BYE, 23…..Hi, 24

We’ve just spent two days with all our family except two who couldn’t make it home, and several long time friends who came in celebration, remembering the life of our recently passed daughter-in-law. The usual joy and happy atmosphere of the season had special meaning for each of us. We laughed, we sang, we ate! And perhaps more privately, we served our sadness with our hopes, and the usual uplifting spirit hope always brings with it. Some of us prayed for furthering peace and comfort, some of us received it gladly. But, of course, some mysteries remain unresolved. Yet Great Our Rejoicing, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In a few more days, we’ll enter another year because we have a thing called a calendar. Most know the calendar as a series of pages to denote coming days, weeks, months, and years. Some calendars mark the things as they pass; each day, week, month, year. The Lockhart Calendar, for instance, is the latter. We can see days ahead in a “blank schedule,” so to speak, but we more than likely will “mark” the days which are passed. 

This is UP week. It’s like this: finish UP, give UP, count UP, take UP, put UP, get ready to start UP., while looking UP. The whole thought is this:

1. Finish the things that must be finished to end the year.
2. Give away or let go of things you cannot finish
3. Count the ways you’ve fulfilled your purpose for the year
4. Take your new thoughts as being personal and prosperous
5. Put away sorrows with the season’s decorations, and leave them
6. Prepare yourself to start the new year with a whole new outlook on your life and the lives you will effect.
7. LOOKING UP and expecting the Lord’s swift return!

Seldom do I have any real thought out or thought through resolutions made for the new year. But, at this point, carefully denoting several possible interruptions, I intend to travel a bit more to see relatives; my soon to be 96 year old sister, her children, my brother & his children, all the rest of my siblings’ (who have passed away) children, as well as accompanying my wife in her plans to do more of the same, er.. not that I’m setting her goals, but “if.”

I also intend to travel towards and through as many cities/ towns/ countrysides where it would be a good idea for them to have a Blue Jug Alkaline Water store—everyone should have water with true alkalinity available to them, somehow. We’ve been poisoning ourselves and our progeny for so long, we sometimes have to be reacquainted with it to know we need it.

Hopefully for all these journeys, I will be privileged to speak the name of the Lord and preach His word clearly as I go. As much as possible in this new year, I will still do the Sunday evening live bible class at 5PM, central time. If they’ll continue to have me, I will go to Alexandria, AL twice each month and teach, as well as Grace Bible Church of Chattanooga at least once per month, and any where else I’m welcomed. Planning on being in Gatlinburg March 1-3. In Tobaccoville, NC the last weekend in April, at least 3 other conferences if they continue to have them; Arab, AL—Chattanooga, TN—Pensacola, FL, and I’m hoping for a chance to go to Texas for another conference. 

You know, that looks like a lot of things there when I write it out like that. But, the fact is, even counting travel time, that only adds up to about one third (1/3) of a year. Leaves a lot of time for “retirement days” doesn’t it? A verse of Scripture comes to mind: “And I will gladly spend and be spent for you….”

Here’s hoping you have a great UP week. Don’t let anything get you down or steal your grace! Happy New Year, everyone!

Thanks for reading, the Elder