Come with me, into this new year, 2023. Somehow, it’s like standing on the precipice of a high cliff. Regardless of what 2022 was like, this moment, with one year gone and the other brand new, belongs to each of us. We can look back and remember the happy things, the special people and the peaceful, tranquil times; or we can look back at sorrow, anger and the troubled, anxious times.

As we stand on that precipice, we realize that it is up to us how we look back.

For me, I know I must walk daily with memories. I must choose to dwell on the good ones rather than those best forgotten. I hope all of you do too. But, as we stand on the precipice , we try to look ahead; and it’s almost like looking into the fog we’ve experienced lately. We can’t see 2023 clearly at all.

Again, though, we can choose to dwell on the good things if we wish. Henry Ware once said, “the shaping of our own life is our own work. It will be a thing of beauty, or a thing of shame, as we ourselves make it.

As we peer into the fog of 2023, we know there will be a time for many things. That’s how life is. There will be a creative time when we will build. The building might be as simple as a new friendship. There will be times of emotion too, the times when laughing is at one end and crying on the other. There will be times when your faith swings high and times when there doesn’t seem to be very much faith at all.

Oh, and there will be both beauty and unpleasantness. There will be cool breezes, golden sunshine, rippling brooks, mountains, trees and skies, nights of sweet sleep and happy dreams. And there will be the soft touch of love.

But there will be dark, stormy skies, sharp tongues, restless nights too. But, perhaps in this New Year, we will have a moment of truth when we discover a new self we did not know. Maybe we will learn that a little courage will melt sway fear and that a smile will wipe away a tear.

As we stand there on this high cliff, we know that we are going to make some new tracks on the pages of a brand new book. Some of you will step out on the page, armed with a sheet filled with new year’s resolutions you probably won’t keep. Anyhow, I hope that all of you will walk confidently holding God’s hand and dwell on the good things of life.

We wonder, don’t we? With all the murders and other crimes happening all around us, our babies being killed or stolen, and right and left fighting like mad, it’s kinda hard to think a happy new year is just ahead of us, But, if we stand up always for truth, God will change what we have now into a new and right country. It seems it’s all up to us. I am sure God wants us to stand up for right wherever wrong sticks out it’s ugly head. Don’t you think so?

I’d like to tell you about an answer to prayer I had just yesterday, you know, that hot and heavy wind storm we had. I had a very unusual thing happen a couple of weeks ago. During the last year I had two trees fall in our yard. We, my son and I, called our home insurance company and they answered us quickly, A short time ago the insurance guy called to tell me they had dropped my insurance! I am sure I have paid them lots of money since I have carried this policy over 50 years! But, I guess that makes no difference. My son has called many insurance companies and none of them will cover me. So I entered that storm without any insurance. I prayed and God answered my many prayers. Though my yard looks like a tornado has struck it, nothing has fallen on our house! There is just some small limbs and other small stuff on our yard. I know God took care of me and my son and my house and property. We have been told that if we cut a few trees down and trim other trees, one company will cover us. That will be done next week.

It does seem that insurance companies are wrong. It should be that if you need it, they will be with you. But God will be with you no matter when we really need it. I have had many answers to prayer, and I am so grateful for each of them. Why don’t you try it. Of course, you must know him first.

I believe there will be a good new year. I gave heard many good things. If we trust in God and follow Him who always believes in truth, it’s bounds to be a happy 1923. So, Happy New Year everyone!