This is Janus, Roman god of doorways, beginnings and endings - always looking back and always looking forwards. Its from Janus that we get the name January.It's in this season that people like to look back at the year that has passed and forward to the year to come. We pause and review our lives. Take some time out. Look in the mirror and see how we're doing.
I'd love to get some comments from you below about your highlights of the year- funny moments, serious moments, important moments. I find it hard to think back that far... it's all a bit of a blur, but it's definately worth taking some time to review our lives.
As Christians we should be examining our lives to see if we're growing. here's what the Bible says:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
2 Corinthians 13: 5-6
So... have you grown this year? Have you grown closer to God? Have you moved forward? (A lot of us wrote some letters one Sunday night and you'll be getting those back soon. That might show you how you have changed.)
Julie, Paul and I have seen how you've grown this year, so when you look back at your journey with God over the last 365 days or so "we trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test."
What about the future? What are your hopes and fears? Who would you like to be this time next year?
PRAY
Finally, a prayer to God who is God of our past and God of our future:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139: 23-24
