One of my favorite Pastors Jack Hayford has a very insightful comment about the last week of the year. I read this in his book, Come & Behold Him! I thought you might be blessed by it as well!

The LAST week of each year tends to become the LOST week.

Have you noticed? Once we turn the corner of Christmas, everything blurs. From December 26 to January 2 we slip into a state of “hyper-holiday suspended animation.” As far as truly fruitful living is concerned, we might as well have spent the week on Mars.

I’ve prepared a list of suggested activities to allow you to keep enjoying the sprit of the holidays, while still making solid use of those transitional days. Lord willing, these suggestions will help keep the blur out and the focus in! This week - call it “Countdown Week” as we approach the New Year – you might give a day or a part of one to any or all of the following.

1. FAST AND PRAY

Skip a meal (or two or three) and seek the Lord. This isn’t a “religious” exercise, it’s a realistic one. It prioritizes seeking His face, observes a proven, powerful, spiritual discipline and (for some of us) breaks the “feast” routine of the season. Give your body, soul, and spirit a break!

2. READ A LARGE BOOK IN THE BIBLE

Get a running start on your goal of reading through the Word in the New Year. It takes about three to four minutes to thoroughly read an average page in the Bible. Take two to four hours and read a Bible book all the way through. Pick your own size book, take an evening or afternoon, and feast there! (Be sure to pick up a Bible Reading Guide for 2011 at First Church this Sunday too!)

3. UNDRESS THE HOUSE

Many of us celebrate Christmas with festive décor and few (if any) surpass what my wife does at our place! Some years ago we learned the wisdom (at least for us!) of getting the Christmas dressings “undressed” by New Year’s Day. It puts a fresh face on everything and emotionally gears you to walk into the year without feeling you’re already behind-still trying to finish off the old one.

4. SEND THANK-YOU NOTES AND LETTERS.

Don’t be forgetful of a commonly neglected but much-appreciated practice. The briefest note of thanks or letter of warmth and love at this season speaks volumes! Take the time necessary. Let people know you appreciate them … and their gift, too.

5. SET ASIDE TIME FOR “FULLNESS”

As appropriate as holiday celebration is, it’s very natural to find yourself drained by all the action and activity. A dullness or listless apathy may besiege the soul at this time of year, unless…unless we seek the Lord for a refreshing and refilling of His Spirit. Be sure to join us for Sunday Worship at 10:45 this Sunday December 26!

6. SUMMARIZE…ORGANIZE.

Loose ends tend to fly in the breeze as year-end winds blow. Take a couple hours, sit down with a notebook, and ask the Lord to help you think of things which need to be tabulated for future action. Pay special attention to those nagging, left-over, still-to-do things from last year’s list. Who wants to drag a cloud of unease and uncertainty into the bright, fresh days of the new year? Zeroing in on these long-neglected items can help blow the fog away as you step over the threshold of January 1. No, we will never get everything done. But somehow, just knowing what is left and listing it on paper gives a sense of completion and closure. It’s an act that removes guilt and opens the way to positive action.

Don’t wander down from a bright Christmas mountaintop into a swamp of indecision, lethargy and wasted opportunity. When that first Christmas was over, Joseph heard the words of the Lord’s angel and took immediate action, saving the life of the Child.
That’s what I want to do: Listen for His voice and then do what He says without doubt or procrastination. There’s no telling how far you might go this with that kind of head start! Speaking of listening to God; our Winter/Spring Wednesday Nights will begin with a 4 week study based on Pastor Bill Hybel’s latest book, “The Power of a Whisper” Hear details beginning this Sunday. We’ll begin Wed. January 12, 2011!

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise. Making the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:15-16.

I heard from a trusted First Church member today who said “It’s a New Day at First Church!” I trust you’ve sensed the moving of The Holy Spirit in worship these weeks and are anticipating great things from God in 2011!
I know I am! I am blessed to be your Pastor/Shepherd.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

In Christ’s Love,
Mark

PS – Be sure to join us this Friday evening for Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Services at either 5:00PM or 11:00PM. Blessings!

PPS - Don’t forget our Christmas Dinner with the Homeless this Saturday – Christmas Day. Come anytime in the afternoon; serving begins at 5:00!