REPORTS

 

Last week between Christmas and New Years there were a lot of programs where they took the week off and basically showed the highlights from the previous year. The past few years I would put together a little video with a bunch of pictures of what we had done the previous year. Pretty soon the conference office will be "encouraging" pastors to fill out some reports that we need here at the office. I know those end of the year reports aren't the most fun a person can have, but they are significant. The end of the year report for churches we ask a few questions. They are good to stop and take stock of the state of the church for the past year as we look forward to a new year. 

In the Bible, in the book of Joshua, there is the story of the crossing of the Jordan River. Joshua and the Israelites left Egypt, wandered in the wilderness, and are now entering the Promised Land. Just as God performed a miracle and the previous generation walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, God performed a miracle and this generation walked across the Jordan River on dry ground. During this process, the Lord instructed Joshua to have guys get some rocks from the river and set them up on the bank. Joshua 4:7 "...These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever." For years after this event people would take their grandchildren to look at these stones and tell the next generation about the miracle God had done for them. 

So, as we begin a new year and we're doing the end of the year reports, filling out the paperwork, and doing our taxes, think about the miracles God did for us this past year. Maybe we don't have a pile of rocks to look at, but we can look back at this past year. There were blessings that came from the Lord. There were difficulties where the Lord was with us in the midst of our struggles. As we look back on the year and the changes in life, we recognize God's presence and God's provision, and just know that it is not all about us, but it is also to be a testimony to those who are not yet Christians. Joshua said at the end of chapter 4, "He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever." 

The Lord's hand is powerful. May we fear the Lord our God this coming year.