January 2024 | Time Marches On

​Times Marches On!

I heard a friend comment about listening to the tick of the clock in an otherwise  silent house one night. He told me that each tick said, “You’re older, You’re older, You’re older!” The more he thought about this, the more depressed he became.    Finally, he removed the batteries and peace entered the home again.

As we celebrate the coming of the new year, it comes with mixed feelings. Even though we are excited about the coming year, we realize that we are another year older and we have no idea what is in store for the next 365 days. We can never go back to the good behind us and we do not know how many days we have ahead or the circumstances of the days that are  before us.

For many, the New Year symbolizes new hopes, dreams, and opportunities. Why then do many of us fall back into the same old ruts and patterns of the previous year? This year, let us say, with the Apostle Paul, “Since we have been raised with Christ, let us set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2)”    Instead of setting resolutions about what we will do and will not do, let’s resolve to set our minds to things of God. In 2024, let us consider what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and change our thinking rather than just our doing.

“Be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).” Once our minds are transformed, our actions will follow. In this New Year, instead of filling our heads with things that we cannot fix (like getting older), things we cannot change (by worry), are not helpful (critical or negative thoughts), and are not healthy (violent or offensive images and ideas). Let us think about things that are good, true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. If anything is   excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Pastor Jenni Piatt