A New Year or Another Year

I do hope and pray that 2009 will be a NEW year!
I know that it is going to be another year, but whether or not it will be NEW is yet to be seen.
I can truly get excited about the prospects of a NEW year. Just having another year, however,
doesn't do much for me.
Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful to God to see another year and am thankful for His protection
and sustaining blessings. I do realize that there will be new experiences for me and my
family during this year, but I'm looking for something more. A New Year!
A newly discovered, deeper relationship with my wife. A new vision for and connection with my
children (some of whom are stepping into young adulthood). A new life for our Church. One that
is of more impact and effective. One that causes all of us who are involved to believe that we
are riding and not pushing what God is doing. A new and fresh walk with God. One that causes me
to discover more about myself and more about my God.
This all sounds good but we all know that talking about it doesn't make it NEW. In order to avoid
just another year, we must determine to live out some new routines.
If we listen to the same people, go to the same places, read the same kind of books, eat the same things,
do the same things, treat each other the same way, then as you would guess; it will be just another year and not really a NEW year.
Let me encourage you to chart a new course this year. One that takes you out of your comfort zone
just a bit. One that would lead you to a richer relationship with those who have been in your life for
a long time. One that will cause you to discover a new found strength within yourself. One that
will cause you to look back in twelve months and declare 2009 was a NEW YEAR!