To eat or not to eat, that is the question. Is it nobler to refrain from excess or to indulge to your heart's content? Can excess at times be good for you? Who determines this and what does it mean? How do I know if I have begun 2012 on a positive or negative attitude? Good questions all; only your conscience can answer them. 2011 was a year of transition for both myself and my Linda, as we went from jobs to retirement. Honestly, we have had much better years, but there was very much that was good about last year. Read the following passage from Colossians and then ask yourself about the previous year and the one we just started...
WEB: Colossians Chapter 3
[1] If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. [3] For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. [5] Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; [6] for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. [7] You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; [8] but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. [9] Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, [10] and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, [11] where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
[12] Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
[14] Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
[17] Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
If I were to base my analysis of last year solely on worldly standards; well, it stank. However, I am please to say that spiritually things were much better for both my wife and myself. Its nice to be able to say that in 2011 both of us drew closer to God. I hope this trend continues in 2012 and that this is true for all who read these words. May your every spiritual wish come true and may you sense the presence of God continually. Could I have the hamlette in the picture? For soothe, as long as I remember verse seventeen from Colossians.