The year ends, some call it horrible, a trying year. I call it a teaching year. Did we really put our money where our mouths were? Did we really flip over the rocks and look for hidden blessings? Did we help over hinder? Did we focus on things above? I didn’t always, but I tried. Let’s hope 2021 is not a trying year but a year of trying even harder in whatever we do, working at it with all our hearts, as working for the Lord….

Let’s reflect on NOT the year but the opportunities. Let’s think about what worked out and what didn’t. Learn from our past but then let it go and don’t glory in our glory or gloom in our gloom. Tomorrow isn’t today – focus on today. Yesterday isn’t today – focus on today.

Above all, focus all on all above.

Don’t look to 2021 as a focus ahead as much as focusing on the Lord ABOVE.  There WILL BE challenges in 2021. I know that we cannot avoid earthly pain. But as a friend once told me, life has valleys, but you don’t have to stay there.

I often wonder about my older family members their health and hard decisions and then remember to take one day at a time. I wonder about my children and their futures and then remember to take one day at a time and to keep going, best I can for them, nesting and resting and investing time into them and their future.

In 2020 hindsight, wouldn’t we all have been better each time we focused on things above. Heaven’s call to pause, pray and PRAISE takes the sting out of earthly life, allowing us to see, stand and SING.

Let us chime in 2021 as a year for Christ. He is the model for us. We think we have so much to focus on, forgive and figure out, but God has ALREADY gone ahead of us, to win our battles. Praise Him and in 2021 walk the lighted path that only He will blaze. It will be a path leading ABOVE.

Amen

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Living as Those Made Alive in Christ (Paul to Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17, 23)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ……

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …..

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…