Is it OK to look back? The apostle Paul said he pressed forward, forgetting what was behind him. We
have to admit that we can’t let the past tie us down and defeat us, but looking back on a year as a
learning experience and as a time of encouragement is a good thing. 2022 was a year of change, to be
sure. Yes, there were disappointments and sadness, but there was also much to appreciate and much
encouragement to be had.
There were funerals, of course, as several saints of God went to be with Him. That left broken hearts and
empty chairs at family events. Lives of the living were certainly changed. People got new jobs, moved
to different homes, and saw family dynamics change, not only with the passing of loved ones, but with
marriages and births, too.
Our nation’s economy, morality, and common sense certainly took a nosedive. Debauchery and evil are
now celebrated and governmentally approved, and in some cases, mandated. The push against God,
Christ, and Christians increased significantly. My goodness, wasn’t 2022 a bad year? No. Not entirely.
Sure, there were some unbelievable things going on, but remember this: God is still on His throne. He is
still almighty God. No country, ideology, or human effort will ever overcome Him…and by definition His
kingdom and His people. Satan would have us focus on the setbacks we may have experienced, but the
Lord would remind us that, as an organized church body known as Church on the Bluff, we have moved
forward, claiming victory over the setbacks of an immoral government, culture, and even a pandemic.
We have grown numerically, financially, and, most importantly, spiritually. We have gotten “back in the
groove” with several organizations and ministries. Although we missed Vacation Bible School, our
Sunday morning Bible studies have strengthened. We had a very successful Grace on the Bluff and
Lights on the Bluff. The Sunshiners have cranked back up, Coffee Cake and Chat has been meeting, and
we have a growing WMU once again (and I’m excited about that).
With that in mind, imagine how good the year 2023 can be. No…will be! Let’s move forward, attacking
the new year like the God-guided, Spirit-powered body of Christ we are. “For the Lord God is a sun and
shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is
blameless.” (Psalms 84:11 NIV)
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here in Bluff Park.
Bro. Tony
have to admit that we can’t let the past tie us down and defeat us, but looking back on a year as a
learning experience and as a time of encouragement is a good thing. 2022 was a year of change, to be
sure. Yes, there were disappointments and sadness, but there was also much to appreciate and much
encouragement to be had.
There were funerals, of course, as several saints of God went to be with Him. That left broken hearts and
empty chairs at family events. Lives of the living were certainly changed. People got new jobs, moved
to different homes, and saw family dynamics change, not only with the passing of loved ones, but with
marriages and births, too.
Our nation’s economy, morality, and common sense certainly took a nosedive. Debauchery and evil are
now celebrated and governmentally approved, and in some cases, mandated. The push against God,
Christ, and Christians increased significantly. My goodness, wasn’t 2022 a bad year? No. Not entirely.
Sure, there were some unbelievable things going on, but remember this: God is still on His throne. He is
still almighty God. No country, ideology, or human effort will ever overcome Him…and by definition His
kingdom and His people. Satan would have us focus on the setbacks we may have experienced, but the
Lord would remind us that, as an organized church body known as Church on the Bluff, we have moved
forward, claiming victory over the setbacks of an immoral government, culture, and even a pandemic.
We have grown numerically, financially, and, most importantly, spiritually. We have gotten “back in the
groove” with several organizations and ministries. Although we missed Vacation Bible School, our
Sunday morning Bible studies have strengthened. We had a very successful Grace on the Bluff and
Lights on the Bluff. The Sunshiners have cranked back up, Coffee Cake and Chat has been meeting, and
we have a growing WMU once again (and I’m excited about that).
With that in mind, imagine how good the year 2023 can be. No…will be! Let’s move forward, attacking
the new year like the God-guided, Spirit-powered body of Christ we are. “For the Lord God is a sun and
shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is
blameless.” (Psalms 84:11 NIV)
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here in Bluff Park.
Bro. Tony