My prayer for you is that 2024 will be a year of blessing from the Lord.
Whatever the year May bring, that you will trust the Lord for His goodness. Joy or sorrow, every year has some of both. The one thing that is certain. God loves you and wants only the best for you.
My favorite verse in the Bible has gotten me through everything in life. Good times and bad.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5 & 6
2023 is almost over. Just a few more days to reflect on this past year. Every year has both joy and sorrow. Maybe this year there was a new birth in your family, or you had a promotion on your job or moved into a new house. Think of the joy that you had this past year.
Then there may have been sorrow, a death in the family that has left a huge hole in your heart, or maybe you lost your job or your house is foreclosed.
Contrasts in life is a normal thing for man. The good news is that there is a new year coming that is like a blank canvas. God will bring some blessings and He may allow some sorrow, but it is always exciting to look forward to the new year and know that God will direct our path if we trust Him.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
If you think about it, it’s a bit strange for someone to put goodies in an old sock. But like many Christmas traditions, the tradition of Christmas stockings comes from an old legend.
A long time ago (so the story goes), a poor man had three daughters and couldn’t afford to give them a dowry (money or goods given to the groom’s family by the bride’s family). In those days, it was very hard for a woman to get married without a dowry. A Christian bishop named Nicholas heard about the problem and wanted to help, but the man refused to accept money. One night, Nicholas threw three balls made of pure gold in through the open window of the man’s house. Each one landed in a stocking hung by the fire to dry. The next morning, each daughter found a gold ball in her stocking. With this bounty, they were all able to get married.
Stockings can remind us of the importance of service. The greatest example of service is Jesus Christ. He always “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
Take some time to think about the Savior’s selfless acts of service. How can you give Christlike service and show kindness to others this Christmas Season?
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
What a wonderful verse to start with for the month of December! God does supply all our needs.
Some people have abundance of money and material things. Others have very little. The Christmas season is a time for giving. It is not the cost of the gifts, it is the gift given from the heart that counts.
A phone call, letter or an invitation for a meal can mean more than the most expensive present in the world. Your time with your friends and family is the most meaningful gift you can give.
God wants the same thing. You can give a large offering, go to church or do some charity work, but the most important thing you can give to God is time to read His word, pray and then tell someone else about His special gift, the Lord Jesus.
Whatever happened in November is now passed. Tomorrow, December 1st is the beginning of the busiest month of the year for some of us.
Mothers preparing gifts for their children for Christmas, grandmothers baking, teachers trying to keep children in order as the holidays approach, businesses having parties and all the other activities that happen in December.
STOP! As you prepare to do all the things to get ready, the most important thing is to keep Christ in Christmas.
Take time every busy day to get alone with God and trust Him with all the plans you are making.
In those plans make room for Jesus. Talk about him to your children. Honor Him by baking a birthday cake for Jesus. Be a testimony to your coworkers at work.
Make December all about Jesus!
John 5:23. That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which sent him.
Our lives can be in chaos. We may have sorrow, sickness, problems. The world around us seems to be falling apart, but in spite of it all we can have peace in our hearts. God gives us peace that passes all understanding.
If you are going through a rough time, ask God to give you peace. You will be amazed at the result when you trust fully in Him.
Center for Evangelists 
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