Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Once more with feeling Tuesday, January 1, 2008 Galatians 4:4-7 Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Numbers 6:24-27 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. I love that phrase, "fullness of time." I think of harvest, cornucopias of plenty, the full moon, very pregnant mothers, and God. He knows time backwards and forwards. He knows when I am sleeping, He knows when I'm awake. He knows the plans He has for me. Plans to prosper me. Plans to give me hope. Paul wrote, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Time does not stand still. Or does it? With God, "a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day" (2 Peter 3:8). It's easy for me to be overwhelmed and even intimidated by the challenge of beginning again every year. I remember my successes and regret my failures. I reflect on the possibilities in the next year, the next five years. I set some goals. But always I want to remember the context of all these personal thoughts. In the last chapter of the Bible Jesus calls himself "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:13). He blesses and keeps me, shines on me and gives me peace. He has made us his brothers, and His father has become our Father. The kingdom of God is a party, Lord. Happy New Year! "; Add      Edit    Delete