January 1, 2013
As another new year begins, my thoughts turn to both the
past and the future.
I look at 2012 and can honestly say that I don’t remember a
lot about it. I know that it was a very
difficult year for me, but at the same time it was a year of learning. Without experiencing 2012, I would never have
been able to understand people who suffer from depression. Without going into detail, I will just say
that it is not a fun thing to experience.
The person who experiences depression cannot control those feelings,
they are not trying to get out of something or trying to get attention, and
they are not out of “God’s Will”. I also
attended a record number of funerals in 2012.
I have learned that everyone honors their loved one in their own way.
In my brother-in-law’s
testimony he asked the question, “What is success?” He gave a lot of examples and ended by saying
that success to him was standing before Jesus and having Him say, “Well done, Soldier;
you may now enter the gates of Heaven.”
I have given that a lot of thought this past week after attending
his funeral. Success here on earth is so
different to everyone. I have a brother
who is very successful in his job, a job that I don’t totally understand. Another brother is very successful in his
grocery store—I understand that one a little better. My husband would not do well in either of
those businesses, but he does run what I consider a successful ranch. My two brothers wouldn’t know where to start
in the ranching business. So with that
in mind, I question myself with “Am I justified in calling someone a loser.” Wow! Even after what I have seen in the past week,
I would still have to say “No!” Since God created all of us, I can’t believe
that he created any losers. But…. there
are those who are walking down a losing path.
There are those who are not making right choices. No matter how wealthy a person is, without
Christ that person will lose in the end.
No matter how poor a person is, if that person gives their life to
Christ they will win in the end. As a friend
of mine said, “It is the eternal that counts.”
Today, I read the Jan 1 devotion in Henry and Richard Blackabys’
1997 book Experiencing God
Day-By-Day. Its title is “Resolutions.” (How appropriate for January 1st.) They used the scripture reference John 21:16
that says “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon,
son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” Please remember how Peter had messed up by fleeing
from the garden when Jesus needed him and later by denying Christ three times. The devotion goes on to say that “Jesus has a
wonderful way of restoring us when we fail Him!
He does not humiliate us. He does
not criticize us. He does not ask us to make a resolution to try harder. Rather, He takes us aside and asks us to
reaffirm our love for Him.” Peter seriously failed Jesus a couple of times, yet
Jesus asked for his love.
I know that I have
seriously failed Jesus so many times in the past, yet He will not humiliate me,
He just wants me to tell Him that I love Him.
“Jesus does not need your (my) resolution, your (my)
recommitments, or your (my) promises to try harder this year. If your (my) resolve to obey God last year
did not help you (me) to be faithful, it will not make you (me) successful this
year. Jesus asks for your (my)
love. If you (I) truly love Him, your
(my) service for Him in the New Year will be of the quality that He desires.”
I usually don’t make New Year Resolutions so I won’t start
this year, but it is my desire to Love Jesus with my whole heart. That our
ranch will be used for His honor and glory.
I know that I have a lot of changing to do and it should start with
loving Jesus more.
