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A Prayer for the Ending of a Year

O Lord of Eternity, every year I ask,
“Where did the time go?”
And here again, I tear off the last
page of my calendar, and ponder:
“A year gone, and to what end or profit?”

I call to mind the psalmist saying,
“Teach us to number our days, that
we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
And though my actions may suggest otherwise, I know my days are not of infinite supply. Therefore, help me to undertake an accounting of the past year.

On the dark side of my ledger, help me be
honest enough to see the angry words,
the acts of self-centeredness, the arrogant thoughts that have soured my walk with you.

Make me aware of the divisions I have created with others, and how that may have driven them further from you.

Lord, if I dwelt on these failings, I would
conclude the year was a net loss.
But I know that in the divine economy of your grace there’s a brighter side to the ledger I keep.

Bring to my remembrance those actions
that were reflective of your presence in my life, the moments when patience prevailed, when self-interest was restrained by love. And those precious times when joy came to others and myself because I sought you first.

Over all this, your love, your patience, and your forgiveness prevail,
making the balance sheet of this year
reflect a great profit.
For you have walked with me, and anything I have learned from you is eternal gain.

This turning of the last page is not the end. For you maintain no ledgers, and you separate me from my sins as far as
the east is from the west.

You are no keeper of accounts, O Lord,
and New Year’s Eve is an artificial human construct; Our hours will march on whether we celebrate this night or not.

And tomorrow will bring a new calendar,
a fresh stack of pages, which we will fill with our deeds and you with your grace.
New opportunities for obedience await.
So in these final minutes of 2024, I reflect, repent, and rejoice.

Even though I fail, You will not.

You will redeem.
You will make all things new - including me. And I am thankful.

Amen.

COPYRIGHT © 2024 RABBIT ROOM PRESS

By Wayne Garvey

WWW.EVERYMOMENTHOLY.COM

It’s Resurrection Sunday. This is a picture of sunrise over the earth taken from the International Space Station.

It’s a reminder to me that above any dark clouds or storms that may be visible in my life, God sees the totality of my situation and loves me. The finished work of the Cross allows me to rest in His love for me. That truth is hard to accept as I often try to create my own reality through faith in my own resources (this is the sin that so easily trips me up), when the true reality is that He is the author and perfector of my faith. May our souls be flooded with the light of His love.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory! ~ Isaiah 6:3 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ~ Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT)

Two Bowls

The following is from a devotional I received earlier this week.
Short, simple, and profound. May it challenge and bless you.

At the end of Jesus' life, there were two bowls of water:
- one which Jesus used to wash feet & serve his friends
- one which Pilate used to wash his hands & deny Jesus' lordship
Each morning, we must choose which bowl we will pick up to use during the day.

Join John & Carrie Echols for a six-week study LIVE in Amarillo, TX.

We will also be LIVE on FACEBOOK as well! If you can't make it to Amarillo, Come back to our page at 6:30 PM, Wednesday, February 8th to join in!

A meal will be served at 6 pm and the teaching will begin at 6:30 PM. The meal is $5 per person.

Please RSVP by Tuesday at noon of each week if you'll be there for the meal. (806) 355-7303

Who is this for? EVERYONE!
Event: Meal & a Message with Biblical Solutions
Time: 6 pm Meal & 6:30 PM Message - LIVE in person and on Facebook.

Location: Church of Christ at The Colonies, 4500 Wesley Road, Amarillo, TX 79119 on 45th between Coulter & Soncy, next to First United Bank.

Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul
Spending time in I Thessalonians 5:16-24
February 1 - Three Things That Are True
February 8 - Life Decisions
February 15 - SPIRIT, Soul, Body
February 22 - Spirit, SOUL, Body
March 1 - Spirit, Soul, BODY
March 8 - God’s Will For Your Life

Join John & Carrie Echols for a six-week study LIVE in Amarillo, TX.
A meal will be served at 6 pm and the teaching will begin at 6:30 PM
The meal is $5 per person. Please RSVP by Tuesday at noon of each week if you'll be there for the meal.
RSVP to (806) 355-7303 and let them know how many will be attending.
Who is this for? EVERYONE!

Event: Meal & a Message with Biblical Solutions
Time: 6 pm Meal & 6:30 PM Message
Location: Church of Christ at The Colonies, 4500 Wesley Road, Amarillo, TX 79119 on 45th between Coulter & Soncy, next to First United Bank.

Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul
Spending time in I Thessalonians 5:16-24
February 1 - Three Things That Are True
February 8 - Life Decisions
February 15 - SPIRIT, Soul, Body
February 22 - Spirit, SOUL, Body
March 1 - Spirit, Soul, BODY
March 8 - God’s Will For Your Life

What Are Your Emotions Telling You?

Emotions - we all have them, and many of us make most of our decisions based on them (whether we admit it or not)! Emotions however have no IQ. Emotions aren't smart. Emotions aren't dumb. They just are. They tell us where we are, not how to act. They should be a thermometer and not a thermostat. For the Christian, all emotions should be taken to the throne room of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our next steps. Too often though, we react to our emotions with a knee-jerk feeling, rather than a Jesus-led response. This reaction causes conflict, and usually more negative emotions, which leaves us emotionally dysregulated. None of us want to be on the roller coaster of emotions, so what's the solution?

Emotions should be a follower of our mind making solid decisions based upon the guidance of the Word of God. This is the way God designed us. He tells us to not follow the patterns of the world but to be transformed by changing the way we think. This can only happen when we take hold of our emotions and place them at the feet of Jesus. This takes discipline and training. It's a process because the world just tells us to feel better and we'll be better. Yet our feelings lie to us. Scripture also tells us to not lean on our own understanding. So by taking everything to the Lord, we can at least buy ourselves some time to think about what the feelings are saying and allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and responses.

Did You Get Enough Rest?

Were the holidays a time of relaxation or stress? Did you get what you thought you needed out of the time? Days off, family in town, travel nightmares - all of these were part of our collective holiday experience. Do you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Many of us say, "I just want to get away and do nothing!" Yet when we plan a getaway, we tend to fill the day with activities so we don't "Miss Out." However, when we talk about spiritual rest, we aren't thinking about taking a nap in the boat like Jesus.

Spiritual rest is a focus on how God loves me. How does God love me? Completely - in every way. Take some time today and focus on how God loves you. Your soul will be refreshed.