Time surely does fly, can you believe it is time to ring out the old and ring in the new, to celebrate the past year and look forward to the coming one? The beginning of a New Year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings.  Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5)  he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them in light of what God had told them.  It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

As I reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the year that lies ahead, I reviewed the questions that I asked myself at the start of 2008.  I can honestly say that looking back over the past year I can see how I've grown closer to God; prayers were answered and I spent more time with Him.  I did not stress about breaking one of my New Year's resolutions because I did not make any.  So again this yea, I find myself prayerfully asking the same questions, and would encourage you to do the same.

What's one thing I could do this year to increase God's kingdom?
What's the single biggest time waster in my life and what will I do about it this year?
For whose salvation will I pray most fervently for this year?
What is the most helpful new way I could strengthen Sunday School?
What one thing could I do to improve my prayer life this year?
What can I do this year that will matter most in 10 years?  In eternity?
What can I do to be a blessing to my Pastor?
Who can I most encourage this year?
What can I do to strengthen Monumental Baptist Church?