Today, the final day of this year, is the day to set spiritual goals for 2017.
The real goal is to grow more in love with Jesus throughout the year.

• Prayer - plan a time and place each day where you can meet with the LORD. talking and listening to Jesus in an undistracted setting
• Bible - read God's word each day will feed your spiritual muscles; I have read through the Bible each year for more than 20 years and it keeps me on solid spiritual ground; biblegateway.com has Bible reading plans for reading through the New Testament in a year or the whole Bible
• Serving - using your spiritual gifts by serving others causes you to grow spiritually and depend upon Holy Spirit. Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:8-10 & 28, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:11 list some of the spiritual gifts. Be intentional about serving others in 2017.

Each year I write out my spiritual goals, commit them to the LORD and to a friend.
Finish 2016 strong with a desire to grow more in love with Jesus throughout 2017!

Two weeks after Thanksgiving, I noticed an ornament on one of our pine trees a few hundred yards down the driveway. It was a single, red ornament higher than a tall person could place it on a branch. I thought our daughter had put it there while standing on the running boards of her car. It was not her, but she had noticed it also and was curious who put it there.
 
My daughter’s friend was grilled at church. I was certain it was her. She has denied it, but finds it funny I have charged her with this action as though a crime. I asked our other children and their spouses. Not them.
 
Our next door neighbor was the next suspect. He takes his horse for a ride down our driveway. The height of the ornament would be that of a person atop a horse. Not our neighbor either. Every time I leave and every trip home, I intentionally look at the ornament. Even the windiest days did not blow it off the tree. It is about four inches in diameter and larger than any of the tree ornaments we own. For now, I am filled with a joy over this simple, mysterious gift given.
 
I am reminded of the simple birth of Jesus Christ. God sent His one and only son, Jesus into our world. You may have questions how God put Jesus here. A virgin Mary, a stable, a manger, angels, shepherds and a world that is not deserving.
 
Be filled with joy over the simple gift of Jesus given that whoever believes in Him will never perish, but have eternal life. A profound mystery.

​Today seems like a Monday, because yesterday was a day off of work, but felt like a Saturday and Sunday was Christmas Day. Many people are asking themselves and others, “What day is it today?” Next week will not be any better because New Year’s Eve is Saturday, which means New Year’s Day is Sunday. Most people will have Monday, January 2 as their holiday and will once again be wondering what day it is during most of next week. Not until we reach the second Monday of the month will we get back to a regular rhythm!

The writer of Psalms 90 tells us to number our days; not to keep track of the day of the week. You are to commit your day to the Lord. Jesus has purpose and destiny in your day that could be lost if you are n ot looking for it.

Psalms 90:12
Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.