Tuesday, January 3, 2012

What's new?

Every year at around the same time (NOW), we all, in some form, begin to reminisce over the year behind us & look towards the year ahead. I say, "in some form", because this can, and does, look different for each of us. We have all trod different paths in 2011, and we are all taking slightly different ones in 2012. The beauty of the word "slightly" is wondrous as believers & followers of Jesus Christ. Though each of our paths may be "slightly" different, we are each on the same journey of sanctification...TO KNOW AND BE MORE LIKE CHRIST! Where will your path take you this year? Every Tuesday morning I receive insight from a fellow leader in the local church, Jason Hatley of The Journey Church. Here's what he had to say about the importance of looking back that ultimately leads forward...

"With the end of 2011 just days away, many of us are already turning the calendars in our minds to 2012. Good idea, right?

Wrong!

Let me explain . . . There's nothing wrong with looking ahead, but the problem is that many may be forgetting one of the most important year-end rituals -- wrapping up this year before you move on to the next. That's right . . . like any good worship service it's not over until it's been properly evaluated and debriefed.

One of the things that I do each year is a year-end evaluation. It's an incredibly powerful process and I want to share part of it with you today.

You see there is a leadership principle that far too few people practice these days -- the Principle of Reflection.

John Maxwell says that, "The greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness." That's certainly true this time of year. We become so busy moving on that we neglect to take time to think, reflect, and evaluate how things went this year, and what we can learn from that to make next year better.

So as we head down the homestretch of 2011, reflect on this.


First of all, it will remind you of what God has done in your life this year. Like the Israelites, you and I need to be reminded of all that God has done for us so we can be grateful and remain faithful.

It will also give you a clear picture of where you are and how far you've come in the last year. How did you do at overcoming your biggest challenges this past year, and how is God growing you?

One of the great tragedies of life would be to reach the end of a year, look back and realize you are the same person today that you were a year ago. A year wasted, fighting the same battles, dealing with the same struggles. Like Sisyphus, the king from Greek mythology who was punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll down again, and to repeat this for eternity.

That's not what you want, not what I want, and certainly not what God wants.

So, before this year is over, let's see what we can learn from it."


Blessings to you & yours in 2012!

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