Greetings brethren and Happy Sabbath! I hope this note finds you well. Just a reminder that we will have Sabbath School after services tomorrow in Charlotte.

What’s important

As the year draws to an end, we often find ourselves being inundated with pagan holidays like Christmas and New Year’s. Trying to avoid the music, the parties and frankly, all discussion of these things is nearly a full time job.

There is one aspect to the end of the year though I think we can appreciate.  As a simple place marker, the end of the calendar year (along with the typical break from work and school) give us a little extra time to think on important events that occurred over the past twelve months.

What happened?

For us, we experienced a few milestones.  Our youngest moved off to college, our oldest got married and we enjoyed a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City Beach.

Of course, along with the highlights, there were some lowlights.  My wife’s ongoing illness, challenges with the new website and the recent passing of our Aunt Jenny.

Keeping the right focus

Looking at all of the events of the past year can be a good thing to do, but only if it is a fruitful exercise.  So how to we go about making this a worthwhile endeavour?

Simply put, all that happens to us, should help sharpen our focus on the future, namely, the Kingdom of God. How do the events - and the feelings you experienced during them - shape your outlook for the Kingdom? 

I hope over the next week or so, you can take some time to reflect on this past year.  As you do, remember to review the past in such a way that it helps you focus on the brilliant future Christ is bringing at His return!