Rejoice, Its a New Year

It was early to bed last night, and after being awakened at midnight by the noise of many fireworks, it was back to sleep and waking up this morning refreshed and happy that a new year has begun.  It's a day to rejoice for these reasons:

a fresh new start

the days are getting longer

Spring is coming

most of all, for Christians each day is one day closer to the Lord Jesus Christ's return

for myself and my husband perhaps the Lord will lead us to a church that holds to the old paths.  (Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...).

I don't have many goals but one of them is to eat healthier, mostly fruits and vegetables and no beef and another is to go for a walk everyday as I really need more exercise.

The old year and all of its trials and troubles are gone and Philippians 3:13,20 are perfect verses:

".....this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Below is a beautiful sunrise, taken from our front yard.  A new day, and a new year has begun.

Jeremiah 6:16 - Ask for the Old Paths

In this world of Christian compromise, I am compelled to make this post.

 

Follow the Path

Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

My husband and I love to go on drives.  One day we went to North Vancouver and on the way back, we stopped at a place called Lighthouse Park.  My husband had never been there and I had only been once many years before.

We parked the car and started down a path which led into a deep forest for about a mile.  There were large cedar trees, lots of ferns, you couldn't see the sky it was so dense. The path was well marked, sometimes it went uphill and sometimes downhill, sometimes easy, sometimes hard. Along the way a trail went to the left where we watched a girl go off by herself and thought that quite foolish. A little further along we could hear the sound of laughter to the right, and wondered who was there. All along the way were benches where one could rest on their journey. As we neared the end we could see bright sunlight and the ocean, and then, finally a beautiful lighthouse, guarded by a house where gardens bloomed and vegetables grew in the strong sunlight. The difference in the light and temperature were amazing.

Thinking back on our little walk I thought of how much it is like our journey to being with the Lord. There are hills to climb, and valleys we go down into, and every now and then the path is level and easy. The benches are like our times of rest the Lord gives us between our trials and temptations. The girl going off by herself was like the person who gives way to temptation and goes off on their own with no doubt, consequences to bear. The laughter was like the world enticing us, but by His strength, we continue on our journey. Reaching the sunshine, the gardens and the lighthouse, was like reaching our heavenly home, the glory of the Son and the riches of heaven just waiting for us.

When we started our journey, husband carried a big stick because there could be bears in the area and old memories still haunt him. But about halfway through our journey he threw the stick away and continued on. To me that was like our fears as we journey on our Christian walk but when we overcome our fear and trust the Lord to protect us along the way, we believe that as we walk with Him, He will bring us home.