas Edison. It happened on December 9, 1914. As the factory burned, great geysers of green flame, fueled by laboratory chemicals, shot into the air. Fire departments from eight towns rushed to the scene, but the building was all but leveled. Much of Edison’s work was destroyed in the process. Many friends and well-wishers, expecting Edison to be devastated, sent messages of condolence and support. To one he replied, “I am 67; but I am not too old to make a fresh start.” Within three weeks the Edison factories were restored to some semblance of order. Soon after that, they were running at two shifts. The speed of the recovery, one observer said, was almost as spectacular as the disaster.

 

The New Year is often seen as an opportunity to start over. Maybe you’re tired of the way things are going and you feel like it’s time for something different, better, more rewarding. Or, maybe you’ve experienced other areas of hurt that have set you back and now you are frustrated, afraid, discouraged, or worried. Or perhaps you just feel trapped by harmful habits, behaviors, and attitudes that keep you from being the person you desire to become. Whatever the case, you feel stuck and a fresh start sounds attractive to you. You know God is calling you to a life more abundant than the one you’re experiencing right now.

 

The good news of the gospel is you can. The bad news is that most people give up; they settle for second best; they don’t start over; they stay stuck. Please don’t allow that to be you. Remember that God is committed to carrying on the work He has started in you. There is unlimited grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, and newness of life for anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. That’s true on the New Year and each day of our lives! 

Going Before You

 

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-6 ESV).

 

As we prepare to welcome 2022 I hope you have a life verse. If not, then my strongest encouragement is to find that one verse that is so impactful and important in your life that it becomes the central focus of all of your decisions. Mine was revealed clearly early in 1970. Mary and I were newlyweds when our pastor, Bailey Stone, asked me to preach in his absence on a Wednesday night at First Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas. I was a very young believer and had just made the decision to pursue a ministerial career. Anxious does not quite convey my emotion as I prepared and approached that evening.

 

I was comforted by the thought that it was a Wednesday evening service. Traditionally the crowd is much smaller than a Sunday morning service, so at least that would be a help. I was also encouraged that I had plenty of time to write and memorize the message. Bailey had given me a month of advance notice. However, I was terrified that this was to be my first time to preach. Mary would be there. Her Dad and Mom would be there. The question of failure swirled in my mind. “What if…” seemed to be the central question facing me. I poured myself into preparation. I wrote and rewrote the sermon. I practiced it over and over. Yet, I wondered if I was ready.

 

The evening of February 11, 1970 came much too quickly. Meeting Ray Butler, a friend and deacon in the church in the office before walking to the sanctuary, we prayed together for a few moments and he then told me, “The sanctuary is packed. It’s the biggest crowd we’ve had on a Wednesday since I’ve been a member.” Great… there goes one of my hopes. I was still hopeful that I was prepared. He then said, “Oh, don’t worry about the time. We’ve shortened the music and given you thirty minutes.” Great… how am I going to stretch 15-18 minutes of sermon into 30 minutes! We walked in silence down the hall to the side entrance and he stopped at the door and handed me a telegram. It was from Bailey. It said: “Read Deuteronomy 31:6. Wish I could be there with you. Know I am praying. H. Bailey Stone” I still have that yellow telegram to this day. “Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” became my life verse that moment. God was going before me… He would not fail! True then and true now!

 

Beginnings or Endings?

 

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.  O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. (Psalm 65 ESV)

 

I could have just as easily chosen to include only verse 11 (in bold italics) of our reading today, though there are those times, like today, that the full text is so much better. David wrote this psalm. His life was full of victories and defeats, joys and sorrows, and success and failure, yet he pictures the year ahead as one so packed with “bounty” that the sheer weight of it in the “wagon” leave deep ruts along the road. The events of 2021 have included an ongoing pandemic, racial tensions, joblessness, and political unrest creating an unprecedented time of unrest and anxiety. Perhaps you are a part of the population that have just experienced the best year ever and look forward to an even greater one looming ahead; or, you may have just trudged through one deep struggle after another. The fresh calendar year brings desperate hope for things to be better, with an ache for the still-fresh wounds to slowly begin their process of healing.

 

Praying at the start of the New Year doesn't always bring immediate change at the stroke of midnight, but it begins the opening of our hearts to God's Words of hope and peace. Whether you’ve just walked through the greatest year of your life, or are incredibly glad to see this one finally over, one truth still rings clear amidst it all. You are not alone. Not ever. Scripture is filled with prayers of men and women who reached out to God for a fresh start. Praying is the main source of connection to the one who created you and the one who wants you to experience blessings and promises in the future. Our God is a “with us" God. On the heels of the celebration of the birth of our King, that reminder has the power to carry us right into a fresh, new start. He is Immanuel, God with us. And though things and people around us shift and change, our God never changes. Focus your prayers this week on the presence of God in your life. That is a good beginning instead of a bad ending!

Remembering

 

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ (Deuteronomy 4:9-10 ESV).

 

The day after Christmas is not too soon to begin to prepare for a new year. I know most of us just want a day to “rest” from the swirl of activities that inevitably surround Christmas. And, I hope to help bring a sense of serenity and peaceful joy to your week as you walk toward 2022. A part of that is discovering how to “remember” your own Passover event. This is the gust of Moses’ direction to the people of Israel in our reading today.

 

These times of reflection are extremely important because they spiritually strengthen our families and help us draw close to one another. Providing personal testimonies reminds everyone – especially our children and teens – just how much God loves them and how actively involved He is in our lives. When we share how God has worked in us, through us, and around us during the past year, our faith is revitalized and renewed. Often, we find ourselves praying more, reading our Bibles more frequently, and worshiping God more passionately because God has become more real to us!

 

Please don’t assume your children or grandchildren know your story of redemption. Tell it to them. It should go back to the beginning, but it should also include the hand of God in your life through the present. Tell them through examples of God’s work how your have been taught, blessed, and delivered through all the good and bad circumstances of life you’ve experienced. Share your dreams and hopes for the future.

 

It begins with each of us personally. Find a moment to reflect over the past years and plan to verbalize those moments with your family.

 

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

 

Well, the day has come. I hope you have already had a wonderful experience of gifting, family, and celebration. I know that for some this is a difficult day. Please know that the joy of Christmas is in the fact that God’s love transcends every difficult moment of our lives. It is His great love that brought Jesus to take on humanity and sacrifice Himself that we would have eternal life. He has now proven what that life will mean for all of us in His resurrection. Think on this simple, yet profound truth:

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5 ESV).

 

Now that’s a GREAT gift for all of us who believe! Merry Christmas, Y’all!