Time Marches On....

By Gobel Brockman


I have a tendency to get reflective at certain times of the year. Birthdays and anniversaries usually cause me to think back and remember things, with most of the memories being good. New Year's Eve is probably the biggest one of all. I always think through each month, remembering the good and the bad. I won't bore you with the details, but 2013 was, simply put, one of the best years I've had in a while. There were a lot of unexpected and undeserved blessings that came my way, and all I can do is lift my head and my voice and thank God for each and every one. I want to encourage you to take a moment today and reflect on all the good things that have happened to you this year, and may you give thanks to Him as well.

I realize, however, that for some this may have been a difficult year. Sickness, death of loved ones and a host of other issues may have came your way. If so I pray that God's peace will be yours. Which leads me to what I want to talk about today:

2014.

I'm neither priest nor prophet. I cannot tell you what lies ahead for us. Some of us may have a year that will blow our mind - in a good way. Some of us may face pain, loss or uncertainty that we have never known before. It's always a mystery in January what will happen in our lives by the time we get to December. Which is why I usually fall back on Hebrews 11:6 at this time of year:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

What that says to me is that regardless of what comes my way in 2014 - good or bad - I need to seek God and believe that He has my best in mind. My prayer is that I will praise Him in the good and trust Him in the bad. That is my prayer for you as well. May we live 2014 in a way that honors God and trusts Him in every situation. I hope that each of you experience a lot of joy in this new year. For those who face pain or loss, may you allow God to prove His sustaining power to you. May all of us strive to get closer to Jesus than we are right now.

May 2014 be a blessed year for you all. If you put God first in every situation, it will be, regardless of what happens.