HAPPY NEW YEAR

            Welcome to the New Year, 2013. As the old year drew to a close there were dire things predicted. First was the widespread publicity concerning the Mayan calendar.  A lot of people believed that the world would end on December 21st, because the 5,000 year old calendar ended on that date. I was not concerned. We know the world will end, or our world will end someday. And we will be translated to heaven to live a blessed and eternal life in the presence of Jesus. My trust in Jesus and His lordship in my life convinced me that, according to scripture, this was the future. I had no fear of the end of the world.

            Then there was the “fiscal cliff.”  The specter of economic upheaval and worsening recession was held before us. This did not trouble me either. I know that tough times come and go. We do not like to struggle financially. But, as one money manager whom I know put it, life will go on. Sometimes we have valleys to negotiate and problems of many kinds confronting us. But this I know. We do not face them alone. We can still claim the promise God made through Isaiah, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2)    

            None of us can predict what will transpire this year in the world or in our personal lives. But whatever may come, we can get through it and rejoice in it because we know that Jesus is with us. He promised His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always.”  Talk of victory, in Him we will have victory in all things.

            So with confidence I wish you a Happy New Year.

Grace and peace.