Family members have returned home…
Advent candles have all been lit and extinguished…
Christmas programs are completed…
Christmas decorations packed away for another year…
Leftovers from family meals are all consumed and the fridge is bare… (In fact, I’ve begun dieting, since all I got for Christmas was fat!)
Presents have found a new home somewhere around the house…
Signs of Christmas-present have become Christmas-past…
But, my heart has been warmed.
Any time I get to spend with these “treasures” is a delight to my soul…
This morning, I start turning my mind toward a new year. Many have traditions they love for “bringing in the baby…” Some will party until the ball drops in Times Square (or on into the wee hours of the morning), some will plan, some will ponder. In the past, I’ve just gone to bed. However, before I do, I always have a little tradition of working through a few questions. I’ve posted them before, but since it was a few years ago, here they are again for “pondering”:
Turning to 2016…
What will I do Monday through Friday to intentionally do these things?
This year, after I have pondered out the old, I’m praying in 2016. Along with the above questions (which I will still ponder), I’m intentionally going away to do some strategic battle…just me, along with a friend (a silent retreat of sorts). I sense a lot of change in this coming year, and my heart tells me it is BIG. I want to make sure I’m suited up with the proper armor and that my sword is sharp. To be honest, I’ve sensed lately that I’ve lost passion….my cutting edge… I’ve gotten too comfortable. I’ve been productive, serving the Lord, doing the “work” for the Kingdom, but somewhere along the way the flame has been dimmed. Prayer revives that passion. I’m not worried about it, even Timothy (Paul’s prodigy) needed his flame fanned from time to time. Paul reminded him to be intentional to see to taking care of that little flame regularly (For this reason, I remind you to keep fanning into flame the gift of God…which is in you…2 Timothy 1:6). Neither Tim or I can do anything more about reviving passion than pray (because passion, like faith, is a gift of God). So, pray I will…and lean into this promise through the lips of Hosea, the prophet:
