MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN 2016

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

“An optimist says up until midnight to see the New Year in.
A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”¹

The Pessimist:
Let’s leave 2015 behind as quickly as possible and watch the ball drop at Times Square to make sure this year departs. It’s been a year of turmoil, strife, violence, loss, an increase in acceptance and tolerance of immoral behavior, and a challenge to our Christian faith. Why would we want to hold onto it? Just “drop the ball” and start off anew on January 1st, 2016.

The Optimist:
Let’s reflect on 2015: A year of turmoil, strife, violence, loss, an increase in acceptance and tolerance of immoral behavior, and a challenge to our Christian faith—during which times many demonstrated courage, empathy, charity, forgiveness, compassion, sacrifice, and great faith. It has been a year where we were called to stand for what we believe in, both publicly and privately. The ball may “drop” to end 2015, but what we learned this year should be carried into 2016. We cannot start anew. We must start where we left off and make use of the lessons of 2015 to build up our faith, our courage, our empathy, our charity, our forgiveness, our compassion, and our willingness to make sacrifices for the Lord.

The Pessimist: I am only one. What can I do to make a difference?
The Optimist: I am the one. “I must be the change I wish to see in the world” (Gandhi)—and in myself.

“Do I dare Disturb the universe?”― T.S. Eliot
“In a gentle way, [I] can shake the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
― Edward Everett Hale
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
― Jimmy Carter

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – James 5:16

A new year awaits us. Let us go to our “war rooms” and pray with due diligence to be stronger in our trust in God, wiser in our actions by His guidance, and bolder in our decisions to make a difference for the Lord.

I AM MORE THAN ONE—WITH THE LORD.

 ¹Bill Vaughan

(Sharon G. Tate blog 12/27/15) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word