He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev. 21:5)
My daughter is a first-grade teacher. She is a great teacher following in the line of many great teachers including her mother and my own. What makes her such a great teacher is her love for her children combined with her tireless effort to go the extra mile. (Thank you to all you like-hearted teachers!)
This past season of advent she introduced her class to their very own “Elf on the Shelf”. A stuffed elf is introduced to the children and then placed on a certain shelf in the classroom. Every day they enter the classroom they find that the elf is in a new spot! I loved hearing her describe how each day the children would get settled into their seats only to immediately begin searching for the elf on the shelf.
My daughter explains how looking for the elf is what we are called to do during the advent season as we look for Jesus’ return.
One week my daughter took two personal days and the elf didn’t get moved. On her third day she realized she hadn’t moved it. So, when the kids left with their PE teacher, she took a moment to move it to a new location. Sure enough, the kids returned from PE and immediately recognized that the elf moved while they were gone to PE. With childlike amazement and wonderment her kids were filled with excitement!
As my daughter shared this story with us, I was struck with the lesson for us “bigger kids” as we enter into a new year. The scriptures tell us that the Lord’s blessings are new every morning. Every day, every week, every month, and every year we have a God who is on the move. He shows up in new ways and in new places of our lives.
As you begin to settle into this new year are you eagerly looking for where He will show up next? Are you amazed? Will you pause in wonderment at His presence? He is on the move to bring about 365 new blessings to you in this new year.
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev. 21:5)
Prayer
Dear Jesus, we face a new year and we face new opportunities. And we have promise from You, new blessings each and every day.
We know that You will be with us and You will go with us through each one of these days. Would You please help us to keep our eyes open, to be looking with anticipation, with childlike wonderment and amazement, at all at the things that You do, and the ways that You move, that we would be able to recognize all the blessings that You have in store for us this year.
Help us to trust You as we continue to follow You, as we continue to experience the change You are working in our lives. And as we continue to live out committed lives to the mission that you lead us on. We thank You for this new year and this new opportunity for another 365 days to follow and serve You. And it’s in Your precious and Holy name that we pray. Amen
Thank you for sharing this message as we enter a New Year. I have been contimplating on choosing a word for this year and this message brought it home and led me to the word MOVE. May we take time to celebrate how God moves in both big and small ways…and, in the process, may we be moved to find ways to grow closer to him and go and make disciples of all nations so that others see God move through us. Peace to you all this New Year!
Thank you, Chris, for reminding us that God is with us always!
Pastor Dave Bottorff
What a wonderful way to see Jesus, I have participated in Elf on a shelf, when my daughter would forget to move him, I would run to her house. Waking up every morning for 365 days looking for Jesus sounds so exciting! This is going to be a fun year! Thank you for this adventure.