In roughly twenty minutes from now a new year will begin and I'm not really sure what to think about it. I'm not the one to make new year's resolutions because I know I can't/won't/don't know how to keep them. I can say there's a desire to do things differently, but what does a new year mean? Aren't we just plugging along one day at a time?

To make sure I'm not setting a negative tone here, let me explain that while I'm excited to see another year come, I want to make sure my sights don't go too far out. If I don't hone in on what's right in front of me, I become discouraged and downhearted at my inability to change.

And that's just the point. I cannot change. If anything, I have the capability, to some degree, to regress. My sinful heart isn't going anywhere. Or is it? The Bible tells me that as a believer, I am being changed from one degree of glory to another. I am being transformed into the image of Christ. To feel the mighty hand of God lovingly putting godly pressure on my sin and then lifting me up to the highest peaks of overwhelming joy, is definitely something to get excited about.

Tonight Doug said something in his prayer that I hope will be an encouragement to you. Here's my interpretation: "Lord, we're not going to look back (at the year 2008) and focus on our failures, nor are we going to live in our successes."

May I be quick to repent, in a hurry to obey and always looking at each day as a gift from the One who made me to bring Him glory and enjoy Him forever.

Happy New Year!