Phyllis and I want to wish you the most blessed year of your life. May God lay His hand upon you and bless You in the knowledge of Him, in all you undertake for Him, in your family and all your important relationships. Happy New Year!
I used to have this dream occasionally. I was still in college and I had enrolled for a course, sociology I think, and in my dream the rest of the semester I forgot to go to class. At the last of the semester I remembered.

It’s a scary feeling to know that you’re coming to the time of final tests and you’ve done nothing.

Life is a bit like that. We are coming to a judgment day. It’s good to periodically stop and evaluate to see where you’re at. The beginning of the year is a good time.

So what is the significance of your life? Why are you here? Many would say bitterly, “Nothing. No reason.” But God says otherwise and you’d be wise not to contradict Him.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” GOD’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you.…” (Jer. 29:11-14a, The Message)

We’re finishing up another year. These are good times to stop and think–two activities that often scare us. Can I suggest that you ask yourself a few questions? Get a pen and paper so you’ll be serious about it. You don’t have to write a book but you do have to think, really prayerfully think. “I don’t know,” isn’t a correct answer for any of these. You flunk if you answer that way.

• 1. Where am I in my relationship with God? What am I doing well? Where am I weak? What specific action am I going to take this year to grow in my relationship with Him? How am I going to discipline myself to do this?

• 2. Where am I in my relationship with my husband /wife /family /friends? Am I living selfishly? Building strong relationships takes time. Am I doing that? What specific action am I going to take this year to be a better husband/wife/friend/father, etc.? How am I going to discipline myself to do it.

• 3. Where am I in the thing God has called me to do? Am I doing my best? Has this thing become more important to me than my relationship with God? How am I going to change to be more effective for Him in this area? How will I discipline myself to put this change in my lifestyle?

Think all that is a waste of time? What does the Lord say about it? “But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” Isa 32:8

Why don’t you ask God to help you make some noble plans for your life today? Or at least do some evaluation to see where you’re at in your noble plans?

Then by the strength of His Spirit, live these years before you in the knowledge that your life has a reason. God put you here to do something that only you can do. Big or little, get at it!