When I was growing up, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day were filled with college football. On New Year’s eve, it was the Bluebonnet Bowl and the Gator Bowl. On New Year’s day, there was a full slate: The Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the Rose Bowl. It seemed that every year Ohio State played USC in the Rose Bowl. And, I always pulled for the Buckeyes. As I reflect back on my childhood, New Year’s day was a special day.
As I have gotten older, I realize that New Year’s Day is a new beginning. The new year ushers in new opportunities, a new outlook on life and a fresh beginning. In some cases, many of us would like to forget the old year – loved ones passed, physical difficulties, hardships, loss of job, etc. So, as I think about the new year, I think about the Apostle Paul’s words, “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” (Phil. 3:13). Paul reminds us all that the past is the past – whether it was a good year or a bad year – it is behind us. The call for believers is to constantly be moving forward toward the ultimate prize: Jesus Christ! My prayer is that the new year will bring spiritual renewal and an oppertunity to stay focused on the prize that awaits us at the finish line. Keep pressing foward and never look back!
in Christ,
Pastor Mike
