Happy New Year! ?2021 is the Year of the Ox. It’s supposed to be a year of fortune, celebrating the virtues of honesty, reliability, hard work and trustworthiness. The ox is the opposite of being a celebrity anything and labors steadily, off stage, with courage and perseverance. You can read more about the ox here.

On another note, our family has tradition of choosing a key verse for the year and at the end of the year sharing how we experienced that verse. For 2020, the family verse was Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (NRSV)

 

The big temptation of 2020 was letting survival mode take-over, doing things our own way, by our own strength and wisdom. The Lord taught us to surrender to him one day at a time.

Our key verse for 2021 is: Revelation 21:5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” (NRSV)

It has been a challenging 2020. The struggles were real this pandemic year but Jesus’ love was even more real to me and my family. The Lord continues to be the Faithful and Reliable One on whom we lean and depend. May God’s love and grace be even more real to you this 2021! I’m looking forward to seeing what new thing God will do in this new year. Amen!