Has it dawned on you yet that 2018 has dawned upon us? Ready or not, the New Year is here, and the question is no longer “What shall we do when it arrives?” but rather, “How shall we proceed?” One would like to think that we could prepare for every contingency. But we know full well that that’s impossible. All we can do is prepare for the future as best we know how, and trust God with the rest. The Word of God counsels us with these words: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).

James also had something to say about making plans in an uncertain world. We can either live our lives focused on “self” or we can live life focused on the Savior, living in daily submission to Him. James strongly suggests the latter. Take his words to heart in the following verses:

James 4:13 “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’

14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
15 What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’
16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

Life isn’t static; and therefore, we must be ready to accept the fact that even our best-laid plans are sometimes thwarted by the unforeseen curveballs of life. A commentator, reflecting on James 4:13-17, made the following observation:

It is good to have goals, but goals can disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist because the future is in his hands. The beginning of good planning is to ask: “What would I like to be doing ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? How will I react if God steps in and rearranges my plans?” We can plan ahead, but we must hold on to our plans loosely. If we put God’s desires at the center of our planning, he will never disappoint us.

There’s an old gospel song that says, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know He holds my hand.” Now that we’re at the beginning of 2018, how do we proceed from here? We should determine to keep holding tightly to the hand of Jesus; trust Him to guide you through those troublesome and confusing days when nothing seems clear; and we should share the love of Jesus to those around us. Proverbs puts it this way: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Though 2018 is as yet an untrodden path, may we entrust it to Christ, that He will be glorified in the year before us.

I’d like to close with the following thoughts from Frances R. Havergal, that godly songwriter of last century. May her prayer be ours today.

Another year is dawning,
Dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness,
The glory of thy face.

Another year of leaning
Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for thee.

A new year is like a gift that if you use it right you get to open and enjoy 365 times. It comes with the joy of a mulligan, a do over you used to call for as a child; the freshness of a sunrise or the potential of a new item out of the box. It is a treasure that will mostly become what you make it. I ask myself a few questions when looking a brand-new year. I am not too good with resolutions, but I like purpose, I set goals and feel good when I achieve things that may have looked hard in the beginning. So, when setting goals, I asked myself a few questions to make sure the goals match my purpose. I asked Who am I?

Many things converge to make us who we are as people, partners and friends. I am a lifetime First Class Girl Scout, always prepared. I am a daughter, a mother, a helpmate and friend, a woman of faith with childlike wonder and curiosity. Those things drive my purpose on the minute to minute, day by day even year by year adventure we call living. Who I am influences my time, my yes and no commitments, my finances, my relationships and decisions. Who I am is a constant that provides a frame for my new year and for my lifetime. I also asked Whose I am? My spouse, my family, my church, my community and even my friends hold a part of me, a part of my heart, my time, my energy, my life. So, those who have invested in my life have earned some ownership and give some structure to my year. It is up to me to choose and build healthy strong structure in my life by investing in positive and constructive relationships and by not investing in relationships that are counterproductive. I also asked myself What I value most? Where do I invest myself and my assets? What vows or mottos am I committed to live by? Where do I work, serve, spend, and find authentic experiences? My Marriage vows, faith in God, core beliefs and values, statements of affirmation and mottos stating my fundamental ideals are core to the roadmap of my year. They not only tell me where to go forward and invest myself, but can also tell me where to stop, avoid or turn and run away from matters that face me in this new year.

The last question: Pick a few words that keep you on track with your core self and make them your yearly catchphrase. I ask is what good do I see in my past year? What good stuff has been growing and happening in my life? If I can find the good and then build on that, I can expect more good. Whatever you pay most attention and care to will be what grows in your life. So, grow the good. It is not new or even novel, but knowing who I am, whose I am, what I find significant and what is good for me is a great way to build a wonderful 2018.Hope your New Year is filled with joy.

Larry Gatlin will kick off the 10th Annual Charity Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.
The series will continue on Thursday, Feb. 22 with Johnny Rodriguez and Johnny Bush and conclude on Thursday, April 26 with Barbara Fairchild, Roy Morris, Tony Booth and Darrel & Mona McCall.

Tickets for each concert are $45. Season packages for all three performances are $99.

“We’re fortunate to be able to bring country music legends such as these to the 2018 Charity Concert Series,” said VC Cultural Affairs Executive Director Sue Prudhomme. “The series has been a huge success over the past decade and we look forward to continuing it in the year ahead.”

Proceeds from the concerts benefit the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch, Victoria Lions Club and the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.

Gatlin is best known for his 1980s hits as part of the Gatlin Brothers, but prior to forming and leading that family trio, he enjoyed a successful solo career.
Gatlin’s biggest solo hits include “Broken Lady,” “All the Gold in California,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You),” “She Used to Be Somebody’s Baby,” and “Talkin’ to the Moon.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Leo J. Welder Center Box Office at 214 N. Main Street in Victoria or online at WelderCenter.org.

Week ending Dec. 15: PreK- Amara Brown; K- Leray Austin; 1st- Avery Gosnell; 2nd- Remington Eure; 3rd- Nicholas Ragusin; 4th- Layne Brown; 5th- Maddix Delgado
Week ending Jan. 12: PreK- Samantha Garcia; K- Carmen Hinne; 1st- Jakob Donaldson; 2nd- Leon Hill; 3rd- Shaneesa Mallory; 4th- Byron Ferrell; 5th- Antonio Gloria