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I love to put jigsaw puzzles together. Always have, and probably always will. There is just a good feeling when you finish one, and you see the complete picture without any missing holes. But you would have to be a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast to understand this. To my husband, working a puzzle is a complete waste of time. He doesn’t understand the sense of accomplishment that is achieved when you put that last piece in. I guess it all comes down to perspective.

We are all about to embark on finishing something much more complicated than a jigsaw puzzle. It is almost time to put in the last piece of your life puzzle for 2007. As you put the piece in, and you look at the picture, what do you see? Do you like what you are looking at, or are you disappointed with the way your puzzle is turning out? Maybe you are even thinking, as my husband does when working on a jigsaw puzzle, “What a waste of time”. Did the routine of another year, bring along dissatisfaction and you find yourself asking, “What is this life all about anyway”?

Ben Franklin said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” In other words, same old habits and routine will always give you the same results. If you are thinking that you can live life the very same way year after year, and get a different result, you will eventually go crazy with this mindset. If you want different results, you have to shake it up a bit, and make some changes. It’s that simple and complicated at the same time.

The Bible says: Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) Having vision is not only knowing what your life is all about, but actually living it out on purpose. If you have not already read Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?, I would encourage you to do so. He candidly explores the big question about what this life is all about. If you do not want to repeat another year like 2007, this would be an excellent start.

As I personally reflect on the past year, I conclude my own personal journey has been two steps forward and one step back. But if you do the math, I am still ahead. It has definitely been a year full of challenges, disappointments, and even trials. But like always, the blessings, joys, and good times have outweighed the bad. Sure, I wish some things turned out differently, and other things had never happened. But all in all, it made for a pretty adventurous time as each piece fit together with the others. I have never been more convinced than I am now, that God’s plans for us are far superior than our plans, and our thoughts don’t even come close to His thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)

In some ways it feels good to say good-bye to another year. A new year always offers that “fresh start” feeling. This is a good time that you can look back on past mistakes and learn from them. This is the time you can make resolutions to no longer live under the bondage of anger, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, or any other negativity that has your stomach in knots. And there is no better time than this, than to consider living a new life in Christ. Regardless of how long you have known Him, I know He desires to be the centerpiece of your life, and not just any old piece. If you really want to make changes today and shake it up a bit, I challenge you to get radical about your relationship with Christ. You never know…He really might be the MISSING PEACE!

Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door.

If you hear my voice and open the door,

I will come in and we will eat together.

Revelation 3:20

Jesus’ words to the Church in Laodicea

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Called To Brokenness