The end of the year: a time to examine ourselves...

The year 2005 is reaching its end. One more year... so, how did it go? What was this year like? Was it a good year? Or maybe a year to forget? What made it great? Or what made it so bad? I could even ask: what made it the same as last year? Do you wake up every morning excited about God's plan for that day? or do you just wake up, do your job, eat and then go to sleep? I believe the end of the year is always a good year to make a pause and evaluate your whole life. It's a great time to ask the Lord, yourself and other people to examine what you've done this year. However, the idea is not to feel guilty or miserable... I don't think God wants you to feel that way. Even if we've messed up. It's just a time to make changes and to make them happen! It's a time to straighten your path. A time to humble yourself before God and seek Him.
So I wanted to have you consider four different aspects of your life:

• Your personal relation with JC (Psalm 25:14)

Has it been regular? Do you feel closer to Him than any other time in your life? Do I have time for Him? Or am I too busy? Do I know him better? Not just know stuff about him, but to actually know and trust him, the way He is. Please, let us not feel down... the only purpose of this is to make the appropraite changes.

• Your family life (1 Tim. 3:4-5 ; 5:8)

How's your relationship with your spouse? Is he or she your best friend? Are you a servant in your house? Do you spend enough time with your children? How often do you pray together? Is your family growing stronger?

• Your character (1 Tim 4:15-16)

Is it better? worse? or the same? Are you still growing spritually? Do other people see your progress? It's OK if we struggle sometimes but the most important thing is our attitude. Are we conscioussly fighting to improve?

• Your work (1 Tim 4:6,10)

Are you doing the right thing? Are you doing it well? Are you constantly improving? Are you working as a team?

These are just some areas we can consider. I bet there are many more we can think about. So again, let's throw ourselves into God's open arms and let us rest in his grace and love.