Lifelines:

We close out the old and prepare for the new. Reflection is a normal exercise at this time of year. We look back over the past twelve months and ask questions. Did I use my days wisely? Does God approve of my 2009? What did I do poorly? What did I do well? Have I grown? How did I use the resources the Lord placed in my hands? Have I communicated with my Father? Spent time in His word? Honored my Lord? Served my fellow man? Each has his own introspective list to check.

We also look ahead. The New Year is always a time of anticipation, as well. It is a fresh start, and God specializes in that. We resolve to improve in some areas and discontinue others. We promise to pray more and read more. Quit smoking. Lose a few pounds, maybe a lot of them. Move more and eat less. Everyone has areas where they could do better. Some commit themselves to making this the time to do so. It is an optimistic period as we prepare to be better people in 2010. May the Lord help us in our spiritual ambitions.

Westside looks to the New Year with the same fresh enthusiasm. We will begin with our traditional Forty Days of Prayer to help us heighten our awareness of the Lord. A proposed agenda has been set forth. It is only a suggestion. You may have your own plan, and that is perfectly fine. The point is to place our attention on Jesus and regularly talk with our Father about our church family, the individual members of it and the countless blessings God stuffs into everyday. It can be an enriching, encouraging time if we will participate.

We will follow our Forty Days of Prayer with Prodigal Sunday, which happens to fall on Valentine’s Day. It provides us with a perfect opportunity to invite our friends to worship with us. We will focus our attention that day on the greatest love story in history which was written in blood. We are asking everyone to make an extra effort to be here and bring someone. We will share a fellowship meal after morning services and hope that all will stay to solidify their relationship with the church family.

Other special days are sprinkled throughout the year. We will resume our once-a-month Friday night fellowships in January. The month of May brings our yearly cookout and spring singing. Summer focuses on our young people with VBS. Fall is “Share the Son” time the first weekend in October, “A Day Just for Men” is planned for December, and we will engage in our annual mission trip sometime during the year. All of this, of course, is subject to the will of the Lord. 2010 will be as good as we choose to make it. It is our prayer that it will be the best year ever.