Well here we are . . . January 1, 2015. A brand new year. The church I grew up in would always have a New Year's Eve party called a "Watch Party". What I remember most was everyone's excitement as we nibbled on snacks, played games, sang songs, and waited. I honestly don't remember exactly what we did at the stroke of midnight but being in church, I doubt we kissed everyone like they do in the movies!
One particular Watch Party I remember was when my own children were young and we were at a small church in a small town just south of Pittsburg, Kansas. At the time, I was the Sunday School teacher for the children ages 4-6. I always loved teaching Sunday School but I never considered myself a children's teacher. I considered myself - then and now - to be more of a teacher of adults. But, as I said, I taught the children and I knew they were learning. They seemed to soak up the Bible lessons like little sponges.
At one point during that party, the adults were playing Bible Trivia but were missing a lot of questions. Many of my little ones would whisper the answers and finally the adults began to notice. The children all wanted to play so we challenged the adults to a Bible Trivia game. The adults chuckled at the thought of playing Bible Trivia against the children but eventually they were convinced to do so.
The game was on! It was the adults versus the 4-6 year old, plus a couple of 7year old children. Of course the adults answered many questions but it soon became apparent that the children were also answering as many as the adults. Then the score for the children passed the adults score. The adults started trying harder but to no avail. After the children won the first round, the adults wanted a rematch. How funny! The adults were threatened by my little ones!
The rematch started and the children were so excited that their memories seemed more heightened as they answered correctly question after question. However, the adults seemed more and more nervous. Again it was the little ones who won the game! Now realize that there were no adults on the children's team and no prompting of the children by an adult. They won their two games fair and square. The children were elated and the adults were shocked but also proud of their children or grandchildren.
I have to tell you of one little boy who was asked the following question: "Who lost his strength when he lost his hair?" The little boy squirmed, placed his hand on his head, started slapping his knee and squealed, "Oh! Oh! I know what he looks like but I can't think of his name" Finally he yelled, "SAMSON! He was Samson!" He was so cute to watch and his answer was right.
Of course I felt a sense of accomplishment. I must have been a great teacher after all! That stayed with me until years later when I realized I wasn't quite the teacher I thought I was. Oh, the children did learn the Bible. That part is true but there was definitely another part of my teaching that seemed to stay with them even more, at least with the little girls. When my daughter was in her teens, we lived in Pittsburg, Kansas, and several of the girls from that early childhood Sunday School class were also in Pittsburg. One day, two or three of the girls were visiting with my daughter and they started talking about the class when they were little. They said they could vividly remember me as their teacher. When I asked what they remembered most, it certainly was not one or even two of the Bible lessons. They all agreed that what they remembered most was that I taught them to sit with their knees together because they all wore dresses and were little ladies. I had to laugh. We all laughed! What a funny thing to remember after all those years and yet every single girl said they never forgot that lesson. Maybe I wasn't the best Sunday School teacher after all, but had there been an award for teaching manners and etiquette, I'm sure I would have won!
The New Year always brings its' traditions. The party, resolutions, wishing everyone Happy New Year, and more. I decided this year I am absolutely NOT making any New Year's resolutions. I always break them so I'm not making them. You may or may not recognize some of these from your own past but here are some of the ones I've broken:
- Go on a diet . . . I usually break that one around January 2nd.
- Exercise more . . . I would but I can't remember what the word "exercise" means so that resolution means nothing.
- Get organized . . . I break that one on January 1st because I already know what is in each little pile of things either on my table or in my drawers so isn't that already being organized?
- Quit telling the same stories at every get together . . . that is an easy one except I forget which stories I've told until everyone joins in one voice and says, "We know! You've already told us!" Resolution broken.
- Get to bed earlier . . . I already go to bed early, usually around 1:00 a.m. I guess I could try for 12:30 a.m. That would be earlier, wouldn't it?
- Pray more . . . I pray throughout the day so maybe I should pray more formal prayers at a set time. I started to pray about that early this morning when I went to bed, but I fell asleep before I finished my prayer so I think I already broke that one.
- Read my Bible all the way through this year . . . actually, I also listen to an online audio Bible through Bible Gateway. Does that count at least a bit?
- I will always "check for paper" when leaving the restroom.
- I will always replace the gas nozzle before driving away from the pump.
- I will try to drive closer to the speed limit. (does that mean they have to slow down or speed up?)
- I will work harder at my hobbies. (if you have to work at a hobby, is it still a fun hobby, or just work?)
- I will not talk on my cell phone when in the bathroom.
For me, it is a matter of trusting God more, turning to Him more. I know I will fail at things on my own whether I call them resolutions or promises. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do" (Romans 7:15). This verse alone explains why my own resolutions cause me to fail. If I take it upon myself to change then usually at a most inopportune time, I simply don't do what I want to do or I do what I don't want to do. However, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2) and with Him I can be stronger, more resolved, better equipped to do His will.
A couple of years ago in my former church, a young man nearly died from an accident at work. It was so very close but he knew God had spared his life. When we were talking about it he asked me how he could know what God wanted for his life in the future. My answer was simple and maybe too simple for what he wanted but I still believe it. All we have to do is what God wants us to do today. That's it. Everyday is "today" when we awaken to a new dawn so every "today" we do what God wants. Then in one year, five years, or somewhere in our future, we will be doing what God wants because it will still be "today" again. We will however, be able to look back and see where God has brought us and understand that He led us through all things during those years to be where He wants us.
Sometimes one may think I am too simplistic in the way I say or explain things. But, I think sometimes we - being human - try to make things too mysterious, or esoteric, by using too many definitions and too many words to describe things about which we actually know very little. Why do we use such long-winded explanations to simply say that Jesus loves us and wants us to recognize Him and know Him as our Lord? We are told in Colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men". "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)
As I said to my Facebook friends, it isn't about what our future holds for us, it is all about Who holds our future. May we all be willing to place our hearts, our love, our trust in God's hands.
Happy New Year 2015 . . .
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
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Father God, thank You for this new year. I know Your Word says that Your mercies are new every morning. May we place our trust and our hearts in Your mercies every morning, every new day. May we allow You to make us who You want us to be for Your glory only. Thank you, my Lord and my God! In Jesus Name!
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