Before you say ‘good bye’ to 2014 …        

There is a time for everything and a season for every                                                                        activity under Heaven~

. . . a time to plant, and a time to uproot                                                                                                           . . . a time to tear down, and a time to build                                                                                                      . . . a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them                                                                                  . . . a time to keep, and a time to throw away                                                                                                     . . . a time to be silent, and a time to speak. from Ecclesiastes 3

How eloquent are the words of the philosophical writer of Ecclesiastes.                                                                                                The close of each year brings opportunity for each of us--                                                                       "a season to", "a time to" consider—yes, and examine.  Socrates said,                                                             The unexamined life is not worth living. A strong statement, to be sure,                                                             but does he not drive home a very important point? 

Before the last box of the calendar is marked, could you                                                                            take a few minutes to consider 2014? Before thinking of                                                                     where you would like to go in 2015, where have you been in 1-4?

What were the highlights, the joys for you? ___________________                                    ____________________________________________________

Count your blessings, dear one~ _____________________________                                                ____________________________________________________

Look around you even now--what are your blessings? ______________                                ____________________________________________________

How about the struggles, the trials of this last year--'those which                                                                       caused great pain or loss? _________________________________                                                        ____________________________________________________

How did you grow in 2014, what new things did you learn?                                                                     (might be related to the struggles you faced) ___________________                                ____________________________________________________

Opportunities you missed, wish you had back? ____________________                                    _____________________________________________________

New relationships you have formed this year? ___________________                                    _____________________________________________________

Now, look back at the ‘season to’ verses--are there things you need                                                                 to 'uproot', things you need to "throw away"? ____________________                                    _____________________________________________________

Are there things that you would like to build upon? ________________                                        _____________________________________________________

There is so much value in considering where we've been, and what we have                                                 experienced, before forging into a new season.  For so many years, I did not                                                         look back to take stock of highs, lows, things I might have changed, or at                                                             the great joys of the year, or thank God for how he sustained me through it                                                        all.   So, I'm going to print this out for myself, and take a little time to reflect.                                                      I pray that you might do the same!

[note: This is formatted in such a way that it may be cut and pasted in a journal or                                                         notebook.  O, do take time to examine your life, your year, before entering a new one.                                                         In doing so, there is much gain.]   Amen.

Christine