It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – New Year

Christmas was wonderful. Some insane family time and some quieter time with smaller groups of family and with Shah and Zoya.
But my favorite time of the year is not just Christmas Day, it is the week between Christmas and New Years Day. This is the week I note and celebrate all that has happened and all that God has done in the past year and I plan for the next year.
I don’t so much set resolutions as goals, theme verses, and generally try to listen to God for guidance. For example, I’ve never set a resolution to work out or loose weight, but I have had goals to practice hospitality, and decided to measure that by number of dinner parties. The year I met Shah and got engaged was the year I felt having a long term relationship should be a goal for the year. Some of these are goals to act upon, others are goals to pray towards.
Last year, I thought this year’s word was stability and though the year started crazily and we’ve had a lot of changes it is finally more stable than its been in years.
I’m looking forward to taking some time and preparing for 2016. An annual trip to a coffee shop is probably in order. Also, some journaling, Bible reading and sermon listening. This is the time of year, I am most attentive to hear God’s voice. To be honest, I’m a little nervous about what He might be telling me for next year, but closing my ears won’t make it any different. So let the listening season begin.