“And it came to pass”  is a common phrase used in the Old Testament which could be expressed today as “ Once upon a time”.   It helps us refer back in time and reference events.   The New Year’s celebration helps us in a similar way.  We pause to take time to look back to the past year.  This is important because it helps process the events of this past year.  For most people the past year was filled with both good and bad events.

  As we remember the challenges of the past year we need to put those events into words – either by words we speak to some other person or words that we write on paper or computer.  This helps the past events to pass.  Everything comes to pass – no matter how difficult.   We need to not dwell in the past, rather we need to move on.   Only as we process the past does this happen.  To process the past we need to put into words our feelings about what has happened.  And we need to share them in some way.   This helps us understand what has happened.  We may never know why it has happened. 

To know why something has happened we need the prospective of time.  Sometimes it becomes evident-sometimes it does not.   We must be willing to move on and do the next thing.  We must understand that God does not cause us pain to test us.  Things happen.  However, God is with us in the midst of the pain-usually through others.  And through pain we can grow. 

We need to understand the good things of the past year.   Accept the good and celebrate it.     Knowing and understanding what works helps us to keep it coming.   We could also share the good with others.

The New Year is an opportunity to evaluate the past and find direction for the coming year.

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“And it came to pass”  is a common phrase used in the Old Testament which could be expressed today as “ Once upon a time”.   It helps us refer back in time and reference events.   The New Year’s celebration helps us in a similar way.  We pause to take time to look back to the past year.  This is important because it helps process the events of this past year.  For most people the past year was filled with both good and bad events.

  As we remember the challenges of the past year we need to put those events into words – either by words we speak to some other person or words that we write on paper or computer.  This helps the past events to pass.  Everything comes to pass – no matter how difficult.   We need to not dwell in the past, rather we need to move on.   Only as we process the past does this happen.  To process the past we need to put into words our feelings about what has happened.  And we need to share them in some way.   This helps us understand what has happened.  We may never know why it has happened. 

To know why something has happened we need the prospective of time.  Sometimes it becomes evident-sometimes it does not.   We must be willing to move on and do the next thing.  We must understand that God does not cause us pain to test us.  Things happen.  However, God is with us in the midst of the pain-usually through others.  And through pain we can grow. 

We need to understand the good things of the past year.   Accept the good and celebrate it.     Knowing and understanding what works helps us to keep it coming.   We could also share the good with others.

The New Year is an opportunity to evaluate the past and find direction for the coming year.

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